On the occasion of the High-Level Pledging Conference taking place in Geneva and convened by Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič have published a statement to express EU solidarity with the people of Ethiopia.
The EU has already committed €42 million in humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia in 2024.
“The EU expresses its solidarity with the people of Ethiopia, which continue to be heavily affected by multiple and sometimes overlapping crises, including conflicts, climate extremes, diseases and economic shocks.
The EU calls for the full implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement for the Northern Regions, including the settlement of disputed areas to allow displaced populations to return to their areas of origin. The EU remains seriously concerned about ongoing violence and abuses in the Amhara and Oromia regions, causing further population displacement. Repeated violations of international humanitarian law and human rights have been reported, including the direct targeting of civilians, starvation and gender-based violence.
The EU urges all parties to respect international humanitarian law, to ensure the protection of civilians and the safety of humanitarian and health workers, and to pursue peace through dialogue.
The EU remains committed to continue assisting the most vulnerable, and advocates for a substantial scale-up of humanitarian aid to address the most urgent needs, in coordination with development and peace-building assistance to increase its impact and work towards long-term solutions.
Durable solutions should be found for some 4.5 million internally displaced populations (IDPs), whose movements, whether return or relocation, must be voluntary, safe, informed and dignified. The Ethiopian proclamation on IDPs should be ratified as soon as possible.
The EU recognises the central role of the Government of Ethiopia in their efforts to respond to these challenges, with the support of the international community. On the back of the major aid diversion unveiled last year, the EU encourages genuine efforts aiming at reforming humanitarian aid delivery systems in the country to ensure that aid effectively reaches those who need it most.
The EU advocates also for more independent humanitarian information and analysis to better guide the humanitarian response, and beneficiary selection processes based solely on needs and vulnerability. It encourages efforts aiming at easing the operating environment for humanitarian organisations, including by lifting administrative impediments.”
