News in Brief

Ethiopia participates at 8th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa in Oran, Algeria

Ethiopia participates in Seoul-hosted UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting

Dr. Gedion Timothwos briefs African Group of Ambassadors in Geneva on Human Rights situation in Ethiopia

Ethiopian government and UN brief the media on the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia

Africa and the African Union

The African Union on Saturday (December 05) cautioned countries across the world against imposing quick travel bans on travelers from the continent, in the wake of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus said to be more infectious. Dr. John Nkengasong, the Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the history of the pandemic had indicated travel bans served little purpose in managing the spread of the virus. Instead, the continental body was encouraging more surveillance and data sharing between countries, in addition to increased vaccination of the “high-risk” populations.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday (December 08) has joined other African leaders in reiterating that a continent of around 1.3 billion people needs a permanent voice and seat at the UNSC represented through a bloc. Issues and decisions that concern the continent cannot continue being addressed without continental representation, the Premier underlined. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has momentarily come back to his office following the successful completion of the first phase of ‘Operation for National Unity in Diversity.

Ethiopia

President Sahle-Work Zewde Zewde on Wednesday (December 08) underscored the importance of homegrown solutions to the problems Ethiopia is facing currently.  “It is up to Ethiopians to seek solutions to Ethiopia’s current problems,” the President said. Addressing the celebration of the 16th Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Day, the President stated that no one should overlook the turbulent situation which is against the very existence of the nation.

Prime Minister Abiy Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday (December 08) has held phone conversations with Under-Secretary of the UN, António Guterres, and AU Commissioner Moussa Faki Mahamat on current issues. During the phone conversations, the Premier underscored that as a founding member of the United Nations and the African Union, Ethiopia has been a proponent of multilateralism rooted in respect for national sovereignty.

In a brief statement, Prime Minister Abiy said he has held phone conversations on Wednesday (December 08) with the leaders of Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea, and South Sudan and discussed various bilateral issues during the phone conversation. “Ethiopia continues to prioritize strengthening relations with our neighboring countries,” Abiy said. “I’ve held extensive phone discussions today with the leaders of Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea, and South Sudan. We will continue working together on bilateral and regional issues,” he added.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday (December 07) announced that key areas including Dessie, Kombolcha, and Bati towns have been retaken from the enemy through the military operation undertaken over the last days. Shewa, Kemisse, and Afar Region are fully liberated from the terrorist TPLF occupation, the Premier disclosed. The military offensive will continue till the terrorist TPLF is fully destroyed. While addressing the Commandos who were involved in the recent operation, the Premier noted “Nothing will stop us. The enemy will be fully destroyed soon”.

The 8th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa was held in Oran, Algeria, under the theme: “Assisting African Members of the UN Security Council (A3) in preparing to address peace and security issues on the Continent”. The seminar brought together Ethiopia, in its capacity as Chair of the PSC for the month of December 2021, Niger and Tunisia, as outgoing A3 Members and Ghana and Gabon, as incoming A3 members, and PSC members, and partners. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the PSC for the Month, spoke on the expectation of Africans from member states representing them in the UNSC. (See article)

State Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Redwan Hussein on Tuesday (December 07) said the sacrifices Ethiopian peacekeeping troops pay for the peace of Africa is a sacrifice Ethiopia pays for its own peace. The state minister said this in a pre-recorded video speech on Tuesday (December 07) delivered to the United Nations peacekeeping ministerial meeting hosted in Seoul, South Korea. In his speech, Ambassador Redwan raised two crucial points that concern Ethiopia with regard to the country’s role in peacekeeping missions. (See article and speech)

In a press briefing, the Press Secretariat of the Office of the Prime Minister Billene Seyoum on Tuesday (December 07) told journalists that there have been remarkable gains made thus far by the Ethiopian Defense Forces and the regional forces. Billene indicated that the joint forces being led at the forefront by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed retook the strategic towns of Dessie and the industrial town of kombolcha among many other towns from the terrorist TPLF. “In addition to many strategic locations that have been taken over by the National Defense Forces over the past two weeks, yesterday’s feat is a strong blow to the terrorist groups that are currently in disarray”

The Minister of Justice of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothwos on Wednesday (December 08) briefed the African Group of Ambassadors resident in Geneva on the Human Rights situation in Ethiopia. He dispelled dangerous rhetoric and baseless accusations echoed by the terrorist group and the international media. He also rejected any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Ethiopia under the guise of protecting Human Rights as well as its undue politicization, which undermines genuine efforts to advance the human rights agenda. (See article)

Commissioner for the National Disaster Risk Management Commission of Ethiopia (NDRMC), Mitiku Kassa, and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, Dr. Catherine Sozi held a joint press conference on Thursday (December 09) regarding the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. Mitiku outlined the efforts that the government of Ethiopia has been undertaking in ensuring unimpeded humanitarian aid supply to affected areas since the declaration of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire last June. (See article and speeches)

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday (December 08) has delivered medical and sanitation supplies worth 13.5 Million Birr to displaced people sheltered in Debre Birhan town. UNICEF Amhara Region Coordinator, Adisu Chane disclosed that the UN Agency has so far distributed medical and sanitation supplies worth 560 Million Birr to IDPs in the region.

