#Ethiopia: ‘Top 150’ militia members graduate after training in South Wollo, Amhara region
Addis Abeba – In an initiative echoing similar security structure in #Oromia region, authorities in South Wollo Zone of the Amhara region have announced the graduation of a group of “Top 150” militia members following several days of what officials described as “military and political training” in Legambo Woreda.
The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, 23 April, in Jingo Kebele 07, was attended by local government officials and military officers. Speaking at the event, Ahmed Abebaw, head of the zonal Mining Department, said the training would build capacity to “maintain local peace and protect the public from looters.”
The initiative echoes similar militia-style structures introduced elsewhere in the country. In Oromia region, a program known as “Gachana Sirna” (Guardians of the Shield), launched in March 2022, aims to mobilize...
Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2047618704037298431?s=20
Addis Abeba – In an initiative echoing similar security structure in #Oromia region, authorities in South Wollo Zone of the Amhara region have announced the graduation of a group of “Top 150” militia members following several days of what officials described as “military and political training” in Legambo Woreda.
The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, 23 April, in Jingo Kebele 07, was attended by local government officials and military officers. Speaking at the event, Ahmed Abebaw, head of the zonal Mining Department, said the training would build capacity to “maintain local peace and protect the public from looters.”
The initiative echoes similar militia-style structures introduced elsewhere in the country. In Oromia region, a program known as “Gachana Sirna” (Guardians of the Shield), launched in March 2022, aims to mobilize...
Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2047618704037298431?s=20
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#China says #Iranian ship intercepted by #US was not a ‘gift’
China’s foreign ministry has rejected the claim by Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by US forces was a “gift from China”, adding that the accusation was not based on facts, according to Al Jazeera.
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also told reporters that trade between countries should continue as normal.
The US has enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports and controlled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for more than a week. In response, Iran has effectively shut the strait, captured commercial vessels and threatened to halt all regional Gulf trade.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has intercepted and redirected three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in waters near India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Reuters reported citing shipping sources, potentially heating up the conflict after Iran reportedly seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Wednesday despite an extended ceasefire.
China’s foreign ministry has rejected the claim by Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by US forces was a “gift from China”, adding that the accusation was not based on facts, according to Al Jazeera.
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also told reporters that trade between countries should continue as normal.
The US has enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports and controlled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for more than a week. In response, Iran has effectively shut the strait, captured commercial vessels and threatened to halt all regional Gulf trade.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has intercepted and redirected three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in waters near India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Reuters reported citing shipping sources, potentially heating up the conflict after Iran reportedly seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Wednesday despite an extended ceasefire.
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News: #Tigray Interim Admin says 8.5 billion birr budget shortfall has triggered severe financial crisis
The Tigray Finance and Resource Cooperation Bureau has warned that an 8.5 billion birr budget shortfall has plunged the region into a severe financial crisis, disrupting salary payments for civil servants and halting development projects, according to a formal letter sent to #Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance.
In the letter, the bureau said funds expected to be disbursed between October and March have not been released, creating “an acute fiscal pressure that is affecting core government functions” across the region.
#Mihret_Beyene, head of the bureau, confirmed the letter to Addis Standard and said it followed several earlier appeals by the interim administration seeking release of the withheld funds.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56619
The Tigray Finance and Resource Cooperation Bureau has warned that an 8.5 billion birr budget shortfall has plunged the region into a severe financial crisis, disrupting salary payments for civil servants and halting development projects, according to a formal letter sent to #Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance.
In the letter, the bureau said funds expected to be disbursed between October and March have not been released, creating “an acute fiscal pressure that is affecting core government functions” across the region.
#Mihret_Beyene, head of the bureau, confirmed the letter to Addis Standard and said it followed several earlier appeals by the interim administration seeking release of the withheld funds.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56619
#Op_ed: #Ethiopia’s electoral crossroads, quest for legitimate democracy
Ethiopia nears elections while facing a “humanitarian challenges unfolding in #Amhara, #Tigray, and #Oromia,” writes Abel Tewodros. He emphasizes that “understanding the interconnection between ongoing violence, civilian suffering, and political constraints is essential” to evaluating the vote’s legitimacy.
