Urgent Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance for Prisoners of War in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

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Sent to : International Humanitarian Organizations
  1. Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS)
  2. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
  3. World Food Programme (WFP)
  4. Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF)
  5. Save the Children
  6. Oxfam
Sent to :International Human Rights Organizations
  1. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Sent to : . Regional and International Organizations
  1. African Union Human Rights Commission
  2. Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
  3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
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September 18, 2024

Re: Urgent Appeal for Improved Detention Conditions and Humanitarian Assistance in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Dear Sir or Madam,

We members of the Federation of Amhara Associations in Europe, are writing to express our profound concern regarding the dire humanitarian situation in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. 

For over a year, the Amhara region has been devastated by a civil war declared by the Abiy Ahmed regime, which has turned against its own people. The region has been under blockade restricting freedom of movement of people, goods and services. Civilian infrastructure and public services have been totally destroyed or severely damaged, plunging millions into dire humanitarian crises. 

In this armed conflict, the Amhara Fano forces have captured a significant number of government combatants. We commend their publicly known and well reported commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and treating prisoners of war with dignity and respect, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions unlike the government forces that practice collective punishment of innocent civilians including public executions, destruction of homes and properties.

In a letter addressed on September 13, 2024 to your organization, the Amhara Fano forces have earnestly requested your assistance in addressing  urgent humanitarian needs to provide the care  needed for prisoners of war. We wholeheartedly uphold  this appeal and we would like to stress the urgency of  effective assistance needed.

We urge you to:

  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the humanitarian situation in the Amhara region, with a particular focus on the needs of prisoners of war and the civilian populations.

  • Facilitate the distribution of neutral and impartial humanitarian aid to prisoners of war, displaced populations, and communities affected by the conflict.

  • Strengthen the capacity of local actors to respond to humanitarian emergencies. 

By providing humanitarian assistance in the Amhara region, the ICRC can not only ameliorate the living conditions of the affected populations but also contribute to fostering peace and stability in the region.

We are confident that the ICRC, with its proven expertise and unwavering neutrality, can play a pivotal role in alleviating this humanitarian crisis. We remain at your disposal to provide any further information and to assist you in your endeavors.

We look forward to a positive response.

Yours sincerely,

 

Federation of Amhara Association in Europe

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