The Ethio-American Development Council on Wednesday (December 08) announced that the “Declaration of Genocide in Tigray” amendment was removed from National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Expressing gratitude to the #NoMore global movement community, the Council stated that further activities are needed to get the Chris Coons sanction bill removed. It is to be recalled that Congress was negotiating on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included an amendment for a US declaration of genocide in Tigray; using Nima’s CNN reports vs. the UN investigation.

Over 1.4 million USD has been raised in a fundraising event held in California State to support people displaced by the terrorist TPLF from several parts of Ethiopia. According to the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington D.C., similar fundraising events will be organized in various states of the U.S. in support of people in need of humanitarian support in Ethiopia. Members of the Ethiopian Diaspora Community in San Jose City, California reiterated continued support to the government of Ethiopia in all aspects.

Ethiopian Airlines on Tuesday (December 07) has announced a 30 percent discount from January 1 to January 31 for one million Ethiopian members of Diaspora invited to attend this year’s Christmas in their motherland. “GreatEthiopianHomeComing offer is now open, Book from now until 20 December 2021 for travel from 01 to 31 January 2022. And enjoy up to 30 percent discount,” according to Ethiopian. It is to be recalled that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has officially called on Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians all over the world to join the Great Ethiopian Home Coming Challenge last week.

The joint forces of Ethiopia including the National Defense Forces, the Amhara Special Force, Amhara Popular Force (Fano), Afar Special Force, and the Amhara Militia under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday (December 06) have retaken Dessie, Kombolcha, Bati and other towns from the terrorist TPLF militants. In the northern front, the joint force liberated Bati, Kersa, Gerba, and Degan towns. Moreover, Kalu Woreda has been fully cleared of the terrorist TPLF occupation in the Harbu front.

Ethiopians living in Italy, Japan, and Australia on Monday (December 06) have staged rallies as part of the #NoMore international movement. The protesters in Australia denounced the atrocities commuted by the terrorist TPLF and called on the western powers particularly the U.S. to stop pressuring Ethiopia. Moreover, a demonstration took place in Turin, Italy condemning the unwarranted intervention of western countries in the internal affairs of Ethiopia.

A large number of Ethiopians and community members from neighboring countries and from the rest of Africa on Sunday (December 05) have come out in Paris on Saturday to show their strength and solidarity with Ethiopia.  They have denounced the undue pressure being applied by some in the international community on the Ethiopian Government.  The Government is only fulfilling its duty in defending the welfare of the Ethiopian people and the integrity of the Ethiopia State.

Thousands of residents of Addis Ababa of Tigrayan origin on Sunday (December 05) have denounced the terrorist TPLF Group in a pro-government rally held in the capital on Monday. The demonstrators reiterated support to the government and condemned the atrocities being committed by the criminal TPLF and its allies. Demonstrators further called on the government to liberate the peoples of Tigray from the aggression of the Junta. They also carried placards that denounce meddling of some corners in the international community in Ethiopia’s internal affairs. “Tigrayans and TPLF are not the same, we do not Compromise on the Unity and sovereignty of Ethiopia”

More than 300 civil society organizations based in Ethiopia on Friday (December 03) have issued an open letter to the African Union (AU) highlighting attempts being made by certain actors at an unconstitutional change of government. The letter which is referred to President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chairperson of the African Union asks the African Union to condemn, and reject any attempts at an unconstitutional change of government in Ethiopia an African Union Member State.

The ruling Prosperity Party (PP) has reaffirmed its commitment to contribute its part in facilitating inclusive national dialogue for a better political sphere. The Executive Committee of PP has on Thursday (December 09) discussed current issues and the importance of national dialogue in realizing national consensus. Head of the Office PP, Adem Farah stated that the need to stage the national dialogue is among the major agenda that has been prioritized since the introduction of the ongoing reform in the country. He said that the Executive Committee needs the dialogue to be instrumental to bring homegrown playground for enhanced national consensus, keep in harmony with the culture and values of the people, and become supportive to preserve sovereignty and national integrity of the nation in a sustainable manner.

