TPLF's war on Afar has led to all-time lowest food distribution in Tigray

WFP food assistance in Tigray [Picture: WFP]

ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 20, 2022 - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in its situation report indicated all-time lowest food distribution in Tigray while the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission said the humanitarian assistance to Tigray was obstructed due to the attack the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) opened on Abala town, a town in Afar region 50 km East of Mekelle, capital of Tigray.

According to the UNOCHA, stock and fuel in Tigray are almost entirely exhausted reaching only about 10,000 people between 6-12 January. However, the report shies away from stating TPLF's obstruction of the Abala-Mekelle humanitarian corridor.

But according to Debebe Zewde, Director of the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission, who said in an interview with Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the only humanitarian corridor into Tigray, Semera-Abala-Mekelle, was blocked when the TPLF was shelling Abala town.

The Director said the TPLF is using this to mislead the the international community to believe that it is the Ethiopian government that is blocking aid into Tigray.

"People in Tigray region are our people. The government has been coordinating support by facilitating transport and cash. However, the TPLF is preventing humanitarian assistance to reach the people it claims it stands for, the people of Tigray.", said Debebe Zewede, Director of the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission.

He also called on the international community to officially condemn the TPLF and force it to open up the humanitarian corridor.

The Director said the TPLF has used 1,338 humanitarian aid trucks for its own non-humanitarian purposes. He said only 332 of the aid trucks were able to return from Tigray after delivering aid.

This is a clear indication that the TPLF is trying to create an obstacle for the humanitarian assistance, said the Director.

The Afar regional government said, on January 16, that the TPLF has been shelling with heavy artillery Abala and Magale towns of Afar region since December 19, 2021, last year. This attack on the key humanitarian corridor has not only blocked aid coming into Tigray but it has also caused the death and displacement of thousands of civilians in Afar.

Comments

Ethiopian Muslims Protest Over Demolished Mosques By Government

Addis Ababa – As Ethiopian Muslims completed their Friday (Jum'a) Prayers, May 26, they began denouncing government decision to demolish more than 30 Mosques in the newly established Shaggar City, formerly Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne. Addis Ababa Police attempted to storm the Anwar Grand Mosque amid protests on Friday. But the police angered the Muslims inside who saw the police's move as an attempt to desecrate the holy place. This forced the Muslims to throw stones at the police pushing them out of the Mosque. In a statement released on Friday, Addis Ababa Police said that two were killed. Although the statement did identify the victims, they were later identified as Siraj Mohammed and Abubaker Elias. Addis police said only four individuals, 37 police officers as well as 15 different police backup forces were injured. Many expected better years when the Oromia Regional government decided to establish the Shaggar City with a promise of ensuring equal growth and

Thousands Attend Funeral For Four Muslims Killed By Police In Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA – Thousands of Muslims gathered today for the funeral of Anwar Surur, Zubair Mudasir, Ibrahim Danbal and Jemil Redwan killed by police in Addis Ababa following Juma'a Friday Prayers at the Grand Anwar Mosque. Three of the four Zubair, Anwar and Ibrahim were killed yesterday after the Juma'a prayers were completed at the Grand Anwar Mosque while Jemil Redwan, was among those who were seriously injured in last week’s crackdown and has since been receiving medical treatment before he succumbed to his injuries. Their bodies were laid at Addis Ababa Kolfe Muslim Cemetary. And from yesterday's shooting Mukerem Asrar, Yonatan Mulugeta and Tadele Wabada are said to be in a critical condition at AaBET hospital, Addis Ababa. Reports also indicate that Yonatan and Tadele were shot while heading to work. Siraj Mohammed and Abubaker Elias were killed by police last week, May 26, when Muslims protested the demolition Mosques in Sha

Another Mosque Demolished in Ethiopia as Regional Government Denies Targeting Mosques

ADDIS ABABA – Oromia Regional Government said in a statement today that the demolishing of illegal housing taking place in the newly formed Shaggar City does not target Mosques. This statement came amid the destruction of another Mosque at Ajamba, at the outskirt of west Addis Ababa. In the statement, the regional government stated that the demolishing of illegal houses is planned to take place around 600 cities in Oromia. "Some groups are painting as if the demolishing of illegal houses targets one single religion", said Hailu Adugna, Communication Office Head, Oromia region. "When we are implementing this decision, many interest groups are disseminating information as if we are targeting one ethnicity and one religion. This is wrong.", said Hailu Adugna. The Ethiopian Institute for the Ombudsman has reported that it has received over one hundred thousand complaints from individuals whose homes were destroyed by Shaggar City a

Ethiopian Citizen

Search This Blog