Afarvänner i Sverige
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Afarvänner i Sverige
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Document of Afar Development Conference
Aysaita, December 15-30, 2004
Compiled By Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) P. O. Box 592, Code 1,110 Addis Ababa
Contents
1. A Statement of Afar Development Conference Aysaïta, Afar National Regional State December 30, 2004
Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) organized an Afar National Development Conference between 15th and 30th December 2004 in Aysaïta in Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. The participants of the conference consisted of Afars from the Diasporas and Djibouti, representatives from Afar regional government and pastoralist communities coming together to discuss Afar development problems and future development perspectives. At the outset of the conference from December 15th to 25th, six groups of delegates were dispersed into districts of the region topographically representing the overall development status to gain a hands-on assessment. During this visit, they observed development achievements that have been made in the past twelve years and the difficulties encountered. While they were impressed with development program made in the region, equally, they have come to realize the growing disappointment of development expectations and the appalling situation of the recurrent drought and famine, inadequate facilities that are not catered to service the end users, transportation problem, insufficient medical facilities and medicine, lack of educated people to run the program designed by the regional and federal government, and lack of security were among many subjects discussed.
To begin with there is an urgent need to avert human catastrophe due to looming imminent hunger, which is showing its effect! We appeal to both authorities and the international organizations to rapidly assist the Afar pastoralists in Teeru, Barahle, Chifra and other critically affected Woredas as soon as possible! The most affected are children, elderly people and animals. It is evident that there is a critical water shortage in most of these woredas. Malnutrition and waterborne diseases are rampant. Unless an urgent aid is in its way, there will be a catastrophic result in human and animal life.
The conference participants suggested that the need for a new and holistic approach to tackle the Afar development problem. The Afar region in Ethiopia occupies a large geographical area and has substantial varied natural resources. Nevertheless, these resources are either under developed or totally untapped. Consequently the Afar remains as one of the most impoverished people in the country today. The traditional Afar economy survived for centuries by adapting and perfecting a lifestyle of pastoralism. Loss of grazing land, water sites and increased population has meant increased poverty as the natural resource base on which they depend continues to be degraded.
Poverty in the Afar often has been described as being caused by natural factors and by man-made practices. These are by no means separate from one another; on the contrary, they reinforce each other. Afar region in Ethiopia is one of the most impoverished areas in one of the world’s poorest countries. Its history of chronic externally induced conflicts, instability, and inaccessibility has contributed substantially to the neglect and underdevelopment that persist to the present day. Even though attempts to engage the Afar people in development schemes are evident. However, it is equally evident that there is much to be done in a manner that can bring enduring improvement. One of the obstacles for regional development has been the geographic and ecological factor of the region of the Afar, which is in any case prone to drought and ecological degradation because of erratic rainfall patterns. This has led to recurrent drought and famine throughout many years. Out of necessity, the Afar has evolved a highly adapted mode of transhumance pastoralism, which is, the most efficient land use in such an environment. Traditional livestock management is based on herd diversification. However, it appears that this process has been altered by recurrent drought and hence exposing the pastoralist to unprecedented harm.
The other major factor has been lack of proper policy to address the grave situations of the people up to 1994. There are no policies, which specifically address pastoral dynamics, and as result a far-reaching effect on pastoralist development is evident. Even today there are no by-laws, which address pastoral land administration. The land ownership and right of use of the Afar were neglected in the past. In 1995 a proclamation on property rights was formulated that protected the right of pastoralists not to be displaced from their land. This however has not been formalized and the by-law is still not in place. The absence of such by-laws has created confusion on land rights. At present the expansion of construction and urbanization has no parallel in Ethiopian history and the Afar is no exception. But the basic poverty question has remained, as in the past, untouched. The situation for pastoral people today has not improved very much compared with the past.
The open market policy has exacerbated the pastoralist condition. Livestock products are becoming an increasingly scarce commodity. The food habit of the Afar pastoralists diet is changing due to the drought situation leading to food insecurity. The Afar pastoralists in some areas of the Afar region are affected by the declining of livestock per capita characterized by instability, decreasing income, increasing poverty and environmental degradation. Pastoralist Afar have poor access to education, limited educational opportunities and the existing school curriculum does not reflect the pastoral way of life in general and their cultural values in particular. Poorly developed infrastructure, makes remote parts of the Afar area inaccessible.
