An outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus has been confirmed in southern Ethiopia, as announced by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. This highly contagious virus, similar to Ebola, causes severe bleeding, fever, and vomiting, with a fatality rate ranging from 25% to 80%. Ethiopian health authorities are working to contain the outbreak in the Jinka area, with investigations underway to analyze the virus strain and prevent further spread, particularly in East Africa. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment, however, rehydration and symptom treatment have been shown to increase patient survival rates.
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A Canadian citizen from Kitchener, Ontario, was detained in Ethiopia in March for possessing walkie-talkies, which are restricted items in the country. The 67-year-old man was charged with three counts of importing military equipment, each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. His daughter has stated that he was unaware of the law and was only intending to deliver supplies to South Sudan. The family is receiving consular assistance from the Canadian government but has limited influence in the Ethiopian judicial system.
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A comprehensive report, compiled by Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa (OJAH), documents widespread sexual violence perpetrated by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in Tigray. The research, based on medical records, health worker surveys, and interviews, reveals systematic attacks including mass rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, and sexual torture, targeting women and children. These atrocities were often intended to destroy the fertility of Tigrayan women. This report concludes that these acts constitute crimes against humanity and calls for international investigation into potential acts of genocide.
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In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, numerous women have been subjected to extreme sexual violence, including the insertion of foreign objects into their reproductive organs. Survivors, like Tseneat, have had objects such as screws, nail clippers, and notes with threatening messages surgically extracted from their bodies. These notes, often written by Eritrean soldiers, explicitly state their intent to make Tigrayan women infertile, aiming to destroy the ethnic group. Despite a ceasefire, sexual violence persists, with limited access to medical care, and justice for these atrocities remains elusive.
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John Q. Hosedrinker