Ethiopian crisis: Ethiopian Airlines resumes flights to Tigray region capital
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Ethiopia's national carrier on Wednesday resumed regular flights to Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, 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.
The state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) said the resumption of daily flights to Mekelle by Ethiopian Airlines was part of the government’s commitment to resume basic services following the 2 November Cessation of Hostilities agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa.
It said a passenger airplane departed from Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport on Wednesday afternoon to Mekelle.
It quoted some passengers as expressing happiness about the resumption of flights.
Following a visit by a Federal Government delegation to Mekelle on Monday, led by the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Tagesse Chafo, Ethiopian Airlines announced that it would resume flights to the Tigray region capital.
Ethio Telecom and Ethiopian Electric Utility also said they were stepping up work to restore their services, as concrete actions are being taken to implement the peace agreement between the Federal Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
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 Tigray region.
Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru announced that telecom services had been restored in 27 towns while Ethiopian Electric Utility said that almost the entire Tigray region had been reconnected to the national power grid.
Firehiwot said that several telecom infrastructures were destroyed during the fighting, adding that maintenance of some 1,800 kms fiber optics line was underway with 931 km so far completed.
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/RA 28Dec2022
