I share the concerns of many of my constituents regarding the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Conflict has inflicted a high price on the Tigray region of Ethiopia and the country as a whole, contributing to a challenging economic and humanitarian situation. I therefore welcome the important step towards peace taken by the Ethiopian Government and Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in signing a permanent cessation of hostilities on 2 November 2022. and commend their choice to end the devastating two-year-long conflict.
I have asked a series of Written Parliamentary Questions on the subject which can be found below.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the need for humanitarian assistance in Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Reliable information on casualties as a result of conflict and famine in northern Ethiopia is scarce. It is likely that there have been thousands of battlefield casualties over the course of the conflict. 13 million people require humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict. As many as 5.4 million people are in need of aid in Tigray.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of people who have been killed by (a) military conflict and (b) famine in Tigray in each of the last three years.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Reliable information on casualties as a result of conflict and famine in northern Ethiopia is scarce. It is likely that there have been thousands of battlefield casualties over the course of the conflict. 13 million people require humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict. As many as 5.4 million people are in need of aid in Tigray.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council on seeking an immediate ceasefire in Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has supported efforts to secure a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the return to conflict in Ethiopia. A closed meeting was held on 21 October to discuss this matter under the "Peace and Security in Africa" agenda item. The UK also raised the situation in Ethiopia during a UN Security Council discussion on conflict and hunger on 15 September. The UK has been heavily involved in international efforts to de-escalate conflict and welcomes the 2 November announcement of a cessation of hostilities.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of reports of an aerial attack on a nursery in Mekelle Tigray on 24 August 2022; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There was widespread reporting of an airstrike which hit a nursery in Tigray on 26 August. The UK has issued multiple public statements condemning civilian casualties and urging all parties to the conflict to prioritise the protection of civilians. Our Ambassador in Addis Ababa has raised incidents of civilian casualties repeatedly with the Ethiopian Government.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the UN Human Rights Council on the denial of (a) food and (b) services in Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In September, the UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia presented its findings on the conflict in Tigray to the Human Rights Council. The Commission's findings are clear and are deeply troubling. They highlight looting of and destruction of goods indispensable to civilian well-being by all parties to the conflict. The Commission also notes that it has "reasonable grounds to believe that the Federal Government is committing the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare". Findings about the conduct of hostilities indicate summary execution of civilians and rape and sexual violence "on a staggering scale" by all sides.
We welcome the peace agreement between the Federal Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. This must pave the way for accountability for the survivors and victims of such abuses.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to use the overseas aid budget to help reduce levels of (a) neonatal and (b) maternal mortality in Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In the last eighteen months the UK has provided nearly £90 million of life-saving aid to communities across Ethiopia affected by crises. In October, the former Minister for Development announced £14 million of support to assist 150,000 women and children affected by conflict and drought with comprehensive health, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition services.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the regional conflict affecting the Irob and Kunama communities in Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Like many in Tigray, the Irob and Kunama populations have suffered horrifically during the conflict. There are reports of indiscriminate shelling causing civilian casualties and millions require access to life-saving aid.
We welcome the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The agreement commits to mobilise and expedite humanitarian assistance for all those in need in the Tigray Region and other affected areas, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. It also commits to the restoration of essential services to the Tigray region. The UK will work with the Ethiopian Government and others to support implementation of the peace agreement.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his (a) Ethiopian and (b) Eritrean counterparts on the use of bombing in civilian areas of the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas, no matter the weapon used, is against international law, and is unacceptable. The former Minister for Development visited Ethiopia 19-20 October. She met Ethiopia President Sahle-Work and Deputy Prime Minister Demeke and raised the protection of civilians. The British Ambassador to Eritrea has regularly raised human rights issues, and the impact of its involvement in the war in northern Ethiopia on civilians, with the Eritrean Government. We have made numerous public statements urging all parties to the conflict to prioritise the protection of civilians. We welcome the 2 November peace agreement.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) veracity and (b) implications of reports that Iranian-supplied drones have been used to bomb civilians in the Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The indiscriminate targeting of civilians, no matter the weapon used, is against international law. We advocate for responsible arms exports which comply with international obligations, including International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will discuss the removal of Eritrean forces from Tigray with his (a) international and (b) Eritrean counterparts.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK welcomes the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and their commitment to scale-up the delivery of life-saving aid to Tigray. The UK has consistently called upon Eritrea to withdraw its troops from Ethiopia: the need to support the peace agreement has reinforced the case for it do so. The UK will work alongside the Ethiopian Government and others to support implementation of the peace agreement.