Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in last April, and Ethiopia set out about a new path of development, the country has been facing a number of incessant challenges that are capable of deferring its democratic transition and tarnishing its image despite the leaps and bounds of notable accomplishments achieved.
Even though the country has continued its movement on the straight path, repeated attempts were made by anti-reform forces with the aim to instigate violence, hamper and decelerate all the progresses, disintegrate the nation by creating havoc and division. As a result, the government has been challenged by the string of arduous tasks.
Presenting the 2011 Ethiopian Fiscal Year annual report to the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) on Monday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that over the past one year, aside from the outstanding gains that are taking place throughout the country, trying times and repeated destructive attempts aimed at dividing and destabilizing the country have happened.
The series of events occurred over the past few months including the unsuccessful grenade assassination attempt and ethnic based conflicts that occurred in some parts of the country are clear and concrete proof of this matter, even if all were in vain.
As he reported, during the reform period, as a result of ethnic based conflicts, 1.1 million people were displaced from their place of living. And prior to the reform, 1.2 million people were displaced due to the impact of climate change which made the total number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country 2.3 million.
However, with the relentless efforts of the federal and states governments, stakes and the community, currently, it is possible to manage the challenge and repatriate over 2.1 million people (94 percent of the total IDPs) to their areas of origin. Further efforts are underway to return back the rest before the rainy season has started.
Most of all, activities have already started to close potential areas of conflict and prevent the ever arising of such activities that are neither acceptable from a human point of view nor constitutionally. The effort the government and all stakes to return DIPs to their place within a short period of time is more commendable as it shows their commitment.
However, while the government is working relentlessly to repatriate its displaced citizens, there are huge roles the public and other relevant stakeholders can play in this. Progress can be made by addressing the root causes and drivers of displacement in the country, which is exactly what the government is trying to do with its firm commitment and priority – which is to ensure peace and security throughout the country. And the public and the relevant stakeholders on their part can summon their efforts to muster humanitarian response and help the displaced though improved response and more local coordination.
The Ethiopian Herald, July 3/2019
