The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:
Today, Administrator Power hosted a roundtable discussion with USAID implementing partners providing humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected communities in northern Ethiopia. Administrator Power and representatives from five partner organizations discussed the resilience of the Ethiopian people and the current humanitarian conditions on the ground, including scale and severity of food insecurity as well as the ongoing trauma from war, violence especially perpetrated against women, and months of deprivation. Despite improvements in humanitarian access in recent months, the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia remains extremely concerning.
Administrator Power expressed USAID’s commitment to assisting partners as they work to tackle response challenges and meet the needs of the Ethiopian people. They also discussed the importance of the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) building upon the humanitarian truce and facilitating unhindered humanitarian access that allows for the significant and sustained provision of humanitarian assistance. In addition, Administrator Power and the group of partners talked about the need to restore basic services - including banking, electricity, telecommunications, and commercial fuel supply in Tigray.