Work permits for 30,000 Eritrean refugees

Nearly 30,000 work permits will be granted to refugees in Sudan's Kassala state under an agreement with the UN refugee agency to improve the livelihoods of refugees and reduce their dependence on external assistance.

Thousands of Eritrean refugees live in large camps near Kassala city. 

The agreement between UNHCR and Sudan's Commission for Refugees (COR), Kassala State, and Kassala Ministry of Finance - last week after negotiations that began in late 2011 - is an unprecedented step for refugees in Sudan. Work permits are essential for refugees to legally work and have the same employee rights as Sudanese citizens.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201310030359.html

Kassala students protest higher prices

Police walk on the street as the rally is broken up in Khartoum.

Students in Kassala demonstrated on the streets yesterday, and the police were called out to suppress the public display of frustration over the federal government's planned austerity measures.

Protests also took place in Khartoum and Shendi. The students called for the downfall of the government. In Khartoum, about 200 students participated.

The protests come ahead of plans by the government to end fuel subsidies as part of what officials describe as drastic austerity measures need to fill a budget gap of 2.4 billion USD.

Sudan's economy has been grappling with soaring inflation and a depreciating currency since the country lost three quarters of its oil production with the secession of South Sudan in July last year.

Inflation jumped to 30 percent in May, mainly on food prices, as the Sudanese pound continues to reach new lows in the black market for hard currency.

Allafrica source.
Photo via [Sudan Revolution-facebook] 

Aid improves Kassala water supply

 The June 2012 edition of JICA's World points out
that 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has been active in east and central Sudan, and South Sudan for some years. It is not clear if their work has recently been suspended by government order.

In Kassala, the JICA has been working on three projects:

 a Capacity Development Project for the Provision of Services for Basic Human Needs in Kassala/ 2011.5-2014.5

The Project for Urgent Improvement of Water Supply Facilities at Kassala City/ 2011.4

The Project for Improvement of Water Supply System at Kassala City (Detailed Design)/ 2011.8

In 2010, Japan granted aid worth $92 million US to Sudan, and provided almost $26 million US in technical cooperation.

VID: Trafficking between Eritrea & Sudan

Refugee camp near Kassala gets 3,000 refugees a month from Eritrea. How many are Beja?

Beja detained by security forces

 Kassala [Wikipedia]

In Wednesday, January 25, a symposium was held in Kassala. People talked about the current concerns in eastern Sudan, such as poverty and corruption. and held a memorial meeting for the people who were killed in 2005 at the Port Sudan massacre. After the meeting a few Beja people were detained by police. No details about the reasons for their arrest have been released.

The names of the people who are being held by security forces include
1 - Ammar Dirar
2 - Naji Moussa
3 - Ghazi Al-Tayeb
4 - Mohammad Mahjoub
5 - Sheriff Kamal

Fellow members of the congress meeting are calling for their immediate release.

UN REPORT- Kassala State unstable

The United Nations has published a report on their IRIN news site. It describes recent events and concludes that trouble is brewing in East Sudan, especially now that the Beja Congress has joined in with the Sudan Revolutionary Front, an umbrella group set up in November with the aim of overthrowing the government of Omar el-Bashir.


http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94421

Riots in Kassala, 13 year old killed

Kassala Police say that there a confrontation between themselves and smugglers of sorghum. A child was shot and killed.

What's the reality? Reports say a 13 year old was killed by police. No reports on how that happened. Citizens were enraged, and threw stones at riot police and set fire to two police cars the next day, on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Another child was shot by police and seriously injured.

Kassala is the centre of demonstrations over the rising price of foodstuffs, for a few weeks now.

Read the complete account at AllAfrica.

Another account has these details.

Police used teargas to break up a protest in eastern Sudan on Tuesday after police killed a 13-year old boy while chasing a truck, a witness said.

Hundreds of residents gathered in the city of Kassala near the border with Eritrea on Tuesday after the 13-year boy died. A 12-year old boy was also injured during the chase.

"Police used teargas to disperse the protest. People are very angry," said [unnamed] witness.

A police spokesman said the boy had been killed accidentally when police opened fire on a truck they suspected was carrying smuggled food. He said police in Kassala are investigating the incident.

Sudanese Online.

Law and order - 20 injured in Kassala

Nearly 20 students were injured during anti-government demonstrations in the city of Kassala in eastern Sudan on Sunday.

Among those injured were 13 female and seven male students. The demonstrations against rising prices and inflation entered their third week.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the police used tear gas on the demonstrators which led to many students being unconscious. Six of the students have been rushed to intensive care units.

The police have surrounded the faculty of Education at the University, where the protests began a few weeks ago.

Source: AllAfrica.

Kassala visit by Bashir and Awerki

Kassala University. Pic by jabir.

