Ethiopia: Resettlement of IDPs begin in Tigray

IOM has started relocation of more than 17,000 IDPs to the Sabacare 4 relocation site in Mekelle, Tigray. Photo: IOM Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA - The new Tigray administration started the resettlement of IDPs over two years after the deadly war which left thousands of people dead and others displaced, following clashes between the Tigray People's Liberation Force and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF)..

Lt. General Tadesse Werede, the Vice President of the Tigray interim administration, said the government will kick-start the resettlement of IDPs in Tigray along the Western belt where many people died during the 24-month war.

In a press briefing held on 13 July 2024, Lieutenant General Tadesse announced a tripartite agreement established between the Tigray interim administration, the Amhara regional government, and the federal government. This agreement outlines a more streamlined and secure return process for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Western Tigray.

The Pretoria agreement also stipulates that armed groups serving outside ENDF should be disarmed for the sake of peace and stability. Amhara regional troops are also set to withdraw from designated areas.

However, Lieutenant General Tadesse underscored that the interim administration of Tigray, the Amhara regional government, and the federal authorities have not yet reached consensus on the post-return procedures for the IDPs to their respective villages, Addis Standard reports.

Gatechew Reda, the interim President of the Tigray administration, indicated that the meeting addressed “various issues related to the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.” He reported that “political dialogue, DDR (disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration), and the return of IDPs were extensively discussed.”

Getachew highlighted that while progress in IDP returns was acknowledged, “the parties also emphasized the urgency of expediting the process in a manner that comprehensively addresses the concerns of severely affected populations, particularly in Western Tigray.”

Over 200,000 people were displaced during the war which left thousands dead according to various human rights groups. The government of Ethiopia has been pushing for stability, which is initiated from within Tigrayans in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE