On March 29, 2006, a solar eclipse was visible from Northern Africa, as
the moon passes in orbit between the earth and the sun. As the earth
rotates, the best place to see the eclipse will be in Libya. The total
eclipse will be visible for over 4 minutes, and the darkness will cover
the earth over the 180 km wide path. While the moon blocks the sun, it's
possible to view the night sky during the day! A partial eclipse was
visible across Sudan in the afternoon.
Future partial solar eclipses visible from east Sudan take place on
November 3, 2013
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2013Nov03H.GIF
September 1, 2016
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2016Sep01A.GIF
June 21, 2020.
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2020Jun21A.GIF
March 29, 2006
March 1, 2006
International aid agency steps out of east Sudan
Bowing to pressure from the central Khartoum government, the
International Rescue Committee [IRC] has suspended their work, which
includes provision of food and medicine to 45,000 people living in
camps. These camps are within the rebel controlled territory near the
Eritrean border.
News came from IRC which sent a letter to the Eastern Front describing
the government's request, who called a news briefing with journalists.
Eastern Front rebels said, "This sudden move creates a humanitarian
disaster for the 45,000 people directly benefiting from the health,
education, veterinary, water and local-capacity building programmes of
IRC." The one other agency at work in the area is Samaritan's Purse, and
they continue their operations.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article14388
International Rescue Committee [IRC] has suspended their work, which
includes provision of food and medicine to 45,000 people living in
camps. These camps are within the rebel controlled territory near the
Eritrean border.
News came from IRC which sent a letter to the Eastern Front describing
the government's request, who called a news briefing with journalists.
Eastern Front rebels said, "This sudden move creates a humanitarian
disaster for the 45,000 people directly benefiting from the health,
education, veterinary, water and local-capacity building programmes of
IRC." The one other agency at work in the area is Samaritan's Purse, and
they continue their operations.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article14388
January 1, 2006
23 Beja demonstrators killed by authorities
In the Annual Report for 2005, the Sudanese Organization Against Torture identified many situations in Sudan where citizens were unreasonably threatened. They state that in East Sudan, "The severe clampdown on people from the Beja tribe, which began in January 2005, when police forces in Port Sudan opened live ammunition on a demonstrating Beja crowd killing approximately 23 people including children and a pregnant woman, continued apace throughout the year."
http://tinyurl.com/2rr8xc
a pdf file converted to a html page - info on page 41.
http://tinyurl.com/2rr8xc
a pdf file converted to a html page - info on page 41.
December 31, 2005
Chinese to build power plant in Port Sudan
An agreement has been signed in 2005 that will lead to the construction of a 520 MW coal fired electrical power plant in Port Sudan, at a cost of $512 million [US].
Funding is being provided by Ex-im Bank, China and construction is by Shandong Electric Power Constr. Corp.
Recorded in "Building Bridges: China's Growing Role as Infrastructure Financier for Africa" Trends and Policy Options - Infrastructure #5. World Bank, PPIAF.
Funding is being provided by Ex-im Bank, China and construction is by Shandong Electric Power Constr. Corp.
Recorded in "Building Bridges: China's Growing Role as Infrastructure Financier for Africa" Trends and Policy Options - Infrastructure #5. World Bank, PPIAF.
August 1, 2005
Beja writer detained by authorities
Security Officers from Sinkat, Red Sea State, Eastern Sudan questioned a published Beja writer at their offices about his book that reputedly held some pages of text that were critical of the government. The title of the book by 63 year old Mr. Mohamed Adroub Ohajis called "Beja Congress - Past and Present." Officers demanded that pages be torn out of the book. Some 288 copies of the book were seized. Mr Ohajis is a retired teacher, writer on Beja history. A project he was working on at the time was a dictionary of the Beja language.
The Sudan Organisation Against Torture promoted this case as an example of intimidation and harassment, and invited appeals to government officials to "end restrictions on freedom of expression, allow full and open reporting of, and comment upon the current state of affairs in Sudan."
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article11333
http://www.soatsudan.org/
.
The Sudan Organisation Against Torture promoted this case as an example of intimidation and harassment, and invited appeals to government officials to "end restrictions on freedom of expression, allow full and open reporting of, and comment upon the current state of affairs in Sudan."
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article11333
http://www.soatsudan.org/
.
