Time: 11.09 European time.

The earthquake that killed over 400 people yesterday in Japan is becoming dangerous as the days go by.

The after-shocks, the Japanese say, may become devastating.

Now it is being reported that there is an explosion in one of the reactors that was slightly hit by the quake, and radiation has started leaking.

This is what the Japanese feared the most.

By Chief editor Korir.

People have died. The Tsunami was very powerful and over 400 people have already lost their lives.

Many business and houses washed away and now some places – roads are showing cracks, a thing that is very dangerous because there will most probably be after shocks that may even be more dangerous.

Japan has had many earthquakes before but it seems the country was not prepared for this one.

Many countries are now doing their best to see what to do to help Japan. USA has already promised help. President Obama has told the Japanese leaders that USA is willing and ready to give assistance that may be required.

CNN reports that the disaster thought to be minimal may end up being the worst in the history of Japan’s quake history.

This quake continues to sweep anything and everything that comes its way.

Aid is much needed now in the country because many people have lost everything.

The nuclear plant in the area was damaged lightly after the quake hit it. Fear of radiation is now a reality. Evacuation of People near the Plant has been ordered. Should radition occur, this will add to the disaster.

By Korir, Chief editor, API.

African Press International is proud to be party to this project by publishing the information on the SKA Project for the benefit of our readers.

Following an initial identification of sites suitable for the SKA by the International SKA Steering Committee in 2006, southern Africa and Australia are the finalists. A consortium of the major international science funding agencies, in consultation with the SKA Science and Engineering Committee (SSEC), will announce the selected site for the SKA in 2012.

At about 50 – 100 times more sensitive than any other radio telescope on Earth, the SKA will be able to probe the edges of our Universe. It will help us to answer fundamental questions in astronomy, physics and cosmology, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter. It will be a powerful time machine that scientists will use to go back in time to explore the origins of the first galaxies, stars and planets.

The construction of the SKA is expected to cost about 1.5 billion Euro. The operations and maintenance of a large telescope normally cost about 10% of the capital costs per year. That means the international SKA consortium would be spending approximately 100 to 150 million Euro per year on the telescope. It is expected that a significant portion of the capital, operations and maintenance costs would be spent in the host country. South Africa offers a competitive and affordable solution for constructing, operating and maintaining the SKA.

The SKA in Africa

A major component of the SKA telescope will be an extensive array of approximately 3000 antennas. Half of these will be concentrated in a 5 km diameter central region, and the rest will be distributed out to 3 000 km from this central concentration. South Africa’s bid proposes that the core of the telescope be located in an arid area of the Northern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa, with about three antenna stations in Namibia, four in Botswana and one each in Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya and Zambia. Each antenna station will consist of about 30 individual antennas.

An important milestone was reached with the “detection of fringes” in a joint very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observation. For the first time South Africa has completed the experiment without assistance from other countries. The 26m Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) near Pretoria teamed up with one of the seven 12m dishes currently part of the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT-7) over 900 km away to jointly observe and record data from a distant radio source known as 3C273. The data was then correlated in Cape Town to produce the first ever African fringe detection at its first attempt.

South Africa’s Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act (2007) declares the entire Northern Cape Province, with the exception of the Sol Plaatje Municipality (Kimberley) as an astronomy advantage area. Within that an area of 12.5 million hectares is the main protected area – or radio astronomy reserve – for the SKA. This area is also referred to as the Karoo Central Astronomy Advantage Area.

The SKA will be one of the largest scientific research facilities in the world and will consolidate Southern Africa as a major hub for astronomy in the world. Hosting the SKA would be a major accomplishment for the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Programme (AGAP), an initiative by the South African government to establish a hub of world-class astronomy facilities in Southern Africa. Other major astronomy facilities in the region include the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in the Karoo, and the HESS gamma ray telescope in Namibia.

Who is the Barefoot Astronomer?

Try exploring the nature and evolution of the universe, looking 13.7 billion years back in time, unraveling black holes and watching stars being born, tracking galaxies, identifying the nature of dark energy, navigating three-dimensional galactic maps and studying cosmic magnets, while decoding extra-terrestrial signals and finding planets capable of supporting life and then challenge the theory of relativity – all barefoot.

