On Thursday, the United States condemned Ethiopia's expulsion of United Nations officials, threatening possible sanctions against those who obstruct humanitarian efforts in the country.
"The US government condemns in the strongest possible terms the government of Ethiopia's unprecedented action to expel the leadership of all of the United Nations organizations involved in ongoing humanitarian operations," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
"This is a stain on our collective conscience, and it must stop," Psaki affirmed, calling on the UN Security Council and other countries to take urgent action to make clear to the Ethiopian government that impeding humanitarian operations is unacceptable.
Moreover, Psaki warned that the United States "will not hesitate" to impose sanctions, asserting that President Joe Biden's administration is preparing to take "aggressive action" under an executive order issued earlier this month.
The order allows Washington to impose sanctions on parties to the conflict if they obstruct humanitarian access, commit serious human rights abuse or prolong the conflict.
"We must see meaningful steps within weeks to initiate discussions to achieve a negotiated ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access and ensure respect for human rights. Absent significant progress, we'll take action - and we have the methods to do that," she stated.
Earlier on Thursday, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was expelling seven senior U.N. officials, two days after the U.N. aid chief warned hundreds of thousands of people in the northern region of Tigray were likely experiencing famine due to a government blockade of aid.
On his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "shocked" by the decision, stressing that the body was "delivering lifesaving aid -- including food, medicine, water, and sanitation supplies -– to people in desperate need" in Ethiopia.
"I was shocked by the information that the Government of Ethiopia has declared seven UN officials ... as persona non grata," Guterres said in a statement.
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