House Standing Committee recommends rehabilitation for war-torn Afar pastoralists

Addis Ababa, January 25, 2022 (FBC) – Agricultural Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples Representatives recommended integrated rehabilitation for war-torn pastoralists of the Afar region.

The Committee, led by the Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee, Hamudu Gaas said so during the physical field tour it recently undertook in the region.

Hamudu said, in order to reverse the impacts of the deliberate military attack which imposes poverty upon the pastoralists, all the concerned bodies shall cooperate and deal together in planned manner to embark upon it.

“Coalition and integrity of the stakeholders stand first in bringing back the former living conditions of the pastoralists and the support shall be as commensurate as possible to the damage inflicted upon the residents. Moreover, any info collected with regard to them is ought to be accurate enough so as to run things right” he explained.

Alemu Jember, member of the Committee, on his part, said that the pastoralists have been victims for no political participation which shows that the invadors are likely to be against the interests of Ethiopians.

Almaz Wedajo on her part recalled the media shall expose the extent of damage inflicted upon the Afar pastoralists and residents, who had no involvement in any war conflict. The media shall awaken the whole society and mobilize everyone, she underlined.

In his elaboration to the Committee, Awol Arba, Chief Administrator of the Afar region indicated that a task force has been formed and is reacting to establish back the Afar people who were so long exposed to torrential erosions, locust swarms and most of all to the unexpected military attack by the terrorist militants of the TPLF.

Head of Agricultural Department Bureau of the Afar Region, Hadji Abdu Hassen said war waged by the terrorist TPLF caused damage to 1400 hectares of sorghum and corn crops in the region due to pests and weeds.

Members of the Committee ascertained the terrorist TPLF killed camels and goats, and looted veterinary drugs, animal feed and agricultural machinery in the region apart from the attack it committed against civilians.