Simon Ratcliffe, an astronomer and a member of the South African SKA bid team, has been part of the MeerKAT project (a precursor to SKA) for several years. His work includes cutting-edge astronomy, including the recent and successful very long baseline interferometry (VBLI) observations. “His astronomical colleagues are doubtful if Ratcliffe owns a pair of shoes other than a set of “plakkies” (flip flops or thongs) – let’s just say that no one has even seen him wearing such items. He has a rather peculiar habit of working barefoot,” says Fanaroff, Director, South Africa SKA Project.

In the next few years, in the build up to the SKA project, Ratcliffe – The Barefoot Astronomer – will not only conduct his science but, more importantly, will also travel extensively promoting the benefits of the SKA project for mankind and South Africa, in particular. He will focus not only on the global scientific community and astronomists generally, but interested members of the general public. He does this in a light-hearted fashion, making use of simple, everyday terminology and, of course, barefoot.

“Young people interested in astronomy and that might work on this project in future, are destined to become experts in future technologies that will be in high demand around the globe,” predicts Ratcliffe.

SKA South Africa project director, Dr Bernie Fanaroff.

SKA South Africa team, Johannesburg office, with project director Dr Bernie Fanaroff in the middle, front row.
The MeerKAT team based in Cape Town.
Rear: Thomas Bennett, Etienne Bauermeister, Alec Rust, Andrew Martens, Francois Kapp, Simon Cross, Ludwig Schwardt, Tshakule Nemalili, Japie Ludick. Middle: Willem Esterhuyse, Anja Schröder, Shanly Rajan, Sharmila Goedhart, Thomas Küsel, Adrianna Pinska, Phil Gibbs, Caxton Magozore, Alastir Robyntjies, Alan Langman, Peter Macfarlane. Kneeling: Adriaan Peens-Hough, Luyanda Boyana, Venkatasubramani Lakshmanan (VenKAT), Clifford Gumede, Sifiso Mthembu, Viwe Lolwane, James Mokone, Rosly Renil, David George. Sitting: Richard Lord, Darrell Liebenberg, Mkhanyisi Madlavana (Mka), Debra Shepherd, Miriam Mphela, Lee-Ann Poggenpoel. Absent: Marc Welz, Jason Manley, Ruby van Rooyen, Simon Ratcliffe, Lize van den Heever, Jasper Horrell, Niesa Burgher, Justin Jonas, Kgomotso Makolomakwe, Roufurd Julie, Obert Toruvanda.
The project director and members of the Northern Cape Working Group in the Boardroom at Klerefontein: Standing from left to right: Mr. Sipeko Kumalo, Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works, Northern Cape Government, Mr. Paki Monyobo, SKA Project Manager for the Northern Cape Province and Ms. Tracy Cheetham, SKA SA Infrastructure Manager. Seated from left to right: Dr. Tshepo Seekoe, General Manager: Radio Astronomy Advances – Department of Science and Technology, Dr. Bernie Fanaroff, SKA SA Project Director and Mr. Dawie Fourie, SKA SA Site Manager.

Source SKAAfrica.com

Published this day By Korir, Chief Editor, African Press International. API found the information above to be important for development in the African Continent and chose to publish all the details. The people above are fully committed in their work to have the project succeed. This is a good thing for the Continent and must be supported in every way(API)

Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi is a no-nonsense man. He dislikes western Leaders

Many Africans have always been admirers of the Libyan Leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi because he has been defiant against the west and western dictatorship which is directed towards the African Continent by western leaders. Most African leaders do not dare challenge the West but Gaddafi has done that for many years making the continent proud. Let us not forget that the people of Africa hate being dictated by western leaders, for the simple reason that their countries are rich. These leaders use money to sit on African leaders. To them, Gaddafi has been difficult to sit on because of his oil wealth.

Unfortunately now, things have turned against Muammar Gaddafi, and it is my belief that it is the Libyan people who should be given a chance to deal with the problem and sought out the good, the bad and the ugly.

However, I am worried about one thing. The way the son of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya is now behaving in the media during the uprising against his father. His behaviour is brutal. He is threatening everyone every time he addresses the media. He should soften his talk if he wants to survive the waves.

President Gaddafi has been grooming him to take over power when he retires from active politics.

The son says he will fight and will die if need be and tells the international community that his father will not relinquish power. He calls the people against his father, less true Libyans and terrorists. The young Gaddafi should wake up and see that he will not stay long around his father if he continues to threaten the world, now that he has been listed by the ICC through the pressure of Western leaders as a person party to the killings of unarmed innocent civilians. It is however not yet clear who really gives orders to the soldiers on the ground. He has called on the EU and the UN to send in a mission to get the truth. This has gone unheeded.

