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Nearly 40% of the population in Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region are suffering from “extreme food shortage”, according to the United Nations. The latest food assessment published on Friday (January 28) by …
The Ethiopian government has accused the World Health Organization director in Ethiopia of “misconduct“ after he criticised the country over the current war and humanitarian crisis. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was nominated …
The Ethiopian government has accused the World Health Organization director in Ethiopia of “misconduct“ after he criticised the country over the current war and humanitarian crisis.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was nominated by the Ethiopian government to be the head of the U.N. health agency four years ago, but claims he has “not lived up to the integrity and professional expectations”. He has been accused of interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs, according to a press release issued on Thursday by the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs.
“Through his acts, (Tedros) spread harmful misinformation and compromised WHO’s reputation, independence, and credibility,” the statement reads.
Tedros, has on many occasions criticized the situation in his home country and called for humanitarian access to the conflict-ridden region of Ethiopia.
“Nowhere in the world are we witnessing hell like Tigray,” said Tedros at a media briefing Wednesday.
He made reference to a memo WHO had received recently from a physician in the region, which indicated, health authorities had run out of basic medicines for diseases including diabetes and were now using expired stocks and intravenous fluids.
Tedros accused Ethiopia of blocking international access to Tigray, saying that WHO had not been allowed to send any supplies to the region since July.
However, The Ethiopian government perceives this Tedros was using his office “to advance his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia” and said he continues to be an active member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front; Tedros was foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the country’s ruling coalition.
There have been several conflicts between the TPLF (the political party that runs the Tigray region), and the Ethiopian federal forces since the country’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister, Abiy Ahmed accused the heavily armed regional government of attacking a military base.
The conflicts have caused many deaths and injuries.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prestigious Peace Prize, on Thursday advised their 2019 winner to end the current war and humanitarian crisis in the region.
On Friday, the U.N. World Food Program warned its food assistance in northern Ethiopia is “about to grind to a halt because intense fighting has blocked the passage of fuel and food.” No WFP convoys have reached the Tigray capital since mid-December, it said in a statement, “and the last of WFP’s cereals, pulses and oil will be distributed next week.” Stocks of nutritionally fortified food to treat malnourished children and women are depleted, it said.
“We’re now having to choose who goes hungry to prevent another from starving,” said Michael Dunford, WFP’s regional director for Eastern Africa. The WFP says nearly 10 million people need food assistance.
In a separate statement on the war, the U.N human rights office said at least 108 civilians have reportedly been killed in Tigray this year by airstrikes “allegedly carried out by the Ethiopian air force.” It warned of possible war crimes.
The airstrikes have continued despite a shift in the war in recent weeks, with the Tigray forces retreating into their region and Ethiopian forces saying they wouldn’t pursue them further there. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has spoken of reconciliation and national dialogue.
In September, France, Germany and other European countries nominated Tedros for a second term as WHO’s director-general, the first time any candidate was not supported by his or her home country. Tedros is expected to be confirmed for another five-year term in May, as he is running unopposed.
On Monday, footage released by Ethiopian regional state-owned television station, showed the impact of an airstrike in embattled Tigray region. Images of the strike that hit on Saturday a refugee camp …
On Monday, footage released by Ethiopian regional state-owned television station, showed the impact of an airstrike in embattled Tigray region.
Images of the strike that hit on Saturday a refugee camp in Dedebit, a town located in northwestern Tigray killed dozens of civilians on Saturday have been broadcast. Tigray TV, an Ethiopian regional state-owned television station released the footage on Monday.
The exact death toll of the strike has yet to be announced but dozens of people are believed to have died. The deadly strike, which gave no chance for the refugees to flee, leaves families in mourning. The Tigrayan rebels accused the government of carrying out a the drone attack.
“Our people are also paying the price at the war fronts […] And the people paying this price should not be alarmed and terrorized by these attacks and should finish their struggle with their heads held high”, Teklay Gebremedhin, the province Administrator, said.
Reports of the strike came a day after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issued a message of reconciliation for Orthodox Christmas after 14 months of war.
Since a war erupted in November 2020 between Ethiopian forces and the Tigray rebels who once led the country, authorities have often resorted to drones to back their military offensive.