The UN World Food Program (WFP) has suspended aid distribution in the northern Ethiopian town of Kombolcha after “mass looting” of its warehouses blamed on Tigrayan forces. Spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric told reporters there had been mass looting of warehouses across Kombolcha in recent days, reportedly by Tigrayan fighters and some members of the local population. “Large quantities of humanitarian food supplies, including nutritional items for malnourished children, have been stolen,” he said, warning that the looting risked increasing food insecurity in northern Ethiopia.

The United Nations World Food Programme said in a statement on Monday (December 06) that its ability to meet the critical food and nutrition needs of millions of people in Ethiopia due to shortage of funding. WFP said it has a funding gap of US$579 million to deliver life-saving food assistance and livelihood support activities to 12 million people in Ethiopia including US$316 million that is urgently needed to deliver emergency food and nutrition assistance to 3.7 million people in northern Ethiopia over the next six months.

The terrorist TPLF’s short-lived control has caused enormous public and private property damage in Debre Sina and Shewa Robit towns of North Shewa Zone of the Amhara State, officials and residents said. They told local media that the rebellious group destroyed and looted health centers, pharmacies, banks, hotels, supermarkets, and shops in a clear manifestation of targeting the public.

Ethiopia Airlines has announced on Friday (December 03) that it has finalized preparations for the launch of Zambia’s National Carrier in a joint venture with Industrial Development Corporation Limited (IDC). The airline in a statement said it has a 45 percent stake in the joint venture while Industrial Development Corporation Limited (IDC) retains 55 percent, the shareholders have contributed $30 million in capital towards the establishment of the airline. The new Zambia Airways (ZN) is to join African sky with its initial domestic flight from Lusaka to Ndola on December 1, 2021, and it will operate at a frequency of six and five times a week to Ndola and Livingstone, respectively.

Eritrea

Eritrean nationals in the Italian cities of Firenze, Bari, and Catania on Saturday (December 04) held seminars focusing on the objective situation in the homeland. Present at the seminar that was conducted in Firenze, Mr. Fesehatsion Petros, Eritrean Ambassador to Italy, gave an extensive briefing on the objective situation in the homeland and the region.

Djibouti

The Ministerial meeting on the IGAD Cluster Member States’ Resilience Program was held on December 7 with representatives from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti under the leadership of Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). During his opening speech, Dr. Workneh said “the shared human and natural resources in each cross-border cluster constitutes a common set of assets and provide a unique opportunity to fashion a collective approach to development.” Dr. Fikru Regassa, State Minister for Agriculture, for his part, stated that cross-border cooperation within shared geographical areas and other economic interactions create opportunities for trade, investment, and tourism, effective management of natural resources, improved infrastructure, and facilitate cross border movement of people. Another meeting is being held on harmonized disease surveillance and vaccination with the objective of finding ways of implementing previously signed MOUs into action among member states to fast-track disease surveillance and vaccination. The ToR for the execution of the MOUs was thoroughly discussed.

Kenya

The government of Kenya in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Thursday (December 09) has set aside Sh9.6 billion to establish the Kenya Livestock Commercialization Project (KeLCoP) to boost rural smallholder farmers’ incomes and enhance food and nutrition security.

Somalia

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Abdisaid Muse Ali, received on Wednesday (December 08) in Mogadishu the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Mr. James Swan, on a courtesy visit. The FM discussed with the SRSG the political, security and humanitarian developments in Somalia. Both the FM and SRSG agreed to strengthen cooperation in key areas going forward.

South Sudan

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Wednesday (December 8) instructed the Chief Mediator for peace in Sudan Tut Gatluak to travel to Khartoum for consultations on the implementation process with the parties in Khartoum. South Sudan’s First Vice-President Riek Machar Friday (December 3) has directed the SPLM-IO national and local leaders to prepare for anticipated elections.

Sudan

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and General Commander of the Armed Forces, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, on Wednesday (December 08) has called on the Prime Minister, Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, to press ahead in implementing the goals of the revolution. Addressing a military drill, named Grandsons of Taharqa, in Shendi city, the Northern State, Gen. Al-Burhan stressed that the Armed Forces will stand alongside the Prime Minister, Dr. Abdalla Hamdok.

*******************

Ethiopia participates at 8th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa in Oran, Algeria

The 8th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa was held in Oran, Algeria, under the theme: “Assisting African Members of the UN Security Council (A3) in preparing to address peace and security issues on the Continent”.

The seminar brought together Ethiopia, in its capacity as Chair of the PSC for the month of December 2021, Niger and Tunisia, as outgoing A3 Members and Ghana and Gabon, as incoming A3 members, and PSC Members, and partners.

Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the PSC for the Month, spoke on the expectation of Africans from member states representing them in the UNSC.

He commended the efforts of the outgoing A3 members for defending African common positions within the UN Security Council.

He said member states need to push for the implementation of true multilateralism within the UNSC.

Member states also have the responsibility to protest unilateral measures and undue interferences in the domestic affairs of sovereign states, he added.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister has also related Ethiopia’s experience as being the subject of various discussions both in the UNSC and the media which often were founded on unsubstantiated allegations.

Speaking about the current situation in Ethiopia, he said the people and government of Ethiopia are capable of solving the conflict by applying their wisdom and the Pan African spirit of solving African Problems by Africans.

He ensured Ethiopia’s commitment to prioritize PSOs and issues of importance to the Union.

The government of Algeria, the African Union, and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) organized the seminar.

*******************

Ethiopia participates in Seoul-hosted UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting

State Minister H.E. Ambassador Redwan Hussein said the sacrifices Ethiopian peacekeeping troops pay for the peace of Africa is a sacrifice we pay for our own peace.

The State Minister said this in a pre-recorded video speech today (December 07) delivered to the United Nations peacekeeping ministerial meeting hosted in Seoul, South Korea.

In his speech, Ambassador Redwan raised two crucial points that concern Ethiopia with regard to the country’s role in peacekeeping missions.

He requested the United Nations to lift a newly introduced requirement that applied to Ethiopia’s peacekeeping deployment which is based on a petition of one member state in violation of the United Nations Charter and the rules and working methods of the Organization.

He also called on member states to curb the trend of informal and out-of-the-radar military deployment, especially in Africa, for it compromises the lives of peacekeeping personnel, tarnishes the reputation of peacekeeping missions, and invites hostility from host communities.

The State Minister finally stressed Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthen its peacekeeping missions and called on the global community to support peacekeeping missions with the necessary finance and political backing.

The two-day meeting will highlight “medical capacity building and technology in peacekeeping as important cross-cutting issues”.

Prior to the meeting in Seoul, stakeholders had held various preparatory meetings regarding peacekeeping missions where Ethiopia had also co-hosted a meeting on the topic of “partnership for training and capacity building” with Indonesia and Japan.

More than 100 Member States and intergovernmental organizations are meeting to give political support and pledge resources to improve peacekeeping operations.

The speech delivered by Ambassador Redwan Hussein begins at 4:30:17 of the link here: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k12/k12hizt68t

Please find herein below the full speech of the state Minister:

Statement by Ambassador Redwan Hussein, state minister for foreign affairs of the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia at the Seoul United Nations peacekeeping ministerial meeting

07 DECEMBER 2021

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I wish to express my appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea for convening this Ministerial Meeting.  We commend the Korean team for the tireless efforts that they have put into organizing this meeting in the midst of trying circumstances which had prolonged this peacekeeping ministerial as well as its preparatory meetings.

Mr. Chairman,

Ethiopia considers this ministerial meeting a valuable opportunity to reassess our performance and renew our shared commitments in the field of peacekeeping.

The meeting is also a culmination of several preparatory conferences that evaluated implementation of Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) and Action for peacekeeping plus (A4P+).  We thank all the co-chairs including Japan and Indonesia with whom we had the great pleasure of co-hosting the preparatory meeting on the topic of “partnership for training and capacity building”. We believe, the outcome of these deliberations is a critical input for this Ministerial meeting and the actual work on the ground.

Mr. Chairman,

My country has been at the forefront in its contribution to peacekeeping missions.  Our troops have paid the ultimate price in keeping the peace, and shared many good practices in community engagement and self-initiated local efforts to sustain peace and reestablish social infrastructure.

Ethiopia’s commitment to peacekeeping is driven by an overarching commitment in maintaining regional and global peace and security. The sacrifices we pay for the peace of our region, Africa, is a sacrifice we pay for our own peace. In this regard, we are very much encouraged by the efforts towards Africa’s self-sustenance in peace and financial support to its peace and security infrastructure. Peacekeeping will experience radical shift when this effort bears fruit and goes fully operational.  In the meantime, it is of paramount importance that the global community continues to support peacekeeping missions with the necessary finance and political backing.