His desperate move of accusing the international community seems to be the cries of a young man who is seeing power slip away from him because he had hope to succeed his father.

With the ICC hanging on his neck, he will also not be able to travel out of the country, thus, he will not be able to enjoy the luxury his apartment in London used to give him.

He should remember what happened to Saddam Hussein’s sons when the international community went in to Iraq to remove Saddam. It is now near and we may soon see bombings launched by the International united force.

By Korir, Chief editor.

Skimlinks works wonders for us and it can do for you as well.

Mr Rod Marcel of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), has told African Press International that, “Africa is bidding to host the world’s most powerful radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).”  He points out that, “When constructed, in 2025, it will have 50 times greater sensitivity than any other radio telescope on Earth.”

According to him, “The SKA will probe the edges of our universe, even before the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. This telescope will contribute to answering fundamental questions in astronomy, physics and cosmology, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter.”

He stresses that, “South Africa is leading the African bid and has already legislated to create 12.5 million hectares of protected area – or radio astronomy reserve. This area is also referred to as the Karoo Central Astronomy Advantage Area, offering low levels of radio frequency interference, very little light pollution, basic infrastructure of roads, electricity and communication.”

And he reiterates that, “The human story began in Africa and it can also be the place where we find answers to the story of our universe.”

By Korir, Chief Editor-API.

HYACINTH in Kisumu Kenya

By  Dickens Wasonga.

Hyacinth, the dreaded water weed continues to chock Lake Victoria’s Winam gulf, throwing hundreds of local fishermen into joblessness and blocking several shipping companies from either docking in the area or leaving with goods destined to the neighboring east African states.

The delays occasioned by the blockade of the nuisance weed  before goods can be moved to either Tanzania  or Uganda which mainly depends on the route to  ship its cargo  has now led to huge losses  as transporters remain stranded for several months at the Kisumu pier.

Currently the weed has literally covered most parts of the lake especially the fishing and breeding grounds of Winam gulf and major landing beaches such as Homa-Bay, Kendu-Bay amongst others.

In the affected areas, the weed has literally turned  the water surface into what resembles several hectares of a farm land.

Even the motor sports and boat rides which thrived in the area some years back giving a lifeline to several youths  from Kisumu  and its environs has not been spared either.

Marine experts say that growth of the weed and its further spread has been fueled by the continued but uncontrolled depositing of industrial waste in to the lake by numerous factories that pollute Lake Victoria with glee.

The name Lolwe, as the lake is known here by the locals was once billed as the second largest fresh water lake in the world, but given the human activities up-stream, this too may soon change.

The unabated destruction taking place upstream especially in areas such as the Mau has not only led to the receding water levels in the lake but has also led to the dwindling of the fish stock thus further threatening many livelihoods.

It is now an open secret that Lake Victoria is no longer the fresh water lake it used to be and something must be done urgently by the relevant authorities to save this resource which supports an estimated 30 million people living within the  east African region either directly or indirectly.

Local authorities along the shores of the lake have also been accused of contributing immensely into the lakes’ pollution.

Majority of the civic bodies still lack the desired solid waste disposal mechanism and are known to deposit raw waste into the lake. Strangely, the same lake also serves as a source of water for the local water companies.

Score of them also directly benefit from the lake because they collect a lot of money in revenue from fish cess.

The most ironical thing  however, is the fact that Kisumu where several fishermen can no longer go fishing to earn a living due to the choking weed is the headquarters of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission .

LVBC was formed to amongst other things, to protect further destruction of the environment along the lake and ensure its sustainable use within the east African region.

Since its inception, the commission is known to have organized and funded several high level talks targeting to discuss sustainable use of the lake as a common resource by the EAC member states.

But many residents of Kisumu and those who use the Kenyan side of the lake are now casting aspersions as to whether these high-class hotel workshops and seminars which ends up gobbling huge allocations of the commission are indeed bearing meaningful results.

One of the key projects which were hugely funded as a brain child of the LVBC was Lake Victoria Environment Management Project dubbed -LVEMP 1 which was funded by World Bank and other donors.
Each of the initial three EAC states implemented the project in their respective countries but the Kenyan one had issues.

LVEMP was prepared during the 1994-97 period, and implemented as one of three interlinked fully blended projects financed by credits , International Development Association (IDA)) and a grant , Global Environment Facility  from March 1997 to December 2005.

The three projects together sought to address the issues of the lake in a regionally integrated way.

