Blogs from Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, Africa - page 7

We are gutted. The flight on Thursday was cancelled due to a mechanical fault (the weather was perfect) and no flight would be scheduled for Friday - probably not enough people - so they told us we would have to fly on Saturday. This meant we would miss Aynsley's wedding in Addis on Friday (yesterday). It's always a pain when the flight is cancelled because you pack up your bags, lock the valuables away, hand over the keys to another volunteer (ours is the 'safe house' with the medical kit and supplies) and ring at 11.30am for the check-in time. At 11.30 we were told to ring again at 1.30. At 1.30 we were told to ring at 2.30; and at 2.30 ring again at 3.30. Finally at 3.30 the flight was officially cancelled. So you ... read more

The Unusual Suspects It seems it was over before it even began. The bags have been packed, the meters read, the crockery half-inched and the great Assosa exodus is complete. Even Marta, the final straggler bade farewell two weeks ago leaving just four Ferengi survivors in this part of Beneshangul-Gumuz. So who were they, these intrepid Eleven, flung together as friends through circumstance for a brief but bright gathering on the extremes of Ethiopia's western borders? # Mr Alan Skills - Evil Computer Genius Weapon of Choice - T15 Torque Driver Known Accomplice(s) - Princess Zara-Margaret (Wife) Previous Life - IT Security/Networks Manager, Financial Services, UK. Last known whereabouts - 'Fixing' PCs at the Regional Capacity Building Coordination Bureau. Bob Skills... read more

...and it was the worst of times. We have been back in Assosa for a few weeks now and life has returned to a sort of normality. There are far fewer VSOs here now, only 4 have been allowed back and Lesley has been on a sight-seeing trip around the north of Ethiopia for that last 2 or 3 weeks anyway. We have struck up a friendship with three 'new' Ferengis working on a water project funded by the Finish government - Harriet, Judith and Antero. We also had a really nice evening catching up with Paul and Courtney, two Americans come to project manage the building of a new hospital in Kamashi. They have their work cut out, plus in Kamashi there is rarely any electricity (none for the last 4 weeks by all accounts), ... read more

Home, James, and don't spare the ozone layer We are back at last. And it has been exhausting. Thanks very much for all the emails about Dave and the good wishes for Holly, Oscar and Pam. All three volunteers that were airlifted to Nairobi are out of immediate danger and have been operated on and treated. Holly's family flew over from the UK and she may be repatriated as she was due to leave Ethiopia in a matter of weeks. Dave was given a wonderful and fitting send off on Wednesday. The coffin was brought to VSO and a short ceremony was held to remember Dave and his life. A great many volunteers travelled back to Addis, at their own expense, some journeys taking well over a day, to say farewell. The ceremony was packed - ... read more

We left for a short break in Addis about 3 weeks ago and while we were away the security situation in Assosa worsened so the rest of the VSOs in Assosa were recalled to Addis too. For the last 2 and a half weeks we have been a little unhappy family of "fugees" at the Yonas hotel in Addis. Every few days we have an update meeting and every few days we have to wait for news whether we will be allowed back. I cannot discuss the situation in detail because of VSO blogging rules but with the rainy season closing the airport and also the road between Assosa-Nekemte closed due to troubles, VSO feel it is not safe yet for us to go back. What will happen is that 4 of the 11 volunteers will ... read more