Finance Minister Updates Ethiopia’s Dev’t Partners about Recovery Efforts in Tigray

ADDIS ABABA – Finance Minister Ahmed Shide has urged development partners for the collaborative effort to reach more people in need of support in Tigray as the minister briefed them about the ongoing humanitarian assistance delivery efforts in the region.

The minister on Tuesday met with top officials of 30 major bilateral and multilateral development partners of the government collectively known as Development Partners Group (DPG).

Government’s priorities in the coming months will focus on effective delivery of humanitarian assistance to all affected people, the minister tells the executive committee of DPG.

Accelerated recovery and peacebuilding are also among its priorities, the minister indicates as he explains the “significant progress” made in recent weeks both on the humanitarian and recovery aspects.

At least 1.8 million people have been provided with emergency food distribution while distributing 305,000 quintals of grain, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The government has also reached 26,000 Eritrean refugees residing in two camps in Tigray with emergency food, it added.

Supporting DPG works

Finance minister Ahmed also stresses that the government needs a continuous support of its development partners to urgently reach many, particularly, infants, children, pregnant and lactating mothers who are the most vulnerable.

The Government, he pledges, is committed to working with development partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to 2.5 million people in the region.

“I appreciate the recent proactive engagement from development partners, especially United Nations Agencies in ensuring humanitarian assistance needs in Tigray are attained,” he said.

“The Government of Ethiopia is expediting all the necessary facilitation and support for all development partners to be able to efficiently deliver humanitarian assistance,” the Minister continued.

To further enhance and expedite delivery of assistance, he claims the Government “is moving with urgency on approving requests for humanitarian staff movement into and within the region”.

Call for Collaboration

On behalf of the DPG, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Dr. Catherine Sozi has appreciated the government of Ethiopia for the leadership it has shown in terms of delivering humanitarian assistance to 1.8 million affected people.

She, however, has emphasized on the need for more collaborative works to address additional people in need of support.

During the discussion, participants have also agreed on the need to enhance logistics support including having a more efficient clearance system for supply and travel permission to the region. They are required for the improvement of the current humanitarian work, the two sides agreed.

Dr. Sozi has told the attending executive committee of DAG to continue their support for the government as it upholds its responsibilities to assist refugees and other vulnerable populations in the country.

Tuesday’s meeting has ended with Finance Minister Ahmed calling on both the Government offices and their development partners to ensure the speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance and recovery of those affected in Tigray.

Featured Image: Finance Minister of Ethiopia Ahmed Shide [Photo MoF]