Communal grazing is currently under increasing pressure, due to the expansion of poorly planned investments and the construction of roads and urbanization. Important grazing areas, which are close to the highlands, riverbanks, and swampy areas are increasingly occupied mainly for cultivation purposes. Therefore they are no more accessible for livestock use. Some rangeland areas are reserved as military security zones. As a result livestock are forced to move to already over grazed areas. In addition, bush encroachment has been expanding and has further reduced the grazing potential of the rangelands. The stage of deterioration at present, for instance, around the Awash Valley is serious and may already be irreversible. It should be understood that it is leading not only to the destruction of the Afar as pastoral society but is affecting the long-term dynamics of the entire Awash Basin ecosystem.
There are hardly any references to specific social structures or administrative units, and little evidences of understanding of the internal rules of different tribal groups. Too little has been done in understanding the know-how and resources the Afar already controls. This neglect lends to the reinforcement of dependence and to the diminution of self-reliance.
A major constraint, however, to the development of the region has been instability related to internal and external border clashes. In particular, the participant of the conference overwhelmingly agreed that the Afar and Issa conflict requires an immediate solution in order to bring stability and lasting peace in the areas affected in particular, and to Ethiopia in general. To find solution they identified and recommend the following:
1. The Afar National Regional Government should make strenuous efforts to bring solution to the problem
2. The Federal Government, which is expected to bring solution to the conflict and protect its citizens, should act soon
3. In the interim, both the Afar Regional and Federal government must put pressure to safe guard and protect the lives of daily civilian victims of the conflict.
Further, it is evident that the absence of effective administration and lack of capacity, which all are the legacy of past rules and policies are still rampant. All these factors are interrelated. First of all considerable emphasis should be placed on Afarisation articulated in a clear policy orientation and should be reflected in various regional government institutions. In this context priority should be given to social services, training, employment and capacity building. The driving force for this should be a close cooperation between the few educated Afars and non-Afar experts to work in their full potential in collaboration with the federal and regional government. The lessons learned indicate that the pastoral development strategy should focus on improving food security, minimizing risks, improve livestock production, enhancing emigration and increasing long-term sustainability of the pastoral system. This should take into account not only social and ecological factors but also a broad and often neglected question of whether projects contribute to economic self-reliance and enhance measures that promote independence. For this to happen projects have to be owned by the community, have to be wereda based and could be executed through government institutions, local communities or in partnership with NGOs.
The lack of clearly defined and directed pastoral holistic approach based on the sustainable development of the arid and semi-arid regions remains an obstacle. At present, the Afar consider their life is at stake because much of the land that used to serve as grazing land is now either engulfed with swamps/marsh or has become non-productive because of insufficient flooding from Awash river. Indeed, a kind of destruction chain reaction appears to have been put in motion since the beginning of the last few decades. Obvious increase in the density of livestock has resulted in a progressive reduction of the availability of high quality herbs in the region. With a reduction of pasture land and high quality of fodder at the rate that is being observed, the Afar population will be in great economic crisis unless mitigation measure are taken sooner than later.
It is clear that the sustainable development of the Afar pastoral production system within the framework of the development of the regional and the Federal government is not a simple task but one that requires the collaboration and good will of the federal and local government; and NGO’s for considerable period of time. Whether or not the Afar people seize this moment to define their future in terms of their own priorities, needs and aspirations is a matter for Afars to choose. When it comes to pastoralist communities like the Afar, there is a need for a different approach that is strategically suited to the pastoralist way of life. But to ensure food security on a permanent basis much more is needed. But it is also the responsibility of the Federal and Regional Government, NGOs and the international community to encourage the Afars to set their own agenda, but not to set the agenda for them. A comprehensive Development Program along the above-described lines could be developed but it should be designed in Afar with Afar leaders and with the support of Federal State. It is only through this process that a reliable and sustainable development program could be formulated and implemented. For this to happen Federal, regional Governments and NGOs that support the efforts of development should create an appropriate space and environment to work in. An effective implementation structure would have to be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of all partners.
