The United States commends the delivery of humanitarian assistance over recent days to the Tigray and Afar regions of Ethiopia, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday.
About 13 convoys carrying food and fuel arrived in the region’s capital via the Afar-Abala-Mekelle road route on Friday. Thirteen more are expected to arrive later today.
The arrival of the WFP convoy came almost a week after the federal government declared “an indefinite humanitarian truce.
Secretary of State Blinken said the United States welcomes the steps by the Government of Ethiopia and regional authorities to implement a cessation of hostilities.
“We commend them on the delivery of humanitarian assistance over recent days to Ethiopians in the Tigray and Afar regions,” said Blinken in a statement.
He said over 100, 000 people will receive food aid from the convoys that have mobilized in the past three days.
“This is an important step toward implementing the cessation of hostilities and addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in both regions,” said Belinken.
He also urged “all parties to build upon this positive humanitarian development to take the difficult next steps to realize peace in northern Ethiopia, adding the US will continue “to assist all Ethiopians” in the country.
Bleinken’s statement came a day after the US Senate passed a Bill that paves a way for the Joe Biden administration to impose more sanctions on Ethiopia.
MG/abj/APA