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Mystery Illness Kills Ethiopian Nomads

VOA News

   More than 2,000nomads in Ethiopia's Somali region have diedsince
   2014afterfalling illfroma mysterious disease that causedbleeding from
   their mouths and noses.

   Otherreportedsymptomsincludeswollen limbs and green or yellow eyes.

   The affectedpeopleroam with their cattle around the
   OgadenBasinregion,which is being exploredby companies looking foroil
   andnatural gas.

   Reports of the mysterious illness and deaths have drawnWestern
   reportersandresearchers fromrights groupsto investigate.

   Residents ofCalub, Ethiopia,haveaccuseda Chineseprojectthat
   includesconstruction of a pipelinefrom Ogaden to Djiboutiof destroying
   the environment where theiranimals are grazing.

   Chinese firm Poly-GCL has been prospecting for natural oil and gas in
   Ogaden since 2014. It is expected to start commercial gas
   productionsoon.The Ethiopian government has signed a deal with the
   Chinese company that gives it 50% of any income from oil or gas
   exploration.

   The pipelinewill enable Ethiopia to export natural gas.

   Local residentssay they have not been consulted.

   The government in Addis Ababahasdenied allegationsthat the
   projectiscausingahealthand environmental crisis in the region.

   Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has promoted oil and gas industry as
   essential for Ethiopia's economic growth.

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