There is confusion over the peace accord, both the government and the TPLF have conflicting versions of how they want the truce to be signed and implemented. Our correspondent Coletta Wanjohi explains how the negotiations are going to play out and the road to finding peace in Ethiopia.

World Of Africa: Will Ethiopia's Tigray conflict end peacefully?

After 2 years of a civil war that displaced thousands, peace now nears as Ethiopian government agrees to talk with Tigray forces. Is a Truce imminent, or will it be another wait for hundreds living in desperation? Find out this week on World Of Africa with Erik Njoka.

World Of Africa: Decoding Ethiopia's civil war

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is leading a campaign to plant six billion trees across the country this year. This is a part of his 'Green Legacy' project to promote ecotourism and tackle climate change. The initiative emphasizes his focus on the environment ahead of the elections

Ethiopian PM plants trees for 'Green Legacy' project

On Sunday, over 200 people were killed in Ethiopia's Oromia region. The incident is being called the deadliest massacre in recent times. Who was behind it? Why is Ethiopia roiled by an ethnic conflict? Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: 200 killed in Ethiopia's Oromia region

Witnesses in Ethiopia said Sunday that more than 200 people, mostly ethnic Amhara, have been killed in an attack in the country's Oromia region and are blaming a rebel group, which denies it.

It is one of the deadliest such attacks in recent memory as ethnic tensions continue in Africa's second most populous country.

"I have counted 230 bodies. I am afraid this is the deadliest attack against civilians we have seen in our lifetime,"&nbsp;Abdul-Seid Tahir, a resident of Gimbi county, told The Associated Press after barely escaping the attack on Saturday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-turns-on-the-turbines-at-giant-nile-hydropower-plant-454780">Ethiopia turns on the turbines at giant Nile hydropower plant</a>

"We are burying them in mass graves, and we are still collecting bodies. Federal army units have now arrived, but we fear that the attacks could continue if they leave."

Another witness, who gave only his first name, Shambel over fears for his safety, said the local Amhara community is now desperately seeking to be relocated somewhere else 'before another round of mass killings happen.'

He said ethnic Amhara that settled in the area about 30 years ago in resettlement programs are now being 'killed like chickens.'

Watch |&nbsp;Ethiopia: Thousands of kids face 'most deadly' malnutrition

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopia-thousands-of-kids-face-most-deadly-malnutrition-488857/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Both witnesses blamed the Oromo Liberation Army for the attacks. In a statement, the Oromia regional government also blamed the OLA, saying the rebels attacked 'after being unable to resist the operations launched by (federal) security forces.'

An OLA spokesman, Odaa Tarbii, denied the allegations.

"The attack you are referring to was committed by the regime's military and local militia as they retreated from their camp in Gimbi following our recent offensive,"&nbsp;he said in a message to the AP.

"They escaped to an area called Tole, where they attacked the local population and destroyed their property as retaliation for their perceived support for the OLA. Our fighters had not even reached that area when the attacks took place."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-vows-probe-into-gruesome-video-of-man-on-fire-461681">Ethiopia vows probe into gruesome video of man on fire</a>

Ethiopia is experiencing widespread ethnic tensions in several regions, most of them over historical grievances and political tensions.

The Amhara people, the second-largest ethnic group among Ethiopia's more than 110 million population, have been targeted frequently in regions like Oromia.

The government-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Sunday called on the federal government find a 'lasting solution'&nbsp;to the killing of civilians and protect them from such attacks.

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Witnesses in Ethiopia said Sunday that more than 200 people, mostly ethnic Amhara, have been killed in an attack in the country's Oromia region and are blaming a rebel group, which denies it.

Witnesses in Ethiopia said Sunday that more than 200 people, mostly ethnic Amhara, have been killed in an attack in the country's Oromia region and are blaming a rebel group, which denies it. It is one of the deadliest such attacks in recent memory as ethnic tensions continue in Africa's second most populous country. "I have counted 230 bodies. I am afraid this is the deadliest attack against civilians we have seen in our lifetime," Abdul-Seid Tahir, a resident of Gimbi county, told The Associated Press after barely escaping the attack on Saturday. Also read | Ethiopia turns on the turbines at giant Nile hydropower plant "We are burying them in mass graves, and we are still collecting bodies. Federal army units have now arrived, but we fear that the attacks could continue if they leave." Another witness, who gave only his first name, Shambel over fears for his safety, said the local Amhara community is now desperately seeking to be relocated somewhere else 'before another round of mass killings happen.' He said ethnic Amhara that settled in the area about 30 years ago in resettlement programs are now being 'killed like chickens.' Watch | Ethiopia: Thousands of kids face 'most deadly' malnutrition Both witnesses blamed the Oromo Liberation Army for the attacks. In a statement, the Oromia regional government also blamed the OLA, saying the rebels attacked 'after being unable to resist the operations launched by (federal) security forces.' An OLA spokesman, Odaa Tarbii, denied the allegations. "The attack you are referring to was committed by the regime's military and local militia as they retreated from their camp in Gimbi following our recent offensive," he said in a message to the AP. "They escaped to an area called Tole, where they attacked the local population and destroyed their property as retaliation for their perceived support for the OLA. Our fighters had not even reached that area when the attacks took place." Also read | Ethiopia vows probe into gruesome video of man on fire Ethiopia is experiencing widespread ethnic tensions in several regions, most of them over historical grievances and political tensions. The Amhara people, the second-largest ethnic group among Ethiopia's more than 110 million population, have been targeted frequently in regions like Oromia. The government-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Sunday called on the federal government find a 'lasting solution' to the killing of civilians and protect them from such attacks. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Witnesses say more than 200 killed in Ethiopia ethnic attack