The author notes that in Tigray, a lack of accountability “reinforces perceptions… that the electoral process will not address their grievances.” Meanwhile, Amhara’s displacement crisis makes elections seem like a “distant abstraction,” and Oromia’s climate of fear “directly undermines the preconditions for free and fair elections.”
Abel cautions that without security and inclusion, “elections risk becoming merely a procedural exercise rather than a transformative democratic moment.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56628
Ethiopia nears elections while facing a “humanitarian challenges unfolding in #Amhara, #Tigray, and #Oromia,” writes Abel Tewodros. He emphasizes that “understanding the interconnection between ongoing violence, civilian suffering, and political constraints is essential” to evaluating the vote’s legitimacy.
The author notes that in Tigray, a lack of accountability “reinforces perceptions… that the electoral process will not address their grievances.” Meanwhile, Amhara’s displacement crisis makes elections seem like a “distant abstraction,” and Oromia’s climate of fear “directly undermines the preconditions for free and fair elections.”
Abel cautions that without security and inclusion, “elections risk becoming merely a procedural exercise rather than a transformative democratic moment.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56628
News: #HRW urges stronger #EU action on Ethiopia, warns against “premature normalization” amid ongoing abuses
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has renewed its call for the #European_Union to adopt clearer and enforceable human rights benchmarks in its engagement with #Ethiopia, warning that recent diplomatic and financial normalization risks undermining accountability efforts in the country.
The warning comes amid continuing concerns over violations linked to past and ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia, including in Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara regions, as well as growing political tensions ahead of the country’s scheduled elections in June.
In an interview with Addis Standard, Laetitia Bader, Deputy Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, said the EU’s decision to resume budget support to Ethiopia despite unresolved accountability concerns raises “serious questions” about its commitment to previously stated conditions tied to the 2022 #Pretoria peace agreement.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56623
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has renewed its call for the #European_Union to adopt clearer and enforceable human rights benchmarks in its engagement with #Ethiopia, warning that recent diplomatic and financial normalization risks undermining accountability efforts in the country.
The warning comes amid continuing concerns over violations linked to past and ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia, including in Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara regions, as well as growing political tensions ahead of the country’s scheduled elections in June.
In an interview with Addis Standard, Laetitia Bader, Deputy Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, said the EU’s decision to resume budget support to Ethiopia despite unresolved accountability concerns raises “serious questions” about its commitment to previously stated conditions tied to the 2022 #Pretoria peace agreement.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56623
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News: #NRC warns global aid under strain as war on Iran drives costs up; alarm a caution for #Ethiopia’s humanitarian needs
The warning carries particular urgency for Ethiopia, where humanitarian needs remain among the highest globally.
Between 15.0 and 15.9 million people, around 10 to 15 percent of the population, are expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity by mid-2026. Ethiopia is also projected to account for more than 10 percent of global food assistance needs among monitored countries.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56627
The warning carries particular urgency for Ethiopia, where humanitarian needs remain among the highest globally.
Between 15.0 and 15.9 million people, around 10 to 15 percent of the population, are expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity by mid-2026. Ethiopia is also projected to account for more than 10 percent of global food assistance needs among monitored countries.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56627
𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝
RSF Death Sentence | Ethiopia Press Freedom Concerns | Tigray Financial Crisis Deepens
Click here to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxF5LRSrjOc
RSF Death Sentence | Ethiopia Press Freedom Concerns | Tigray Financial Crisis Deepens
Click here to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxF5LRSrjOc
YouTube
RSF Death Sentence | Ethiopia Press Freedom Concerns | Tigray Financial Crisis Deepens
Top stories from Addis Standard:
Sudan’s RSF sentences defecting commander Al-Qubba to death in absentia, strips military rank
Press freedom concerns in Ethiopia highlighted in new report by The Economist
“Top 150” militia members graduate after training…
Sudan’s RSF sentences defecting commander Al-Qubba to death in absentia, strips military rank
Press freedom concerns in Ethiopia highlighted in new report by The Economist
“Top 150” militia members graduate after training…
“They are ready to defend it by any means”: Lavrov says #US interventions in #Iran, #Venezuela driven by oil
Addis Abeba - Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States of pursuing military interventions in resource-rich countries such as Iran and Venezuela to secure control over oil, warning that such actions are eroding international law.