They were thus conceived as contributions to a regional program (based on the August 5, 1994 Tripartite Agreement) implemented as three national projects in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, with common objectives and initially identical components.

Given the regional nature of the program and interlinks age of the three projects, the LVEMP Implementation Completion Reports  for Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya  were to be  considered individually and in conjunction with each other, in order to understand both the national particularities in performance and the overall outcomes of the investment.

The project assessed by the  ICR was the first phase of a long-term program.

The three nations recognized the importance of the Lake Victoria ecosystem as a vast shared resource with great potential for economic growth, but one that was under immense environmental stress.

Economically it is very important; the fisheries sector is a significant driver of growth, and water supply, biodiversity, transport, and hydro-energy from the lake underpin vital economic activities.

Conversely, the lake, if allowed to degrade, will impose substantial economic and environmental liabilities on the countries, communities, and people of the watershed.

Enhanced environmental management of Lake Victoria was and still is a key element of a sound program of growth, poverty reduction, and proper management of risks.

Experts say Lake Victoria is large and in general shallow. The lake depends chiefly on rainfall for its inflow, and its extensive watershed covers some of the poorest parts in three riparian nations.

When the projects were prepared, the threats to the lake’s ecosystem were understood primarily to be diminishing biodiversity, over-fishing, infestation of aquatic weeds (especially water hyacinth), pollution, variation in level, and eutrophication.

The trans boundary nature and rich biodiversity of the lake were recognized, but detailed scientific and socioeconomic knowledge about the resource was insufficient to support proper management.

For example, the inventory of flora and fauna was incomplete and not current. The level of catch consistent with maintenance of the stock of Nile Perch was not known.

Infestation of water hyacinth was visible, but the response of the species to various measures of control was unknown. The detailed status of quality of the water was not known; nor were major sources of pollution.

Finally, the level of the lake has been observed to vary over time as recorded in historic statistics, but detailed knowledge of the underlying hydrology was not sufficient.

Moreover, national and regional institutions and capacity relevant for management of Lake Victoria were weak at the outset of the project, and presented challenges during implementation.

The project was designed in a participatory manner with broadly ranging consultation of stakeholders at the local, national, and regional levels.

Formulation of the project required multiple negotiations and compromise; between scientists and public servants, between advocates of environmental conservation and those of managed growth, between national politicians with short time horizons and development partners seeking a longer term perspective, and between and among national neighbors with a recent history of tension.

The objectives and design that emerged from this negotiation enjoyed sufficient consensus to move ahead, but also attracted antipathy of those who did not see their own objectives fully reflected.

During the course of implementation, and even in assessment in the ICR, strongly held and conflicting opinions have been the order of the day.

The ICR team assessed the project not according to what might have  been desired by any among the wide range of stakeholders, critics, and advocates, but by what was stated in the project documents and actually accomplished.

The objectives the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (LVEMP1) were “to (i) provide the necessary information to improve management of the lake ecosystem, (ii) establish mechanisms of cooperative management by the three countries, ( iii)
identify and demonstrate practical, self-sustaining remedies, while simultaneously (iv)building capacity for ecosystem management.”Co-financing from the GEF helped integrate trans boundary environmental issues into the design and provide emphasis on them. As noted above, the project was fully blended.

The project was the first of its kind in the region, with aims and objectives that reflected the nations’ developmental priorities, regional objectives, and global goals.

Preparatory activities particularly emphasized community participation and gender issues. The objectives as stated above were consistent with the country-based assistance strategy  and with the global priorities within the mandate of GEF International Waters Program.

Within the fully blended project, GEF activities were focused on trans boundary aspects such as fisheries ,research, monitoring of water quality, capacity building in the riparian universities, support for policy and coordination, and control of water hyacinth, with some attention to aquaculture and sustainable use of wet lands.

The design reflected realism with regard to the time frame required for sound management of the lake, and was phased.

The design recognized the need for generation of knowledge, creation of new institutions, and strengthening of capacity.

The objectives of the project were sound and the process of preparation appropriate. Primary emphasis was placed on activities related to fisheries, which were allocated 41 percent of the allocation of funds.

The remaining funds were spread over the other activities in the initial design.

Questions have been raised by analysts over the Kenya side of LVEMP 1  with regard to the proper balance of emphasis on the various elements of the agenda, but the lack of information and inherent uncertainties associated with the various risks to the lake made a priori determination of allocations to the various activities difficult.

Given the subsequent increased importance of fishing, growth in the catch, and urgency regarding management of the fishery, one cannot with certainty argue that an alternative allocation of resources among activities would have been superior.

