The Government of Ethiopia said its troops have liberated major towns from the rebel group Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), says the Government.
“In recent days the ENDF has taken control of some urban areas in Tigray region…The ENDF has taken control of the towns of Shire, Alamata, and Korem without fighting in urban areas,” said the Government Communications Service in its statement issued on Tuesday.
The ENDF has averted the grim scenario some have predicted by echoing TPLF’s propaganda. The Government of Ethiopia is carrying out the necessary precautions and will coordinate with the relevant humanitarian agencies to provide humanitarian aid through these areas that have come under control of the ENDF, including via the Shire Airport,” the statement said.
The statement also stated that the Government in coordination with humanitarian operators is making is making preparations to expand the routes through which humanitarian assistance could be transported. “A concerted effort is underway to open the North Gondar route to Shire as well as the Kombolcha-Dessei-Woldiya-Kobo-Alamata route. These preparations will also include technical assessments and some of the groundwork needed to restore services to the conflict-affected areas,” the statement said.
Since the war between the Government forces and TPLF started in November 2020 tens of thousands of people from both sides are estimated to lose their lives, while millions have been displaced. Though the African Union has been trying to mediated the two sides appointing former Nigerian President Obasanjo as facilitator, no peace deal is reached so far between the two sides.