Short Bits of Mixed news

The Fifth Tourist Festival for East Sudan was launched in the Port Sudan stadium on December 1. Not enough people were there to watch the displays, so schoolchildren were brought in to see the shows. The festival continues with various events until mid February, 2012. Think of it as an extended advertising campaign for Sudanese to visit the east [internal country tourism.]

Elections in Egypt were successfully held last weekend, and voting equipment was brought in to Hala'ib region from the north. Reports are that hundreds of people were denied the right to vote because they had no proper Egyptian identification.

In April, 2010, Sudanese elections were held, but voting by Hala'ib citizens were not allowed even though attempts were made to include them. Sudan wants to negotiate on control over the Hala'ib region, offering three options to explore administration.

Sit-ins at Manasir [near the new Merowe Dam on the Nile River] continue for 2 weeks now. The Manasir people are fed up with the lack of compensation and care after their towns were swallowed up by the lake behind the dam, from even 5 years ago. Beja have acted in solidarity with these marginalized tribespeople.

A document calling for help for the people of South Tokar is getting distribution. A humanitarian disaster has occurred, and publicity and supplies are requested.

Tokar flooded - July

tFollowing serious July flooding in the Tokar region of Red Sea State in north eastern Sudan, the Minister of Social Affairs requested support from a number of different NGO agencies, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

MSF already had teams providing healthcare in the Red Sea State. Altogether they have over 2400 staff  in Sudan.

Many families in the Tokar region were affected by heavy flooding in mid-July which destroyed homes and water sources. In the immediate aftermath the Ministry of Health addressed the most urgent medical needs and distributed relief items. However, with flood-affected people still in need of further assistance, help was requested from various agencies.

MSF donated 200 emergency kits to a special shipment of supplies that was sent by boat to the affected area at the end of August.

http://bit.ly/dpgR1I 

More details please - reconstruction of east

This appears to be good news for inhabitants of the Red Sea State etc., but it's more polish than leather, more sizzle than steak. 

From Sudan Vision

East Reconstruction Fund to Implement 12 Projects

http://www.sudanvisiondaily.com//modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=51322
Khartoum- Neimat Al- Naeim
East Development and Reconstruction Fund, three Chinese companies have signed yesterday detailed memos of the Chinese loan projects to implement 12 development projects at the three eastern states: Red Sea, Kassala and Al-Gedarif at $43 million in the context of the Chinese loan.

The Presidential State Minister, Executive Director of the fund Engineer Abu Obeida Mohammed Duj explained, in a press conference, the details of the memos and the achievements of the fund which, by signing the memos, approaches a new stage in implementing the signed contracts with the Chinese companies.

He described the said projects as a leap in kind for the east indicating that the current stage comes following the completion of the 282 relief projects.

Duj affirmed the commitment of the Finance Ministry towards the development projects in Eastern Sudan indicating that SDG 375 million was allocated for the said fund in the budget of the year 2010 affirming that the fund represents a real addition to Eastern Sudan Agreement.

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Here at Adroub.net, we would like to know about  the 12 development projects.

What are they?

Where are they located?

What's their value? Each one might be valued at about $3.5 million. [or not].

Why is there a loan involved? The ESPA promises were going to paid out of general Sudanese revenues, right?

Can we see a list of the completed 282 relief projects, and their costs?

Is the budget for 2010 actually being expanded from what was agreed to in the ESPA?

Why expand the budget if the previous years payments haven't been received?

 

Red Sea governor meets with UNICEF reps

The Deputy Wali (governor) of the Red Sea State, Eissa Kabbashi, and the General Director of the Ministry of Education in the state met with UNICEF and Italian Embassy representatives. 

The meeting reviewed the implementation of educational and and environmental hygiene projects in the Red Sea State through funding from the UNICEF and the Italian Embassy.

http://www.sudanvisiondaily.com//modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=50466
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