Road transport services resume to Axum, Adwa and Shire towns

Addis Ababa, January 18, 2022 (FBC) – In a press briefing, Government Communication Service Minister, Legesse Tulu (PhD), stated that that activites are being carried out ahead of the time scheduled to make the peace process successful.

Legesse said the he government jointly with international partners has been delivering and distributing food and non-food humanitarian items and medicines to people affected by the conflict in Amhara, Afar and Tigray regions.

Basic services like banks, electric, telecom, clean water and health care are being restored in most war affected areas in the North through enhanced maintenance works.

The resumption of the flight services to war affected in northern parts of the country has enabled to resume people to people relations and reunite families who were departed due to the conflict.

Road transport services connecting war affected areas including Axum, Shire, Adwa and Alamata towns with the rest of the country has been resumed in accordance with the efforts to accelerate the humanitarian aid delivery and the peace process.

Until January 16, 15, 023MT of food and nonfood supplies and 113,952 Lt of fuel has been delivered to war affected areas, and 1.3 billion birr cash has been transferred for business processes in serivices organs.

Some 29 partners operating in the country with support of the government have delivered 149, 496 ton of food and nonfood humanitarian supplies, 1,562MT of medicines and 4,154MT of nutritional and therapeutic food in war affected areas in the North, the Minister added.

Preliminary works such as surveys and studies are being conducted to restore manufacturing industries in Mekelle and Wukro cities in Tigray region, he added.

The Minister commended the activities being undertaken by the TPLF side including the disengagement and camping and combatants and handing over of heavy weapons the Ethiopian National Defense Forces.

But, he said, some TPLF officials are spreading unhelpful messages that are aimed to defame security forces of neighboring regions and absolve their combatants, calling them to refrain from such activities.

The Minister explained that armed group in various parts of the country including Amhara and Benshangul Gumuz regions have surrendered to government forces and most parts of the country are now enjoying peace and stability.

Legesse called on some he described as extremist elements to refrain from spreading provocative message and false information to inflict mistrust and conflict among peoples.

In Oromia, the government has continued taking measures against the terrorist Shene group to ensure peace in the region, reaffirming commitment of the government to resolve the situation peacefully. Activities are underway to return areas in the region where Shene was operating to normalcy, Legese indicated.

Many youths are disengaging themselves from the group and joining their families to contribute their part in the peace and development efforts of the country.

Finally, the minister said activities have been finalized to observe the Ketera/Timket holiday peacefully and colorfully. He further called on all Ethiopians to maintain their deep-seated hospitality and use the festival to promote historical, cultural and religious values of the country to the world.