Dashen Bank, one of the top profitable private financial firms, disclosed that it has mobilized over 700 million birr with an additional 25,000 new account holders over the past two week demonetization period.
The bank that decided to pump 30 million birr for the call of supporting three national tourist attraction projects under the scheme dubbed ‘Dine for Nation’ said that it is working aggressively on the currency change, which was introduced on the 14th of September.
Asfaw Alemu, President of Dashen, said that the bank has distributed five billion birr worth of the new notes across its 425 branches and all of its 325 ATMs.
The fund raised under ‘Dine for Nation’ will finance projects at Gorgora, Koysha and Wonci.
On Friday October 2nd, the bank has opened five interest free branches in Addis Ababa and regional towns that drives the number of special interest free branches to a total tally of 8.
Dashens’ successful dash amidst demonetization
Ethiopians abandoned and abused in Saudi prisons: Report
An investigation by Amnesty International has exposed horrifying new details about the treatment of Ethiopian migrants detained in Saudi Arabia. Since March, Huthi authorities in Yemen have expelled thousands of Ethiopian migrant workers and their families to Saudi Arabia, where they are now being held in life-threatening conditions.
Amnesty International interviewed detainees who described a catalogue of cruelties at the hands of Saudi Arabian authorities, including being chained together in pairs, forced to use their cell floors as toilets, and confined 24 hours a day in unbearably crowded cells. Amnesty International documented the deaths of three adults in detention, based on consistent eyewitness testimonies. Other detainees reported at least four more deaths; while it was not possible to independently corroborate these claims, the prevalence of disease and the lack of food, water and health care indicates the true number of deaths could be much higher.
“Thousands of Ethiopian migrants, who left their homes in search of a better life, have instead faced unimaginable cruelty at every turn. Confined to filthy cells, surrounded by death and disease, the situation is so dire that at least two people have attempted to take their own lives,” said Marie Forestier, Researcher and Advisor on Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty International.
“Pregnant women, babies and small children are held in these same appalling conditions, and three detainees said they knew of children who had died. We are urging the Saudi authorities to immediately release all arbitrarily detained migrants, and significantly improve detention conditions before more lives are lost.”
Amnesty International is also calling on the Ethiopian government to urgently facilitate the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of Ethiopian nationals, and to press the Saudi government to improve detention conditions in the interim.
Amnesty International interviewed 12 detained Ethiopian migrants via a messaging app between 24 June 2020 and 31 July 2020. Their allegations were corroborated by videos, photos and satellite imagery analyzed by the organization’s Crisis Evidence Lab.
Mohammed Mussa Idris
Obituary
Mohammed Mussa Idris
1935-2020
Rotarian Mohammed Mussa Idris was a great man known to many as a beloved father and brother, a kind soul with a big heart and an endearing smile.
A benefactor to many, especially to the children of Daleti town, Oromia region for whose education he fought tooth and nail every day.
A communication expert, he has worked most of his life in the media both as practitioner as well as teacher.
For Rotarians he is a father figure who will always be remembered as the man behind the fight against Polio.
Rtn. Mohamed has truly labored for the gains achieved against polio in Ethiopia. He worked tirelessly since the start of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) first with WHO for over 10 years and then with Rotary International, through the National Polio Plus Committee Ethiopia, liaising with the Federal Ministry of Health and all the partners and allies involved, including WHO, UNICEF, B&MGF, CDC, USAID and Core Group.
His deep understanding of the closely knitted Ethiopian culture and tradition has allowed him to seamlessly cruise between the various religious groups to communicate through their large organized structures and advocate the importance of children immunization to the people.
He played an instrumental and integral part in the signing of the protocol agreement in 1998 among neighboring countries which permitted health workers’ free cross border movement and access to vaccinate children.
Gash Mohammed as he is fondly called is remembered for his tenacious, original and innovative lobbying skills to raise awareness among politicians, religious leaders and even Rotarians about polio eradication.
Not only did he work tirelessly on social mobilization and advocacy activities, but he never shied away from the leg work. For over two decades he has taken part in social mobilization and vaccination campaigns in the remotest parts of Ethiopia where polio was looming.
His wish always, was to see the end of polio from the world and was ecstatic when Africa was announced Wild Polio Free on August 25th this year. But he did not spare a moment basking in the glory, and went on with his work to completely rid the earth from this debilitating disease.
Among other recognitions, he has been awarded the Regional Service Award for a Polio Free World from the Rotary Foundation Trustees’ Chair in 2019 in appreciation of his significant active personal service towards the goal of polio eradication.
Gash Mohammed will always be remembered and recognized for his manifold achievements but also for the value he brought to the fight against polio, which was always highlighted and transmitted in all his actions and personal commitments, to always advocate and serve in all his capacity all those directly involved in this historic effort as he called it. 
Gash Mohammed’s services and eminent merits in the course of his life will always be remembered within our community and beyond. His is translated by his active, energetic and generous participation without considering his time, his talents or his money to help improve the lives of those less fortunate.
May Your Soul Rest in Peace and Power Gash Mohammed!
May Almighty Allah Dwell You in Jannatul Firdaus!
“He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery Sunset, September 30, 2020.
Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam
Obituary
Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam
1929-2020
It is with a great sense of sorrow and loss that I learnt about the passing way of my teacher and adviser, Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam. Ethiopia’s distinguished professor was an accomplished scholar, a patriot, a human rights advocate, a social democrat and humanist philosopher with clear thoughts and convictions. As a teacher, he expedited his teaching, research and social service duties with honor, dedication, selfless dedication and unparalleled excellence. As an unwavering social democrat, he fought for democracy, freedom, equality, justice, human rights and national unity. He vehemently and resolutely stood against the fractionalizing and destructive policies of extremists of the left and right. He taught the principle of unity in diversity and stood for the marginalized, the oppressed and the poor. As a patriot, he taught us the tremendous sacrifices that our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters paid in maintaining the independence and proud history of our illustrious country. His deep humanistic philosophical thoughts and writings will undoubtedly serve the younger generation of the value of courage, knowledge, humility and love of country and people as the building blocks of our country. His ascetic and almost monastic lifestyle has taught us the virtues of simplicity, self control and concern for others. As a social critic, he fought the good fight without fear and assertive confidence. Ethiopians at home and the Diaspora and the international community lost a great intellectual, a patriot and a citizen of unmatched caliber and unwavering dedication to people and country. Rest in Peace.
Tadesse Kidane-Mariam