Tens of thousands of children in Ethiopia are suffering from the most deadly form of malnutrition. One of the factors that resulted in this situation is prolonged droughts

Ethiopia: Thousands of kids face 'most deadly' malnutrition

For the first time Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has spoken about the possibility of peace negotiations with the Tigran rebels, the two sides have been locked in a war for more than nineteen months now.

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed forms a negotiation body to discuss possible peace talks with TPLF

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed announced that his government had formed a committee to negotiate for peace with TPLF amid Ethiopia's deadly civil war.

Ethiopia forms a negotiation body to discuss possible peace talks with TPLF

Amid unreasonable weather conditions occurring around the world. African countries Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia were hit by an unprecedented drought which has left millions facing starvation.

20 million Africans to suffer from famine by September

Ethiopia is cracking down on Militia fighters. Authorities have arrested over 4000 people in the Amhara region. Over 300 out of 4000 are accused of killings

Ethiopia is cracking down on Militia fighters

Ethiopia is battling a devastating drought. There hasn't been a single drop of rain for 18 months now. Drought has killed nearly 1.5 million livestock.

A devastating drought in Ethiopia: No drop of rain for 18 months

In pics: Five things you need to know about strife-torn Somalia

Hargududo village in southeastern Ethiopia is facing the worst kind of crisis ever. Not a single drop of rain in the last 18 months is making the people stare at an uncertain future. Dried-up carcasses of goats, cows and donkeys litter the ground near the modest thatched huts in this small village.

Ethiopia: Not a drop of rain in last 18 months for Hargududo village

An Ethiopian hospital is flooded with children, these children are suffering from malnutrition. The situation continues to worsen as Ethiopia witnesses the worst drought in four decades.

Horn of Africa: Children are the worst victims of drought in Ethiopia

Twenty million people are at risk of starvation this year as delayed rains worsen an already brutal drought in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, the UN warned Tuesday.&nbsp;

An extreme months-long drought has left the Horn of Africa on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe, destroying crops and livestock and forcing huge numbers of people to leave their homes in search of food and water.

As long-awaited rains fail to materialise nearly a month into the current rainy season, "the number of hungry people due to drought could spiral from the currently estimated 14 million to 20 million through 2022," the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said.

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Six million Somalis or 40 per cent of the population were facing extreme levels of food insecurity and there was "a very real risk of famine in the coming months" if current conditions prevailed, WFP said.&nbsp;

In Kenya, half a million people were on the brink of a hunger crisis, with communities in the north of the country especially at risk due to their reliance on livestock.&nbsp;

The number of Kenyans in need of assistance has risen more than fourfold in less than two years, the agency said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile malnutrition rates in drought-hit southern and southeastern Ethiopia have surged above emergency thresholds, while the north of the country has been in the grip of a 17-month war between government forces and Tigrayan rebels.

Watch |&nbsp;Drought threatens hydropower at Glen Canyon Dam in Southwestern US

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/drought-threatens-hydropower-at-glen-canyon-dam-in-southwestern-us-471013/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The dire conditions have been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, which has contributed to soaring food and fuel costs and disrupted global supply chains, WFP said.

The agency warned that a lack of funding could trigger a catastrophe, calling for $473 million (438 million euros) over the next six months.&nbsp;

A previous appeal in February raised less than four percent of the cash needed, it said.

"We know from past experience that acting early to avert a humanitarian catastrophe is vital, yet our ability to launch the response has been limited due to a lack of funding to date," said Michael Dunford, WFP's regional director for East Africa.

East Africa endured a harrowing drought in 2017 but early humanitarian action averted a famine in Somalia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-africa-faces-historic-food-crisis-driven-by-conflict-price-surge-468566">West Africa faces historic food crisis driven by conflict, price surge</a>

In contrast, 260,000 people -- half of them children under the age of six -- died of hunger or hunger-related disorders when a famine struck the country in 2011.

Experts say extreme weather events are happening with increased frequency and intensity due to climate change.

Twenty million people are at risk of starvation this year as delayed rains worsen an already brutal drought in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, the UN warned Tuesday.

