GENEVA: The WHO leader stated on Wednesday that the world was treating black and white people differently, with just a “fraction” of the care given to Ukraine.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said other countries’ problems were not being handled seriously and hoped the international community “wakes up”.
“I don’t know if the world truly values black and white life equally,” Tedros said. “The attention to Ukraine is vital since it affects the entire globe.”
“I need to be honest that the world does not treat humans equally. Others are more equal. It hurts me to say this. I see it. It’s hard to accept yet it is.”
Tedros, a Tigray native, said the UN calculated that 100 trucks of life-saving humanitarian supplies per day were required for the beleaguered northern Ethiopian province.
Former health and foreign ministers said 2,000 trucks should have entered since the truce was established, but just 20 have. Tedros feared the 20 trucks entering may be a “diplomatic manoeuvre” by the Addis Ababa administration.
“The Ethiopian and Eritrean armies’ siege continues,” he added.
It is vital that those enforcing the siege provide unrestricted humanitarian access in order to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. But, according to Tedros, worldwide attention is simply not given to such catastrophes.
In his words, “I pray the world awakens and treats every human life equally.”
“The situation in Ethiopia is awful. People are being burnt alive for no reason other than their ethnicity. We must balance. Every life is important and ought to be taken seriously.”
The UN claims hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray face famine due to fuel shortages and lack of essential amenities including power, telephones, internet, and banking. The 17-month violence has displaced over two million people and left over nine million in need of food help in northern Ethiopia.
Russia attacked Ukraine 50 days ago. Over a fourth of the Ukrainian population has been displaced. In the eastern Donbas area of Ukraine, Moscow looks to be preparing a huge onslaught against civilians. Yemen is the UN’s biggest humanitarian disaster.
Works at The Truth International Magazine. My area of interest includes international relations, peace & conflict studies, qualitative & quantitative research in social sciences, and world politics. Reach@ [email protected]
