By Joy Kyalo
The European Union has postponed nearly 90 million euros in budget support payments to Ethiopia due to the bloc’s concerns over the crisis in the northern Tigray region.
According to an internal EU document seen by Reuters today, the delay appears intended to reinforce the EU’s request for a response from Ethiopian authorities over the bloc’s calls for aid to be allowed into Tigray, where five weeks of war have led to a humanitarian crisis.
“Postponing those three budget support disbursements aims at creating political space to assess the current situation and request a response with regard to the EU’s concerns notably related to humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities and media access,” read the document.
The prime minister’s spokeswoman directed requests for comment to the Finance Ministry, which did not immediately respond.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the bloc in Brussels.
The 27-nation EU is also calling for a cessation of hostilities, investigations into human rights abuses during the conflict, and for journalists to be allowed to visit the region, according to the document, which was authenticated by a senior diplomatic official in Addis Ababa.
The value of EU development assistance to Ethiopia has averaged an estimated 214 million euros per year, according to the bloc’s website.
Phone connections to Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, were restored earlier this week and residents told Reuters that food prices are sky high and there is very little running water.
Reuters has been unable to reach residents in other towns, but reports of food shortages and looting are beginning to trickle into Mekelle.
