Guterres calls on US to exempt development and humanitarian funds from aid ‘pause’
2025-01-27 12:00
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the United States to exempt development and humanitarian funds from its recent aid ‘pause’ to Ethiopia.
In a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Guterres expressed concern that the aid pause could have “devastating consequences” for millions of Ethiopians who rely on humanitarian assistance.
“I urge you to reconsider the decision to pause development and humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia,” Guterres wrote. “These funds are essential for saving lives, preventing famine, and protecting the most vulnerable.”
The US announced on January 25 that it was pausing its development and humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia in response to the Ethiopian government’s human rights abuses in the Tigray region.
The US has provided more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia in the past year, making it the largest donor to the country.
Guterres said that the US aid pause would “make it even more difficult to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia.”
“I urge you to work with us to find a way to ensure that humanitarian assistance can continue to reach those who need it most,” Guterres wrote.
The Ethiopian government has said that it “regrets” the US decision to pause development and humanitarian assistance.
“The government of Ethiopia remains committed to working with the international community to address the humanitarian needs of its people,” the government said in a statement.
The conflict in Tigray has displaced more than 2 million people and caused a severe humanitarian crisis.
The UN estimates that more than 5 million people in Tigray are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The US aid pause is likely to make it even more difficult to meet the humanitarian needs of the people in Tigray.
Guterres calls on US to exempt development and humanitarian funds from aid ‘pause’
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