Foreign
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to hostilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, including the immediate withdrawal and disengagement of Eritrean armed forces from Ethiopia.
Guterres, in a statement on Monday, expressed grave concern over the escalation of fighting in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, where Government troops and separatist forces had been locked in conflict since November 2020.
The latest surge in violence began in August, after a fragile five-month humanitarian truce, which has halted aid deliveries into the northern Ethiopian region, where around five million civilians are in need of aid.
Aid distribution continues to be hampered by a lack of fuel, and a communications shutdown across Tigray, while Tigrayan commanders have claimed that Eritrea has launched an offensive in support of Ethiopian Government forces, according to news reports.
UN partner organisation, the International Rescue Committee, has reported that one of its workers was killed in an attack in Tigray, while delivering aid to women and children in the town of Shire, on Friday.
“The situation in Ethiopia is spiraling out of control. Violence and destruction have reached alarming levels. The social fabric is being ripped apart. There is no military solution.
“Civilians are paying a horrific price.
“Indiscriminate attacks — including in residential areas — are killing more innocent people every day, damaging critical infrastructure and limiting access to vital services.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes since hostilities resumed in August, many of them for the second time,’’ Guterres said.
The UN chief said there was also reports of disturbing accounts of sexual violence and other acts of brutality against women, children and men.
He said all parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law.
“Civilians must be protected – and, so, too, humanitarian workers who are being attacked – and even killed — delivering lifesaving humanitarian aid.
“The level of need is staggering. Even before the resumption of hostilities, 13 million people required food and other support across Tigray, Amhara and Afar.
“Deliveries of aid into Tigray have been suspended for more than seven weeks, and assistance to Amhara and Afar has also been disrupted,’’ the UN chief said.
According to him, all parties must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for all civilians in need.
Guterres said the United Nations was ready to support the African Union in every possible way to end this nightmare for the Ethiopian people.
“We need the urgent resumption of talks towards an effective, lasting political settlement. The international community must rally together now for peace in Ethiopia,’’ he said.
In a humanitarian update on Oct. 4, UN Spokesperson Mr Stéphane Dujarric, said UN staff were now being allowed to rotate in and out of Tigray once more, but life-saving air supplies by road and air needed to resume urgently.
“Those flights have remained suspended since August 25, halting the transportation of supplies and operational cash into the region, which is vital for operations.
“Despite security concerns, access restrictions and lack of resources, our partners continue to respond in areas they can access in the three regions.
“In Tigray, the remaining humanitarian stocks continue to be distributed and basic services provided, despite the very difficult operational challenges,” he said, briefing journalists in New York.
Dujarric said as of Sept. 26, 32 mobile health and nutrition clinics were still operating in 58 health facilities and displacement sites in the region.
According to him, in Amhara and Afar, newly displaced families are being helped with food, water, emergency shelter and other supplies, as well as health services. (NAN)
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Tags: Antonio Guterres Mr Stéphane Dujarric UN
