Omna Tigray: On Ethiopia’s Continued Efforts to Exacerbate the Man-Made Famine in Tigray

Omna Tigray strongly condemns Ethiopia’s recent decision to expel seven UN officials, including UNOCHA and UNICEF, whose work is crucial to alleviating the suffering of millions in Tigray facing man-made famine. The expulsion of UN leadership, which is “contrary to obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the privileges and immunities to be afforded to the United Nations and its officials,” significantly impedes humanitarian operations in the region, and we call for an immediate reversal of the decision. We strongly believe this action, which the Ethiopian government does not have a legal right to take, is part of their larger objective to starve Tigrayans into submission and continue its genocide without interference.

The suspensions come a day after UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths stated the Tigray famine was a “stain on [the UN’s] conscience” and called on Ethiopia’s incoming federal government to lead the country away from “the abyss that it’s peering into.” This also follows the August suspension of international aid groups Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) from working in the country, reflective of Ethiopia’s reactionary responses to harsh criticisms of their handling of the famine situation in Tigray, of which they are the cause. 

For nearly 11 months, the Ethiopian government and forces loyal to it have employed various mechanisms to create starvation conditions in Tigray, including, but not limited to, attacks on farmers and aid workers, burning of crops, looting of tools, the slaughter of livestock, contamination of food, and obstruction of aid efforts. The humanitarian ceasefire declared by the federal government on June 28th following military defeats was meant to provide aid workers better access, help farmers during the planting season, and provide internally displaced people an opportunity to return to their homes. Yet, the humanitarian situation in Tigray has only worsened since the ceasefire declaration with internet and telecommunications still cut, humanitarian workers still impeded, and ethnic cleansing continued, in what has been aptly described as Ethiopia’s “siege” of Tigray.

After months of talks of a looming famine affecting millions in Tigray, famine has officially actualized in the region, with hundreds of Tigrayans starving to death daily and an estimated 100,000 children in Tigray that could die of hunger. Continued inaction by the international community will only encourage the Ethiopian government to continue its weaponization of hunger against its citizens. To protect the lives of millions of Tigrayans, we are calling for:

• Immediate reversal of expulsion of UN, MSF, and NRC staff;
• The UN Security Council to invoke UNSC Resolution 2417 (2018) and all other relevant protocols without delay; 
• Increased and immediate humanitarian access into all of Tigray via the opening of humanitarian corridors and/or airdropping food;
• Implementation of economic sanctions on Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials to increase pressure to stop the blockage of aid;
• Immediate, internationally monitored, and verifiable, withdrawal of the Eritrean, Ethiopian, and Amhara forces from all of Tigray;
• UN-led, independent and impartial investigations into all atrocities in Tigray and to Tigrayans across Ethiopia;
• The halt of bilateral and multilateral trade relations with Ethiopia and Eritrea and prohibition of new investments in either country;
• Full restoration of communications, including phone lines and internet;
• A limited no-fly zone that does not hinder humanitarian delivery; and
• Official recognition of the Tigray Genocide committed by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean Defense Forces, Amhara Special Forces, and Amhara Fano Militia against the Tigrayan people.

Signed,

OMNA Tigray

Endorsed By,

The collective of Tigrayan community-based organizations and nonprofits within the global diaspora listed below:

1. Security and Justice for Tigrayans (SJT)
2. The Union of Tigrayans in Belgium (UTB)
3. Ethiopian Canadians for Peace
4. Irob Anina Civil Society (IACS)
5. Stand With Tigray (SWT)
6. Giovani Tigrini Italiani
7. Tigray Action Committee (TAC)
8. Tigray Youth Network (TYN)
9. Health Professionals Network for Tigray (HPN)
10. Tegaru Belgium
11. Security and Justice for Tigrayans Canada (SJT Canada)
12. United Tegaru Canada (UTC)