News Highlights Extra No. 10: Conflict in the Horn
EEPA is sending extra news highlights on the conflict in the Horn of Africa: previous highlights extra and EEPA’s situation reports on the Horn crisis.
Month: February 2021
News Highlights: 100 days of war in Tigray, missing boat found after 5 days, EP debates humanitarian situation in Ethiopia
In this week’s news highlights: 100 days of war in Tigray, Ethiopia, leaves millions of people in urgent need of assistance; Refugee camps have been systematically targeted and destroyed in Tigray; 3.8 million people in Tigray face starvation and malnutrition diseases; EU envoy visits Ethiopia and Sudan; Undeclared famine in South Sudan regions; UN Security Council national reconciliation in Libya; 20 Algerians safely disembark in Italy after going missing in the Mediterranean for 5 days; EP debate: MEPs express concern on the humanitarian crises and urge access and investigation; EU Commission voices deep concern on the humanitarian and political crisis in Tigray, calls for withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers; IOM calls on the EU to stop pushbacks at its external borders; 422 migrants and refugees disembark in Sicily; Delays in application and prison conditions for asylum seekers in Cyprus; UNHCR and IOM urge states to improve protection of climate refugees.
European Parliament debates the situation in Tigray, urges humanitarian access and investigation of crimes
On Thursday 11 February, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen met in a plenary session, debating on “The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia”. The Commissioner opened the debate underlying that the European Union (EU) is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region. The EU is calling for the end of hostilities, full humanitarian access to be exercised independently from the Ethiopian administration, and investigations over alleged human rights violations. MEPs focused largely on the severe human rights abuses, presence of Eritrean soldiers on the ground in Tigray and the EU approach to the conflict.