A new road running from Kassala to the Eritrean border will be officially opened today by the Sudanese and Eritrean presidents. It is 26 kilometers long and cost $9 million. Funds came from Qatar. A 1400 unit housing project will also be opened.

Students have been protesting. With the ongoing financial difficulties in Sudan, officials expect students to demonstrate again. Groups such as Grifina and Student Youth Mainstream have been leading rallies of students for the past ten days. The young people have been calling for overthrow of the regime and provision of food for the people of the state, which they considered poverty-stricken.

 awate.com photo

A week ago, on October 20, five or eight people were run over by a security vehicle. Some were seriously injured. Demonstrators are asking for the prosecution of the officers. 

From Kassala, AllAfrica reports on student demonstrations. Hundreds of students and anti-government youth, led by a group calling itself the Student Youth Mainstream, chanted slogans in the streets adjoining the University of Kassala.

AllAfrica also reports on the visit by Bashir and Afwerki, noting that Al-Bashir's visit to Kassala coincides with a wave of intermittent students' protest that has been sweeping the eastern town since October 18.

 SudanVision photo and another story!

UPDATE. Done Deal. Lots of media coverage on this story. French African [in English] news source.  His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani spoke. Read the AllAfrica account of the inauguration of the asphalt road. Speeches were made and gifts were given.

"... The Administrator of Kassala region, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf Adem, expressed appreciation for the contribution of the people and Government of Eritrea under the leadership of President Isaias for concluding the peace agreement between East Sudan Front and the Government of Sudan. In this regard, he said: "The role of the people and Government of Eritrea occupies a special place in the heart of every Sudanese national."

"Mr. Mohammed Yusuf Adem presented a sword souvenir, a cultural symbol of the Kassala region, to President Isaias, Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and President Omar Hasan Al-Bashir.

"The Arbatasher-Kassala road was part of the development program for Eastern Sudan region in line with the peace agreement concluded in Asmara in October 2006 between the Government of Sudan and the East Sudan Front. The project was also funded by the State of Qatar."

MORE. View a 30 minute edited video of the celebrations inaugurating the road. [Missing: pics of vehicles using the road... not even any pics of the road itself!] But there are speeches, and dancing, and gift giving and the crowds!

http://blip.tv/asmarino5/video-road-linking-eritrea-and-sudan-inaugurated-5679667

Kassala state meets Eritrean Ambassador

Kassala — Chairman of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sport and acting Governor of Kassala State, Mohamed Ahmed Ali, received at his office Wednesday the Eritrean Ambassador in Khartoum, H.E. Mohamed Sa'aed. Present in the meeting were the head of the Workers Trade Union in the state and chairman of the Sudanese-Eritrean Friendship Society in Kassala Abdul-Gadir Yagoub as well as the chairman of the Eritrean Community in Kassala, Mohamed Ibrahim.


The meeting reviewed the deeply-rooted relations between Sudan and Eritrea as well as the arrangements being taken for boosting the joint relations and interests of the two countries in the economic, social and cultural fields besides the movement of the citizens of the two countries through the borders. The Eritrean Ambassador appreciated the participation of the government of Kassala state in the celebration of Eritrea on the occasion of the anniversary of the national Day.

allAfrica

Fistula Operations for women in Kassala region

For women in the Kassala region, visiting doctors will perform fistula operations beginning on May 13, 2011. This short term project will last about 10 days, and 50 free operations will be performed.

This "fistula camp" will launch the new fistula centre at Kassala Hospital. Doctors from Egypt and Khartoum-based Dr. Abu Fistula Centre will participate. The Arab Physicians' Union and the Islamic Medical Association are involved.

A fistula operation can change the life of a woman. When a woman gives birth to a baby, the thin wall between the birth canal and the bladder may get broken. The result is that urine constantly dribbles out. The woman may be rejected by her husband, and ostracized by her neighbours. A fistula operation is designed to sew up the breach, thus restoring dignity to the woman. However, more than one operation may be required for successful healing.

Source: Sudan Vision

Learn more about Dr. Abbu, founder of the Dr Abu Fistula Centre. [pdf file]

New money for Kassala water system

Japan has signed an agreement with Sudan to provide $13 million to improve water supplies in the city of Kassala.

The Japanese Ambassador said the grant, which was signed Wednesday April 6, 2011, is the first direct grant by Japan to Sudan since 1990s. He stated that the Japanese International Cooperation Agency will undertake a greater role in Sudan in the areas of transfer of technology, training, maternity, childhood, water and capacity building.

In February, Japan extended $17 million to help provide humanitarian projects in the Kassala region. That technichal cooperation agreement covers development planning, water supply, agriculture and livelihood, maternal and child health and vocational training, for three years beginning in May 2011.

