The Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen on Wednesday told a United Nations human rights meeting that Tigray’s humanitarian situation is improving but security still remains a work in progress, reported Africa News.
“Full return to stability is a work in progress. But there is no doubt the situation keeps on improving, allowing better movement of humanitarian operations except for a few pocket areas where there is sporadic shooting by these remnants (of opposition forces),” Demeke said. “Emergency humanitarian assistance is being delivered in 36 wards of the (inaudible) region at 92 food distribution centers.”
He said the Ethiopian government had taken its responsibilities to all refugees very seriously and had reached out to two million people in need of aid.
The statement came after a United Nations report published on Sunday sounded the alarm over a very critical malnutrition situation unfolding in Tigray as vast rural areas where many people fled during three months of fighting remain out of reach of aid.
A deadly conflict erupted in Ethiopia’s Tigray in early November last year after forces loyal to the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked federal army camps located in the region.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a law enforcement operation to restore constitutional order in the embattled region after accusing the TPLF of waging a rebellion against the government.
The Ethiopian forces have ousted the TPLF from power and arrest warrants have been issued against the region’s fugitive leaders. Prime Minister Abiy’s government has also named a new administration for Tigray since January but it has struggled to govern as clashes between government and rebel forces have persisted. The sporadic fights have made it almost impossible to restore services in the region and have resulted in further displacement of the people.
Ethnic violence poses a major challenge to Prime Minister Abiy as he tries to promote national unity in a country with more than 80 ethnic groups.
