Ethiopia declares ‘indefinite’ humanitarian truce in Tigray ‘to save lives’

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia’s federal government on Thursday afternoon declared a unilateral humanitarian truce in the embattled northern Tigray region effective today and called for a significant increase in the support of humanitarian assistance by the international community.

In a statement, the federal government’s communication service said thousands of people from Tigray are fleeing to seek food in neighboring areas and has decided to declare a unilateral ceasefire to help in transportation of aid.

“While it is heartening to see the fraternal bond and solidarity that is being demonstrated by communities that are receiving and helping those in need of assistance, the Government believes that the situation warrants urgent measures to ensure that those in need are able to receive aid in their localities. Alleviating the plight of those affected by the conflict is of the utmost priority and a responsibility that the Government takes seriously. The Government of Ethiopia is committed to exert maximum effort to facilitate the free flow of emergency humanitarian aid into the Tigray region,” the statement said.

“Cognizant of the need to take extraordinary measures to save lives and reduce human suffering, the Government of Ethiopia hereby declares an indefinite humanitarian truce effective immediately,” it addded

The statement, a copy of which was seen by Sudans Post, urged donors “to redouble their generous contributions to alleviate the situation and reiterates its commitment to work in collaboration with relevant organizations to expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need.”

The statement said the decision was taken by the government despite provocations by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), to save lives of Ethiopian citizens in Tigray and called on the TPLF to stop attacks that may jeopardize the delivery of aid to the suffering people of Tigray.

“The commitment being undertaken by the Government of Ethiopia could have the desired outcome of improving the humanitarian situation on the ground only to the extent that it is reciprocated by the other side. This decision is taken to ensure the free flow of emergency humanitarian aid to all those in need of assistance,” the statement said.

“To optimize the success of the humanitarian truce, the Government calls upon the insurgents in Tigray to desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighboring regions,” the statement added.