Development announcements

1. Highway. A meeting held in Kassala discussed development projects at the locality in the field of highways and bridges for the construction of a 320-km highway that connects Kassala, New Halfa and Khartoum North that passes through Buatana. This road will be funded by Kuwaiti money. Link.

2. Roads. New Haifa expects to get 100km of internal roads too. Link.

3. Dam Loans. Setit River and the Atbara River Dams will be joined together and given greater height. The total cost is over $800 million. An additional loan of $175 million has been agreed to by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. Link.     Learn more about this giant project.

4. Waterworks. Unnamed east Sudan project. The cost is $10 million, but it may covered by a previously announced grant from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. Link.
 
5. Airport. Khartoum New Interrnational Airport will be given a loan of $175 million. Link.

More demining in Kassala State

 It looks like the [Sudanese?] National Center for Anti Landmines Operations has been provided with 24 million Euros. These funds have been directed toward further operations in Kassala State, and Red Sea State and Gedarif State. The National Center sends teams to find, mark and clear landmine zones.

Sourced from the Sudan Media Center 

Japan provided equipment worth $170,000 a year ago for demining in the east, and MAG International has an active programme of training agencies and demining workers in Sudan. [MAG photo from May/June2010]

Musa Ahmed sets Al-Bejah Congress meeting

Kassala — The Al-Bejah Congress in Kassala State Thursday [Mar. 17] organized a meeting with representatives of the political forces in the state toward preparing for an inclusive conference of the people of the eastern Sudan as an initiative of the Assistant of the President of the Republic, Musa Mohamed Ahmed.

The Secretary General of Al-Bejah Congress, Jaafar Mohamed Adam, explained that this initiative came when the country is witnessing changes that necessitate real unity and responsibility to make landmark progress in east Sudan in all fields and to participate in rehabilitation and development of in Sudan.

He pointed out that this initiative aims to supporting the unity of Sudan and boosting the peace process and realizing sustainable development in east.

Adam said that the initiative also aims to assessing the implementation of East Sudan Peace Agreement and assuring the unity of the people of the east. He indicated that similar meetings are held in Gadara and the Red Sea states coinciding with this meeting.

As reported in allAfrica. Q.

MUSIC: "Kassala" at the Sudan Peace Concert

Mohammed "Adarob" Eltahir sings "Kassala", a song from the Eastern Beja region of Sudan. Performed at the Sudan Peace Concert on January, 7, 2011 in Alexandria, VA (USA)

محمد الطاهر (أدروب) في أداء رائع لأغنية بيجاوية بعنوان "كسلا" والتي كانت من ضمن احتفال سلام السودانالذي قام في السابع من يناير 2011 في مدينة ألكساندريا بولاية فيرجينيا (الولايات المتحدة)

Japan supports Kassala State

Japan's international development agency has signed an agreement to fund a Capacity Development Project in Kassala State.

The Project aims at providing Kassala State with basic services such as development planning, water supply, agriculture and livelihood, maternal and child health and vocational training with a total value of 17 million US Dollars to be implemented in three years as from May 2011.

The agreement was signed by the Wali (governor) of Kassala State, Mohamed Yousif Abdalla, and the Resident Representative of JICA in Sudan, Kenichi Shishido.

This development funding is part of Japan's $320 million commitment toward the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

This agreement was reported at AllAfrica on February 23, 2011.

Human trafficing

The Workshop of Human Trafficking and Smuggling, organized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHRC), began Wednesday [February 16] at the Hall of Kassala Police Forces with the participation of leaders and concerned persons in the States of Geddarif and Red Sea, in the presence of the Adviser of the Governor of Geddarif State, Hassan Mohammed Osman. The many refugees in the area increase the possibility of this phenomena.
.

Training Pastoralists in Kassala State

A pilot project was held in October 2008 by PENHA, the FAO, the United Nations and Oxfam Netherlands.

About 30 pastoralists were introduced to new feeding techniques. By closely chopping mesquite pods, sorghum and sesame cake, along with urea and molasses, the animal's diets could be improved. Results showed increased milk yields and better animal health and weight. Participants were given hand operated table size choppers.

Cross-border highway near Kassala upgraded

Kassala - SUNA
The Presidential Advisor, Dr.Mustafa Osman Ismail, will inspect Wednesday, during his two-day visit to Kassala State, the progress of work on the 26-kilometer Kassala-Al-Lafa highway linking Sudan with Eritrea, which will be inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Omer Al Bashir during his expected visit to Kassala State in the presence of the Eritrean President, Isaias Afwerki.

Dr. Ismail will also visit Al-Lafa model village which is established with the support of the Qatari government for maintaining stability in the area and providing housing for the war-affected people.

http://www.sudanvisiondaily.com//modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61094