June 24, 2005
Central government bombs Beja rebels
Eastern Front rebels announce that casualties fill hospitals in Tokar and Port Sudan after air raids. Fighting on the ground was active for a few days. Also noted was the largest raid in years by the rebels against three barracks in Tokar. They attacked a military post on June 19 in Dolabyai, southeast of Tokar. This occurred after the central government made a peace deal with the National Democratic Alliance the previous week. The Eastern Front has been part of the NDA. To diffuse the rebellion, the government offered $88 million to develop east Sudan. Military officials deny any bombing from the air.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4618313.stm
.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4618313.stm
.
June 15, 2005
Food aid given in Halaib and Sinkat regions
WFP's partner, Sudanese Red Crescent, distributed over 675 tons of assorted commodities to 30,035 beneficiaries under Food-For-Recovery activities in different locations in Halaieb and Sinkat localities in Red Sea State. Another 2 tons of commodities were provided through the Ministry of Health and ACF to more than 1,245 beneficiaries in supplementary feeding centres in Port Sudan town.
http://www.cidi.org:8080/humanitarian//wfp/05a/ixl22.html
.
May 20, 2005
25% of toddlers suffer malnutrition
(z) Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) conducted a joint nutrition survey on 22 April in Odi, Hamoshkoraib locality Kassala State, targeting children under-five years. The survey found Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) at 24.6 percent for children under five. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) was reported at 3.4 percent. Primary factors that contributed to the deterioration of the nutritional status among children include access to food and clean drinking water.
Due to the severity of the situation, SRC recommended blanket supplementary feeding for all children under-five years for a three-month period to be followed by targeted supplementary feeding for children under-five years and pregnant and nursing women. Additionally, SRC recommended measles vaccination for all under-fives as the survey indicated that out of the 203 children screened, only one child was vaccinated. Limited access to safe water was reported as the biggest risk factor for morbidity and malnutrition.
The survey stressed that an appropriate strategy needs to be formulated immediately to address the critical safe water needs through the drilling of new boreholes, in conjunction with hygiene and health awareness. Meanwhile, WFP is currently reviewing a proposal submitted by SRC for a supplementary feeding programme in Odi.
http://www.cidi.org:8080/humanitarian//wfp/05a/ixl18.html
.
Due to the severity of the situation, SRC recommended blanket supplementary feeding for all children under-five years for a three-month period to be followed by targeted supplementary feeding for children under-five years and pregnant and nursing women. Additionally, SRC recommended measles vaccination for all under-fives as the survey indicated that out of the 203 children screened, only one child was vaccinated. Limited access to safe water was reported as the biggest risk factor for morbidity and malnutrition.
The survey stressed that an appropriate strategy needs to be formulated immediately to address the critical safe water needs through the drilling of new boreholes, in conjunction with hygiene and health awareness. Meanwhile, WFP is currently reviewing a proposal submitted by SRC for a supplementary feeding programme in Odi.
http://www.cidi.org:8080/humanitarian//wfp/05a/ixl18.html
.
May 1, 2005
Fifteen people, including government adminstrators die
An attack by the Eastern Front claimed the lives of 15 people, some of them were civil servants. The group claimed the action was in protest against a government- organised conference on the development of Eastern Sudan, which brought together traditional tribal leaders in Kassala but did not include members of the Eastern Front. Additionally, five people were kidnapped, including three politicians of the Red Sea parliament.
Later released, this incident took place in Amadam, North of Kassala, while the parliamentarians were on their way back to Port Sudan after attending the conference.
Source: SOAT
Later released, this incident took place in Amadam, North of Kassala, while the parliamentarians were on their way back to Port Sudan after attending the conference.
Source: SOAT
January 7, 2005
Cold weather and drought in Eritrea
Reported in the weekly World Food Program Report
Severe frost damaged vegetables in the areas surrounding Asmara between 20 and 31 December 2004. The Ministry of Agriculture has distributed seeds to facilitate the replanting of vegetables.
(c) Due to shortages of fuel, irrigation farms could not pump enough water, thus, many vegetables and fruits are drying in many areas of southeastern Eritrea. Water in the dams is expected to last up to end January 2005, thereafter, acute water shortage is expected in Areza, Mai Mine, Tsorona, and Adi Keyih (southeastern Eritrea). According to information received from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture representative, pastoralists from this area are on the verge of migrating with their livestock towards the Northern Red Sea zone in search of water/grazing land for their animals.
http://www.cidi.org:8080/humanitarian//wfp/05a/ixl0.html
.
