Kuwait- US, Ethiopia discuss Tigray crisis, GERD

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, April 8 (KUNA) -- US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, during which he expressed the Administration's "grave concern about the continued humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Tigray region." National Security Council Spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement Thursday that Sullivan and Mekonnen discussed "critical steps to address the crisis, including expanded humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities, departure of foreign troops, and independent investigations into atrocities and human rights violations." The statement added that they also discussed "the importance of continued dialogue among regional leaders, with the support of the African Union, to peacefully resolve current disputes related to the al-Fashaga border and the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam." Sullivan stressed that the US is ready to "help Ethiopia address the crisis, building on our longstanding bilateral partnership and friendship." Meanwhile, and during a State Department briefing, its spokesperson Ned Price said the US government through USAID announced more than USD 152 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help the people affected by the crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray Region."This announcement of additional funding brings the total US humanitarian assistance for the Tigray response to USD 305 million since the crisis began in fiscal year 2020."This new assistance will provide life-saving food, water, medical and health support, shelter, and protection to the most vulnerable, and that includes support for women and girls, case management for survivors of gender-based violence, training for social workers and community caseworkers, and programs to reunite children separated from their families."With this funding, USAID will provide more than 148,000 metric tons of urgently needed food assistance, including wheat, yellow split peas, vegetable oil, and specialized nutritious foods. In total, USAID has now provided more than 206,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed 4 million people for nearly 3 months". (end) si.hb MENAFN08042021000071011013ID1101886849