In an interview with Russian state television, which was also published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website on Friday, Lavrov said Washington prioritizes its own interests above all else.
“The United States has officially declared that no one can dictate to it. It cares only about its own well-being and is ready to defend that well-being by any means - coups, kidnappings or assassinations of leaders of countries that possess natural resources the Americans need,” he said.
Lavrov added that US actions in countries such as Iran and Venezuela are openly tied to energy interests.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DLVukF9AD/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Addis Abeba - Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States of pursuing military interventions in resource-rich countries such as Iran and Venezuela to secure control over oil, warning that such actions are eroding international law.
In an interview with Russian state television, which was also published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website on Friday, Lavrov said Washington prioritizes its own interests above all else.
“The United States has officially declared that no one can dictate to it. It cares only about its own well-being and is ready to defend that well-being by any means - coups, kidnappings or assassinations of leaders of countries that possess natural resources the Americans need,” he said.
Lavrov added that US actions in countries such as Iran and Venezuela are openly tied to energy interests.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DLVukF9AD/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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Pirates hijack oil tanker off the coast of #Somalia
Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with 17 crew that was sailing near the Somali coast, according to multiple security officials who spoke to the BBC.
The ship, Honor 25, was overrun late on Wednesday by six gunmen, when it was approximately 30 nautical miles (55 kms) offshore, the officials said.
Until three years ago piracy had almost disappeared in this stretch of the Indian Ocean once notorious for hijackings, but it has since made a comeback with fishing trawlers or container ships targeted.
The seizure of a tanker headed for the Somali capital, Mogadishu, is likely to increase anxiety in the city where petrol prices have already tripled since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.
It was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, security officials from Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region told the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78l26yn981o
Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with 17 crew that was sailing near the Somali coast, according to multiple security officials who spoke to the BBC.
The ship, Honor 25, was overrun late on Wednesday by six gunmen, when it was approximately 30 nautical miles (55 kms) offshore, the officials said.
Until three years ago piracy had almost disappeared in this stretch of the Indian Ocean once notorious for hijackings, but it has since made a comeback with fishing trawlers or container ships targeted.
The seizure of a tanker headed for the Somali capital, Mogadishu, is likely to increase anxiety in the city where petrol prices have already tripled since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.
It was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, security officials from Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region told the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78l26yn981o
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Regional coalition in #Khartoum calls for peace, dialogue across #Sudan, #Eritrea, #Ethiopia
Addis Abeba - A regional coalition bringing together representatives from Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia has called for “peace, coexistence, and an end to ongoing conflicts”, during a public gathering held in Khartoum on 23 April, according to Sudan News Agency.
The alliance, identified as the Coalition of the Peoples of Eritrea, Sudan, and Ethiopia, said the meeting reflected “the aspirations of the region’s peoples to live in peace and stability,” while promoting “the values of coexistence” and rejecting “hatred and conflict,” the outlet reported.
Speakers and representatives drawn from various communities, including #Tigray, #Amhara, #Oromo, and #Somali constituencies, alongside delegates from Sudan and Eritrea, expressed a “unified stance against continued violence”.
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02sbMgZToVXPCPWfPjK8AQZCYEPVV7SZnsgP8oymTw5Hoajfw75J6qukUrXuV3oLShl
Addis Abeba - A regional coalition bringing together representatives from Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia has called for “peace, coexistence, and an end to ongoing conflicts”, during a public gathering held in Khartoum on 23 April, according to Sudan News Agency.
The alliance, identified as the Coalition of the Peoples of Eritrea, Sudan, and Ethiopia, said the meeting reflected “the aspirations of the region’s peoples to live in peace and stability,” while promoting “the values of coexistence” and rejecting “hatred and conflict,” the outlet reported.
