January 6, 2014
On Friday, January 3, 2014 representatives of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia (GAFRESA)
handed over a check in the amount of $30,000 to the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist Ethiopians abused and
displaced from Saudi Arabia since early November 2013.
Tamagn
Beyene, Chairman of the Alliance; Dr. Aklog Birara, Head of Foreign
Relations; Ms. Hirut Lisanework, Head of Finance and Senior Advisor of
the Alliance, Neamin Zeleke, met with Ms. Maria Moreno, IOM’s External
Relations Head and Chief Administrator at U.S Association for
International Migration in Washington D.C., to hand over the donation
and discuss issues related to the support that would be provided to the
victims of the displacement and future partnership with IOM on similar
efforts.
Ms. Moreno thanked and appreciated the Ethiopian Diaspora
for its effort to assist the victims and stated, “we are very close to
the people and we operate directly with staff members that have direct
knowledge about the crisis.” She further pointed out that children and
women are IOM’s priority groups and the funds will also be directed to
alleviate the suffering of such vulnerable groups as agreed between the
two parties. She also disclosed that IOM faces over 13 million-dollars
gap that needs to be filled in order to assist and rehabilitate the
victims.
According to Ms. Hirut Lisanework, the funds that was
donated to IOM were raised from fundraising efforts done by partners of
the Alliance in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Charlotte, New York, Nuremberg,
Germany, Norway, Buffalo, Rochester and individuals residing in various
parts of the world. She added that other cities that have raised funds
are expected to transfer funds into the Alliance’s account in the coming
weeks.
Discussing the significance of the meeting with IOM,
Tamagn said, “the goodwill gesture from the Ethiopian Diaspora all over
the world signifies the beginning of the start of such a proactive
initiative.” He underlined the urgent need to further get mobilized and
organized in order to respond to the desperate call for help that is
coming from thousands of Ethiopians that have been displaced and
languishing in camps and prisons in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other Middle
Eastern countries. He pointed out that Ethiopians should do their best
to help their compatriots being impacted by the unfolding humanitarian
crisis. Tamagn also stated that this was the first phase of continuing
donations that will be made to help alleviate the suffering of fellow
Ethiopians via IOM.
Dr. Aklog Birara giving his assessment of the
Alliance’s meeting with IOM noted “that Ethiopians are victims of the
grim economic and political reality confronting Ethiopia.” He urged the
Ethiopian Diaspora to continue supporting efforts to rehabilitate the
victims of the humanitarian crisis. Dr. Aklog further stated, “There is
no challenge we cannot overcome and there is no enemy we cannot defeat
when we rise up in unison like our forefathers. With passion and
conviction, we will extensively organize Ethiopians across the world so
that this movement becomes a formidable force in the fight for freedom
and dignity.”
GAFRESA was launched in November 2013 in response to
the shocking news of the killings, gang rapes and mass displacement of
Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.
To support the work of the Global Alliance please make your donations to:
ENPCP-GAFRESA
Chase Bank
Account# 994431476
Routing Number:072000326
Swift code: CHASUS33
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