Deputy PM calls on aid organizations to respect Ethiopia’s sovereignty

Addis Ababa, August 25, 2021 (FBC) –Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, today provided a briefing to aid organizations operating in northern parts of Ethiopia.

In his briefing held this afternoon, Demeke told the organizations to respect the sovereignty of the country while delivering humanitarian assistance.

International organizations have chosen to blame the government for the challenges encountered in delivering aid while the terrorist TPLF was the main criminal, he said.

Despite government’s unilateral ceasefire decision by prioritizing security and wellbeing of its citizens, the terrorist TPLF breached the ceasefire and has been committing atrocities against civilians in Amhara and Afar regional states, he said.

Terrorist enterprise’s attack on Northern Command of the National Defense Force was intended to disrupt law and order and destabilize the country and the region at large, the Deputy Premier said.

He terrorist TPLF group waged war against neighbouring regions, committed horrific crimes against civilians and blocked humanitarian operations in the northern parts of the country, he explained, calling international aid agencies and partners and the international community to denounce atrocious acts of the group.

He called on the international organizations to understand the reality on the ground and help the government address circumstances, reaffirming commitment to address some challenges raised by partners so as to facilitate conducive climate of the humanitarian operation.

He thanked the international organizations and partners for recognizing government’s efforts to address the humanitarian situation and prioritize security of civilians.

He further called on aid agencies which participated in addressing the need in Tigray to give attention to dispalced from various parts of the Amhara and Afar regions too.