Ethiopia: US embassy permits voluntarily exit of workers & families amid surging conflict

US Embassy in dis Abeba said on Thursday, vember 4, that a part of US staff in Ethiopia, as well as ir family members, can leave country voluntarily amid internal armed conflict and civil instability.  embassy vised US residents to leave country as incidents of civil turmoil and ethnic violence may occur without warning. In a statement, embassy vised US residents who choose to stay to ensure y have sufficient resources packed in case y need to hide in place, stressing that furr escalation is likely, and may entail supply chain bottlenecks, communications blackouts, and transport difficulties.

US Embassy in Ethiopia said in a statement, "On vember 3, Department authorised voluntary departure of n-emergency US government employees and family members of emergency and n-emergency employees from Ethiopia due to armed conflict, civil unrest, and possible supply shorts."

 Ethiopian Conflict

Ethiopian government and TPLF rebels have been fighting for control over country's rrn region for almost a year w. insurgents are marching south, having taken control of town of Kombolcha on 31 October, which is less than 370 kilometres (230 miles) rth of dis Abeba. Ethiopia anunced a state of emergency on Tuesday, with soldiers from Tigray's rrn province threatening to march on towards capital. Britain vised its people on Wednesday to reconsider ir need to remain in Ethiopia and consider leaving while commercial opportunities were available.

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has lately expressed his alarm about surge in violence in Ethiopia, as well as Ethiopian ministration's recent declaration of a state of emergency across country. According to a UN report, Guterres Spokesperson said in a statement issued on Tuesday in New York, " stability of Ethiopia and wider region is at stake." UN Secretary-General has reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and unrestricted humanitarian access to rrn territories of Tigray, Amhara, and Afar to give life-saving supplies. Guterres has also called for an open public conversation to dress this issue and establish groundwork for national stability and peace.

Im: AP