Twenty million people are at risk of starvation this year as delayed rains worsen an already brutal drought in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, the UN warned Tuesday. An extreme months-long drought has left the Horn of Africa on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe, destroying crops and livestock and forcing huge numbers of people to leave their homes in search of food and water. As long-awaited rains fail to materialise nearly a month into the current rainy season, "the number of hungry people due to drought could spiral from the currently estimated 14 million to 20 million through 2022," the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said. Also read | As record-breaking drought enters its 13th year, Chile announces revolutionary water rationing plan Six million Somalis or 40 per cent of the population were facing extreme levels of food insecurity and there was "a very real risk of famine in the coming months" if current conditions prevailed, WFP said. In Kenya, half a million people were on the brink of a hunger crisis, with communities in the north of the country especially at risk due to their reliance on livestock. The number of Kenyans in need of assistance has risen more than fourfold in less than two years, the agency said. Meanwhile malnutrition rates in drought-hit southern and southeastern Ethiopia have surged above emergency thresholds, while the north of the country has been in the grip of a 17-month war between government forces and Tigrayan rebels. Watch | Drought threatens hydropower at Glen Canyon Dam in Southwestern US The dire conditions have been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, which has contributed to soaring food and fuel costs and disrupted global supply chains, WFP said. The agency warned that a lack of funding could trigger a catastrophe, calling for $473 million (438 million euros) over the next six months. A previous appeal in February raised less than four percent of the cash needed, it said. "We know from past experience that acting early to avert a humanitarian catastrophe is vital, yet our ability to launch the response has been limited due to a lack of funding to date," said Michael Dunford, WFP's regional director for East Africa. East Africa endured a harrowing drought in 2017 but early humanitarian action averted a famine in Somalia. Also read | West Africa faces historic food crisis driven by conflict, price surge In contrast, 260,000 people -- half of them children under the age of six -- died of hunger or hunger-related disorders when a famine struck the country in 2011. Experts say extreme weather events are happening with increased frequency and intensity due to climate change.

20 million risk starvation as Horn of Africa drought worsens: UN

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization's (WHO) director-general on Wednesday said that the world treats “blacks and white lives” unequally.

The WHO chief said this in the context of Ukraine and the attention its ‘white’ population is receiving compared to other areas facing emergencies.

As per him the emergencies happening elsewhere are not being taken seriously, he added that he hopes that the international community "comes back to its senses".

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Speaking at a news conference, Tedros said: "I don't know if the world really gives equal attention to black and white lives."&nbsp;

"The whole attention to Ukraine is very important of course because it impacts the whole world."

"But even a fraction of it is not being given to Tigray, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria and the rest. A fraction.”

He added that global attention was simply not being placed on humanitarian crises like the one in Ethiopia.

The United Nations had determined that the besieged northern region of Ethiopia on average needs 100 trucks of humanitarian supplies every day.&nbsp;

Since the declaration of truce till date 2000 trucks should’ve reached the suffering country, however, merely 20 have actually reached, said Tedros, adding that he was worried that these 20 trucks might also merely be a "diplomatic manoeuvre" by the Addis Ababa government.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Western media's racist reportage on Ukrainian refugees

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-western-medias-racist-reportage-on-ukrainian-refugees-457644/embed" width="560"></iframe>

Right now, apart from the crisis in Ukraine other nations too are in an emergency situation.

In Tigray, as per the UN thousands are at risk, facing starvation, fuel shortages, and lack of basic services for months.&nbsp;

Syria's civil war broke out in 2011 as a result of the government's harsh crackdown on anti-regime rallies. In the violence, which has wreaked havoc on the country's economy, nearly half a million people have been killed and millions have been displaced.

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Yemen, which the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis has around 23.7 people in need of assistance.&nbsp;

In northern Ethiopia, the 17-month conflict has displaced two million people and left nine million on the verge of starvation.

Afghanistan is on the verge of an economic collapse, with 24 million in desperate need of aid.

However, global attention was simply not being given to such&nbsp;humanitarian crises&nbsp;and instead is focused only on Ukraine.

"So we need to balance. We need to take every life seriously because every life is precious" said the WHO chief.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization's (WHO) director-general on Wednesday said that the world treats “blacks and white lives” unequally. The WHO chief said this in the context of Ukraine and the attention its ‘white’ population is receiving compared to other areas facing emergencies.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization's (WHO) director-general on Wednesday said that the world treats “blacks and white lives” unequally. The WHO chief said this in the context of Ukraine and the attention its ‘white’ population is receiving compared to other areas facing emergencies. As per him the emergencies happening elsewhere are not being taken seriously, he added that he hopes that the international community "comes back to its senses". Also read | Russia-Ukraine conflict: Moscow’s tit-for-tat move; slaps sanctions on US, Canada Speaking at a news conference, Tedros said: "I don't know if the world really gives equal attention to black and white lives." "The whole attention to Ukraine is very important of course because it impacts the whole world." "But even a fraction of it is not being given to Tigray, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria and the rest. A fraction.” He added that global attention was simply not being placed on humanitarian crises like the one in Ethiopia. The United Nations had determined that the besieged northern region of Ethiopia on average needs 100 trucks of humanitarian supplies every day. Since the declaration of truce till date 2000 trucks should’ve reached the suffering country, however, merely 20 have actually reached, said Tedros, adding that he was worried that these 20 trucks might also merely be a "diplomatic manoeuvre" by the Addis Ababa government. Watch | Gravitas: Western media's racist reportage on Ukrainian refugees Right now, apart from the crisis in Ukraine other nations too are in an emergency situation. In Tigray, as per the UN thousands are at risk, facing starvation, fuel shortages, and lack of basic services for months. Syria's civil war broke out in 2011 as a result of the government's harsh crackdown on anti-regime rallies. In the violence, which has wreaked havoc on the country's economy, nearly half a million people have been killed and millions have been displaced. Also read | 'Sadists, rapists': Russian forces using rape as punishing tactic in Ukraine, UN women's body voices concern Yemen, which the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis has around 23.7 people in need of assistance. In northern Ethiopia, the 17-month conflict has displaced two million people and left nine million on the verge of starvation. Afghanistan is on the verge of an economic collapse, with 24 million in desperate need of aid. However, global attention was simply not being given to such humanitarian crises and instead is focused only on Ukraine. "So we need to balance. We need to take every life seriously because every life is precious" said the WHO chief. (With inputs from agencies)

'I hope the world comes back to its senses': World treats 'black and white lives' unequally, says WHO chief

After 16 months of fighting, there are finally signs of a thaw in Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict. The govt of Abiy Ahmed Ali has declared a humanitarian truce with TPLF. How did this truce come about? How long will it hold? Palki Sharma decodes.

