JULY 27/2006, SOCEPPReliable reports indicate that,up to now, two Ethiopians (one maid and one guard ) have benn killed by Israeli bombing of Lebanon though there are fears the death toll amongst Ethiopians maybe much more. At least 50,000 Ethiopians sold unto modern slavery by the Meles regime are stranded in Lebabon, their fate ignord by the “government”. “We have no government” is the expressed and angry comment by the Ethiopians in Lebanon.
The Ethiopians were trafficked to Lebanon by ruthless agencies linked to the ruling group in Addis Ababa. In their majority young women, they are mainly employed in Lebanon as maids while young men serve as guards, construction workers, drivers. They are subjected to racism, their passports are often confiscated by their employers, they are underpaid, subjected to beatings and ill treatment. They have received little or no protection from the government in Addis Abeba which has opened a consulate in Lebanon but is trying to squeeze as much money out of the Ethiopian workers. To render them help in this critical time the Consulate has demanded money from the stranded and sufffering Ethiopians. On the other hand, the government of Lebanon had not been of nay help either while international agencies are not presently very actively rendering assistance to the Ethiopians. Many do not even have their passports as the employers, who have fled, have not given them back.
The plight of thousands of Ethiopians in Lebanon expsoes the Meles Zenawi regime as an obdurate human rights violator,guilty of trafficking women and youngsters for profit.
SOCEPP calls on Ethiopians in the Diaspora to mobilize to help the suffering Ethiopians in Lebanon.
INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE
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I have been so worried about the ethiopians IN lebanon. Please le me know what we can do to help jere in the states
Belle
California
To support the Ethiopians in Lebanon, the Washington Metropolitan area community leaders started fundraising three weeks ago. We were able to fundraise about $3,400 at the Abyssinia radio program last Saturday. If you like to support the Ethiopians in Lebanon, please let us know.