In the joint Staff Appraisal Report  dated June 1996, the three LVEMP project had the following components (The overall project cost for all three countries of USD 77.7 million was allocated as indicated):

1) Fisheries Management/ Establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) (USD 2.28 million)
2) Fisheries Research, including four sub-components, Fish Biology and Biodiversity Conservation, Aquaculture, socio-economic, Database (USD 13.33 million)
3) Fisheries Extension, Policies and Laws, including micro-projects (USD 14.09 million)
4) Fisheries Levy Trust (USD 2.03 million)
5) Water Hyacinth Control (USD 8.31 million)
6) Water Quality and Ecosystem Management, including one core project, Management of Eutrophication, pilot studies on Sedimentation and Hydraulic Conditions and the construction of a Model of Water Circulation and Quality in the Lake USD 9.6 million.

So if money was released  to fund various components of the project , then the biggest question is, what went wrong  on the Kenyan side ?

The weed is back with vengeance and water quality is at its worst.  Fish stock continues to go down and receding water levels is still a worrying trend.

Another LVEMP has just began. Have we learn t from the past mistakes? What chances does this second phase of the much talked about project have to succeed?

Today the government says it  plans to employ over 2,000 youths under the kazi kwa vijana project to participate in manual removal of water hyacinth that have become a menace in Lake Victoria.

Speaking to the press in his office last week , Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Francis Mutie said the government through the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) is set to release about Sh100 million for the project.

The Provincial administrator noted that it was unfortunate that the weed had covered a large area in the lake thus preventing fishermen from their daily fishing expedition.

“It is regrettable that fishing which is the main economic activity in this region has been hampered with due to the spread of the weeds in the lake, he said.

He said the plant has spread in a large area from Kisumu to around Winam gulf thus hindering movement in the lake.

He pointed out that his office will identify a point where the wild plant will be put after it is gotten rid of before it is sold to farmers as organic fertilizer.

Research has actually proved that organic fertilizers can be generated from the plant, we shall therefore ensure that we collect them and sell them to farmers, he said.
The PC also reiterated that work is in the process of spending Sh 14 million released last month for the establishment of car washing sites in Kisumu to help reduce washing of vehicles in the lake.

Last Month, Kisumu District Environmental Officer Solomon Kihiu said the car washing sites to be established are aimed at reducing interference with aquatic life through emission of fuel by vehicles being washed in the lake. He said the plan will involve the establishment of four car washing sites within the town center and one at the city’s Kondele estate.

Yesterday, PC Francis Mutie called on the community around to support the two program mes which he said if implemented will lead to a big harvest of fish from the lake.

“We are aware of drastic reduction of fish in Lake Victoria, we therefore want to implement the two projects (removal of hyacinth and establishment of car washing sites) so that we are able to have more catch, he added.
The PC warned fishermen against use of illegal fishing gear such as mosquito nets that have led to the harvest of under size fish.

He said stern action will be taken against those who use equipment which are not recommended to harvest fish. Everybody knows that illegal fishing is still on in the lake and fish scouts are doing very little to stop the practice. Many now wait to see if the yet to be launched campaign to get the weed out of the lake will succeed .

Below: Youths engage in manual removal of water hyacinth from Lake Victoria.

BY JEFF OTIENO

A massive multi-million theft has gripped the moribund sugar miller Miwani Sugar Company.

The multi-million shillings theft is being perpetrated by high-powered personalities in the government circles, the Kenya sugar board which is the regulator through a local scrap metal dealer hailing from Awasi Township in Kisumu County.

Confirming the incident to the press, the zonal Director of Kenya Sugar Board, Nicholas Oricho took issue with both the board and the parent ministry of agriculture for their complacency yet the factory is being vandalized by the heartless cartel with impunity.

“Who will invest in Miwani if these scenario of theft is left to continue” the director quipped.

A cross-section of enraged farmers from the area also went a notch higher by demanding for the prompt termination of contracts of the receiver managers of Muhoroni where the cartel is alleged to be taking some of the vandalized parts for repairs albeit at whooping costs.

An influential politician from Luo Nyanza is said to be protecting and perpetuating the stay of the Muhoroni receiver manager whose tenure since they took over a couple of years ago has got no change in the litmus.

There has been a protracted court battle over Miwani and the farmers are waiting with anxiety the conclusion of the case which will ultimately pave way for a potential investor to revive it.