Severe frost damaged vegetables in the areas surrounding Asmara between 20 and 31 December 2004. The Ministry of Agriculture has distributed seeds to facilitate the replanting of vegetables.
(c) Due to shortages of fuel, irrigation farms could not pump enough water, thus, many vegetables and fruits are drying in many areas of southeastern Eritrea. Water in the dams is expected to last up to end January 2005, thereafter, acute water shortage is expected in Areza, Mai Mine, Tsorona, and Adi Keyih (southeastern Eritrea). According to information received from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture representative, pastoralists from this area are on the verge of migrating with their livestock towards the Northern Red Sea zone in search of water/grazing land for their animals.
http://www.cidi.org:8080/humanitarian//wfp/05a/ixl0.html
.
August 19, 2004
Monkeys go ape in Kassala
Due to the cutting down of trees that have been the sole source of food for the monkeys, they have begun moving into the city of Kassala, to attack grocery stores and bakeries.
As reported in Al-Anbaa newspaper, "Hordes of monkeys are running wild." "The monkeys launch 'organized attacks which last several hours'. They are on the rampage in two suburbs, according to the August 19 report.
One resident, Salah Osman al-Khedr, said that they would break into homes and break kitchen utensils and snatch food from children.
April 2, 2004
Children travelling abroad tightly scrutinized
In a March 2006 report submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, it was reported that in April 2004, the Sudanese Minister for Internal Affairs stated that children must travel in accordance with the laws and regulations in force and that children must be prevented from travelling to take up work in camel racing.
Special efforts were made to carefully screen travellers with children, especially if they were going to an Arab country, and if the passport holders were from a tribe known for camel racing [presumably Beja and Rashaida [Rashayidah] tribes.]
Technological advances have eliminated the need for actual children to act as jockeys, so the situation has changed significantly since 2005.
Camel racing is big business in the gulf countries such as Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Purses can run up to $190,000 per race. They may take place at weddings or other celebrations. Races may be 15 km long, and camels can run at about 50 km [30 miles] per hour. The smaller the jockey, the less weight the camel needs to carry, the faster it can run. Thousands of children have been brought into these countries to be camel jockeys.
Living conditions for child jockeys are poor. They may be underfed, so they remain small, but this can delay their mental and physical development. Hosts might not provide education, and not pay wages owed. Children may be beaten or sexually abused.
Camel racing is an ancient sport but only since the 1980's has it really grown. But public pressure has caused host countries to reduce their exploitation of children. The introduction of robot jockeys in 2004-2006 has essentially eliminated the need for child jockeys. In 2005 hundreds of children were repaitriated to countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sudan with the assistance of the United Nations. Sudanese racers came mostly from the Rashaida tribe, since they have connections in Arabian countries. Historically, the Rashaida people immigrated from Saudi Arabia in the 1800's. They are nomadic like the Beja, but they acknowledge the Beja's prior claim to the land in the Red Sea Hills. Using traditional rules, they offer a token payment to Beja tribes for using their land.
In June 2005, workshops were held in Kassala to help government officials to reintegrate children who were returning from the Emirates. Unicef records show that over 1,000 camel racing children were repatriated to all countries from the UAE. The UAE implemented a law in July 2005 that made child jockeys illegal. Rashaida tribe members successfully reunited returning children with their families.
http://www.unicef.org/french/infobycountry/files/StartingOver.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/39p44d
Special efforts were made to carefully screen travellers with children, especially if they were going to an Arab country, and if the passport holders were from a tribe known for camel racing [presumably Beja and Rashaida [Rashayidah] tribes.]
Technological advances have eliminated the need for actual children to act as jockeys, so the situation has changed significantly since 2005.
Camel racing is big business in the gulf countries such as Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Purses can run up to $190,000 per race. They may take place at weddings or other celebrations. Races may be 15 km long, and camels can run at about 50 km [30 miles] per hour. The smaller the jockey, the less weight the camel needs to carry, the faster it can run. Thousands of children have been brought into these countries to be camel jockeys.
Living conditions for child jockeys are poor. They may be underfed, so they remain small, but this can delay their mental and physical development. Hosts might not provide education, and not pay wages owed. Children may be beaten or sexually abused.
