The director general of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu who is an Ethiopian by nationality has spoken of his pain over the conflict in the Tigray region in Ethiopia.
Tedros has been at the helm of affairs helping to fight the global Coronavirus pandemic but he said 2020 has been difficult for him as well due to the conflict in his country.
He told reporters on Monday at a press conference that “2020 has been very difficult for me, because my country is in trouble, my country, Ethiopia, is in trouble, and the war, the devastating war that’s happening is actually in my home region, Tigray, northern part of Ethiopia.”
Monday’s press conference on the Covid-19 pandemic was Tedros’s last for the year.
The conflict in Tigray led to the death of thousands after it broke out on November 4.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered troops into the region following alleged attacks by Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces on federal military camps in the northern region.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus denied claims by Ethiopia at the time that he is supporting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The Ethiopian government said Dr. Ghebreyesus was helping Tigray forces fighting the government.
Tedros said “As if Covid is not enough, I have that personal pain also, I worry about my country.”
“I have many relatives there, including my younger brother and I don’t know where they are.
“I haven’t communicated with them because communication is not there.”
Over 30,000 Ethiopians fled the violence in Tigray region despite assurances from the government that those who fled can return home.
Source: Africafeeds.com
