Panafrican News Agency

Ethiopian crisis: UN reduces 'footprint' in Ethiopia as war escalates

New York, US (PANA) - The United Nations is temporarily relocating all eligible dependents of staff in Ethiopia because of the increasing insecurity in the country, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, annouced in New York on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, he said: "...given the security situation in the country, and out of an abundance of caution, the United Nations has decided to reduce its footprint in the country by temporarily relocating all eligible dependents."

He stressed that UN staff will, however, remain in Ethiopia to deliver on its mandates.

Mr Dujarric said the UN will monitor the situation as it evolves, keeping in mind the safety of staff and the need to continue to stand and deliver and to continue its operations and support all the people that need assistance.

The US, Britain, Germany and France are among countries that have asked their citizens to leave Ethiopia.

As the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) leads rebels in their march on the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has declared a state of emergency, called his countrymen to arms, recalled retired soldiers and taken a raft security measures to halt the advance of the TPLF, whose attack on federal forces in the Tigray region's capital, Mekelle, on 3 November last year, triggered the war.

Thousands of people have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced while millions are in dire need for food and humanitarian services.

Prime Minister Abiy has said that he is going to the frontline to save the country as the war escalates.

The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted him as saying in a messsage on Monday that "it is time to lead the country with sacrifice and vowed to lead army from the battlefront as of today (Tuesday)".

He said: “All of you who aspire to be one of Ethiopia’s most admired children, stand up for your country today. Let’s meet at the battlefield front. As we march to the battle the remaining will cover the gap created by us and work in all their capacity.”

The African Union and the US have been leading a flurry of diplomatic activities but are yet to secure a ceasefire and negotiations for peace.

U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, has asked the warring parties to de-escalate the tension, stressing that there can be no military solution to the crisis that is threatening to tear the country apart.

"After more than a year of fighting and hundreds of thousands of casualties and people displaced by fighting, it should be clear that there is no military solution," he told a media briefing in Washington on Tuesday on his return from Ethiopia. 

-0- PANA MA 24Nov2021