Speakers and representatives drawn from various communities, including #Tigray, #Amhara, #Oromo, and #Somali constituencies, alongside delegates from Sudan and Eritrea, expressed a “unified stance against continued violence”.
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02sbMgZToVXPCPWfPjK8AQZCYEPVV7SZnsgP8oymTw5Hoajfw75J6qukUrXuV3oLShl
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News: #Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau urges urgent action as over 200 #Ethiopian youths reportedly face execution in #Saudi_Arabia
The Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau has called for urgent diplomatic intervention after reporting that more than 200 Ethiopian youths detained in Saudi Arabia are facing execution following what it described as a mass death sentence handed down without legal representation.
In a letter addressed to #Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau urged immediate engagement with Saudi authorities and international human rights actors to halt the reported executions and secure protection for the detainees.
Speaking to Addis Standard, #Haish_Subagadis, head of the Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau, said the youths are being held at Khamis Mushait prison in the Abha area of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region after being accused of narcotics-related offenses.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56634
The Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau has called for urgent diplomatic intervention after reporting that more than 200 Ethiopian youths detained in Saudi Arabia are facing execution following what it described as a mass death sentence handed down without legal representation.
In a letter addressed to #Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau urged immediate engagement with Saudi authorities and international human rights actors to halt the reported executions and secure protection for the detainees.
Speaking to Addis Standard, #Haish_Subagadis, head of the Tigray Youth Affairs Bureau, said the youths are being held at Khamis Mushait prison in the Abha area of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region after being accused of narcotics-related offenses.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56634
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Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
This is a haunting question that cuts to the heart of Ethiopia’s ongoing cycle of political violence.
“What are we giving birth to through all this killing?”
In this powerful reflection from The Standard Signal EP.16, the conversation confronts the brutal reality of unresolved killings, missing justice, and the human cost of political conflict—from Negele Borena to Harar to Ambo.
Two years after the assassination of Bate Urgessa, the questions of accountability and justice remain painfully unanswered.
🎥 Watch the full episode of The Standard Signal on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXvr9JN3Y8
#BateUrgessa #Ethiopia #JusticeDelayed #HumanRights #PoliticalViolence #TheStandardSignal #NeverForget
“What are we giving birth to through all this killing?”
In this powerful reflection from The Standard Signal EP.16, the conversation confronts the brutal reality of unresolved killings, missing justice, and the human cost of political conflict—from Negele Borena to Harar to Ambo.
Two years after the assassination of Bate Urgessa, the questions of accountability and justice remain painfully unanswered.
🎥 Watch the full episode of The Standard Signal on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXvr9JN3Y8
#BateUrgessa #Ethiopia #JusticeDelayed #HumanRights #PoliticalViolence #TheStandardSignal #NeverForget
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Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
“Politics took journalism away from me.”
A powerful reflection on media freedom and political pressure.
Watch the full episode of The Standard Signal on YouTube
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCF8w7rEYhQ&t=1430s
#TheStandardSignal #EthiopiaPolitics #Misteresillasie #ElectionDebate #PoliticalVoices #WomenInPolitics
A powerful reflection on media freedom and political pressure.
Watch the full episode of The Standard Signal on YouTube
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCF8w7rEYhQ&t=1430s
#TheStandardSignal #EthiopiaPolitics #Misteresillasie #ElectionDebate #PoliticalVoices #WomenInPolitics
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This week on Addis Standard Weekly Recap:
From Ethiopia’s shifting political landscape to major global developments, here’s what you need to know.
🎥 Watch now on YouTube
https://youtu.be/iugmn6e_77s?si=qJ3dtxV7HC232XsN
From Ethiopia’s shifting political landscape to major global developments, here’s what you need to know.
