Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
5
Recommendation
Tenth Report - The humanitarian situati…
Rejected
We welcome the statement by the G7 group condemning the killing of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, indiscriminate shelling and forced displacement of civilian populations. We recommend that the UK Government uses its long- standing diplomatic and development relationship with Ethiopia to ensure the Ethiopian Government acts on its responsibility …
Read more
We welcome the statement by the G7 group condemning the killing of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, indiscriminate shelling and forced displacement of civilian populations. We recommend that the UK Government uses its long- standing diplomatic and development relationship with Ethiopia to ensure the Ethiopian Government acts on its responsibility to protect its population from violence, and works to ensure the immediate protection of communities in the region from human rights abuses, including sexual violence. The UK Government must use all diplomatic means possible to remind the Government of Ethiopia that, under the principle of the responsibility to protect, it is responsible for protecting its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The UK Government should bear in mind its obligations to take appropriate action in line with the UN Genocide Convention should the Ethiopian Government fail to take the actions it needs to take to protect its people.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states it does not share the committee's assessment and highlights ongoing efforts to press for humanitarian access and withdrawal of Eritrean forces, but does not commit to the specific diplomatic actions recommended regarding R2P or the UN Genocide Convention.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
23
Recommendation
Tenth Report - The humanitarian situati…
Rejected
Drawing upon lessons learned from other atrocities, we recommend that FCDO arranges atrocity prevention training for staff at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa and neighbouring posts as a matter of urgency and designates a named atrocity prevention lead. Staff in these posts should have clear lines of communication to …
Read more
Drawing upon lessons learned from other atrocities, we recommend that FCDO arranges atrocity prevention training for staff at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa and neighbouring posts as a matter of urgency and designates a named atrocity prevention lead. Staff in these posts should have clear lines of communication to colleagues in Whitehall so they can quickly raise and respond to concerns about human rights abuses. Furthermore, the FCDO should embed an atrocity prevention strategy in its updated country strategy for Ethiopia and neighbouring states. 14 The humanitarian situation in Tigray Humanitarian needs Pre-conflict humanitarian needs
Show less
Government response AI summary
The FCDO will continue to seek opportunities to enhance existing atrocity prevention training and mentions a new online module already circulated. It states that existing communication channels are fit-for-purpose and explicitly rejects the need for a separate atrocity prevention strategy, stating the work is incorporated …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
37
Conclusion
Tenth Report - The humanitarian situati…
Rejected
High-level diplomatic efforts have led to some progress in improving access. Edward Brown explained: The head of WFP, David Beasley, came recently, and that was a real watershed. That high-level diplomacy has really borne fruit, in that, within a week of that visit, some of these things opened up in …
Read more
High-level diplomatic efforts have led to some progress in improving access. Edward Brown explained: The head of WFP, David Beasley, came recently, and that was a real watershed. That high-level diplomacy has really borne fruit, in that, within a week of that visit, some of these things opened up in terms of logistics, bureaucratic impediments and the communications issue.91
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government rejects the committee's assessment that high-level diplomatic efforts have significantly improved access, highlighting persistent issues with communications equipment, travel approvals, and continued denial of access by armed groups. They affirm their ongoing efforts to press for humanitarian access and Eritrean troop withdrawal.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
38
Conclusion
Tenth Report - The humanitarian situati…
Rejected
Improved access has allowed agencies to scale up their response. World Vision had 82 staff in Tigray before and during the conflict but are in the process of hiring hundreds more. Their total spend in Tigray last year was about $3.9 million and is expected to be over $25 million …
Read more
Improved access has allowed agencies to scale up their response. World Vision had 82 staff in Tigray before and during the conflict but are in the process of hiring hundreds more. Their total spend in Tigray last year was about $3.9 million and is expected to be over $25 million this year.92 On 7 April, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi recognised that humanitarian operations were scaling up as access widened but he stressed efforts needed to be accelerated to cope with the large numbers of displaced people arriving in urban areas.93 83 Ethiopia: situation in Tigray, Briefing Paper Number 09147, House of Commons Library, 25 February 2021, p.4 84 UNHCR, Remarks by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi at the press conference in Addis Ababa., 1 February 2021; Ethiopia: situation in Tigray, Briefing Paper Number 09147, House of Commons Library, 25 February 2021, p.4 85 OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Ethiopia, February 2021, p.17 86 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.2 87 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 8 March 2021, p.1 88 Q6 [Paul Turnbull] 89 International Crisis Group, Podcast: Risks of Starvation Rise in Ethiopia’s Tigray War, 23 February 2021 90 International Crisis Group, Podcast: Risks of Starvation Rise in Ethiopia’s Tigray War, 23 February 2021 91 Q8 [Edward Brown] 92 Q6 [Edward Brown] 93 UNHCR, Regional Update 14: Ethiopia Situation (Tigray Region), 16 March – 7 April, 12 April 2021 18 The humanitarian situation in Tigray
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government rejects the committee's assessment of improved access, stating that pressing issues with equipment, travel approvals, and denial of access by weapons bearers continue to hinder humanitarian operations. They affirm they continue to press relevant parties for widespread access.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
55
Conclusion
Tenth Report - The humanitarian situati…
Rejected
Since the Government of Ethiopia declared the end of military operations on 28 November 2020 some services—like telecommunications, electricity, and airspace—have 119 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.2 120 CARE, Multiagency and Multisectoral Rapid Need Assessment in Raya Kobo, Raya Alamata, Raya Azebo, …
Read more
Since the Government of Ethiopia declared the end of military operations on 28 November 2020 some services—like telecommunications, electricity, and airspace—have 119 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.2 120 CARE, Multiagency and Multisectoral Rapid Need Assessment in Raya Kobo, Raya Alamata, Raya Azebo, Chercher, Wajirat and Ofla Woredas of North Wollo and South Tigray Zones, 30 January 2021, page 27 121 Q29 [Dr Rogg] 122 Q17 [Paul Turnbull] 123 UNICEF, Ethiopia Country Office Humanitarian Situation Report January – December 2020, 31 December 2021 124 UNICEF, Continuing crisis for children in Tigray Ethiopia amid reports of atrocities Ethiopia, Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, 19 March 2021 125 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.6 126 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 30 March 2021, p.2 127 UNICEF, Continuing crisis for children in Tigray, Ethiopia, amid reports of atrocities: Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, 19 March 2021 128 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 8 March 2021, p.6 129 International Medical Corps, Ethiopia–Tigray Region Humanitarian Update Situation Report #6, 18 March 2021, p.1 130 UNHCR, Remarks by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi at the press conference in Addis Ababa., 1 February 2021 131 OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Ethiopia, February 2021, p.17 The humanitarian situation in Tigray 23 gradually restarted. In Mekelle, electricity and telephone services have been partially restored. This has allowed banks to reopen, although with long queues and restrictions on withdrawals.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government explicitly rejects the committee's assessment that services have gradually restarted, highlighting persistent issues with importing communications equipment, travel approvals, and denial of humanitarian access.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office