Gone are those days

Hawassa established 50 years ago on a plain land that lies between the wetland of Wondo Genet and Lake Hawassa, 275 KM south of the capital Addis Ababa is beautiful and lovely. It is one of the few Ethiopian towns whose establishment has taken in to account modern urban management concepts.

The topography, the moderate climate, the wide and clean roads of which most are asphalted, the lake, the resort hotels, and the other various services make anyone to easily like Hawassa. Many who come to Hawassa adore it for these things. However, such an adoration that comes from its partial view has hidden the plight of some part of its population.

Anyone who happens to be among the residents of Bahil Adarash and Mehal Ketema sub city in the town may doubt that he/she is in Hawassa.

Water is Life: A story from rural Ethiopia

The rain continues to fall, flooding the newly paved road as my colleague and I leave behind Addis Ababa. We’re on our way to the field office of our African partner, Oromo Self Reliance Association (OSRA), two hours away.

By the time we arrive, our white truck is mud-spattered as we pull in, eager to meet Jitu, who is waiting for us in the dimly lit office. Though we can’t understand each other’s language, her calm presence, warm smile and handshake surpass words. The wrinkles on her face make her appear older than her 38 years, yet her eyes have a youthful spark. She gestures for me to sit, and we sip coffee while my colleague, Getu Alemu Hunde makes introductions.

The disturbing story she tells me is like the stories told by millions of other African women. Speaking softly in Oromo, the dominant language in the region, she describes the day her daughter was born.