Serious allegations of violations of human rights and humanitarian law in Tigray, with 4.5 million people in need of emergency humanitarian aid, including 2.5 million displaced people, most of the territory of this Ethiopian region considered as a crisis zone in the classification of food insecurity—one step before famine: MEPs and the Commission expressed their extreme concern on Thursday 11 February.
“The humanitarian situation is becoming dangerously critical”, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen told the European Parliament on Thursday 11 February, recalling the EU’s call on Monday for full and immediate humanitarian access and protection of civilians (see EUROPE 12653/14).
She said she “looks forward to working with the European Parliament and the Finnish Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto, to implement the recommendations” of the latter’s mission to Ethiopia and Sudan (see EUROPE 12654/23).
During the debate, MEPs called on the EU to do all it can to prevent a tragedy and the destabilisation of the entire Horn of Africa.
“The Ethiopian federal government must respect its commitments and set up humanitarian corridors”, said Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Renew Europe, Germany).
Beyond the humanitarian crisis, György Hölvényi (EPP, Hungary) spoke of the risk of an influx of migrants to Europe and Catherine Griset (ID, France) spoke of a “migration crisis”.
“The Human Rights Watch report is damning. How can Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed justify his military operations? Humanitarian access is urgent, but so is respect for the law”, stressed Marie Arena (S&D, Belgium), calling on the EU to “get the message across to Mr Abiy that he will have to face justice for war crimes”.
Several MEPs denounced Eritrean interference, such as Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR, Poland), referring to militias, or Adam Bielan (Poland) of the same group, concerned about reports of Eritrean soldiers forcing refugees to return. “We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to human rights violations”, he said. “Did Prime Minister Abiy pay Eritreans to commit crimes?”, asked Erik Marquardt (Greens/EFA, Germany).
Commissioner Urpilainen said the EU had not stood idly by. Last year, the EU mobilised €63 million in humanitarian aid for Ethiopia, including €18 million to tackle the crisis. €6 million in aid has been allocated for Ethiopian refugees in Sudan and €88.5 million in budget support to the Ethiopian government has been suspended.
A technical observation mission, consisting of experts from Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic, will leave this week to help monitor the situation closely.
According to Ms Urpilainen, an effective response to the tragedy requires, among other things, “unity between the Commission, the Parliament and the Council and cooperation with countries such as Switzerland, Great Britain and the United States”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)