Urgent Call for Full Implementation of COHA in Tigray, Ethiopia

I am writing to urgently address the dire humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia & to request your support in prioritizing comprehensive humanitarian intervention. While recent commitments, such as the $15 million allocated by the United States towards DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, & Reintegration) efforts, are commendable, there remains a critical need to reassess the allocation of these funds to address pressing issues. The insufficient provision of food & humanitarian aid to the people of Tigray is of paramount concern. Despite some efforts, the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) reports that only 20% of aid has been distributed, with projections by the FEWS-Net indicating that Tigray may face famine by May 2024 if current rates persist. The alarming situation in Tigray, as highlighted by Oxfam's Country Director in Ethiopia, Gezahegn Kebede, states, "It is morally & politically bankrupt to watch people starve. This is only the tip of the iceberg; millions more people are resorting to unimaginable means to stave off hunger & find their next meal." In addition to the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid, we must address the safe return & reintegration of nearly 3 million people (according to UNCHR) who were forcibly displaced due to ethnic cleansing, particularly from the more fertile parts of Tigray now forcibly annexed by the neighboring Amhara region. The protection & well-being of civilians, as outlined in the COHA (Cessestion of Hossititles Agreement) (Art. 4) & the Nairobi Agreement (Art. 3), must be prioritized. This includes ensuring access to humanitarian aid, protecting civilians from attacks, & facilitating their safe return & reintegration into society. These internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been living in makeshift homes for over three years, enduring precarious conditions & uncertainty. It is unacceptable that despite the COHA being signed over a year ago, the implementation of its provisions has yet to materialize. Furthermore, the failure to comply with the COHA, specifically regarding the withdrawal of non-ENDF, Eritrean, & Amhara forces from Tigray, is alarming, perpetuating insecurity & impeding the peace sought by the agreement. This omission perpetuates insecurity & hinders the peace & stability sought by the agreement. Recent reports from Tigray, as of January 2024, indicate a troubling contradiction: over 7,000 individuals have been newly displaced to Endabaguna from Northwestern & Western Tigray, citing renewed persecution by non-ENDF forces. This directly contradicts the COHA's aim to establish peace & protect civilians. The ongoing occupation of nearly 40% of Tigray worsens the humanitarian crisis & undermines COHA implementation efforts. I respectfully urge consistent intervention to ensure the withdrawal of these forces aligns with COHA objectives. I kindly request your advocacy for the aforementioned actions to bring about the lasting peace envisioned by the COHA.