The State Department on Friday said Washington has decided not to lift the pause in assistance to Ethiopia for most programs in the security sector, days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described acts in Tigray as ethnic cleansing.
Tag: State Department
reuters: Top U.S. diplomat Blinken demands change in Ethiopia’s Tigray
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Eritrean forces in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region must withdraw, saying the situation is unacceptable and must change.
CNN: Blinken: Acts of ‘ethnic cleansing’ committed in Western Tigray
“The challenge in Ethiopia is very significant. And it’s one that we’re very, very focused on, particularly the situation in Tigray where we are seeing very credible reports of human rights abuses and atrocities that are ongoing,”
msn: Blinken condemns ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Ethiopia’s Tigray
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday described violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as “ethnic cleansing” as he pressed for a prompt investigation, aid and the exit of Eritrean troops.
Yahoo: Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: Blinken says US concerned about atrocities
The US has condemned reported atrocities in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit northern region of Tigray, urging the African Union to help resolve the “deteriorating situation.”
AA: Eritrean, Amhara forces must withdraw from Tigray: US
“We strongly condemn the killings, forced removals and displacements, sexual assaults, and other extremely serious human rights violations and abuses by several parties that multiple organizations have reported in Tigray,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The top diplomat voiced deep concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis and said those responsible for the violence must be held accountable.
USA Today: ‘Gravely concerned’: Secretary of State Blinken condemns reported abuse in Ethiopia’s Tigray region
The US has condemned reported atrocities in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit northern region of Tigray, urging the African Union to help resolve the “deteriorating situation.”
State Department: Atrocities in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
The immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and Amhara regional forces from Tigray are essential first steps. They should be accompanied by unilateral declarations of cessation of hostilities by all parties to the conflict and a commitment to permit unhindered delivery of assistance to those in Tigray. The United States is committed to working with the international community to achieve these goals. To that end, USAID will deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Ethiopia to continue delivering life-saving assistance.
TRTWORLD: US urges Eritrean troops to withdraw from Ethiopia’s Tigray region
“This is a grave development,” said a US State Department Spokesman, describing what it said were “credible reports” of Eritrean troops fighting alongside the Ethiopian army in the northern Tigray state against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
“We urge that any such troops be withdrawn immediately,” the spokesperson continued.
The TPLF accused the Ethiopian government of allowing the Eritreans to enter the conflict on ”several fronts”. Debtresion Gebremichael, ousted head of the Tigray state and TPLF chief also said his forces had captured Eritrean soldiers near Wikro, a town roughly 50km north of the Tigray capital Mekelle, though no evidence was shown.
Ethiopia: food rations for displaced people in Tigray have run out. We reiterate our urgent call for unconditional & safe humanitarian access to the affected regions. People in need are still not able to access any assistance. https://t.co/h8nSo9SHW4 pic.twitter.com/ZqPNAlwux9
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) December 11, 2020