ETHIOPIA: Inauguration of ET302 Tulu Fera Memorial Project of the Catholic Church of Ethiopia
Bezawit Assefa
In a tragic event on March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed near Addis Ababa. All 157 people on board were killed, including passengers from 35 different countries. This accident caused immense grief for families around the world. Since then, the surrounding community has shown unwavering compassion for the victims and their families. This is evident through annual memorial gatherings, which combine religious prayers and cultural traditions to honour the lives lost.
Following the Boeing 737 MAX airplane crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a 2020 initiative was established to assist affected communities. A project called the ET 302 Victims Memorial Tullufera and Community Development Project’ which focuses on improving the lives of people in selected villages around the crash zone was launched on Thursday, March 7, 2023, to help communities near the crash site.
Eighteen families who lost their loved ones in the crash chose the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ethiopia office to receive funds from the Boeing Community Investment Fund (BCIF) and manage the project in the target area. CRS then partnered with the Ethiopian Catholic Church –Social Development Commission (ECC-SDCO) to implement the project. Since 2021, ECC-SDCO has been working with various partners and stakeholders to carry out the project in the targeted areas (Kebeles). The communities around the accident impact zone urgently need basic amenities such as clean water, education, healthcare, roads, and electricity.
The project has poured in 122 million ETB into the community, building two new schools; a modern health centre for children and mothers; and three large water reservoirs. Additionally, several water wells were drilled in each village (kebele) for easier access to clean water. This initiative is expected to improve the lives of over 14,000 community members.
In attendance were Cardinal Abune Birhaneyesus, Abune Lukas Co-Adjutor Bishop of Eparchy of Emdibir, Advisor to the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Water and Energy, the families of the 18 victims, the local residents, the Religious fathers of the Ethiopian Catholic Church of Adama, Bishoftu and Mojo area, monks, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia General Secretariat and the Archdiocese Secretariat officials and staff, the Oromia regional officials, district, zone and kebele representatives.