This being said, Mr. Chairman, it will be remiss of me if I fail to mention the existing challenge, we have faced in Ethiopia’s peace keeping deployment.  Since the beginning of 2021, Ethiopia has been subjected to a vetting mechanism without any explanation and based on a baseless and politically motivated petition from an individual and single UN Member State.  This is obviously a violation of the United Nations Charter and the rules and working methods of the Organization.  We demand the United Nations to lift this additional requirement effective immediately.  We also implore fellow Member States to stand in unison against such unfettered maneuvering of the UN system by individual Member State.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to reiterate the commitment of Ethiopia to continue to contribute its part whenever it sees an opportunity and circumstances for its troops to support the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mr. Chairman,

Another point of great importance is the safety and security of peacekeepers and peacekeeping missions. We are losing our men and women in uniform for preventable causes and egregious attacks.  In this regard, I would like to flag the increasing trend whereby informal and out of the radar military deployment especially in Africa. This needs to be curbed before it takes further root.  It is not only threatening the sovereignty of states and security of the region but also tarnishing the reputation of peacekeeping missions. This has a direct underpinning on safety and security of peacekeepers that are facing increasing hostility from host communities.

In the coming years, Ethiopia will augment its principled stance and continue its contributions to international peace and security. In this regard, we plan to carry out the following specific activities:

• We will avail our bilateral agreements with other countries to prepare capacity building opportunities for other peacekeeping contributing countries especially in our region;
• We will redouble the existing training and capacity building programmes for troops and law enforcement officials of neighboring and other countries to facilitate proper transitions from peacekeeping missions. In this regard, we will enhance our support to South Sudan and the Federal Government of Somalia;
• Through Ethiopia’s International Peace Support Training Institute, we will host different levels of training in the field of peacekeeping, with particular focus on women peacekeepers;

Finally, Mr. Chair, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, I convey our thanks for the Republic of Korea for hosting this meeting the outcome of which will enhance our collaborative efforts to strengthen peacekeeping role in the maintenance of international peace and security. 

I thank you

*******************

Dr. Gedion Timothwos briefs African Group of Ambassadors in Geneva on Human Rights situation in Ethiopia

The Minister of Justice of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothwos briefed the African Group of Ambassadors resident in Geneva on Human Rights situation in Ethiopia. He dispelled dangerous rhetoric and baseless accusations echoed by the terrorist group and the international media.

He also rejected any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Ethiopia under the guise of protecting Human Rights as well as its undue politicization, which undermines genuine efforts to advance the human rights agenda.

Despite some reservations the government had on aspects of the findings of the Joint Report, it has not only welcomed the Report but also established a High Level Inter-Ministerial Taskforce to see to it that all its recommendations are acted upon fully and promptly he explained.

He underlined that HR agenda should not be manipulated and exploited to serve the illegal & treasonous cause of terrorist organization bent on securing an unconstitutional takeover of power in Ethiopia by removing a democratically elected government through violent means.

Dr. Gedion called upon all those who are genuinely concerned about Human Rights issues to work with the Government of Ethiopia by supporting its effort to ensure accountability, provide redress and prevent recurrence.

*******************

Ethiopian government and UN brief the media on the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia

Mr.Mitiku Kassa, Commissioner for the National Disaster Risk Management Commission of Ethiopia (NDRMC), and Dr. Catherine Sozi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, held a joint press conference today (December 09) regarding the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia.

Mr. Mitiku outlined the efforts that the government of Ethiopia has been undertaking in ensuring unimpeded humanitarian aid supply to affected areas since the declaration of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire last June.

He listed the considerable reductions of checkpoints, extensions of visas, blanket approval of travels, access to communication materials, and cash as positive developments from the government side.

Unfortunately, he said donors and humanitarian operators have failed to squarely condemn the destructive acts of the TPLF that exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation in all of the affected areas.

Commissioner Mitiku questioned the UN and partners for being reluctant to denounce the TPLF for hijacking more than 1000 aid trucks.

He also questioned their silence over the 203 unreturned trucks that entered the Tigray region last month, since November 23, 2021.

The international community should also openly condemn the TPLF for using food as a weapon of war in the Amhara region by blocking aid supply from people who are under the Safety Net Program, he said.

He finally called on the UN and partners to cooperate with the government of Ethiopia in supporting the more than 8 million food-insecure people because of the invasions of the TPLF in the Amhara and Afar regions.

Dr. Catherine Sozi, on her part, detailed the humanitarian aid supply services that the UN has been undertaking in all of the affected areas in northern Ethiopia.

She said the TPLF soldiers looted humanitarian aid warehouses in Kombolcha with the participation of some members of the community halting the UN aid services in the area.

Commissioner Mitiku denied this report claiming that the TPLF soldiers had looted the warehouses and staged a drama afterward, taking pictures of local people who pretended to participate in the looting.

Dr. Catherine also said shortages of fuel, cash, and some hurdles in Afar, have made the humanitarian aid supply to the Tigray region challenging.

She expressed her hope that consultations with the people and administrators of Afar would give solutions to the 115 trucks loaded with aid supplies that are ready to head to Tigray.

