Ethiopian Crisis: US Secretary of State expresses 'grave concern' about humanitarian situation in Tigray
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Thursday spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and expressed "grave concern" about the humanitarian crisis in the Tigray Region, where fighting between government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has created a humanitarian and political crisis.
A statement on the website of the US Department of State said Mr. Blinken urged "immediate, full, and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life".
The statement by State Department Spokesperson, Ned Price, read: "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke spoke today (Thursday) with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and emphasised the importance of the U.S.-Ethiopia bilateral relationship.
"Secretary Blinken expressed our grave concern about the humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region and urged immediate, full, and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life.
"The Secretary also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ethiopia’s reform agenda and our support for upcoming national elections, regional peace and security, democracy and human rights, justice and accountability, and economic prosperity for all Ethiopians."
The Ethiopian Prime Minister tweeted: "Thank you @SecBlinken for commitment to support #Ethiopia’s deep reforms that we will pursue undeterred. Our aspirations to democratise and build a multidimensional prosperous & peaceful country for all will be enhanced through strengthened Ethiopia-US relations."
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, UN humanitarian agencies, human rights and humanitarian NGOS have voiced grave concerns over the crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and underscored the need for urgent efforts to protect populations at risk.
The Ethiopian military launched an offensive against the Tigray regional administration on 4 November after the armed forces under the command of the Tigray state administration launched an offensive against federal government forces.
Although the Ethiopian government says the operation is over, with many of the TPLF leaders arrested or killed, the TPLF says fighting is continuing.
-0- PANA MA 5Feb2021
