Monday, July 7, 2025
Village Voice News
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Village Voice News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

WHO Chief: Lack of help for Tigray crisis due to skin color

Staff Writer by Staff Writer
August 17, 2022
in News
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

READ ALSO

𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌 𝐃𝐚𝐲 – 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓𝟐 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

GTUC Message on CARICOM’s 52nd Anniversary- “Rededicate to the People, Reclaim the Vision”

Maria Chend and Cara Anna (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization described the persistent crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as “the worst disaster on Earth” and wondered aloud Wednesday if the reason global leaders have not responded was due to “the color of the skin of the people in Tigray.”

In an emotional statement at a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – himself an Ethnic Tigrayan – said the situation caused by the ongoing 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 “under siege” for the last 21 months. He described the Ukraine conflict as a crisis that has the global community potentially “sleepwalking into a nuclear war” that could be “the mother of all problems,” but argued the disaster in Tigray was far worse.

“I haven’t heard in the last few months any head of state talking about the Tigray situation anywhere in the developed world. Anywhere. Why?” Tedros asked.

“Maybe the reason is the color of the skin of the people in Tigray.” he said.

In April, 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.

“Nowhere in the world you would see this level of cruelty, where it’s a government (that) punishes 6 million of its people for more than 21 months,” the WHO chief said. “The only thing we ask is, ‘Can the world come back to its senses and uphold humanity?’”

Tedros called on both the Ethiopian and Russian governments to end the crises in Tigray and Ukraine.

“If they want peace, they can make it happen and I urge them both to resolve th(ese) issue(s),” he said.

Also Wednesday, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said a government peace committee had adopted a peace proposal “that would lead to the conclusion of ceasefire” 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 “if anything, the Abiy Ahmed regime has made it abundantly clear that it has no appetite for peaceful negotiations except as delaying tactics.”

In a sign of just how cut off Tigray has been, a COVID-19 vaccination campaign was finally launched at the region’s 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 sent a letter to the World Health Organization, accusing Tedros of “misconduct” after his sharp criticism of the war and humanitarian crisis in the country.

The Ethiopian government said Tedros was using his office “to advance his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia” and said he continues to be an active member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front; Tedros was Ethiopia’s foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the country’s ruling coalition.

When Tedros was confirmed for a second term as head of WHO, it was the first time a candidate’s home country had failed to nominate their own candidate.

 

 

ReplyForward
ShareTweetSendShareSend

Related Posts

News

𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌 𝐃𝐚𝐲 – 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓𝟐 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

by Admin
July 7, 2025

Today, as we proudly celebrate 52 years of CARICOM, we honour the vision, strength, and unity that have guided our...

Read moreDetails
News

GTUC Message on CARICOM’s 52nd Anniversary- “Rededicate to the People, Reclaim the Vision”

by Admin
July 7, 2025

On the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) extends greetings to...

Read moreDetails
News

Guyana Public Service Union CARICOM Day Message 7th July 2025

by Admin
July 7, 2025

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) joins communities across the Caribbean in celebrating the 52nd Anniversary of the establishment of...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Unsustainable Fishing; Global fish stocks are being overharvested at ecologically and economically indefensible levels


EDITOR'S PICK

Guyana, Barbados and state of Roraima examining Food Security Partnership

August 25, 2022

It seems Mr. Jagdeo is still looking for relevance

January 11, 2023

WORD OF THE DAY: BELTANE

June 10, 2023
Annette Ferguson MP (Shadow Minister for Housing and Water)

MP Ferguson critiques Govt’s roll out of $100K cash grant distribution

December 5, 2024

© 2024 Village Voice

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Letters
  • Global
  • Columns
    • Eye On Guyana
    • Hindsight
    • Lincoln Lewis Speaks
    • Future Notes
    • Blackout
    • From The Desk of Roysdale Forde SC
    • Diplomatic Speak
    • Mark’s Take
    • In the village
    • Mind Your Business
    • Bad & Bold
    • The Voice of Labour
    • The Herbal Section
    • Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds
    • Talking Dollars & Making Sense
    • Book Review 
  • Education & Technology
  • E-Paper
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Village Voice