The participants unanimously identified the following development obstacles, which needs an immediate attention. These obstacles are categorized into external and internal factors. The external factors are those obstacles that Afars could not resolve by themselves and therefore requires proactive role to be played by both the Federal and Regional Government. Equally, the internal factors refer to remain with the domain the Afar society to tackle.
External Factors:
Internal Factors:
The above-identified obstacles need serious consideration and participation of four stakeholders:
1. Afar society itself 2. Afar National Regional Government and the Federal Government as well. 3. Afar intellectuals in Diaspora as well as in the region 4. Local and International NGOs
It is also recommended that an active and viable involvement of the Federal and Afar Regional governments are of utmost and immense importance. Such involvement calls for formulating policies that can work for the Afars and empowering the people to alleviate their problems. If an achievement in development and conflict resolution is sought in the Afar region, the participation of the Afars themselves is necessary. In addition, it is also mentioned that the role of some Afar intellectuals aboard has not been active and are called upon to engage themselves fully or during their visits in the development of the region.
The participants have also highly recommended such a gathering of Afars from all places to be held every two years. It was evident the collegiality displayed can bring people together and forge friendship to better understand each other. Through such gatherings and discussions it is believed that the benefit is evident. The participants agreed that the Afar National Regional State and Afar Pastoralist Development Association make every effort to conduct and facilitate such gathering every two years.
2. The objective
Objectives of the conference are to evaluate, discuss and find means to alleviate the Afar development problems. Regardless of opinion the objectives is to find a workable solution to the problems that faces the Afars.
3. Government Position
‘Afar National Government’: A text prepared jointly by Afar National Regional Government and APDA for the Afar Development Conference
The Afar Region is geographically situated in the north east of Ethiopia. It is 100 860 square kilometers. From important studies carried out it is estimated that 2.8% of the whole area is suited to farming. So far, 1.6% is used for farming. From the whole area, 25.7% is suitable land for grazing animals. 70.9% of the land is desert. Trees grow on 54.9% of the land in the rainy season therefore animals graze in a wider area seasonally. The census conducted in 1998 showed the population as 1,329,999, of whom 92% live in rural area. Their livelihood is dependant on animal products. They move from place to place in search of grazing and share resources together. In the past, in the rule of Haile Selassie and the Dergue, the Afar people were divided in 5 regions. There was no way for them to discuss on political, social and economic issues concerning them. They did not have opportunity to take part in development activities.
Regarding development during the previous governments, there is an asphalt road extending from Addis Ababa to Assab, some schools for the advantage of workers in government – owned cotton farms, old fashioned electricity supply in not more than two towns and telephone lines. In short Afars were forgotten and backward in basic development sectors such as education. There was no means of discussing any problems. Even after integration there were problems to work out things successfully.
In the region from 1985 EC to 1987 when the provisional government, lead by the Afar Liberation Front which had won the election and took power, they started the regional infrastructure from zero. As a result, they could not manage to establish more than the administrative boundaries of 5 zones and 29 woredas (districts) in the region.
Since the establishment of regional government in 1988, problems inherited from the past continued to affect the government as follows: a) In the education sector, there was not sufficient manpower to do the job successfully b) There was no center for region, zone and woreda c) There was conflict internally and from outside. d) Different political organizations were created and there was not enough concern about development except who will take the power e) Poverty was widespread f) There was no policy and strategy planned for the pastoral community g) Harmful cultures and backward views were prevalent h) Drought was striking the region time and again i) Adequate agitation in the community was not done j) There was no participation by investors and NGOs The government did its best to solve the problems as follows: a) The government did its best to solve the problem of disagreement among political parties by unifying them b) In order to elevate the understanding of the mass toward peace, development and democracy, so many conferences have been held c) Peaceful solutions were found for the conflicts raised
Different efforts were done in development as follows: a) Construction of buildings for 29 woreda centers and 5 zonal centers. There were a total of 360 buildings of offices and homes constructed. b) Aside from asphalt road, different levels and types of roads were constructed by the Federal Government. About 18 roads that suit the rural areas were constructed. Roads of the distance of 2,017 kilometers are already constructed and under service to the community.
