BY MENGESHA AMARE
The extraordinarily climaxed disparity between the federal government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) ended up with elemination of the latter and the former was forced to take a law enforcement measure and concluded chasing away the latter from the city of Mekelle.
Obviously, a fifteen-day long law enforcement operation was performed in the Tigray State, northern part of the country and has resulted in a number of problems from which innocent civilians suffered more and evacuated due to the reckless acts of TPLF clique.
True, following the tense scenario resulted from the law enforcement process, a number of Ethiopians have been displaced from where they have resided for long. This has to with TPLF’s actions.
Targeting at rehabilitating and replacing those who were exiled, a committee to address humanitarian concern in the restive Tigray region was established and started running a range of activities. A well organized and systematically streamlined humanitarian assistance means is sketched, too.
The newly-established State of Emergency Task Force for the Tigray law enforcement operation, spokesperson, Redwan Hussein stated that a high-level committee aiming at effectively as well as timely responding to humanitarian concerns in the state has been established.
According to Redwan, the committee is duty bound to provide concerned bodies with appropriate information reflecting the reality on the on-the-ground so as to give a response to any humanitarian concern raised in the region as per the direction and legitimate tunnel the government put.
As the law enforcement operation is about to over, humanitarian assistances and restoring infrastructure damaged by the desperate TPLF members are expected to be well underway and help citizens foster development and change in all aspects, he added.
Hopefully, everything will be managed as per the plan, even beyond, if concerned bodies and humanitarian assistance organizations are working in unison and following the apt direction framed by the government to do so.
According to Redwan, a committee to address humanitarian concern in the state has to run activities in tune with the directions framed for this purpose by the federal government. In so doing, it is possible to keep the reputation and sovereignty of the country intact.
It is also said that humanitarian issues are Ethiopia’s top priorities by which people who are suffering directly or indirectly from the impact of the law enforcement operation are taken care of and activities are managed in a very rapid and accountable way.
Commissioner, National Disaster Risk Management Commission, Mitiku Kassa on his part said that the joint effort of the government and humanitarian assistance partners as well as donor representatives is bearing fruits.
The Response Plan lays out prioritized multi-sector humanitarian needs 2019 targeting 8.3 million people with emergency food and non-food assistance amounting to over 1.3 billion dollars. The needs are identified through a thorough analysis of the overall humanitarian needs of the country through the humanitarian needs assessment, of course.
“We have, as a commission, recognized the daunting challenges and the urgent need to scale up assistance. International humanitarian partners are also committed to continue to closely work with government counterparts and to provide timely assistance to affected populations based on needs,” he added.
Thanks to the leadership of the government and the generous support from donors and friends of Ethiopia, the multi-sector life-saving assistance has helped mitigate the worst effects of the humanitarian crisis.
“I call upon the international community to continue their generosity and to provide the required resources in time to help alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable people.”
“Ethiopia is at a transition,” said Commissioner Mitiku, “This is a time of hope and ample opportunity for the country and the region as a whole. Some of the humanitarian challenges from conflict hazard we have been seeing in recent months, and which is affecting many people is an unfortunate effect of transitional periods. But the Government of Ethiopia is strongly committed to address this transitional challenge, and we thank our partners and friends, who stood by our side at this critical time,” he opined.
According to Commissioner, Mitiku all the required works to rehabilitate those who went to Sudan are well underway and the camp, a place to help them have a temporary residence, is being built.
He further stated that as the responses to the national disaster risk management are carried out properly, so far it is possible to reach out to 24,000 citizens in Southern Tigray and 10,000 citizens in Western Tigray.
Citing that over 1.1 million citizens were supported under the safety net scheme, well-organized activities have been undertaken to rehabilitate up to 20 to 30 daily laborers in towns including the ones embraced under safety net.
The establishment of emergency response coordination center is of significantly useful to address problems at ease. He also acknowledged the role the Ministry of peace has been playing in fostering activities and contributing a lot to the effort geared towards hitting the set target.
Talking about the impact of the recurrently created problems on the national effort to bring about meaningful change at all sectors, the commitment of the government giving the safety of human beings more than anything else and responding to the humanitarian quests following the problem created in Tigray state needs to be well acknowledged.
According to Mitiku, the government is arduously undertaking activities in favor of citizens who have been evacuated for various reasons especially in relation to the law enforcement operation. It is really by far extraordinary and appealing as well as equaled by none in any country in terms of response.
As learnt from Mitiku, even though millions have been displaced in Ethiopia, some 94% are rehabilitated and helped get to the customary life rhythm. The remaining citizens are being helped where they are. What happened in Tigray State in terms of displaced citizens is not a big assignment to be dealt with compared to the encumbrance we have saddled so far.
He also said that Ethiopia has hosted catastrophes which have never happened within the last 50 years, and put under control without causing appalling damage. For instance, if we cite the case of flash flood occurred in Afar State was the first of its kind in 30 years’ time. Particularly if we measure the intensity of the calamity in terms of claiming lives, we did neither lose 750,000 citizens like Eli No famine did in 1985, nor we lost 250,000 citizens like what happened in 1974.
Following government’s consolidated capacity to respond to problems and responsible approach to enforce the law in the aforesaid state, challenges had passed without claiming the lives of many, on the contrary.
Thought the issue of citizens fled to Sudan is primarily the concern of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commission is working hard to assist citizens get back to what and where they were, a camp is being built around border areas.
The Ethiopian herald December 16/2020
