Addis Ababa, March 22, 2021 (Walta) – The Interim Administration of Tigray Regional State CEO, Mulu Nega discussed today with US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Geeta Pasi, and USAID Mission Director, Sean Jones ways to enhance the ongoing humanitarian support in the region.
During the discussion, Mulu briefed the US officials about the current situation in Tigray and the achievements so far made after the conclusion of the law enforcement operation.
Noting that 70 percent of the humanitarian assistance has so far been extended by the government of Ethiopia; Mulu said that the share of the international partners is still 30 percent.
The number of internally displaced people in Tigray has reached 900,000. Most of these displaced are from Western Tigray, Mulu told journalists after the discussion.
According to him, US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Geeta Pasi affirmed her government’s commitment to supporting the victims in the Tigray region.
He also stressed the need for a huge budget in order to relocate and rehabilitate the displaced, Mulu said.
Despite remarkable achievements are registered in terms of ensuring peace and stability in the region, the existing conflicts in small pocket areas have been challenging for the interim administration to properly operate, he indicated.
“If we are able to bring a relative peace in the region, the interim administration will plan to conduct an election by involving all political parties in the region,” he added.
The United States is providing an additional 52 million USD in assistance to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State.
According to ENA, this new funding will provide more than 57,000 metric tons of urgently needed food, including wheat, lentils, and vegetable oil.
The assistance will also allow providing lifesaving protection, shelter, essential health care, emergency food aid, water, sanitation, and hygiene services, it was indicated.
The government of Ethiopia has been intensively engaged in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the region and making efforts to rehabilitate damaged infrastructures.
It is to be recalled that both Federal Government and Tigray Interim Administration have been calling on all international relief agencies and partners to increase their support.