๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐, ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ
OLF Press Release
OLF had long warned and called upon all responsible UN organs and stakeholders before the calamities mounted to the current disastrous scale. In October 2021, we stressed that the drought in southern Oromiya would be one of the ugliest human catastrophes.
Indeed, the current human suffering in this zone and neighbouring Gujii zone is incalculable. Watching suffering mothers, the elderly, the children and all types of domestic and wild life is heartbreaking. Dead bodies of animals that are the sources of human life in the region are scattered everywhere. No water, no pasture.
Even if drought is part of the environmental and climate change hazards, it is exacerbated by the war, socio-political and economic conditions. Primarily, it is a strong indicator of government failures. A stable and responsible government can surely minimize the impacts. Appropriate early warning systems and efficient disaster management mechanisms could have alleviated human suffering and the economic and social fallouts. The governmentโs sole preoccupation has been on the wars it created in Tigray and Oromiya, such that other social and economic concerns have been irresponsibly left aside. Besides, denying and shying away from the real danger of drought and famine are the defining characteristics of successive Ethiopian governments.
The humanitarian response by all responsible has been so slow, inefficient, too late and too small. Coordination failures are at the heart of the challenge.
Yet, the current popular responses from our Oromo communities in the countryside and worldwide are immensely elevating, hopeful, and encouraging. Our peopleโs unity and compassion give great hope to those suffering in disaster scenes. We thank all for the efforts so far. We also encourage various nongovernmental organizations, community leaders, and activists to scale up their responses proportionate to the level of the disaster.
Last but not least, we strongly call on the international communities to lend a hand, as they have been doing so far. The scale of the disaster is so severe to be averted by individual and compassionate community responses only. More coordination, additional resources, and timely actions could only save lives.
We want to strongly remind that sustainable solution to these regions and all other affected areas in East Africa is imperative and all concerned and responsible bodies has the duty to fulfill not to avoid further catastrophe.
Victory for the Masses!
Oromo Liberation Front
February 27, 2023
Finfinnee
