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Simien Mountains Nat’l Park Introduces GPS Tracking System to Protect Endemic Red Fox

Simien Mountains National Park announced that it has introduced GPS tracking system to monitor and safeguard the endemic Red Fox population in the park. The Red Fox Conservation Program Coordinator at the Park, Getachew Assefa told ENA that this tracker has been deployed in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Protection Authority and international partner organizations. The system introduced is the Collar GPS tracker wherein GPS-enabled collars are attached to the necks of 8 red foxes with forty family members. The tracker enables to trace movements of the foxes as they search for food and navigate through potential threats, he said. By utilizing the system, we can track the distances covered by the foxes each day in their pursuit of sustenance as well as the dangers they encounter along the way, Getachew elaborated. As a pilot project last year, GPS trackers were employed on two red foxes, leading to the acquisition of crucial information when these animals faced life-threatening situations, incl uding death and severe injuries. The Collar GPS tracker also facilitates the tracking and controlling of illegal poaching activities. According to the program coordinator, the red foxes primarily inhabit mountainous regions above an elevation of three thousand meters. Covering an expansive area of four hundred twelve square kilometers, Simien Mountains National Park is not only the largest national park in Ethiopia but also a UNESCO designated international heritage site. It encompasses the highest portions of the Simien Mountains, including Ras Dashan, the highest peak in Ethiopia. The park serves as a sanctuary for numerous endangered species, including the Ethiopian Wolf and the Walia Ibex, a unique wild goat found nowhere else in the world. Additionally, the Simien Mountains park is home to the Gelada Baboon and the caracal, a remarkable feline species. Over 50 bird species, including the bearded vulture with its impressive 3-meter wingspan, inhabit the park. Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Fatal collision claims lives of Taxi driver, passenger in NkwenPM Abiy Holds Talks with Ethiopian Evangelical Council Members

Tragedy struck on Friday, March 15, in the Mile 6 neighborhood of Nkwen, along the Bamenda-Bambili road, as a collision between a private vehicle and a taxi claimed the lives of both the taxi driver and a passenger. According to sources, the passenger tragically lost his life at the scene of the accident, while the taxi driver succumbed to his injuries later at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda. 'The black private car was on top speed when it suddenly found itself on the other said of the road colliding with the taxi. The occupants of the private owned vehicle fled the scene after the accident. The vehicle was coming from the Mile 6 direction while the taxi was heading towards Bamenda,' an eyetwiness described the scene to drayinfos. Shey Rene, President of the Mezam Professional Taxi Drivers Trade Union, lamented, 'All efforts to save the driver's life were futile.' Health experts revealed that the driver suffered severe leg injuries and internal bleeding. The driver, identified as a member of the Islami c faith, had his body handed over to Muslim authorities in Bamenda for burial. Source: Cameroon News Agency Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held discussions with members of the Ethiopian Evangelical Council along with regional representatives from member churches. 'Following similar engagements held in the past weeks, I held discussions with members of the Ethiopian Evangelical Council along with regional representatives from member churches,' the prime minister shared on X page. PM Abiy added these discussions were crucial for addressing matters of importance to them. Currently, Prime Minister Abiy has embarked on numerous discussions with members of the community including different religious fathers, regional representatives and among others. Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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USAID Announces 80 Million USD in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Ethiopia

The United States, through USAID, announced more than 80 million USD in additional humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Ethiopia. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Sonali Korde who is in Ethiopia, announced the humanitarian assistance today. Significant people are estimated to require humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia due to the compounding effects of conflict, climate shocks, and insecurity across the country, it was indicated. In its press release sent to ENA, the US Embassy in Ethiopia said this funding will support USAID humanitarian partners providing urgently needed assistance to the most vulnerable communities. Through UN and non-governmental organization partners, this USAID assistance will support agriculture and nutrition activities, as well as gender-based violence prevention and response services. In response to significant nutrition needs, USAID will treat and prevent acute forms of malnutrition for more than 1.5 million children under five years of age and more than 600,000 pregnant and nursing mothers this year. With ongoing Fiscal Year 2023 assistance, USAID continues to support food security, health, and other activities, reaching at least 4.5 million people across eight regions of Ethiopia. The United States remains committed to delivering life-saving aid to those in need across Ethiopia, according to the embassy. As the largest bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance to the country, we continue to call on others to join us in delivering desperately needed aid to help save lives. Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Fatal collision claims lives of Taxi driver, passenger in Nkwen

Tragedy struck on Friday, March 15, in the Mile 6 neighborhood of Nkwen, along the Bamenda-Bambili road, as a collision between a private vehicle and a taxi claimed the lives of both the taxi driver and a passenger. According to sources, the passenger tragically lost his life at the scene of the accident, while the taxi driver succumbed to his injuries later at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda. 'The black private car was on top speed when it suddenly found itself on the other said of the road colliding with the taxi. The occupants of the private owned vehicle fled the scene after the accident. The vehicle was coming from the Mile 6 direction while the taxi was heading towards Bamenda,' an eyetwiness described the scene to drayinfos. Shey Rene, President of the Mezam Professional Taxi Drivers Trade Union, lamented, 'All efforts to save the driver's life were futile.' Health experts revealed that the driver suffered severe leg injuries and internal bleeding. The driver, identified as a member of the Islami c faith, had his body handed over to Muslim authorities in Bamenda for burial. Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Internet Disruption: Reports reveal thirteen countries affected, Ivory Coast severely hit

By Charity Nginyu Recent data from Netblocks.org has shed light on a widespread internet disruption across South, East, and West Africa, impacting a total of thirteen countries. Among these nations, Ivory Coast emerges as severely affected, with four others-Liberia, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso-experiencing high levels of disruption. Cameroon according to statistics finds itself among those experiencing medium levels of disruption, alongside Togo, Gabon, Namibia, and Niger. Meanwhile, Nigeria, Lesotho, South Africa are said to experience disruptions at a lower level. The situation, attributed to a cable failure on the West Africa Cable System, has prompted urgent rerouting measures by Dimension Data, a prominent provider in South Africa. However, these efforts have encountered setbacks as the alternative route via the Seacom line is also saturated due to damages to Seacom's own undersea cable. Complicating matters further, repair efforts in the Red Sea, critical for restoring connectivity, face dela ys as authorization for maintenance may take up to eight weeks to obtain. The delay prolongs the agony for businesses, individuals, and essential services already battling with the consequences of severed internet connections. The repercussions of this disruption can be felt across various sectors, including finance, education, healthcare, and communication. Businesses that rely on online transactions and communication platforms have recently faced significant hurdles, while Healthcare services, dependent on telemedicine and online consultations, encounter challenges in reaching patients and delivering essential care. Source: Cameroon News Agency