The Commissioner downplayed the story of fuel shortages in Tigray, recalling that the TPLF had recently looted the Kombolcha fuel depot and possessed 14 mil liters of fuel that the government had left in Mekelle before evacuating troops.

Dr. Catherine finally denounced allegations on the partiality of the UN in supplying humanitarian aid, affirming that the purpose of the UN in Ethiopia is to support the people of Ethiopia.

Please find herein below the full speech texts of Commissioner Mitiku Kassa and Dr. Catherine Sozi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator

Talking Points for Press Conference on the Current Humanitarian Assistance in Northern Ethiopia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 9 December 2021

Mitiku Kassa, Commissioner for the National Disaster Risk Management Commission of Ethiopia (NDRMC)

• It is to be recalled that members of the donor community and humanitarian operator recognized the important steps taken by the Government of Ethiopia in announcing and implementing a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire to enable the delivery of Humanitarian Assistance to the Tigray region.
• Since the Unilateral humanitarian Ceasefire was declared, the Government of Ethiopia has allowed all humanitarian partners to continue their activities in existing areas and intervention sectors.
• Moreover, the Government has opened a humanitarian supply route through the Afar region and put in place Air Bridge between Bole International Air Port and Mekele for vital humanitarian supplies and personnel movements. 
• The Government of Ethiopia has been exerting relentless effort to organize a number of consultative meetings with Partners through holding productive discussions with the view to alleviate hurdles and obstacles that hinder efficient and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the region.
• With broadly yielded understanding the Government has recognized the view, comments, and recommendations that have been given by donors and humanitarian operators.
• As a result, significant measures have been taken to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of food and non-food delivery to the Tigray region. Such as reducing the number of checkpoints from 7 to2, an extension of visa to 3 months, blanket approval of travels, approval of communication material, carrying cash through flights twice a week and strong coordination is the key measures that tremendously improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the region.
• Despite these combined efforts and recorded achievements some Partners deliberately undermine and ignore the relentless effort of the Government and deny the real measures that have been taken to boost humanitarian supplies to the region.
• Instead of/on the contrary/ they have been blaming and complaining to the Government as if it is creating hurdles and blocking the safe, efficient, and effective delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Tigray region.
• They fail to condemn and denounce the violation of international humanitarian laws and human rights which have been deliberately taken by TPLF. They fail to denounce and condemn TPLF that 1010 (77%) out of 1317 trucks have been stranded and have been utilized to transport TPLF soldiers to invade Amhara and Afar. These trucks are expected to be pulled out within 3-5 days after unloading the humanitarian supplies at warehouses in the region. Look, from November 23/2021 until December 4/2021 203 trucks with food and non-food humanitarian supplies have arrived in Mekele. None of these trucks have returned back as of today. Therefore why donors and operators are not able to condemn this crystal clear deliberate violation.
• Further, they fail to condemn TPLF that following the Unilateral humanitarian Ceasefire TPLF has manipulated and invaded neighboring Amhara and Afar regions. This invasion resulted in the displacement of 1.8 million people, leaving 8.3 million people food insecure, looting and vandalizing of Social and economic infrastructure as well as the human right violation. Furthermore shelling of Amhara and Afar region with heavy artillery killed hundreds and thousands and blocks the movement of humanitarian supplies to the Tigray region.
• They kept silent while North Wollo, North Gonder, and Wag- Himira people were deprived of humanitarian supplies for more than 5 months. They fail to condemn TPLF which has been using starvation as a weapon of war in the Amhara region.  
• In spite of having clear evidence and information on all these violations, blockage, and facts on the ground the international community remains silent and inactive to pressure TPLF to respect International humanitarian laws and human rights as well as create enabling and conducive environment for the delivery of Humanitarian assistances.
• Despite all these violations, negligence, and silence the Government of Ethiopia, Afar regional state, and Afar elders have been playing their constructive role to facilitate smooth movement of humanitarian trucks along the Afar route to address the humanitarian needs of the Tigray region.
• In order to boost further efficient and effective delivery of humanitarian aid, the Government of Ethiopia and UN resident and humanitarian coordinator has conducted a thorough and detailed discussion on achievements, challenges, and facts on the ground.
• They agreed that the International community should recognize the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia and clearly denounce the violation of humanitarian laws and human rights as well as blockage of humanitarian assistance by TPLF.
• The narration on efforts of the Government of Ethiopia should be corrected and should refer to the reality on the ground.
• Furthermore, the Government of Ethiopia has allowed WFP to mobilize its own dedicated fleets to increase the efficiency of transport facilities to take food and non-food humanitarian supplies to the Tigray region.
• Given the current security development in Amhara and Afar regions, North Gonder and Eastern Amhara routes would be additional humanitarian supply routes to Amhara and Tigray region. The Afar route remains active and a key route to reach people in need of humanitarian assistance in the Tigray region. To this end, the Government of Ethiopia has provided blanket assurance for trucks and their drivers that have been transporting humanitarian supplies to the Tigray region.
• At this moment the Government of Ethiopia urges the international community to support the response, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts in northern Ethiopia and give due attention to 8.3 million people who are heavily affected by the TPLF invasion in Amhara and Afar regions.
• Finally, the Government of Ethiopia is committed to working closely with humanitarian and development partners to save lives, protect the livelihood, and ensure the implementation of effective early recovery and rehabilitation activities in affected areas. 