Different evaluations on development of the region were made as follows: a) Studies regarding how to use the land were done b) Studies on farm development of the region for Afar were done c) Studies on how to utilize grasses and water resources in the lowland were done d) Studies for tourist attraction areas were done e) Industrial potential studies were done f) Studies on agricultural development at the woreda level were done
On the issue of human health, 117 buildings housing hospitals, clinics, health centers and health posts are completed. In education, 174 schools are built. 131 water sources are constructed.
Today, the government has formed a system of decentralization. By so doing, the authorities are spread down to the woreda level. Using World Bank finance, a five - year program of capacity building at the woreda level in the region is underway. As part of this program, the amendment of civil service capacity is underway.
To change the pastoral life to sustainable situation: a) 3 woredas were selected to pilot activities of pastoral development, spreading the vision and experiences to other areas b) New policy of the vision of development and good governance for pastoral areas is underway c) A program for sustainable development and poverty reduction is prepared d) In order to implement the vision of pastoralist policy and verify whether food for work program is practical, Pastoral Community Development Project is being implemented by the fund of the World Bank in 6 woredas. Next year, another 3 woredas will be included in the program. In general, the program is divided into 3 steps and will be completed in 25 years. It will include other woredas, step by step. e) Safety net program as part of food security will be started in the near future f) Preparation is already underway for clean water supply program with a fund supplied by the World Bank. In the beginning woredas will be selected and the beginning phase will be implemented in the immediate future
On road construction: To connect 3 roads of Aba’ala, Yallo and Magaale, studies and designs have been made and construction will be done by the Federal Government. As part of the Ethiopian Rural Roads and Transport Program, Dullassa woreda road construction will be implemented collectively by the Federal and Regional governments with funds from 8 donors.
On communication: 20 towns have now got telecommunication services and 12 towns have electricity. Kalawaan and Daale Gaage will soon receive electricity service.
The number of NGOs in the region has increased from 2 0r 3 before to 22.
Despite all this effort, still there are many complicated problems, especially to do with drought and poverty. In studies done in December 2004, 588,630 people were identified as victims of drought and starvation. If the situation of rain does not change in the next months and they did not receive any help, then the victims of drought will be higher.
4. Situation Reports
Six groups are set up to visit different sample weredas to see the situation. These weredas are elected on sample base.
4.1 From Assayita woreda
Information of Henale kebele
There is an improvement in the interest for education from before. We developed this further interest in education after we lost large numbers of our herds in drought. Schools in the community are close and they teach in 3 languages to grade 6. Currently, in the community, there are not educated people. Solution: Although there are few educated people in the society, now that education is available, interest in it should increase. People who have had some education should return from herding to education. For this reason, we are asking a boarding school for the children.
The health worker does his best and transfers those he cannot treat. There is no mother/ child care. There is no treatment for chest infection (tuberculosis) and no place for blood test. There is a great interest health education to prevent sickness but it has not been tried before. Community aspirations: That TBAs get training and get equipped. A treatment place for babies be opened and people to treat the babies from the community be taught. A place of blood testing be opened.
The harmful traditions in the district are FGM and marriage by force to the cousin. After child-birth, the mother must stay in the house for 7 days without washing and drinking water only once per day. Males cannot come into the house she delivered in. Also the problem of kaat chewing brings many problems. This brings heavy economic problems to the household. The wife cannot get what she needs and wants. His child has no food because of his kaat chewing. Those who have money loose it on chewing. Solution: We need to leave FGM. This needs a woman to teach the women about the problem. The tradition of marriage by force should stop and the girl gets her choice in marriage. Women should get their full rights. Hygiene education and teaching should be available.
4. Water problem
The available water is dirty. This water is close by and comes from the river. Solution: We need clean water from a well and a pump to get the water out of the river when it is low for farming.
Fifteen years before the animals were healthy. Now the animals get many sicknesses. Goats get chest infection and ‘geera mole’ sickness when it is colder. Animals do not get treatment or vaccination. Solution: A pump to flood irrigate and create grass for animals. We ask the government to teach paravets and give them medicines to treat animals.
