Harrari State has reportedly made preparations to provide enough transportation

Harrar, June 18, 2007 (WIC) – Harrari State has reportedly made preparations to provide enough transportation and hotel facilities for visitors coming to Harrar city to celebrate its 1000th anniversary and the millennium.

Trade, Industry and Tourism Sector Head with the Bureau, Fuad Abdella, told WIC that the Millennium Celebration Committee has prepared hotels and vehicles for over 10,000 guests expected to visit the city beginning from early July.
The committee has also made consultations with owners of hotels so that they could give satisfactory services to the guests while training has been given in cooking and reception by experts from Hotel and Tourism Training Institute.
In addition to hotels, private residential quarters inside the Jegol Wall would also be made available for rent to guests, according to Fuad.
He said mini-buses and other vehicles have been prepared to transport guests and tourists of the millennium from Diredawa to Harrar and other places of festivity.
There are also plans to introduce the potential resources of the city to visitors on the millennium and motivate investors to invest, he added.
Some 150 natives of the state residing in Canada have arrived in Addis Ababa on 16 June to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Harrar city.

Harrar Water to go operational within one year

Harrar, June 27, 2007 (WIC) – The 293-million- birr Dire Jara Potable Water Project under execution in the environs of Harrar town will go operational within a year, according to Harrar Town Potable Water and Sanitation Project Office.
Harrar, June 27, 2007 (WIC) – The 293-million- birr Dire Jara Potable Water Project under execution in the environs of Harrar town will go operational within a year, according to Harrar Town Potable Water and Sanitation Project Office.
Office Coordinator Ahmed Mohammed said today that the project being carried out with loan and aid obtained from Africa Development Bank and the support of the state government is aimed at sustainably addressing the shortage of water in the town.
Installation of 55.8 kilometers of the pipeline and drilling works from Haseliso and Harrar- Dengego has so far been completed while installation of the remaining 15.4 kms of pipeline and various related works are on progress, the coordinator said.
Over 50 percent of the project has been carried out so far, Ahmed said, adding that upon going operational on July 2008,over 214,000 residents of Harrar, Awedai, Haremaya, Dengego and Adele towns would get sufficient potable water.
The construction of Dire Jara Potable Water Project was launched in July 2005 with 227 million birr loan obtained from Africa Development Bank and 66 million birr earmarked by the state government, it was learnt.

One hundred and eighty roses

Malasay .com
Wanting to be in Harar, but stuck in Addis pretty much sums up my situation at the moment. Two of my luggage has made it through, two more are left. The computer that I use for editing videos is still among missing. I took brother Ilami's advise and spoke with a higher official at Ethiopian Airlines. They were much more sympathetic and helpful. The person I spoke with sent messages to the Washington office trying to trace the luggage. However, when they traced the luggage it showed that United Airlines never delivered the items to Ethiopian, but rather they sent it to London. I was skeptical about that explanation, until I saw the two luggage that arrived wrapped with British Airways tapes. It looks like the security officials in London ripped thru the luggage and wrapped it with plastic bags, and then wrapped it with tapes.

In any case, the positive thing that came out of the delay to my trip to Harar was witnessing how well the Addis branch of the Harar Millennium organizing committee was prepared to welcome the Hararis in the diaspora, as well as their mobilization efforts to get Hararis locally to participate in the celebration of Harar's Millennium. The reception they gave to Hararis that arrived from Canada via KLM on June 16th is testimonial to their well preparedness. One hundred and eighty roses were purchased to be given to each Harari that arrived on that day. Rose petals and sweet candies were toasted over the heads of the new arrivals (fola), as is the custom of Hararis when loved ones come from a long journey.

The atmosphere was joyous and festive. Hugs, kisses, smiles, and some tears were exchanged among relatives and friends. Several Hararis from Addis came to the airport to give ride or render any assistance that might be needed. Harar Travel and Tour also dispatched six of their mini-vans to give ride to the new comers.

Thank you Harar Travel and Tour for your courteous and professional services!

Just witnessing the welcoming ceremony in Addis makes one wonder what is awaiting in Harar!

Echoing Shaikh Abadir, let it be declared - "Hazuki ya Harar!!!"

The Federal State allowed the welcoming committees to enter all the way past the customs agents, and helped facilitate the process of passing through the customs. Extra security procedures were also taken by searching all vehicles entering the airport. My appreciations go to the federal government officials who made the colorful welcoming ceremony a possibility.