T

he cowardly expulsion of senior humanitarian workers from Ethiopia, is a clear message to everyone- Humanitarian assistance to Northern Ethiopia has been weaponised, and the Abiy Regime has no intention of lifting the siege on Tigray.
humanitarian workers
Today, the militarised Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs, has eaten its own vomit by expelling humanitarian workers. The pathetic behaviour of the Ethiopian regime, is not a surprise. It’s what backward and brutal regimes do.
The foreign ministry has become militarised, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, also a trusted confidant of dictator Abiy Ahmed Ali, Demeke Mekonnen has abandoned the diplomatic approach, and taken the confrontational highway. humanitarian workersThis has come at the backdrop of several propaganda workshops with Ethiopian military officers and the political class.
Foreign Affairs of EthiopiaToday, during the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing, nothing was mentioned of the expulsion of humanitarian workers. However, we should not forget that, Dictator Abiy Ahmed is the architect of all pathetic decisions made in today’s Ethiopia. That’s why the regime has failed to understand the importance of soft power, and its foreign missions are quickly closing.
Anyone that stands for the truth with facts in Ethiopia, automatically becomes an enemy of the regime. Those pointing at facts of a humanitarian crisis in Tigray, are paying the price. It’s evident, the Ethiopian regime is allergic to the truth, and when presented with the facts, they pathetically go into tantrums….when no one is seeing, they murder you.
Ethiopia Autonomous Media

HUMANITARIAN WORKERS

Foreign Affairs of EthiopiaThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, in letters issued today (30 September 2021), has declared a ”persona non grata” for seven individuals who are working for various international NGOs in Ethiopia for meddling in the internal affairs of the country. According to the letters addressed to each of the 7 individuals listed below, all of them must leave the territory of Ethiopia within the next 72 hours.
1. Mr. Adele Khodr, UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia
2. Mr. Sonny Onyegbula, Monitoring, Reporting and Advocacy Team Leader : United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
3. Mr. Kwesi Sansculotte, Peace and Development Advisor: UNOCHA
4. Mr. Saeed Mohamoud Hersi: Deputy Head of Office: Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia
5. Mr. Grant Leaity, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator: Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia
6. Mrs. Ghada Eltahir Mudawi: Acting Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator: Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia
7. Mrs. Marcy Vigoda, Head of office: Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia
Office of the Spokesperson
30 September 2021
Press Release
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As a founding member of the United Nations, Ethiopia has through the years amply demonstrated its commitment to the UN Charter. UN agencies, in particular, those in the humanitarian area also had a long presence in Ethiopia providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance to millions. It goes without saying that Ethiopia appreciates all the support that these UN agencies have been extending to our people in need of assistance.
It should be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Coordination Mechanism for Humanitarian Access in the Tigray Regional State with UN agencies on November 29, 2020. This MoU entrusts these agencies with the task of providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the affected population.
In connection to the current situation in the Northern part of Ethiopia, we had sadly observed that some UN staff have failed to fulfill their mission independently and impartially in accordance with the abovementioned MoU and the relevant principles of the UN. These serious violations have been brought to the attention of the relevant UN high officials and other international partners on multiple occasions, but to no avail. Despite these communications of concern, the grave violations persisted. As such, as a measure of last resort, the Government of Ethiopia had to ask some officials of UN agencies to leave the country.
Therefore, in order to avoid confusion regarding the measure taken by the Government, we wish to highlight some of the following breaches: which these individuals have committed in violation of their professional code of conduct:
1. Diversion of humanitarian assistance to the TPLF;
2. Violating agreed-upon security arrangements;
3. Transferring communication equipment to be used by the TPLF;
4. Continued reticence in demanding the return of more than 400 trucks commandeered by the TPLF for military mobilization and for the transportation of its forces since July 2021; and
5. Dissemination of misinformation and politicization of humanitarian assistance.
Ethiopia is deeply disappointed by the fact that some countries are urging the United Nations Security Council to consider this matter. This is a blatant violation of Ethiopia’s sovereign prerogative on matters of national security. We are confident the Security Council will reject this undue politicization of humanitarian assistance.
We are confident that the provision of humanitarian assistance will not be affected due to this measure. In fact, TPLF’s continued attacks against civilians, forced displacement of people, the killing of cattle, destruction of economic assets, and commandeering of more than 400 trucks happen to be major factors that are exacerbating the humanitarian situation. Unfortunately, some within the international community seem to be intent on downplaying such behavior on the part of the TPLF and problematize the legitimate exercise of a sovereign prerogative by the Government of Ethiopia.
The Government of Ethiopia reiterates its firm commitment to the principles of multilateralism and values enshrined in the UN Charter, while at the same time calling upon the United Nations to continue to uphold the principles of impartiality and neutrality. We will continue to cooperate with the UN and its agencies whose objectives correspond to the task of alleviating the suffering of our people during these difficult times. The Government of Ethiopia would like to make it abundantly clear that cooperation with multilateral agencies, including those of the UN will continue, provided that their activities do not undermine the sovereignty of Ethiopia and pose a threat to its national security interests. We urge the UN to expeditiously replace these personnel to allow the continuation of our cooperation in providing humanitarian assistance. We will work with the UN Secretary-General, the Humanitarian Coordinator, and the Resident Coordinator to facilitate the early deployment of the new personnel.

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