On Sunday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced humanitarian partners had suspended their activities in the area.
Ethiopia on Saturday hailed the return of precious artefacts looted by British soldiers more than 150 years ago, after a long campaign for their restitution. The collection — recovered from Britain, …
Ethiopia on Saturday hailed the return of precious artefacts looted by British soldiers more than 150 years ago, after a long campaign for their restitution.
The collection — recovered from Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands — includes a ceremonial crown, an imperial shield, a set of silver-embossed horn drinking cups, a handwritten prayer book, crosses and a necklace.
Most of the items were plundered by the British army after it defeated Emperor Tewodros II in the Battle of Magdala in 1868 in what was then Abyssinia.
The treasures were unwrapped before the media at Ethiopia’s national museum on Saturday, more than two months after they were formally handed over at a ceremony in London in September.
Ethiopia said it was the largest of such repatriation of artifacts to the country, with its ambassador to Britain, Teferi Melesse, describing it as of “huge significance”.
Calls have long been mounting in Africa for Western countries to return their colonial spoils, with many prized national treasures held abroad in museums or sometimes private collections.
Earlier this month, the West African state of Benin welcomed back nearly 30 royal treasures seized during France’s rule more than 130 years ago.
– ‘Great injustice’ –
The Ethiopian government is still fighting for Britain to return other stolen artifacts including sacred wooden and stone tabots or tablets, which represent the Ark of the Covenant.
The tabots are housed in the British Museum in London — which has a vast trove of foreign treasures — but have never been put on public display.
Ethiopia is also seeking the remains of Tewodros’ son Prince Alemayehu who was taken to Britain after the emperor committed suicide following his battlefield defeat.
“A variety of artifacts which are a legacy of our culture and values were looted during the battle and taken out of the country illegally,” said Tourism Minister Nasise Challi.
“Countless of our artifacts are found in various museums, research centres and in the hands of private individuals,” she said at Saturday’s event, appealing for their return.
Ethiopia, one of the world’s oldest countries with a rich and ancient cultural and religious heritage, has said it considers the ransacking of Magdala a “great injustice” that has been a thorn in relations with Britain.
Several of the returned items were due to be auctioned but were bought by the non-profit Scheherazade Foundation with the aim of repatriation. Others were acquired from private dealers or investors.
Among them was a set of medieval manuscripts dating back to before the 18th century, which had been due to be auctioned in the Hague.
Ethiopia is also negotiating for the return of a bible and cross that were set for the auction block in the United States.
“These restitution are taking place in a global context where the role of museums in portraying colonial histories and the legitimacy of displaying looted artifacts is being questioned,” Ethiopia’s National Heritage Restitution Committee said in a statement in September.
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Sudan has said it will hold three-way talks on Tuesday with Egypt and Ethiopia over a controversial Nile dam project that US President Donald Trump has warned could lead to military …
Foreign and irrigation ministers from the three countries are to hold a videoconference brokered by the African Union (AU), the Sudanese irrigation ministry said on Monday, three months after the suspension of dialogue between the neighbouring countries over the construction of the $4.6bn mega-dam by Ethiopia.
Ethiopia last week accused Trump of inciting a war over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) after the US president on Friday spoke out against the project and said Egypt might destroy it.
Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew summoned US ambassador Michael Raynor to clarify Trump’s latest foray into a delicate, long-running dispute over Nile waters between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbours Egypt and Sudan.
He further reinterated the incitement of war between Ethiopia and Egypt by a sitting US president neither reflects the long-standing partnership and strategic alliance between Ethiopia and the United States, nor is acceptable in international law governing interstate relations.
Trump reported on Friday that It’s a very dangerous situation because Egypt is not going to be able to live that way as they will end up blowing up the dam.
On Saturday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office defended the dam and said Addis Ababa was committed to AU-led talks that it had made significant progress.
Egypt depends on the Nile for about 97 percent of its irrigation and drinking water and sees the dam as an existential threat, while Ethiopia views the project as essential for its electrification and development.
The US announced last month it was suspending a portion of its financial aid for Ethiopia, citing a lack of progress in talks and Addis Ababa’s as it has start filling the reservoir. Africanewsguru update.
