By Shana Lim and Wang Yuxuan (SABC)
The debate in the UNSC saw a general agreement on the importance of humanitarian aid in the Tigray conflict. More than five million people, of which comprises the majority of the civilians in Tigray, need immediate help, according to the United Nations and local officials.
Inconsistency of the Ethiopian delegate
The Ethiopian delegate was inconsistent in his stance regarding Ethiopia’s supply of humanitarian aid to Tigray. He expressed initial disinterest about it.
He did not see the purpose of the Ethiopian government contributing if the suffering of the Tigray people was not caused by the federal government of Ethiopia.
However, later in debate, he showed willingness in offering humanitarian aid to the Tigray refugees, opposite of what he initially claimed. He declared that “the federal government cares for the people”, further adding that the Ethiopian Government is already providing aid to the Tigray people.
Humanitarian corridors have been opened in Tigray since March 2021. Even so, the Ethiopian government still supplies 70% of Tigray’s food assistance from its resources, while the remaining 30% of it is covered by Ethiopian development partners and NGOs, according to the Ethiopian delegate.
The pursuit of peace
“The negotiation for a ceasefire should be pursued immediately.”
—the delegate of South Africa
The Norwegian and Mexican delegates also indicated clear interest in calling for ceasefires. “This would allow us to resume trade”, added the Mexican delegate.
The delegate of the United States proposed organising dialogue sessions between the Ethiopian Government and the leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, in the possible pursuit of a ceasefire as well. Furthermore, he also suggested sending peace-keeping troops to Tigray, in order to reduce hostility in the area. However, the latter idea was not popular among the rest of the delegates.
Hope for a better future?
The Tigray Conflict, as it surpasses its sixth month, has caused more than 33,000 refugees to flee to Sudan and the extreme hunger of over five million civilians. Most delegates of the UNSC, including the South African delegate, expressed concern over the dire situation of the Tigray region, and hope to resolve the conflict in future committee sessions.
References:
Walsh, D., & Latif Dahir, A. (2020, 11 5). Why Is Ethiopia at War With Itself? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-conflict-explained.html
Gov’t reaches 4.2 million relief beneficiaries in Tigray. (2021, 3 16). ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/gov-t-reaches-42-million-relief-beneficiaries-tigray