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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen has exchanged a phone call today with Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

During their discussion, Demeke briefed his Swedish counterpart on the successful accomplishment of the law enforcement operation in Tigray and the rehabilitation and reconstruction works that the government of Ethiopia has been undertaking since then.

He said people who need humanitarian assistance have been identified and the government together with international aid agencies has been distributing food and non-food items, including pharmaceuticals from 92 distribution centers in the region.

The relief operation in the region is ever-increasing and 26 major relief organizations are accessing many parts of the region, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister also explained the relentless efforts of the government of Ethiopia to coordinate relief agencies to further boost the humanitarian assistance efforts and meet the demands of affected people.

Speaking about the Eritrean refugees, who were affected and displaced during the law enforcement campaign, he said they have settled in different parts of Ethiopia and many of them are relocated to safer camps.

Demeke also raised his concerns on the unhelpful and unfounded claims made by some corners in the European Union who failed to understand the nature and objectives of the law enforcement operation and the humanitarian assistance efforts on the ground.

Their discussion on the upcoming general election was also underlined with the Deputy Prime Minister’s assurance that the government of Ethiopia would make it transparent, fair, and democratic.

The Foreign Ministers have also pledged their country’s commitment to strengthen the historical and strong relationship between Ethiopia and Sweden.

Their conversation ended with the Foreign minister of Sweden appreciating the efforts being made to address her concern.

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.