Update on Humanitarian Operations in Northern Ethiopia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 9 December 2021

By Dr. Catherine Sozi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator

Good afternoon,

It is a pleasure to be here today and provide an update on the humanitarian operations in Northern Ethiopia, which has been an important focus of the humanitarian response in the country over the past 12 months plus.

Before going into the details, however, I would like to point out that the humanitarian needs in the rest of the country also remain significant. Humanitarian partners estimate that some 20 million people across the whole country require urgent humanitarian assistance. 

Conflict, drought, flooding, disease outbreaks and desert locust infestation continue to drive humanitarian needs in Ethiopia. According to our analysis, there are at least 4 million displaced people across the country. Ethiopia also hosts the third largest refugee population in the continent. 

The UN, together with our humanitarian partners, remains committed to addressing these growing needs and finding urgent and sustainable solutions in a complex environment. In doing so, we are working closely with authorities at federal, regional and zonal levels and, of course, the communities on the ground who are responding from their own homes and with their own resources. Resource requirements are immense, and it is important to acknowledge the continuous support of Government of Ethiopia our donor partners and humanitarian partners themselves.

Turning to Northern Ethiopia, the conflict continues to drive large-scale displacement, loss of livelihoods and limited access to markets, food and basic services. The latest numbers of people impacted are 3.7 million people in Amhara, more than 500,000 people in Afar, and 5.2 million people in Tigray. Of those, at least 400,000 are believed to be facing extreme food insecurity.

The nutrition situation is seriously and rapidly deteriorating, with screening data from all three regions showing malnutrition rates between 16 and 28 percent for children. Alarmingly, more than 50 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women screened in Amhara and Tigray were also found to be malnourished.

The sexual and reproductive health as well as maternal health needs are increasing. Damaged health facilities and limited access to healthcare in some areas are aggravating the situation.

As stated in the Joint Investigation Report by the Ethiopia Human Rights Commission and the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights various acts of sexual and gender-based violence have been committed by all parties to the conflict since its start.

The conflict has had a devastating impact on children. Many children have been killed or injured in hostilities, have been separated or subjected to sexual violence.

Many health facilities and schools have been destroyed and medicine remains a scarce commodity.

This is just a snapshot of some of the needs, but it is clear that the situation is dire and continues to deteriorate the longer the conflict goes on.

When it comes to our response within a very complex environment, let me highlight a few achievements over the past weeks and months based on the reports received by the humanitarian partners on the ground:

Since 12 July, over 1300 trucks have moved food and non-food items (51,000 metric tons) between Semera and Mekelle. Since 23 November, when convoys restarted after a one-month gap, 203 trucks carrying around 8,800 metric tons of food and non-food items have moved from Semera to Mekelle.

Under the ongoing distributions, humanitarian food assistance has reached around 230,000 people in the Tigray Region. Over the past week, in response to the new displacement from Western Zone to North-Western Zone in Tigray, humanitarian partners provided food, water trucking services, WASH support, emergency shelter kits and education materials for children to the affected populations.

WASH support is being scaled up and over the last week, partners reached over 100,000 people compared to only 27,000 the week before.

Lifesaving healthcare services continue through mobile health and nutrition teams, reaching more than 45,000 people with various health services in 25 woredas in Tigray during the past seven days.

In Amhara, partners continue to scale up their response in areas that are accessible and secure across the region, including food, nutrition interventions, health services, education support, WASH services and prepositioning of stocks and commodities. To date, more than 947,000 people have been assisted with food under the current food distribution round in Amhara.

Thousands of displaced families at IDP sites in Motta, Ebinat, Debre Berhan, Debark and Mekaneselam received emergency shelter kits and non-food items over the past week. Health partners resumed support to health services in three hospitals in Amdework, North Mewucha and Meket, and to 19 health centres in Wag Hemra, North Gondar, South Gondar and North Wollo, including providing medical equipment, medicine and therapeutic food and nutrition supplements. 