All the land we were using for grazing is now used for farming. Now the river water is diminished it is not sufficient for the animals. Therefore we are asking the government to dig out the river channels.
Below are the answers gained from asking the community about the market and household economy: - we have animals and farm - We go to the market to sell our goods and buy what we need - We sell goats, cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys and buy clothes, food, coffee and tobacco - The closest market is Assayita, one hours walk - In drought, animals fetch under half of their value. Goats normally sell at 100 to 150 ETB. This drops to 50 to 70 ETB in drought time. Similarly, cattle price drops from 1,000 to 1,500 ETB down to 500 to 600 per cow and grain price goes up to 100 ETB per quintal Solution: The government should teach us improved market skills. Also we want pesticides for the farm.
Afar have a traditional mechanism of assisting themselves. Animals are protected from hunger in time of drought. For inter-clan conflict, the clans have a mechanism to resolve the problem. Solution: We need to strengthen the former cultures. We should leave bad traditions and strengthen good cultures. We should protect the rights of women.
We have a radio and road. For communication in the society, we have female traditional association leaders.
We should leave clan conflict and establish widespread education leaving illiteracy. In so doing we should develop our own language and culture.
Clan conflict and illiteracy.
Information from Kutubla
The community is very motivated education. We have a teacher from APDA teaching in Afar. There is no other education. The kebele leaders have no education.
2. Health and nutrition
The community has poor health. Children have nutritional problem. Many children died. We do not have a road to the clinic. Before, we were carrying sick people 70 kilometers to Assayita. Many people died before reaching. Delivering mothers died in their homes. When it rains, the road to Assayita is closed. Now we have health workers and women extension workers from APDA.
There are many problems including marriage by force, marrying an older man and FGM. After birth, the women are closed with thorns. After birth, she cannot get out until the stars are in the right position as determined by the ‘cutukbeytoh’. She cannot have a fire in her house and cannot eat cooked food. She may remain like this for up to a year or more. Now that there is much less butter and meat, women get very weak under these conditions.
Water is dirty. It is not far. We do not have the tradition of digging for clean water. In Kifilu, a well was dug and covered but whether the water is good or bad, it is not known.
Before 15 years, animal health was better since when rain fell, we took the animals to the hilly areas and they got clean, rain-water. This year, the rain did not fall. The main 4 sicknesses the animals are dying from are schitsomoniasis, chest infection, hepatitis, pasteurlosis.
Grazing land is reduced due to farming taking the land. The traditions of coping are still there but the society is not upholding them as they did. People from Kutubla only move during the main rainy season.
We do not have a household economy since we do not know the meaning of economy. When we go to market and sell animals, we immediately buy what we need, whether grain, clothes or coffee etc. For this reason, we are not left with money in the hand. We go 70 kilometers to the Assayita market. We bring cattle, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys to the market. We also farm but this is very small this is due to the fact that those who farm cannot get enough water out of the Awash for this. We also do not get grain seeds or pesticides for the insects attacking the grain. Also, there is not a good price for the grain in Assayita. For example, the merchant will buy the grain for 50 ETB and sell it again in the dry season for 120 ETB. Also, farming is all done by the traditional means - no modern system.
In the case of internal conflict, this is solved by traditional judgment or ‘mablo’. This conflict arises from problem of ownership – women, animals and land and conflict is now increased compared to before. This is due to the fact that now people are being punished under the government law rather than the traditional law.
9. Roads and communication
In this respect, we do not have either roads or communication. Solution: Since no development can happen without roads, we need a road connecting us to the town. We should leave the good traditions of administration and conflict resolution. If you leave your culture, it will be replaced by bad traditions.
For Afar development to succeed, people need to leave illiteracy and learn and also, they need school buildings.
Because people do not know the value of education, they are clanistic and involve in conflict.
