Finance Minister briefs DPG on latest developments in Tigray

Addis Ababa, February 9, 2021 (FBC) – Minister of Ministry of Finance, Ahmed Shide has updated the Executive committee of Development Partners Group (DPG) on recent developments in Tigray region.

The Minister noted the federal government’s priorities in the coming months will focus on effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people in need in the region.

He also said accelerated recovery and peace building will also be a areas of priority to the government, he added.

Ahmed elaborated how the Government of Ethiopia was forced to undertake the law and enforcement operation in Tigray region and said the intervention was carried out with possible maximum care for the wellbeing and safety of civilians.

“However, despite the care taken by the government, deliberate subversion and purposeful destruction of infrastructure by the TPLF Junta has resulted in major humanitarian and development challenges in the region.”, he said.

Minster also explained about the significant progress made in recent weeks both on the humanitarian and recovery aspects.

He said the humanitarian assistance has reached 1.8 million people with emergency food distribution and more than 305,000 quintals of grain have also been distributed, adding that the emergency food distribution reached 26,000 Eritrean refugees residing in two camps in Tigray.

He further called for the continued support of development partners to urgently reach in particular infants, children, pregnant and lactating mothers who are the most vulnerable.

He also added the Government is committed to working with development partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to 2.5 million people in Tigray region.

“I appreciate the recent proactive engagement from development partners, especially United Nations Agencies in ensuring humanitarian assistance needs in Tigray are attained.

The Government of Ethiopia is expediting all the necessary facilitation and support for all development partners to be able to efficiently deliver humanitarian assistance” said the Minister, adding “The Government is moving with urgency on approving requests for humanitarian staff movement into and within the region.”

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Dr. Catherine Sozi, to her part, thanked the Government of Ethiopia for the leadership it has shown in terms of delivering humanitarian assistance to 1.8 million affected people.

On behalf of the DAG executive committee, she emphasized on the continued need for more collaboration to address additional people in need.

Dr. Sozi also called upon DAG members to continue their support for the government of Ethiopia as it upholds its responsibilities to assist refugees and other vulnerable populations in the country.