As the Ethiopian Homecoming Challenge nears, diasporas have been asked to use the opportunity to erase the recent fabricated images of the nation by some Western actors and to counter the coordinated and unwarranted defamation on Ethiopia.
The platform will be used to exhibit the true image of Ethiopia to the rest of the world as 1 million diaspora and friends of Ethiopia would be heading to visit the country by January 7.
The call is being spearheaded by the Ethio-American Development Council an organization that fights for the rights of Ethiopian diasporas in USA through advocacy and lobbying the congress to ensure favorable laws and policies.
Speaking to Nebiyu Asfaw, the Co-founder, Ethio-American Development Council, there has been a disinformation campaign against Ethiopia by the West and also the US Embassy in Addis Ababa has been telling US citizens to leave Ethiopia alleging that it is too dangerous to live in.
“They are telling American citizens to leave, they are churning out false information that the rebels are about to take over Addis Ababa; they are trying to isolate and demonizeEthiopia as a dangerous place and as a place of savages that kill each other,” Nebiyu said.
Nebiyu revealed that with this negative and smear campaign that Americans started against Addis Ababa, Ethiopians came up with a campaign targeting 1million Ethiopians to return home during the festive holidays.
“For this holiday season bearing in mind that Ethiopia’s Christmas happens on January 7th, we are going to have 1million diasporas from Ethiopia travel home. This is basically to tell that Ethiopia is safe, to show that we are going to spend our money in Ethiopia to boost the economy,” Nebiyu said.
Nebiyu said that on top of encouraging diasporas to travel home through the No More movement, civilians that are going home are asked to carry one extra bag with them full of items.
The items required are especially medical supplies as the country is in short of medicine and medical supplies since the TPLF rebels destroyed a number of hospitals and pharmacies in the war-torn region of Northern Ethiopia.
“The TPLF destroyed every hospital and pharmacies in the war tone region, so we are carrying medical supplies and medical equipment such as; painkillers, Minor Surgical sets, Gloves, Braces & Splints, Surgical Gowns, Walkers, Band-Aids, Crutches, Surgical masks, Urine bags among other items,” Nebiyu noted.
Nebiyu observed that the campaign is aimed at rebuilding Ethiopia by helping the people that are affected by war and this is done with the help of the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Airlines to handle logistics.
He added that, “People have started to travel; a lot of people are leaving this weekend and they are to travel all through January 7th which is the Ethiopian Christmas. All the diasporas will be in Ethiopia for the Christmas, its not only for Christians but we have earmarked it as a holiday with the major point to go home and spend the time to the new year with the people of Ethiopia as well as spending money there.We want to give a boost to the local economy.”
Speaking on the call, Rozina Negusei a Pan-Africanist and an Ethiopian- American said that it’s timely for all historical African diasporas to consider returning to Africa their credal land and help in building a strong continent.
“Africa is the hottest cake and that speaks to why all western countries including USA, Russia China are all embarking on investing in Africa as well as controlling the continent. We need to go back home at such a moment to save the continent from the self seekers who may end up only plundering our resources and leave us in ruins,” Rozina said.
Rozina noted that the historical diasporas need to take home their expertise, knowledge, investments and money to help the African governments grow stronger.