These ideas and information were given by Mumina Maahe, Hasan Mohammad and Aadu Helem Seeko Information from Handug in Gayrane, Gehrtu and Allasoboolo in Afembo
The community has a great enthusiasm for education, they are learning in 3 languages but the n umber of teachers is low. Those who are learning teach others and those who do not attend class go to others to learn. This system of learning was established by APDA. 2. Health and nutrition We get health care from APDA. There is a clinic but the health worker in the clinic does not come all the time to open the clinic. We are taught health education including the need for vaccination and also get TBA assistance. We get all this from APDA and we appreciate them. The main difficulties are we do not have a laboratory or a mother, child care center or X-ray facility. The community has poor nutrition but is very interested to improve its health. Solution: If an Afar person is working in the clinic and there is a place for checking pregnant and women and a laboratory this will improve the situation. 3. Women’s issues and harmful practices
The situation for women is now better. APDA has intervened to help us and now most of the community agrees that FGM should stop. However, there is still much problem with traditional marriage: the girl is still forced to get married and the most difficult is that the widow is forced to marry her dead husband’s brother/ close relative. The woman who refuses to marry this way then looses all access to her dead husband’s property. Young girls forced to marry sometimes kill themselves. The situation in Geherto is more extreme as the girls are married very young and FGM is still practiced Solution: We need someone with good knowledge of the religion to assist us and teach us to overcome these problems. For this we must participate ourselves. 4. Water problems
At the moment, we do not have a problem of access to water. It is close to the house but it is dirty. We have requested assistance to get clean water from the government but this has not yet eventuated. 5. Animal health Now, compared to 15 years ago, the animal health is much worse. Overall the animals are hungry. The main sicknesses in cattle are disease of the joints (caray mude), cattle die standing (soole), pasteurelosis, all cows die (dagge cabe), hepatitis, schitsomoniasis, die sitting down (nooke) black leg. Goats have external parasites, pasteurolosis, fever, ‘afqood’ – sores in the mouth, black stomach, diarrhea from drinking hot water, diarrhea ‘inxaaci’, skin sores whne rain falls. Camels have chest infection, pasteurlosis, ‘amo lafa’, ‘qanga kala’, ‘geera moole’, sores on the legs. There is no treatment for animals aside from what APDA assists. Solution: We need a fodder place for the animals and our people taught as paravets and animal vaccination. 6. Pastoral movement
There is no shortage of land but it is affected by drought. We have good coping mechanisms governed by traditional laws. This is helping us. We move twice: for our own choice and for the reason of drought. 7. Household economy and market The nearest market is 12 kilometers away in Assayita. In the time of drought, the prices are down. This is because a poor quality goat makes 30.00 ETB and in a good time, the goat can sell for 200.00 ETB. Also a cow in drought time makes 150 to 200 ETB but in good times, 1,000 ETB. Recently, we formed a women’s association but we still do not have any money for it. We get problem with farming due to insects that stop the growth of grain. We are looking for assistance from the government or NGOs for farming. Solution: The government organizes for us to inter - market our goods. 8. Coping mechanisms
We overcame our problems by starting to farm. Now the situation is worse due to drought. Since conflict issues are now taken to the government, the situation is worse: people do not respect the traditional ways of solving the problems of conflict – over women, land and animals. Solution: Returning to the traditions of before – respect, obeying of clan elders and so on.
9. Roads and communication
We have a road and radio communication as established by the government and a women’s traditional association Solution: We are waiting assistance from the government to take the road further and to establish water sources where there are none. 10. Why is Afar development behind?
Afar are illiterate and enter into conflict one with another. 11. What development does Afar need in the future?
We need to develop our Language, and establish education everywhere, along with roads. This information is given by ‘Alo Huseen, Hasna Kaddafo Ali, Taahir Hummud Omar, Hallo Kaddafo Hammadu, Mahammad Hasan ‘Aadumo, Musthafa M/d Aabdalla, Ali Abdalla, Faatuma Abdu
4.2 Report from Eli Daar visit
This group went to Eli Daar Woreda. The woreda is divided into18 kebeles. We went to all other districts but we did not go to Hayyu, Buldugum and Daddah. We will describe the situation in the areas we went to in the following report. The most serious difficulties we saw were thirst, hunger and sickness.
1 Lee ‘Aado We saw a birikut (cistern) made in 2003. Before, the area had a problem of thirst but this cistern helped this. However, now the water is very low. In the district, there is one health worker from APDA, 3 TBAs and one women extension worker. There is no school or clinic.
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