UNSC accuses Ethiopia of hampering entry of relief assistance to Tigray

CAIRO - 17 July 2020: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday accused Ethiopia of hampering the entry of relief assistance to the Tigray region.

The council, in a statement, confirmed that the Ethiopian authorities are not cooperating to facilitate the mission of UN relief assistance teams in the Tigray region, whose inhabitants are suffering from a humanitarian crisis due to the conflict that broke out there on November 4 last year.

The UNSC urged Ethiopia to cooperate with relief assistance teams who are working to provide the needs of around four million people in the Tigray region.

The council also denounced acts of violence in the region. On October 31, the Ethiopian Army issued a firm statement after Deputy Commander of the Northern Military Zone Gamal Mohamed had been captivated upon arrival to the region before he was released.

A large number of Tigray military commanders expelled by Ahmed from the Ethiopian Armed Forces and other security agencies have been training elements to defend the ethnicity.

On November 4, Abiy Ahmed launched military operations against the Tigray Region. Atrocities occurred, and 950,000 got displaced. Of those, 50,000 fled to Sudan.

The attacks were carried out by the Ethiopian Armed Forces and the special forces of Amhara Region. Eritrean forces have amassed on borders with Tigray, and reportedly took part in the aggression. Yet, Eretria's authorities deny the allegations. 

It is noted that Late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi whose rule extended from 1995 until his death in 2012 belonged to Tigray and was – while in office – leader of the TPLF and the EPRDF.