Estonia continues to be deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian and human rights crisis in Tigray. While the Ethiopian government has voiced its commitment to rebuild and maintain law and order in the Tigray region, I have three key messages today:
(1) unimpeded humanitarian access must be urgently facilitated
(2) the hostilities and human rights abuses must stop; and
(3) human rights violations must be investigated.
It is unacceptable that for nearly four months many people in Tigray have not had access to the many basic things humans need to survive, including food, water, and healthcare. We urge the Ethiopian government to step up its efforts to provide the basic services. Estonia calls on all parties to end hostilities and uphold international humanitarian and human rights law, and withdrawal of outside forces from Tigray, including Eritrean troops. Withdrawal of outside forces is one of the key elements to stopping widespread human rights violations, including ethnic killings and sexual violence against women and girls.
The international community remains ready to provide relief to those in need.