Gravitas: Ethiopian govt declares humanitarian truce

Ethiopia's government has declared a 'Humanitarian truce' with Tigray rebels amid conflict. Rebels have agreed to 'cessation of hostilities'.

Ethiopia's government declares 'Humanitarian truce' in Tigray with rebels

Tigrayan&nbsp;rebels&nbsp;agreed to a "cessation&nbsp;of&nbsp;hostilities" on Friday, a new turning point in the nearly 17-month war in northern&nbsp;Ethiopia&nbsp;following the government's announcement of an indefinite humanitarian truce a day earlier.

The&nbsp;rebels&nbsp;said in a&nbsp;statement&nbsp;sent to AFP early Friday that they were "committed to implementing a&nbsp;cessation&nbsp;of&nbsp;hostilities&nbsp;effective immediately," and urged Ethiopian authorities to hasten delivery of emergency aid into&nbsp;Tigray, where hundreds of thousands face starvation.

Since war broke out in November 2020, thousands have died, and many more have been forced to flee their homes as the conflict has expanded from&nbsp;Tigray&nbsp;to the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-vows-probe-into-gruesome-video-of-man-on-fire-461681">Ethiopia vows probe into gruesome video of man on fire</a>

On Thursday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government declared a surprise truce, saying it hoped the move would ease humanitarian access to&nbsp;Tigray&nbsp;and "pave the way for the resolution of the conflict" in northern&nbsp;Ethiopia.

It called on the&nbsp;Tigray&nbsp;People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to "desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighbouring regions."

The&nbsp;rebels&nbsp;in turn urged "the Ethiopian authorities to go beyond empty promises and take concrete steps to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access to&nbsp;Tigray."

The conflict erupted when Abiy sent troops into&nbsp;Tigray&nbsp;to topple the TPLF, the region's former ruling party, saying the move came in response to rebel attacks on army camps.&nbsp;

Fighting has dragged on for over a year, triggering a humanitarian crisis, as accounts have emerged of mass rapes and massacres, with both sides accused of human rights violations.

More than 400,000 people have been displaced in&nbsp;Tigray, according to the UN.

The region has also been subject to what the UN says is a de facto blockade.&nbsp;

The United States has accused Abiy's government of preventing aid from reaching those in need, while the authorities in turn have blamed the&nbsp;rebels&nbsp;for the obstruction.

Nearly 40 percent of the people in&nbsp;Tigray, a region of six million people, face "an extreme lack of food", the UN said in January, with fuel shortages forcing aid workers to deliver medicines and other crucial supplies by foot.

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Ceasefire efforts

Western nations have been urging both sides to&nbsp;agree&nbsp;to a ceasefire, with the US, the European Union, the UK and Canada hailing the truce declaration.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States "urges all parties to build on this announcement to advance a negotiated and sustainable ceasefire, including necessary security arrangements."

"The #EU welcomes the declaration of a humanitarian truce by the Gov of #Ethiopia&nbsp;and the&nbsp;statement&nbsp;on&nbsp;cessation&nbsp;of&nbsp;hostilities&nbsp;by the Tigrayan Authorities", the EU delegation to&nbsp;Ethiopia&nbsp;said on Twitter.

Washington angered&nbsp;Ethiopia's government by removing trading privileges for the country over rights concerns during the war, but has stopped short of imposing sanctions in hopes of encouraging a ceasefire.

The new US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, visited&nbsp;Ethiopia&nbsp;this week to meet the African Union's envoy to the region Olusegun Obasanjo, government and UN officials, as well as representatives of humanitarian groups.&nbsp;

Diplomats led by Obasanjo have been trying for months to broker peace talks, with little evident progress so far.

Analysts said the truce was an important step but urged the government to follow up the announcement with action and ease humanitarian access to&nbsp;Tigray, where hundreds of thousands are living in famine-like conditions, according to the UN.

"The unconditional and unrestricted delivery of aid could also help create enough trust to pave the way for ceasefire talks and, eventually, dialogue," said William Davison, the International Crisis Group's senior analyst for&nbsp;Ethiopia.

Aid shortages

More than nine million people need food aid across Afar, Amhara and&nbsp;Tigray, according to the UN's World Food Programme.

