Ethiopian crisis: Basic services coming back to life in war-ravaged Tigray region
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Basic services are coming back to life in Ethiopia's war ravaged Tigray region since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities agreement between the Federal Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on 2 November.
Telecom services, operations of dozens of branches of banks, reconnection of electricity, and air transport have begun operations.
Some 107,000 tons of humanitarian aid, about 1,400 tons of medicines, and 10,000 tons of non-food items have been delivered.
Roads and other infrastructures that were damaged are being reconstructed while hospitals have started providing services, the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported on Thursday.
ENA quoted Ethio Telecom Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frehiwot Tamiru, as saying that telecom services have resumed in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, as promised by the government.
She said telecom infrastructures which were damaged in the bitter war between the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and TPLF are being repaired.
Some 981 kilometers out of some 1,800 kms fiber optics lines have been repaired giving 27 cities and towns in the region telecom service.
As a result, ENA said, 61 bank branches have started services in different cities and towns.
Frehiwot said telecom services that have started are mainly voice, adding that work is underway to make telecom service shops operational.
The Ethio Telecom CEO also said that the company is working to extend the service life of SIM cards that have expired due to being out of service for a long time.
ENA quoted the Peace Minister, Binalf Andualem, as saying that some 107,000 tons of humanitarian aid and 1,400 tons of medicine have been provided to the Tigray region.
He said the federal government has been supplying "unfettered humanitarian aid" to the region, with aid being supplied through all the humanitarian corridors of Kobo, Gondar and Afar Abala.
Ethiopia's national carrier on Wednesday resumed regular flights to Mekelle following instructions by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of various bodies to expedite resumption of services to the war-ravaged region.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the resumption of flights to Mekele was very good news, pointing out that this would help strengthen the implementation of the peace process, reintegrate families, facilitate businesses, humanitarian aid, and tourism.
Mesfin said the airline would start with one flight per day and gradually increase the number, as it also assists in the relief process as well as easing the economic problems in the region.
Mesifn said that efforts had been intensified to resume flights to other airports in the Tigray region.
Ethiopian Electric Utility Deputy CEO Solomon Tassew disclosed that almost the entire Tigray region had been connected to the national power grid. As a result, many towns have started getting electricity.
The Cessation of Hostilities agreement was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November after AU-led talks brokered by former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, former South African Deputy President, Dr. Phumuzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Subsequently, military commanders of Ethiopia and the TPLF also signed an agreement in Nairobi, Kenya, under which they made a commitment to unhindered humanitarian access and clarification of cessation of hostilities implementing arrangements.
The Ethiopian conflict started on 3 November, 2020 when the TPLF forces attacked the Federal forces in Mekelle and Prime Minister Abiy responded the following day.
There was a five-month lull in the fighting but hostilities resumed again on 24 August.
The fighting has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, destroyed livelihoods and created a huge humanitarian problem amidst allegations of human rights violations, including possible war crimes.
-0- PANA MA 29Dec2022