In Afar, partners also continue to scale up their response, including food, nutrition interventions and healthcare services through direct support to health facilities or through 30 mobile health and nutrition teams in the region. Nearly 16,000 people received food assistance in Koneba Woreda, increasing the number of people reached under the current food distribution to more than 102,000 people in the region. Partners prepositioned nutrition supplies and routine drugs sufficient to treat malnourished children till the end of the year.  More than 26,000 IDPs received WASH supplies in four IDP sites in the region.

The Federal Government has approved the resumption of UNHAS flights to Tigray. The regular twice-weekly flights into Mekelle resumed on 24 November to rotate humanitarian personnel in and out of the region as well as to bring in cash to pay UN and international NGO staff and enable the operations on the ground.

While these developments are encouraging, humanitarian partners continue to face important challenges. Security concerns remain a key impediment to the operations and the humanitarian response over the past year has come at a steep cost. 23 humanitarian workers have lost their lives over the past 12 months in Northern Ethiopia. While humanitarian partners remain committed to providing urgent lifesaving assistance to those in need, the safety and security of our staff is paramount. 

Moreover, due to limitations on supplies, fuel, cash and access issues, the humanitarian operation across Northern Ethiopia is severely constrained and not where they should be.

Crossline deliveries of humanitarian assistance remain challenging. Of the 9.4 million people in need of assistance across northern Ethiopia, more than 80 percent (7.8 million) remain behind battle lines.

Since July of this year, for example, the first-order impediments to our humanitarian response in Northern Ethiopia have been the direct and indirect impacts of the recent fighting in Amhara and Afar. Our recent assessments of the airports in Lalibela and Kombolcha have shown sizable damages as a result of the fighting.

I would like to stress here that it is vital that our humanitarian assistance reaches families in need wherever they are.

The safeguarding of humanitarian stocks for their intended purposes is a top priority. Important challenges in this respect have emerged and UN and partners’ stocks have been looted, UN property was forcefully entered, vehicles and trucks have been taken by parties to the conflict and humanitarian staff have been severely harassed and intimidated.

In Kombolcha over recent days, large quantities of humanitarian food supplies – including nutritional items for malnourished children – have been stolen and looted in the town of Kombolcha in the Amhara region. The small-scale theft of food escalated into mass looting of warehouses across Kombolcha in recent days, reportedly by elements of the Tigrayan forces and some members of the local population.

The exact amount of food taken is still being determined, but what is clear is that these incidents will further worsen malnutrition and prolong food insecurity in northern Ethiopia. An estimated 9.4 million people across Tigray, Amhara and Afar are now in critical need of food assistance.

The World Food Programme teams on the ground were not able to prevent the looting in the face of extreme intimidation, including staff being held at gunpoint. As a result, WFP has suspended food distributions in the towns of Dessie and Kombolcha.

Harassment of humanitarian staff by armed forces is unacceptable and undermines the ability of the United Nations and all of our humanitarian partners to deliver assistance when it is most needed, particularly as aid workers face growing access challenges. Commandeering of trucks used for humanitarian operations is also unacceptable. 

We strongly condemn all of these incidents and reiterate our calls to all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian relief personnel and objects, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law. It is prohibited to attack, destroy, misappropriate or loot relief supplies, installations, materials, units or vehicles.

Moving humanitarian cargo into Tigray has also been challenging. There are currently 115 trucks in Semera loaded with humanitarian cargo destined for Mekelle. These trucks have received Federal clearances but are awaiting regional clearances in Afar to proceed to Mekelle.

WFP is working with authorities and local community elders to negotiate the movement of further convoys. To date, 322 trucks have exited the Tigray region and over 500 are known to remain in the region. There are various reasons for this, none of them are insurmountable and we are working with regional authorities to find solutions.

There is insufficient fuel for humanitarian operations in the Tigray region. Supplies available in the region have not been availed to partners in sufficient volume. We are working with authorities and community leaders to release additional fuel in a timely manner, which is essential to delivering food and other non-food items to the most vulnerable as soon as possible.

Finally, in order to support the humanitarian operations in Tigray, it will be paramount to ensure that sufficient operational cash can be brought into the region by humanitarian partners.

We continue to work with the authorities at the federal and regional level as well as with the communities on the ground to find solutions to these challenges to enable a continued scale-up of the humanitarian response to reach all people in need.

I would like to end by reaffirming that the UN has only one mission in Ethiopia – that is to support the Ethiopian people. In addition to providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the people in need, this includes also finding more sustainable solutions to the humanitarian crises and support the country to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

*******************