But humanitarian organisations have been forced to increasingly curtail activities because of fuel and supply shortages.&nbsp;

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"WFP operations in the&nbsp;Tigray&nbsp;region have ground to a halt, with only emergency fuel stocks and less than one percent of the required food stocks remaining," the agency said this week.&nbsp;

The government previously declared a "unilateral ceasefire" in&nbsp;Tigray&nbsp;in June last year, after the TPLF mounted a shock comeback and retook the region from federal forces before expanding into Amhara and Afar.&nbsp;

But fighting intensified in the second half of 2021, with the&nbsp;rebels&nbsp;at one point claiming to be within 200 kilometres (125 miles) of the capital Addis Ababa, before reaching a stalemate.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Ethiopia's government declares 'Humanitarian truce' in Tigray with rebels

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopias-government-declares-humanitarian-truce-in-tigray-with-rebels-465336/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Tigrayan rebels agreed to a "cessation of hostilities" on Friday, a new turning point in the nearly 17-month war in northern Ethiopia following the government's announcement of an indefinite humanitarian truce a day earlier.

Tigrayan rebels agreed to a "cessation of hostilities" on Friday, a new turning point in the nearly 17-month war in northern Ethiopia following the government's announcement of an indefinite humanitarian truce a day earlier. The rebels said in a statement sent to AFP early Friday that they were "committed to implementing a cessation of hostilities effective immediately," and urged Ethiopian authorities to hasten delivery of emergency aid into Tigray, where hundreds of thousands face starvation. Since war broke out in November 2020, thousands have died, and many more have been forced to flee their homes as the conflict has expanded from Tigray to the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar. Also read | Ethiopia vows probe into gruesome video of man on fire On Thursday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government declared a surprise truce, saying it hoped the move would ease humanitarian access to Tigray and "pave the way for the resolution of the conflict" in northern Ethiopia. It called on the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to "desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in neighbouring regions." The rebels in turn urged "the Ethiopian authorities to go beyond empty promises and take concrete steps to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray." The conflict erupted when Abiy sent troops into Tigray to topple the TPLF, the region's former ruling party, saying the move came in response to rebel attacks on army camps. Fighting has dragged on for over a year, triggering a humanitarian crisis, as accounts have emerged of mass rapes and massacres, with both sides accused of human rights violations. More than 400,000 people have been displaced in Tigray, according to the UN. The region has also been subject to what the UN says is a de facto blockade. The United States has accused Abiy's government of preventing aid from reaching those in need, while the authorities in turn have blamed the rebels for the obstruction. Nearly 40 percent of the people in Tigray, a region of six million people, face "an extreme lack of food", the UN said in January, with fuel shortages forcing aid workers to deliver medicines and other crucial supplies by foot. Also read | Ethiopia turns on the turbines at giant Nile hydropower plant Ceasefire efforts Western nations have been urging both sides to agree to a ceasefire, with the US, the European Union, the UK and Canada hailing the truce declaration. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States "urges all parties to build on this announcement to advance a negotiated and sustainable ceasefire, including necessary security arrangements." "The #EU welcomes the declaration of a humanitarian truce by the Gov of #Ethiopia and the statement on cessation of hostilities by the Tigrayan Authorities", the EU delegation to Ethiopia said on Twitter. Washington angered Ethiopia's government by removing trading privileges for the country over rights concerns during the war, but has stopped short of imposing sanctions in hopes of encouraging a ceasefire. The new US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, visited Ethiopia this week to meet the African Union's envoy to the region Olusegun Obasanjo, government and UN officials, as well as representatives of humanitarian groups. Diplomats led by Obasanjo have been trying for months to broker peace talks, with little evident progress so far. Analysts said the truce was an important step but urged the government to follow up the announcement with action and ease humanitarian access to Tigray, where hundreds of thousands are living in famine-like conditions, according to the UN. "The unconditional and unrestricted delivery of aid could also help create enough trust to pave the way for ceasefire talks and, eventually, dialogue," said William Davison, the International Crisis Group's senior analyst for Ethiopia. Aid shortages More than nine million people need food aid across Afar, Amhara and Tigray, according to the UN's World Food Programme. But humanitarian organisations have been forced to increasingly curtail activities because of fuel and supply shortages. Also read | Ethiopian Airlines to fly 737 MAX with passengers for first time since deadly crash "WFP operations in the Tigray region have ground to a halt, with only emergency fuel stocks and less than one percent of the required food stocks remaining," the agency said this week. The government previously declared a "unilateral ceasefire" in Tigray in June last year, after the TPLF mounted a shock comeback and retook the region from federal forces before expanding into Amhara and Afar. But fighting intensified in the second half of 2021, with the rebels at one point claiming to be within 200 kilometres (125 miles) of the capital Addis Ababa, before reaching a stalemate. Watch | Ethiopia's government declares 'Humanitarian truce' in Tigray with rebels

Tigray rebels agree to 'cessation of hostilities'

Tizita Mulugeta, the Ethiopian ambassador to India talked about the climate crisis that the world is facing. She also weighed in on the role of youth in the current scenario.

WION Climate Summit: Ethiopia's envoy to India talks about youth's role in addressing climate change

Ethiopia&nbsp;on&nbsp;Saturday vowed to investigate and take action against uniformed soldiers and others seen in a&nbsp;gruesome&nbsp;video&nbsp;burning a&nbsp;man&nbsp;alive in the country's northwest.

