Humanitarian Assistance Saving Lives, Relieving Suffering: Residents of Axum

Addis Ababa February 27/2021 (ENA) Residents of the town of Axum in Central Zone, Tigray Regional State said the ongoing government humanitarian assistance is saving lives and livelihoods in the zone.

The Tigray Central Zone Administration for its part said it has been providing humanitarian assistance to residents in several Woredas and effort is being underway to assistance people even in insecure areas.

The residents who told ENA said they have gone through a lot of sufferings during the law enforcement operation following the criminality of the rogue Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and that the government is currently offering swift response for them.

According to the beneficiaries, the humanitarian assistance being provided to them is saving their lives and their children. The residents are also hopeful that the assistance will not only alleviate their sufferings but also help them to raise their children in peace.

The humanitarian assistance has included provision of 30 kilograms of wheat, 5 kilograms of macaroni, and milk to nursing mothers and their children for two months per person.

One of the beneficiaries said “I feel like you have replaced life. I am very happy. If this assistance continues, we will not be frustrated and will be able to raise our children. Right now, I am receiving 30 kilograms of wheat here. Thanks to God I am happy.”

A mother of four children said on her part “God bless them, they are helping us now. I have four children. My husband was a member of the national defense force but I have no idea where he has been at present. However, thanks for the government we are getting help.”

A young man who resides in the town Axum commended the humanitarian assistance being provided by the government.

“The government is providing us with everything we need. For example, we are taking wheat and macaroni, and nursing mothers are getting milk. We would like to thank you for this help and we want to continue this assistance,” he elaborated.

The beneficiaries noted that they were facing several challenges before receiving humanitarian assistance and asked the government to continue its support until they rehabilitated.

“The support available now is especially good for pregnant women and nursing mothers.  And we want it to be this assistance sustainable until we will be rehabilitated,” she requested.

 Central Zone Administrator of Tigray Regional State, Berhane Gebre-tsadik, said the humanitarian assistance was initially delayed but now reached Adwa, Axum, Lailay Maychew and other rural areas.

“Humanitarian assistance was initially long overdue. But now we are reaching out both the central residents and the rural communities. Though we are mostly providing assistance to the Central Zone, we are also assisting the displaced community to Axum city.”

Currently, humanitarian assistance is being provided to the people in need in Tigray Regional State through cooperation with the government and various international relief agencies.