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H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia had a meeting today (February 08) with H.E. Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa.

During the meeting, the two have discussed, among others, cooperation between Ethiopia and UNDP, the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region, and the ongoing preparation for the upcoming election.

Appreciating the UN support to help Ethiopia achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mr. Demeke briefed the UNDP official on the Homegrown economic reform agenda in Ethiopia and the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of the SDGs.

In their discussion about the situation in Tigray, Mr. Demeke said the operation is over by now and the focus of the government has shifted to delivering humanitarian assistance to affected people, rehabilitating and reconstructing destroyed infrastructures by the renegade group.

He said the government of Ethiopia is working in unison with the UN and other aid agencies by establishing 92 distribution centers in Tigray where a significant number of people have been reached for assistance.

The Minister thanked the concern of humanitarian agencies to help the affected people and urged them to increase tangible supports, adding that it would be beneficial to all stakeholders to follow the guidelines of the government of Ethiopia in the humanitarian assistance process to register better and effective results.

Following Mr. Demeke’s briefing on the preparations for the upcoming elections in Ethiopia, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa said UNDP would implement the project it has started to strengthen the capacity of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) in organizing a credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections.

She finally thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for the briefing and pledged that the support to Ethiopia’s development efforts would continue.

At the meeting, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa was accompanied by UN Resident Coordinator and UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Catherine Sozi.

During her stay in Ethiopia, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa is expected to meet senior government officials with the possibility of paying a visit to Mekelle.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his government is committed to support and work with the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU), President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC.

“Ethiopia will support and work with you in carrying out the responsibilities entrusted upon you,” he tweeted.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the new AU Chairperson and wished him best of luck.

President Tshisekedi was elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2021 last Saturday.

The World Food Programme (WFP) affirms the need for strong partnership between the government of Ethiopia and the entire humanitarian community to rapidly scale up a collective response to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of people in Tigray.

WFP announced preparations to provide humanitarian assistance with a budget of 400 US Dollars to the people in need of support in Tigray region.

There have been recent positive engagements with the Government of Ethiopia by senior UN officials, including the Under-Secretary General for Safety and Security, the High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, WFP said in a statement.

“These engagements have acknowledged the commendable measures being undertaken by the Government and partners to address humanitarian needs in Tigray. They have also concluded that humanitarian assistance must be expanded and intensified without delay.” the statement says.

WFP commends the emergency food assistance that the Government and partners have already provided to the people of Tigray since the onset of the crisis, reaching almost 1.7 million people with emergency food distributions. 26,000 Eritrean refugees residing in two camps have also received food and nutrition assistance.

WFP has indicated to the Government its readiness to add to these efforts and has accordingly accepted requests from the Government to augment the transportation capacity of the Government and partners to deliver humanitarian assistance into and within Tigray, especially in

WFP will continue to provide food assistance to Eritrean refugees in Tigray region, working closely with the Government’s Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs and the UN Refugee Agency.

WFP will also continue to procure and deliver food supplies on behalf of the Government, including 300,000 metric tons of wheat scheduled for delivery from February.

So far 1.8 million of people in need in the Tigray Region have received humanitarian support.

The government of Ethiopia stated there is a supply stock in Mekele City to support 2.5 Million people for the next two months.

WFP Director Dr.  David Beasley, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, Catherine Sozi along with Ethiopian Peace Minister, Muferihat Kamil have observed the humanitarian activities in Tigray.

The 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, underway virtually, has re-elected H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat as the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson.

“Deeply humbled by the overwhelming and historic vote of confidence by AU Member States by voting 51 out 55 to extend my mandate at the helm of the AUC Commission for another 4 years,” he tweeted later.

Following the news of the re-election of the AUC Chairperson, Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed congratulated Moussa Faki on his Twitter page and said, “Ethiopia wishes you the best.”

Her. E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa of Rwanda was elected as deputy Chairperson of the Commission.

In the opening remarks that he had delivered earlier to the Assembly, Moussa Faki Mahamat said the new Commission of the AU will have the task of completing the institutional reforms of the AU, fulfill the expectations of member states and implement the flagship projects of Agenda 2063.

This decision reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to maintaining the standard save travel protocols and procedures as we reopen our doors to tourism and international visitors, Hailemariam Desalegn, Chairman of Ethiopian Tourism Board.

Ethiopia has become the latest destination to be awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp – the world’s first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp.

The grant has come following major steps implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism last year to ensure safety for residents, travellers, and workers and businesses in the tourism value chain, as Ethiopia reopened its borders to international visitors, it is indicated.

Hailemariam Desalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia an Chairman of the Ethiopian Tourism Board, said: “We are extremely honoured to be issued the Safe Travels stamp by the WTTC and commend them for this important initiative.”

“This decision reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to maintaining the standard safe travel protocols and procedures as we reopen our doors to tourism and international visitors. With the aim of ensuring the safety of workers and visitors, we will continue to work closely with tour operators, hotels, and regional destination marketing organisations to maintain these standards.”, he added.

Dr. Hirut Kassaw, Minister of Culture Tourism, and Sport said: “Tourism is a Strategic priority for the government and significantly contributes to the development of our national economy. We have created a partnership with the private sector and responded quickly on COVID-19 safety measures.”

The Minister added saying: “With the current success in obtaining the safe travel stamp, I am confident that appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the health and safety of tourists and destinations nationwide. We are now ready to welcome tourists to visit Ethiopia.”

Sileshi Girma, the CEO of Tourism Ethiopia, to his part, said health and safety issues are at the forefront of the travel and tourism sector, adding that destinations and industry operators are now well prepared to implement safety protocols.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel and Tourism private sector, created the Safe Travels Stamp in May 2020, to restore traveller confidence by allowing travelers to identify destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted the global standardized health and hygiene protocols.

The globally recognized Stamp has also helped revive the global travel and tourism sector, which has been left devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible businesses in Ethiopia such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, tour operators, restaurants, outdoor shopping, transportation, and airports, will be able to use the stamp once the health and hygiene protocols, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented, it is learned.