NAIROBI (Somaliguardian) – The United Nations Secretary-General on Thursday pushed for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Ethiopia’s war-hit north, where he said millions of people were in dire need of assistance and women faced “unspeakable violence”.
The remarks have come weeks after the international community raised alarm at the widening of the conflict in Tigray region to other parts of Africa’s second most populous nation, as the Tigrayan rebels continue to press further into Amhara region where forces allied with the Ethiopian government have lost a number of key cities over the past weeks.
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“Now is the time to put an end to the suffering”, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, adding: “It is time for all parties to recognize that there is no military solution, and it is vital to preserve the unity and stability of Ethiopia which is critical to the region and beyond”.
Mr Guterres urged parties involved in the conflict in northern Ethiopia to “give peace a chance” by ensuring an immediate end to hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access and restoration of public services, while creating conditions conducive “for the start of an Ethiopian-led political dialogue to find a solution to the crisis”.
“Such a dialogue can contribute to addressing the underlying causes of the conflict and ensure Ethiopian voices direct the pathway to peace,’ he added.
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