The Ethiopian government has come under fire for its decision to expel seven UN officials for allegedly interfering in its internal affairs.
The move comes after a senior UN official warned that hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray could be forced into famine as the Ethiopian government cut off aid to the affected areas.
Refugees International says the dismissal of UN staff will create a gap that will significantly affect the international community’s efforts to help alleviate what it says is a growing humanitarian crisis.
Refugees International is also calling on members of the UN Security Council and the African Union to put pressure on the Ethiopian government to lift the embargo.
Harding Lang, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross said that the expulsion of UN officials at a time when there is a humanitarian crisis will worsen the situation.
“The decision by the Ethiopian government is very worrying, because the dismissal of the head of UNICEF and most of the staff of the emergency coordinator’s office will block the way for humanitarian assistance,” Said Harding Lang.
The United States and the United Nations on Friday strongly condemned the Ethiopian government’s decision to expel UN officials, while the Addis Ababa government insisted.
“The United States calls for this decision to be reversed. We will not hesitate to respond strongly to this action, ”said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
