Ethiopia: Mass killings continue, risk of further ‘large-scale’ atrocities

Ethiopia: Mass killings continue, risk of further ‘large-scale’ atrocities

The latest report from the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia documents atrocities perpetrated “by all parties to the conflict” since 3 November 2020 – the start date of the armed conflict in Tigray –  including mass killings, rape, starvation, destruction of schools and medical facilities, forced displacement and arbitrary detention. Commission Chair Mohamed…

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World Immunization Week sees ‘big catch-up’ to get vaccines back on track

UN and partners providing aid for vulnerable across Ethiopia as 1.2 million children suffer acute malnutrition

The country was deeply impacted by a brutal conflict which began in 2020 across the north between Ethiopian Government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), although a peace deal between the sides was brokered by the African Union, ending the fighting last November. Briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday,…

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Ethiopia: Rights experts denounce mass deportation of Eritreans

Ethiopia: Rights experts denounce mass deportation of Eritreans

According to the experts, hundreds of Eritreans were also subjected to summary deportations at the end of June. “Collective expulsions are prohibited under international law,” the experts, including Mohamed Babiker, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, said in a news release issued by the UN human rights office (OHCHR). “Deporting migrants,…

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UN suspends food assistance as Ethiopia wrestles with aid diversions

UN suspends food assistance as Ethiopia wrestles with aid diversions

“Food diversion is absolutely unacceptable,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, following a joint statement made by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and USAID announcing their commitment to addressing deeply concerning revelations of aid diversion. “While we will temporarily halt food aid assistance in Ethiopia, nutrition assistance to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals…

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WFP pauses food distribution in Ethiopia following ‘significant diversion’ of aid

WFP pauses food distribution in Ethiopia following ‘significant diversion’ of aid

“WFP takes this issue extremely seriously and will not tolerate any interference in its distribution of critical food aid to the most vulnerable women, men and children”, the agency said in a statement released on Wednesday night. The agency has already launched a comprehensive investigation, and “taken swift action to establish all the facts and…

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Ethiopia: Northern aid access improving but some areas still hard to reach

Ethiopia: Northern aid access improving but some areas still hard to reach

Associate Spokesperson Florencia Soto Niño​ told correspondents at the regular noon briefing in New York that aid distribution had expanded in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions, but some pockets remained that have not yet been accessed. Relief for 3.8 million people  “Since the Cessation of Hostilities agreement in mid-November, more than 127,000 tons of…

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