A fortnight ago, a bid by a Kisumu based tycoon to take over Miwani was thwarted when the Environmental experts from NEMA wrote a letter dismissing his bid on grounds that there’s still a pending legal battle.

CROSSLEY LTD which is associated with a leading sugar guru from the region is said to be the farmers favourite to revamp Miwani according to some observers due to their in-depth proven expertise over the years.

Meanwhile Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries has been applauded by a cross-section of farmers from Muhoroni zone led by the Zonal Director Nicholas Oricho for their recent award of being unrivalled contributors to the government revenue. President Mwai Kibaki and the commissioner of General witnessed the colourful award ceremony.

“We seriously need such kind of investors to transform the economy of the region and that of the exchequer,” Oricho told journalists on behalf of farmers.

The Managing Director Mr. R. S Chatthe however down played the Kenya Revenue Authority gesture and said they still hope to remain in that noble bracket provided there is enabling environment to operate devoid of coercion and black-mail witnessed at inception when the factory was being installed.

Kibos Sugar is a resilient miller with a crushing capacity of 1650 tonnes per day and is home to over 4,000 employees both casual and permanent.

END

LIBYA-ASIA: Libyan crisis highlights Asian migrant plight

Photo: Kate Thomas/IRIN

Stranded Bangladeshi migrant workers line up for food at Libya-Tunisia border

MANILA/DHAKA, 9 March 2011 (IRIN) – The explosion of violence in Libya has exposed the desperate and dangerous plight of Asian migrant workers as they scramble home to an uncertain future, say recent returnees and officials from Bangladesh and the Philippines, which together had 60,000 workers there.

Nearly one-tenth of the Philippines’ 94 million people works overseas, sending back some US$19 billion in 2010 – 12 percent of GDP, according to the government.

On 8 March, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 12,000 of the nearly 30,000 Filipino workers in Libya had left. Of those who fled, 4,200 were repatriated to the capital, Manila, mostly with the help of employers, said returnees and officials.

Many others remain trapped, with food, money and water running low, according to migrant workers’ support groups.

“We have accomplished much, but there remains much to be done,” said Foreign Under-Secretary Rafael Seguis. About $12 million has been set aside for repatriation efforts, which continue.

Daniel Gonzaga, a construction worker and father of two, said he and a group of Filipino workers hiked for nearly 20 hours across the desert to reach the Tunisian border, only to find a crush of humanity. Many were turned back because they left behind documents in the rush to escape.

“There was no one to help us. We were loitering, walking back and forth trying to figure out how to cross the borders. When we finally found someone to help us, we had to cross a 3m-high wall,” Gonzaga told IRIN.

IRIN Photo Migrants in Libya

View gallery

“It was chaos, but I am lucky to be alive. There are others still out there trying to find a way to get home. I am happy to be back, but now my family risks going hungry because I am unemployed,” he said, adding that he still owed friends and relatives money he used to process his application papers to go to Libya.

The Labour Department said it had categorized skills of returnees, which will then be passed on to recruitment agencies. Minimum temporary cash assistance is available, but the focus is finding other work, it stressed.

Bangladesh

“I am alive. This is important to me now. It was a horrible experience,” said Shah Muhammad Ripon, 30, who had been working for a Korean company in Libya for the past nine months.

“It cost me $3,768 [to get to Libya]. I sold my land and some other properties with the hope that I would earn a lot there. But I am empty-handed now,” Ripon said. “I do not know how I will manage.”

There were 27,000 Bangladeshi workers in Libya, according to the Overseas Employment Ministry, but recruitment agencies estimate 80,000.

About 500 to 550 Bangladeshi workers are returning every day, based on government estimates. Bereft of land and savings, most face a financial crisis, said Joynal Abedin, chairman of the local NGO, Bangladesh Migrants Foundation.

“It will have a very bad impact on our remittance earnings and overall economy,” he added.

Overseas workers contributed almost $11 billion in both 2009 and 2010, 12 percent of the $90 billion GDP in 2009. Until recently, manpower was one of the country’s main exports to the Middle East.

“The political turmoil in the Middle East will affect Bangladesh’s manpower export to these countries,” said Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. “But we will continue exporting manpower to other countries. We are looking for new markets.”

He added that the government was compiling a list of returnees. “If the situation improves in Libya, we will try to send them to Libya again or we will try to send them to other countries.”

There are an estimated seven million workers overseas, or 5.6 percent of the 2009 population.

fv/mw/pt/mw

source http://www.irinnews.org