Camel racing is an ancient sport but only since the 1980's has it really grown. But public pressure has caused host countries to reduce their exploitation of children. The introduction of robot jockeys in 2004-2006 has essentially eliminated the need for child jockeys. In 2005 hundreds of children were repaitriated to countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sudan with the assistance of the United Nations. Sudanese racers came mostly from the Rashaida tribe, since they have connections in Arabian countries. Historically, the Rashaida people immigrated from Saudi Arabia in the 1800's. They are nomadic like the Beja, but they acknowledge the Beja's prior claim to the land in the Red Sea Hills. Using traditional rules, they offer a token payment to Beja tribes for using their land.
In June 2005, workshops were held in Kassala to help government officials to reintegrate children who were returning from the Emirates. Unicef records show that over 1,000 camel racing children were repatriated to all countries from the UAE. The UAE implemented a law in July 2005 that made child jockeys illegal. Rashaida tribe members successfully reunited returning children with their families.
http://www.unicef.org/french/infobycountry/files/StartingOver.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/39p44d
January 1, 2004
HIV/AIDS among people in East Sudan
picture
A trainer uses a video in the programme on awareness, education and
prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Sudanese government programmes of public education have only been active
since about 2002. Help from other nations such as the UK have provided
funds to support NGOs to teach people readily at risk [truck drivers and
prostitutes, for instance.] Groups such as the army, and police are
interested in learning. Interest in learning has been growing, though
there remains much ignorance about AIDS.
Muslim religious leaders [imams] are key people for influencing the
community and have identified a conundrum regarding the distribution of
condoms. If they aren't given out, men who have illicit sex may pass the
disease on, and if they are given out, the donors may be assumed to
approve of the illicit sexual behaviour.
Read more:
http://www.ockenden.org.uk/index.asp?id=1544
UPDATE:
IRIN News in January 2008 published an article describing the
impact of HIV?AIDS on truckers and "tea-sellers."
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76141
UPDATE: January 2008. Description of efforts to support people living with Aids in Red Sea State
http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76315
A trainer uses a video in the programme on awareness, education and
prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Sudanese government programmes of public education have only been active
since about 2002. Help from other nations such as the UK have provided
funds to support NGOs to teach people readily at risk [truck drivers and
prostitutes, for instance.] Groups such as the army, and police are
interested in learning. Interest in learning has been growing, though
there remains much ignorance about AIDS.
Muslim religious leaders [imams] are key people for influencing the
community and have identified a conundrum regarding the distribution of
condoms. If they aren't given out, men who have illicit sex may pass the
disease on, and if they are given out, the donors may be assumed to
approve of the illicit sexual behaviour.
Read more:
http://www.ockenden.org.uk/index.asp?id=1544
UPDATE:
IRIN News in January 2008 published an article describing the
impact of HIV?AIDS on truckers and "tea-sellers."
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76141
UPDATE: January 2008. Description of efforts to support people living with Aids in Red Sea State
http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76315
August 21, 2003
Flooding on Gash River
Comments:
Heavy rain in the Ethiopian mountains causes Gash river to overflow and break flood barriers built in 1988. 680 houses destroyed. "Gash river burst its banks and reached 2.7 metres on 29 July, the highest level ever recorded in the region during the past 70 years". 79 percent of Kassala city flooded, 80 percent of population is homeless (about 70,000 families). August 8 - Gash River remains high and rain continues in the Ethiopian and Eritrean plateaus. Water enters western part of Kassala again. August 18 - fresh flooding reported in Kassala, more than 100 houses destroyed. August 21 - life starting to return to normal in Kassala city.
Worst flooding in 40 years in Eritrea on Gash River; heavy losses in crops, vegetation and agricultural facilities in Teseney.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/2003184.html
.
Heavy rain in the Ethiopian mountains causes Gash river to overflow and break flood barriers built in 1988. 680 houses destroyed. "Gash river burst its banks and reached 2.7 metres on 29 July, the highest level ever recorded in the region during the past 70 years". 79 percent of Kassala city flooded, 80 percent of population is homeless (about 70,000 families). August 8 - Gash River remains high and rain continues in the Ethiopian and Eritrean plateaus. Water enters western part of Kassala again. August 18 - fresh flooding reported in Kassala, more than 100 houses destroyed. August 21 - life starting to return to normal in Kassala city.
Worst flooding in 40 years in Eritrea on Gash River; heavy losses in crops, vegetation and agricultural facilities in Teseney.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/2003184.html
.
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