The widely shared&nbsp;video, which and sparked outrage&nbsp;on&nbsp;social media late Friday, shows an unarmed&nbsp;man&nbsp;being set&nbsp;on&nbsp;fire&nbsp;as a group of people, including some wearing Ethiopian army uniforms, taunt him in Amharic.

Ethiopia's government communications service said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Saturday that the incident appeared to have occurred in the northwestern region of Benishangul Gumuz, which borders Sudan and South Sudan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-turns-on-the-turbines-at-giant-nile-hydropower-plant-454780">Ethiopia turns on the turbines at giant Nile hydropower plant</a>

"The&nbsp;video&nbsp;of the extremely savage act being circulated&nbsp;on&nbsp;social media outlets shows innocents being burned alive," it said in a statement, vowing to "investigate and take legal measures&nbsp;on&nbsp;those...who committed this inhumane, and savage act."

The&nbsp;video&nbsp;could not be independently verified by AFP and it was not immediately clear if the atrocity was connected to the ongoing 16-month war in northern&nbsp;Ethiopia.

The conflict in Africa's second most populous country between government forces and Tigrayan rebels has killed thousands of people, with widespread reports of atrocities including mass killings and sexual violence.

According to the UN, the fighting has also displaced more than two million people, driven hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation and left more than nine million in need of assistance.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-40-of-tigrayans-face-extreme-lack-of-food-world-food-programme-448980">&nbsp;Nearly 40% of Tigrayans face 'extreme lack of food': World Food Programme</a>

At least 750 civilians were killed or executed in the northern regions of Amhara and Afar after they became caught up in the war last year, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said Friday.

The state-affiliated independent rights body also catalogued a litany of abuses, including torture and gang rape and enforced disappearances, saying some may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.&nbsp;

The report said that Tigrayan rebels sexually assaulted girls and elderly women. It also accused federal and local security forces in Amhara and Afar of widespread arbitrary detentions.

Watch |&nbsp;Ethiopia: UN report on horrific accounts of rape and torture in Tigray region

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopia-un-report-on-horrific-accounts-of-rape-and-torture-in-tigray-region-452638/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A joint investigation by the UN and the EHRC published last November detailed a vast array of rights abuses, mostly blamed&nbsp;on&nbsp;Ethiopian forces and Eritrean troops, who provided military support to Addis Ababa.

Last week, the UN Human Rights Council announced that Fatou Bensouda, a former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), would head a UN investigation&nbsp;into&nbsp;a wide range of alleged violations committed by all sides in the war.

Ethiopia on Saturday vowed to investigate and take action against uniformed soldiers and others seen in a gruesome video burning a man alive in the country's northwest.

Ethiopia on Saturday vowed to investigate and take action against uniformed soldiers and others seen in a gruesome video burning a man alive in the country's northwest. The widely shared video, which and sparked outrage on social media late Friday, shows an unarmed man being set on fire as a group of people, including some wearing Ethiopian army uniforms, taunt him in Amharic. Ethiopia's government communications service said on Saturday that the incident appeared to have occurred in the northwestern region of Benishangul Gumuz, which borders Sudan and South Sudan. Also read | Ethiopia turns on the turbines at giant Nile hydropower plant "The video of the extremely savage act being circulated on social media outlets shows innocents being burned alive," it said in a statement, vowing to "investigate and take legal measures on those...who committed this inhumane, and savage act." The video could not be independently verified by AFP and it was not immediately clear if the atrocity was connected to the ongoing 16-month war in northern Ethiopia. The conflict in Africa's second most populous country between government forces and Tigrayan rebels has killed thousands of people, with widespread reports of atrocities including mass killings and sexual violence. According to the UN, the fighting has also displaced more than two million people, driven hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation and left more than nine million in need of assistance. Also read | Nearly 40% of Tigrayans face 'extreme lack of food': World Food Programme At least 750 civilians were killed or executed in the northern regions of Amhara and Afar after they became caught up in the war last year, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said Friday. The state-affiliated independent rights body also catalogued a litany of abuses, including torture and gang rape and enforced disappearances, saying some may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report said that Tigrayan rebels sexually assaulted girls and elderly women. It also accused federal and local security forces in Amhara and Afar of widespread arbitrary detentions. Watch | Ethiopia: UN report on horrific accounts of rape and torture in Tigray region A joint investigation by the UN and the EHRC published last November detailed a vast array of rights abuses, mostly blamed on Ethiopian forces and Eritrean troops, who provided military support to Addis Ababa. Last week, the UN Human Rights Council announced that Fatou Bensouda, a former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), would head a UN investigation into a wide range of alleged violations committed by all sides in the war.

Ethiopia vows probe into gruesome video of man on fire

Ethiopia to start producing electricity from a controversial hydroelectric dam built on Nile river. The project has been under construction for ten years now.

Ethiopia to start producing power from Renaissance dam

Ethiopia&nbsp;began producing electricity on Sunday from its Grand&nbsp;Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a multi-billion-dollar&nbsp;hydropower&nbsp;plant&nbsp;on the River&nbsp;Nile&nbsp;that neighbours Sudan and Egypt have worried will cause water shortages downstream.

After flicking a digital switch to turn on the&nbsp;turbines&nbsp;in the first phase of the project, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sought to assure those nations that his country did not wish to harm their interests.

