After spending eight years in the woods, Debub Police FC has been promoted back to the Ethiopian Premier League after demolishing Diredawa Police in their final group B match. The final showdown for the Super League Cup between group winners Baherdar and Debub Police takes place today at Diredawa Stadium.
Their coach Girma Tadesse personally piped Hadiya-Hosana to the top tier. They also have Kenyan veteran striker Eric Muranda and Biruk Elias spearheading the strike force. Debub Police started slowly but gained momentum after every single showdown to finish on top of the 16 team table with 61 points from eighteen wins, seven draws and five defeats. Eric Muranda and Biruk Elias each hammered in 13 goals and attacking mid fielder Behailu Wegene bagged 11 goals to help Debub Police lead the league in goals at 59. They only gave up 23 goals which was third lowest next to Dilla and Halaba respectively. It was a tough time full of challenges but navigating through such hard times makes the joy all the more wild. I am not yet sure whether I will stay with the team at the Premier League. But still I am happy and grateful for my players that helped Debub Police to Promotion,” Head Coach Girma Tadesse remarked.
The club’s most senior player team skipper Binyam Berhanu told reporters that the big achievement is because of the team work and the home supporters standing behind the team throughout the season. “The next big challenge is about surviving the first Premier League season and I am sure the club will seriously think about it,” Binyam stated.
Debub Police roars back to Ethiopian Premier League
EPRDF reviews gains from reform initiative
Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) concluded its regular session held 20-22 August 2018.
During its three-day meeting, the Committee reviewed the gains made from realization of the reform initiative, according to a statement Office of EPRDF sent to FBC today.
The Committee confirmed that great and unbelievable achievements were made from the reforms undertaken in a short period of time.
It also praised the successes achieved in the political, diplomatic, and socio-economic sectors as well as the peace deal reached between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the toughening of ties with neighboring and Middle East countries.
The Committee evaluated the release of Ethiopian prisoners at home and abroad, negotiations held with armed groups, opening of blocked websites and efforts made to reform the justice system as a positive move, which according to the Committee would help widening the political space.
It also praised the measures taken to strengthen unity of Ethiopians by unifying the two synods of the Ethiopian Orthodox churches and reconciling the Muslim community.
The Committee commended the measures taken to curb shortage of foreign currency and the ongoing efforts to finalize delayed projects.
However, it underscored the need to boost productivity of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors and called for the utilization of all means to reduce inflation to a single digit, and to exert more efforts to ensure rule of law and realize the reform.
The Committee finally called on the public to strengthen their support for the sustainability of the reform launched at a national level.
One million in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in southern Ethiopia
Over 900,000 people have been displaced along the border between Gedeo and West Guji zones, respectively in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) and Oromia regions of Ethiopia, due to a recent surge of inter-communal violence.
After an initial assessment of the crisis, MSF has launched an emergency response to address the most urgent needs of displaced people.
“Given the scale of the emergency, and with so many people displaced from their homes in such a short space of time, getting shelter, essential relief items, water, hygiene and health services in place is a priority,” says Alessandra Saibene, who is coordinating MSF’s emergency response.
“Most people left their homes in a hurry and arrived with nothing. Families are sleeping on the floor in vacant buildings, like schools or churches, and sometimes even on the bare ground outside with only banana leaves or a plastic sheet for cover.”
Even before the current crisis, the region was one of most densely populated places in the country. The rapid influx of displaced people has further stretched the available resources and public services. Despite a government-led intervention providing healthcare, food and essential relief items, there are still serious gaps in the provision of shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services, with living conditions being of particular concern.
“When so many people live together in crowded and cramped conditions, with limited access to clean water and insufficient latrines, the risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases is very high. We need to act quickly to improve the conditions in the sites where displaced people are staying, otherwise the situation will only get worse.”
MSF, in coordination with other humanitarian actors, is urgently building latrines and installing water and sanitation infrastructure in Kochere and Gedeb districts. The organisation is also trucking in clean water for people to drink, and improving hygiene and water access in local health facilities.
