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Press Statement from the Amhara Fano in Wollo
Urgent need for relief in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Wollo Bete-Amhara (north-eastern Amhara)
December 22, 2024 (Tahasass 13, 2017 E.C.)
We, the Amhara Fano in Wollo, express our grave concern over the worsening humanitarian emergency and the looming risk of famine in Wollo Bete-Amhara (north-eastern Amhara) as the Abiy Ahmed led Prosperity Party regime escalates its genocidal siege and blockade against the people of this region. Consequently, vulnerable populations—particularly young children, mothers, and the elderly—are bearing the brunt of this suffering, facing death, starvation, malnutrition, and other preventable hardships. This is why we are calling on concerned actors far and wide to support us in delivering relief to those in need and to condemn the regime for its ongoing pattern of genocidal acts.
Overview and context of the humanitarian crisis in Wollo Bete-Amhara
Over the past 20 months, our forces have fought to protect our communities from the invading armed forces of the Abiy regime. Throughout the Abiy regime’s genocidal war, our forces have exercised extraordinary discipline and strict adherence to international humanitarian law in military engagements, going as far as providing food and nutrition to the very soldiers who committed atrocities against our people. In stark contrast, the Abiy regime has unleashed severe collective punishment tactics on our people – including the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
To list just a few of these patterns of conduct, we have been able to verify that regime forces have:
carried out extrajudicial killings, abductions, torture and other abuses against medical professionals and patients and generally against any civilians they encounter;
looted and destroyed materials in health centers including medicines, medical equipment, patient records and other materials;
blocked passage of essential supplies including nutritional goods and medicines to liberated areas under the control of our forces;
withheld humanitarian relief from internally displaced persons stranded in shelters who escaped genocidal violence in Oromia, and
systematically destroyed harvests, leaving farmers without a means to survive and communities without food supplies.
This grim reality has exposed millions of our people to critical danger. Recent photos and videos from Bugna and surrounding areas highlight the suffering of young children and mothers who are on the brink of death without immediate intervention.
Our commitment to supporting relief efforts
Given the severity of the current humanitarian emergency, we, the Amhara Fano in Wollo, urgently call on partners worldwide to heed our call for immediate support so that life-saving relief can reach those in need. Importantly, we reiterate our steadfast commitment to:
Cooperating with International Partners: We will actively collaborate with international humanitarian organizations to facilitate the delivery of aid.
Guaranteeing the Safety of Humanitarian Workers: We will ensure the protection of all humanitarian personnel operating in our region.
Allowing Safe Passage for Relief Efforts: We are committed to ensuring the secure and unhindered transport of life-saving aid to affected communities.
We firmly believe that innocent civilians deserve to live in peace and safety, with their basic human rights respected. The current humanitarian emergency demands an urgent and unified response from the global community to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of millions.
Fano Abebe Fentaw
Head of Public Relations, Amhara Fano in Wollo
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