"Ethiopia's main interest is to bring light to 60% of the population who is suffering in darkness, to save the labour of our mothers who are carrying wood on their backs in order to get energy," Abiy said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-to-fly-737-max-with-passengers-for-first-time-since-deadly-crash-449675">Ethiopian Airlines to fly 737 MAX with passengers for first time since deadly crash</a>

His government says the project is key to its economic development, but Egypt and Sudan depend on the waters of the&nbsp;Nile&nbsp;and have worried it will affect them.

Ethiopia, the second most populous country on the continent, has the second biggest electricity deficit in Africa according to the World Bank, with about two thirds of the population of around 110 million lacking a connection to the grid.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-raps-who-chief-for-supporting-rebellion-tigray-forces-444866">Ethiopia raps WHO chief for ‘supporting’ rebellion Tigray forces</a>

The project will ultimately cost $5 billion when it is completed and become the biggest&nbsp;hydropower&nbsp;plant&nbsp;in Africa by generating 5,150 MW of electricity, some of which will be exported to neighbouring nations, the government says.

The government has so far invested more than 100 billion&nbsp;Ethiopian birr ($1.98 billion) in the project, state-affiliated FANA broadcaster reported. It is located at a place called Guba in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region.

Ethiopia began producing electricity on Sunday from its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a multi-billion-dollar hydropower plant on the River Nile that neighbours Sudan and Egypt have worried will cause water shortages downstream.

Ethiopia began producing electricity on Sunday from its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a multi-billion-dollar hydropower plant on the River Nile that neighbours Sudan and Egypt have worried will cause water shortages downstream. After flicking a digital switch to turn on the turbines in the first phase of the project, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sought to assure those nations that his country did not wish to harm their interests. "Ethiopia's main interest is to bring light to 60% of the population who is suffering in darkness, to save the labour of our mothers who are carrying wood on their backs in order to get energy," Abiy said. Also read | Ethiopian Airlines to fly 737 MAX with passengers for first time since deadly crash His government says the project is key to its economic development, but Egypt and Sudan depend on the waters of the Nile and have worried it will affect them. Ethiopia, the second most populous country on the continent, has the second biggest electricity deficit in Africa according to the World Bank, with about two thirds of the population of around 110 million lacking a connection to the grid. Also read | Ethiopia raps WHO chief for ‘supporting’ rebellion Tigray forces The project will ultimately cost $5 billion when it is completed and become the biggest hydropower plant in Africa by generating 5,150 MW of electricity, some of which will be exported to neighbouring nations, the government says. The government has so far invested more than 100 billion Ethiopian birr ($1.98 billion) in the project, state-affiliated FANA broadcaster reported. It is located at a place called Guba in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region.

Ethiopia turns on the turbines at giant Nile hydropower plant

Ethiopia's parliament has voted for an early end to a six-month state of emergency, which was imposed in last November as Tigray forces fighting the government and their allies advanced towards the capital Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia: Early end to a 6-month state of emergency

A bloody conflict between the government and the rebellious forces in second largest African nation might be easing. Ethiopian parliament is voted for an early end to a six-month state of emergency effective immediately, diplomats who are mediating between the two sides are cautiously optimistic as Ethiopia imposed the state of emergency in November 2021.

Ethiopian parliament lifts state of emergency early

Women living in Ethiopia's conflict torn-Tigray region, it is a state of never-ending nightmare. In the latest, UN deputy secretary has called for justice against the unimaginable horrors that women of the region have to face.

Ethiopia: UN report on horrific accounts of rape and torture in Tigray region

The government of Ethiopia in Afar region is in crisis, it has accused the Tigray forces of killing civilians and looting; aid workers in the region claim that people are fleeing in absolute fear.

Ethiopia: TPLF accused of killing innocent people in Afar

Residents of Lalibela struggle to recover from the horrors of the past. Over 20 Lalibela hotels were looted by the Tigray rebels.

Ethiopia: Remembering the horrors of the past

Ethiopian Airlines was due to resume flying the Boeing 737 MAX plane on Tuesday (February 1), but opinions are divided on the airline's first flight using the model since a crash nearly three years ago forced regulators to ground the fleet globally.

In March 2019, a flight to Nairobi crashed in a field six minutes after take-off from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa killing all 157 passengers and crew. The accident followed another incident five months earlier, when the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people.

The accidents exposed a problem with a system on the plane, and the model was grounded worldwide, costing Boeing some $20 billion and triggering court cases that exposed shortcomings with the certification process.

The airline will fly a demonstration flight around Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, and return to Addis Ababa with journalists, diplomats, and officials onboard, the airline said.

Some relatives of those killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash were angered by the decision to resume flying the 737 MAX.

"I will never fly in a MAX and certainly if I find myself booked into a MAX, I will have to cancel that flight," said Tom Kabau, a Kenyan lawyer who lost his 29-year-old brother George in the crash.

Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement on Jan. 22 that the decision came "after intense recertification" by multiple regulatory bodies.

Ethiopia is among the last countries to return the 737 MAX to service; it is already flying in the United States, Europe, China, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia.

Ethiopian Airlines was due to resume flying the Boeing 737 MAX plane on Tuesday (February 1), but opinions are divided on the airline's first flight using the model since a crash nearly three years ago forced regulators to ground the fleet globally.

