U.S. Voices Concern over Situation in Ethiopia's Tigray 

On Wednesday, Michael Raynor, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Addis Ababa called on Ethiopian Prime Minister (PM) Abiy Ahmed to stop the ethnic violence.

In press statements, Raynor described Ethiopia as the decisive player in the stability of the Horn of Africa, stressing that violence, especially in the northern Tigray region, threatens the country's progress.

"We remain concerned about ethnic violence across the country, and the threat it poses to achieving the country's potential," the outgoing ambassador said.

Raynor added that the US government is "particularly concerned about the current situation in Tigray," adding, "After nearly three months, we still do not see sufficient humanitarian aid reaching the most vulnerable areas."

"Much more needs to be done, and urgently, to ensure full and safe access for humanitarian organizations, both Ethiopian and international, to the region to provide life-saving support to the millions of people suffering."

Raynor also added that the US government continues to call on all parties to cease any hostilities, to ensure the protection of all civilians in Tigray, including refugees and humanitarian workers, and to support international human rights and humanitarian law.

Moreover, the US ambassador highlighted the US assessment that soldiers from Eritrea were helping the Ethiopian federal forces in Tigray, despite the denial of the Ethiopian authorities.

Last December, Tigray’s government task force said it had reached an agreement with the United Nations under which Addis Ababa would invoke decisions on the entry for aid agencies.

The war between Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) broke out on Nov. 4.

The conflict is thought to have killed thousands and displaced more than 950,000 people, according to United Nations estimates. About 50,000 of them fled to Sudan.