MEKELLE, November 6, 2024 (Tigrai Mass Media Agency)-On a press briefing, Mekelle branch of Ethiopia Institution of the Ombudsman reports that over 970,000 internally displaced persons in Tigray have not returned to their homes yet due to the failure of the parties involved to fully implement the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Head of the office in Mekelle branch, Tsehaye Embaye states that the number of IDPs who have not returned to their homes continues to dwindle daily due to hunger and disease. The head reveals a study conducted by the institution indicating that aid meant for IDPs is not reaching them properly.
The head urges for those involved in the agreement to pay special attention on the repatriation of the IDPs to their homes as per the Pretoria Agreement. He calls the U.S. State Secretary’s statement on the second anniversary of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, claiming that “internally displaced persons have returned to their homes,” inaccurate.
Head of Women and Children Rights at the Ethiopian institution of the Ombudsman in Mekelle branch Haftay Assefa says the IDPs are denied of their basic rights as they continue to suffer from death and disease due to lack of humanitarian aid delivery. He reports that in Shire alone, over 42,000 IDPs have not received assistance, and more than 78,000 are without access to clean water.
A study by the institution on service delivery complaints to IDPs reveals that aid service provided after the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement has been insufficient. The head stresses on the unpaid 17 months’ salaries for civil servants and other related issues as a cause for the weakened service delivery since the Pretoria Agreement.
The head indicates that the Mekelle branch has been receiving significant number of complaints since the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
