Having neutralised the national security threat caused by the TPLF’s large scale incursions into the adjacent Regions of Afar and Amhara in June 2021, the Federal Government ceased its military operation intending to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. It has since been taking various confidence-building measures to encourage the TPLF and its allies to abandon their misguided political path and engage peacefully. The measures include ensuring sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to Tigray; establishing a dialogue commission for durable peace in the country; and ensuring accountability for the wrongs committed during the conflict. By implementing these, the government has clearly shown its commitment to peace.

In terms of ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, the Government of Ethiopia declared an indefinite humanitarian truce on March 24 to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the Tigray Region. Over the week, 1100 trucks carrying essential humanitarian supplies of food, nutrition, and non-food items arrived in Tigray via the Semera-Abala-Mekelle Road during the reporting week. Similarly, approximately 15.5 MT of supplies were airlifted to Mekelle including health supplies (9 MT), emergency shelter, and non-food items (6.5 MT). Since 15 December 2021, partners have airlifted 750.6 MT to Tigray, equivalent to 18 trucks. This included nutrition supplies (409.3MT), health supplies (211.1 MT), 106.4 MT of emergency shelter and non-food items, and 23.8 MT of Agriculture and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) items.

Despite such efforts, TPLF sympathizers still maliciously accuse the government of hindering humanitarian access. These groups never care to hold the TPLF to account for the over 1000 aid trucks that it confiscated and turned into military purposes. The government calls upon the International Community to urge the TPLF to return all the trucks and help expedite the delivery of the aid.

Apart from the existing humanitarian need in the Tigray Region, there emerged acute food shortages in other parts of the country as well. The shortage is caused by climate change and constitutes a large-scale drought currently being experienced in the Horn of Africa. The Government has responded in good time and has been working to address the shortage through national efforts, mainly through the disaster risk management system. Yet, much is needed to fully cater to the daily mounting need, and the international community is encouraged to intensify its effort to meet the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and across the sub-region.