Ethiopian Airlines was due to resume flying the Boeing 737 MAX plane on Tuesday (February 1), but opinions are divided on the airline's first flight using the model since a crash nearly three years ago forced regulators to ground the fleet globally. In March 2019, a flight to Nairobi crashed in a field six minutes after take-off from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa killing all 157 passengers and crew. The accident followed another incident five months earlier, when the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people. The accidents exposed a problem with a system on the plane, and the model was grounded worldwide, costing Boeing some $20 billion and triggering court cases that exposed shortcomings with the certification process. The airline will fly a demonstration flight around Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, and return to Addis Ababa with journalists, diplomats, and officials onboard, the airline said. Some relatives of those killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash were angered by the decision to resume flying the 737 MAX. "I will never fly in a MAX and certainly if I find myself booked into a MAX, I will have to cancel that flight," said Tom Kabau, a Kenyan lawyer who lost his 29-year-old brother George in the crash. Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement on Jan. 22 that the decision came "after intense recertification" by multiple regulatory bodies. Ethiopia is among the last countries to return the 737 MAX to service; it is already flying in the United States, Europe, China, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia.

Ethiopian Airlines to fly 737 MAX with passengers for first time since deadly crash

Nearly 40 percent of Tigrayans are facing an ''extreme lack of food'' as per the World Food Programme.

The assessment by the United Nations agency highlighted that no aid convoy has reached Tigray since mid-December last year.

The Ethiopian government said last week that 43 trucks would deliver food and other aid to Tigray, but no trucks have arrived as fighting rages along the border between the Afar and Tigray regions.&nbsp;

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Fresh fighting in northern Ethiopia, which has been gripped by deadly conflict for almost 15 months, is also limiting avenues for getting in aid.&nbsp;

The report comes as humanitarian groups are forced to increasingly curtail activities because of fuel and supply shortages, with aid having to be delivered by foot.

The war broke out in November 2020 and pits the Ethiopian government and its allies against forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the political party that controls Tigray.

The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions across three regions in Ethiopia and into neighbouring Sudan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-lies-ahead-for-ethiopia-as-war-enters-second-year-428831">Also see |&nbsp;What lies ahead for Ethiopia as war enters second year</a>

OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that aid groups operating in Tigray had told the agency that if there is no change in conditions, "they will be unable to provide anything by the end of February".

"Families are exhausting all means to feed themselves, with three quarters of the population using extreme coping strategies to survive," WFP said in a statement.

"Diets are increasingly impoverished as food items become unavailable and families rely almost exclusively on cereals while limiting portion sizes and the number of meals they eat each day to make whatever food is available stretch further," it added.

WFP also sounded the alarm about rising hunger in neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions, which have been hit hard by fighting in recent months.&nbsp;

"WFP is doing all it can to ensure our convoys with food and medicines make it through the frontlines," said WFP's East Africa director, Michael Dunford.&nbsp;

"But if hostilities persist, we need all the parties to the conflict to agree to a humanitarian pause and formally agreed transport corridors, so that supplies can reach the millions besieged by hunger," Dunford said.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Nearly 40 percent of Tigrayans are facing an ''extreme lack of food'' as per the World Food Programme. The assessment by the United Nations agency highlighted that no aid convoy has reached Tigray since mid-December last year.

Nearly 40 percent of Tigrayans are facing an ''extreme lack of food'' as per the World Food Programme. The assessment by the United Nations agency highlighted that no aid convoy has reached Tigray since mid-December last year. The Ethiopian government said last week that 43 trucks would deliver food and other aid to Tigray, but no trucks have arrived as fighting rages along the border between the Afar and Tigray regions. Fresh fighting in northern Ethiopia, which has been gripped by deadly conflict for almost 15 months, is also limiting avenues for getting in aid. The report comes as humanitarian groups are forced to increasingly curtail activities because of fuel and supply shortages, with aid having to be delivered by foot. The war broke out in November 2020 and pits the Ethiopian government and its allies against forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the political party that controls Tigray. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions across three regions in Ethiopia and into neighbouring Sudan. Also see | What lies ahead for Ethiopia as war enters second year OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that aid groups operating in Tigray had told the agency that if there is no change in conditions, "they will be unable to provide anything by the end of February". "Families are exhausting all means to feed themselves, with three quarters of the population using extreme coping strategies to survive," WFP said in a statement. "Diets are increasingly impoverished as food items become unavailable and families rely almost exclusively on cereals while limiting portion sizes and the number of meals they eat each day to make whatever food is available stretch further," it added. WFP also sounded the alarm about rising hunger in neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions, which have been hit hard by fighting in recent months. "WFP is doing all it can to ensure our convoys with food and medicines make it through the frontlines," said WFP's East Africa director, Michael Dunford. "But if hostilities persist, we need all the parties to the conflict to agree to a humanitarian pause and formally agreed transport corridors, so that supplies can reach the millions besieged by hunger," Dunford said. (With inputs from agencies)

Nearly 40% of Tigrayans face 'extreme lack of food': World Food Programme

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is ready for ceasefire negotiations with the rival Tigray rebels. It's the first time that PM Abiy has made such an announcement ever since the crisis began.

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed ready for talks with TPLF

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