🎥 Watch now on YouTube
https://youtu.be/iugmn6e_77s?si=qJ3dtxV7HC232XsN
YouTube
200 Youths Face Execution | TPLF Demands Tigray Council | Reinstatement RSF Sentences Defector
Top stories from Addis Standard:
EU resumes over €140 million budget support to Ethiopia, signaling renewed economic partnership
Ethiopia launches electric heavy-duty truck imports to modernize transport and reduce fuel reliance
Ethiopian Airlines orders…
EU resumes over €140 million budget support to Ethiopia, signaling renewed economic partnership
Ethiopia launches electric heavy-duty truck imports to modernize transport and reduce fuel reliance
Ethiopian Airlines orders…
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#Iran proposes plan to end war with “red lines” on nuclear issues, Hormuz; FM Araghchi arrives in #Russia talks with President Putin
Addis Abeba — Iran has offered a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war through Pakistani mediation, outlining key “red lines” on nuclear issues and maritime access.
Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that Tehran sent “written messages” to Washington via Pakistan detailing “red lines… including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, traveled from Islamabad to Russia, arriving early today.
His weekend itinerary included back-to-back visits to Islamabad and Muscat, Oman, before returning to Islamabad. In Pakistan, he met Army Chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar before continuing his trip.
Araghchi is now expected to meet President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1cemx9bQDd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Addis Abeba — Iran has offered a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war through Pakistani mediation, outlining key “red lines” on nuclear issues and maritime access.
Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that Tehran sent “written messages” to Washington via Pakistan detailing “red lines… including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, traveled from Islamabad to Russia, arriving early today.
His weekend itinerary included back-to-back visits to Islamabad and Muscat, Oman, before returning to Islamabad. In Pakistan, he met Army Chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar before continuing his trip.
Araghchi is now expected to meet President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1cemx9bQDd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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#Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa sets women-only world record as Yomif Kejelcha posts historic sub-2 marathon debut in #London
Addis Abeba - Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa delivered a record-breaking performance at the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday, setting a new women-only world record of 2:15:41 and defending her title in a fiercely contested race.
The Olympic silver medalist outpaced Kenyan rivals Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in a tactical showdown that also saw, for the first time in history, three women finish under 2:16 in the same race. Tigist shaved nine seconds off her previous women-only world record, underlining her dominance in elite marathon running.
The landmark event also witnessed a historic breakthrough in the men’s race, where Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha clocked 1:59:41 to finish second, marking the second-fastest marathon time ever recorded and the fastest debut in history.
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid021Sz3PvNhdhApSPk1rxF8cbXMSNLEowxG9owGaVrcocHenKXGfDTThvZyjBQiJwuHl
Addis Abeba - Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa delivered a record-breaking performance at the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday, setting a new women-only world record of 2:15:41 and defending her title in a fiercely contested race.
The Olympic silver medalist outpaced Kenyan rivals Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in a tactical showdown that also saw, for the first time in history, three women finish under 2:16 in the same race. Tigist shaved nine seconds off her previous women-only world record, underlining her dominance in elite marathon running.
The landmark event also witnessed a historic breakthrough in the men’s race, where Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha clocked 1:59:41 to finish second, marking the second-fastest marathon time ever recorded and the fastest debut in history.
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid021Sz3PvNhdhApSPk1rxF8cbXMSNLEowxG9owGaVrcocHenKXGfDTThvZyjBQiJwuHl
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News: Outreach vaccination, screening campaign reaches conflict-hit, remote communities in #Ethiopia
Health teams deployed under the SLL program have identified and vaccinated more than 3,000 zero-dose children in remote areas, with recent campaigns reaching over 40,000 children across #Afar, #Amhara, #Oromia, and #Tigray regions.
The intervention is also addressing Ethiopia’s large population of “zero-dose” children, estimated at 3.9 million, who have not received routine vaccinations due to conflict, geographic isolation, and limited healthcare access.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56643
Health teams deployed under the SLL program have identified and vaccinated more than 3,000 zero-dose children in remote areas, with recent campaigns reaching over 40,000 children across #Afar, #Amhara, #Oromia, and #Tigray regions.
The intervention is also addressing Ethiopia’s large population of “zero-dose” children, estimated at 3.9 million, who have not received routine vaccinations due to conflict, geographic isolation, and limited healthcare access.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56643