|
Ethiopia,
Feb
12:
UN
Deputy
Secretary-General
Amina
Mohammed
on
Friday
said
women
had
faced
“unimaginable”
horrors
in
conflict-torn
regions
of
Ethiopia.
Mohammed
became
the
highest-ranking
UN
official
to
visit
Ethiopia
since
the
government
launched
an
offensive
against
the
militants
in
the
Tigray
region
in
2020.
The
UN
number
two
was
speaking
to
reporters
in
New
York
a
day
after
returning
from
the
East
African
nation.
During
her
five-day
trip,
she
visited
Tigray,
Amhara,
Afar,
and
Somali
regions
in
Ethiopia.
She
met
with
Tigray’s
leaders
and
Ethiopia’s
prime
minister
and
president.
The
former
Nigerian
minister
also
talked
to
local
leaders,
civil
society
members,
and
many
women.
My
visit
to
Ethiopia
was
a
journey
of
solidarity
with
the
Ethiopian
people.
The
@UN
will
continue
to
prioritize
urgent
humanitarian
support
towards
socio-economic
recovery
especially
for
women
and
children.
pic.twitter.com/7okMI9I20m—
Amina
J
Mohammed
(@AminaJMohammed)
February
11,
2022
Mohammed
said
she
was
left
near
tears
after
listening
to
the
accounts
of
rape
from
Ethiopian
women.
What
did
she
say?
“Ethiopian
women,
writ
large,
were
affected
in
a
way
that
is
unimaginable,”
Mohammed
said.
“In
your
worst
nightmares,
you
cannot
imagine
what
has
happened
to
the
women
in
Ethiopia.”
She
spoke
to
women
who
recalled
their
trauma,
including
being
raped
in
front
of
their
children.
Mohammed
met
a
woman
in
Tigray
who
had
been
gang-raped
over
and
over
again.
That
woman
had
given
birth
to
a
son
and
was
cast
away
from
her
family
and
society.
“There
is
everyone
to
blame”
for
the
atrocities,
Mohammed
said,
adding
that
“it’s
unacceptable
that
one
human
being
would
do
that
to
another.”
“Without
a
shadow
of
a
doubt,
justice
and
accountability
have
to
be
had,”
she
said.
She
said
that
the
warring
parties
“cannot
achieve
any
lasting
peace
without
reconciling
and
being
held
to
account
for
the
atrocities
across
the
country.”
What’s
the
present
situation
in
Ethiopia?
Ethiopia
erupted
into
war
in
November
2020
after
months
of
political
tension
between
the
Ethiopian
government
and
Tigrayan
rebels.
The
conflict
has
claimed
thousands
of
lives
and
pushed
hundreds
of
thousands
into
famine.
Rights
groups
have
accused
fighters
on
all
sides
of
widespread
sexual
violence.
Source: DW
For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS | Updated: Saturday, February 12, 2022, 12:34 [IST] Ethiopia, Feb 12: UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Friday said women had faced “unimaginable” horrors in conflict-torn regions of Ethiopia. Mohammed became the highest-ranking UN official to visit Ethiopia since the government launched an offensive against the militants in the Tigray region in 2020. The UN number two was speaking to reporters in New York a day after returning from the East African nation. During her five-day trip, she visited Tigray, Amhara, Afar, and Somali regions in Ethiopia. She met with Tigray’s leaders and Ethiopia’s prime minister and president. The former Nigerian minister also talked to local leaders, civil society members, and many women. My visit to Ethiopia was a journey of solidarity with the Ethiopian people. The @UN will continue to prioritize urgent humanitarian support towards socio-economic recovery especially for women and children. pic.twitter.com/7okMI9I20m — Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) February 11, 2022 Mohammed said she was left near tears after listening to the accounts of rape from Ethiopian women. What did she say? “Ethiopian women, writ large, were affected in a way that is unimaginable,” Mohammed said. “In your worst nightmares, you cannot imagine what has happened to the women in Ethiopia.” She spoke to women who recalled their trauma, including being raped in front of their children. Mohammed met a woman in Tigray who had been gang-raped over and over again. That woman had given birth to a son and was cast away from her family and society. “There is everyone to blame” for the atrocities, Mohammed said, adding that “it’s unacceptable that one human being would do that to another.” “Without a shadow of a doubt, justice and accountability have to be had,” she said. She said that the warring parties “cannot achieve any lasting peace without reconciling and being held to account for the atrocities across the country.” What’s the present situation in Ethiopia? Ethiopia erupted into war in November 2020 after months of political tension between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan rebels. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and pushed hundreds of thousands into famine. Rights groups have accused fighters on all sides of widespread sexual violence. Source: DW