NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) 鈥� The head of the World Health Organization described the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia鈥檚 Tigray region as 鈥渢he worst disaster on Earth鈥� and wondered aloud Wednesday if the reason global leaders have not responded was due to 鈥渢he color of the skin of the people in Tigray.鈥�
In an emotional statement at a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 鈥� himself an ethnic Tigrayan 鈥� said the situation caused by the conflict in his home country is worse than any other humanitarian crisis in the world.
Tedros asserted that the 6 million people in Tigray essentially cut off from the world have been 鈥渦nder siege鈥� for the last 21 months. He described the Ukraine conflict as a crisis that has the global community potentially 鈥渟leepwalking into a nuclear war" that could be 鈥渢he mother of all problems,鈥� but argued the disaster in Tigray was far worse.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 heard in the last few months any head of state talking about the Tigray situation anywhere in the developed world. Anywhere. Why?鈥� Tedros asked.
鈥淢aybe the reason is the color of the skin of the people in Tigray.鈥� he said.
In , Tedros questioned if the world's overwhelming focus on Russia's war in Ukraine was due to racism, although he acknowledged the conflict there had global consequences.
The conflict in Ethiopia began in November 2020, and little humanitarian aid arrived after Tigray forces retook much of the region in June 2021. Aid has started flowing more substantially in the past few months but is widely described as inadequate to meet the needs of the millions of people essentially trapped there.
The resumption of basic services and banking remains a key demand of the Tigray regional leaders. Journalists have not been allowed in.
Tedros said the people of Tigray had no access to medicine and telecommunications and were prevented from leaving the region. However, the International Committee of the Red Cross in recent months has reported shipments of some medications.
鈥淣owhere in the world you would see this level of cruelty, where it鈥檚 a government (that) punishes 6 million of its people for more than 21 months,鈥� the WHO chief said. 鈥淭he only thing we ask is, 鈥楥an the world come back to its senses and uphold humanity?鈥欌��
Tedros called on both the Ethiopian and Russian governments to end the crises in Tigray and Ukraine.
鈥淚f they want peace, they can make it happen and I urge them both to resolve (these issues),鈥� he said.
Also Wednesday, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said a government peace committee had adopted a peace proposal 鈥渢hat would lead to the conclusion of ceasefire鈥� and that it would be shared with the African Union envoy working on mediation. Basic services would follow a ceasefire, the statement said.
Tigray forces spokesman Getachew Reda dismissed the government statement, asserting in a tweet that 鈥渋f anything, the Abiy Ahmed regime has made it abundantly clear that it has no appetite for peaceful negotiations except as delaying tactics.鈥�
In a sign of just how cut off Tigray has been, a COVID-19 vaccination campaign was finally launched at the region鈥檚 flagship hospital only in July, an improvement from a months-long period of deprivation in which hospital workers described running out of essential medicines and trying to treat wounds with warm salt water. It was the first COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Tigray.
This was not the first time the WHO chief has spoken out about Tigray.
Earlier this year, the government of Ethiopia to the World Health Organization, accusing Tedros of 鈥渕isconduct鈥� after his sharp criticism of the war and humanitarian crisis in the country.
The Ethiopian government said Tedros was using his office 鈥渢o advance his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia鈥� and said he continues to be an active member of the Tigray People鈥檚 Liberation Front; Tedros was Ethiopia鈥檚 foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the country鈥檚 ruling coalition.
When Tedros was confirmed for a as head of WHO, it was the first time a candidate's home country had failed to nominate their own candidate.
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Cheng reported from London.
Maria Cheng And Cara Anna, The Associated Press
