World

The first international aid convoy in three months is on its way to Ethiopia’s war-stricken Tigray region, the UN said on Friday, one week after the government and Tigrayan rebels agreed to a conditional truce.

The arrival of aid in Tigray, where hundreds of thousands of people face starvation, could help shore up the shaky ceasefire between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Abiy’s government last week declared an indefinite humanitarian truce in the 17-month conflict, with the TPLF agreeing to a “cessation of hostilities” if aid arrives in Tigray.

“WFP-led convoys to Tigray are back on the road & making steady progress!” the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said on Twitter.

“Just arrived in Erepti (in the neighbouring Afar region) & will soon cross into Tigray, bringing in over 500 mt (tonnes) of urgently needed WFP/partner food & nutrition supplies for communities on edge of starvation.”

The TPLF said the 20 aid trucks were now in territory under its control in Afar and on their way to Tigray’s capital Mekele.

“This is one good step in the right direction; the bottom line, though, isn’t about how many trucks are allowed but whether there is a system in place to ensure unfettered humanitarian access for the needy!” TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter.

He told AFP in Nairobi that it was likely that the aid convoy would take “a few hours” to reach Mekele as the trucks may have to refuel.

– ‘Extreme lack of food’ –

The development comes just days after both sides accused each other of blocking an aid convoy headed for Tigray, which has not seen any humanitarian supplies arrive by road since December 15.

The government had announced on Thursday that 21 vehicles carrying relief supplies had started moving through Afar towards Tigray.

“The government of Ethiopia reaffirms its commitment to work closely with stakeholders to ensure the full delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need,” it said.   

A humanitarian source said the convoy had been blocked on Thursday evening by regional forces in Afar but was able to resume its journey on Friday. 

Nearly 40 percent of Tigray’s six million inhabitants face “an extreme lack of food”, the UN said in January, with fuel shortages forcing aid workers to deliver medicines and other crucial supplies sometimes by foot.

Since mid-February, humanitarian operations in the northern region have been virtually halted due to local shortages of fuel, food and cash, according to the UN.

Tigray 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.

Both sides have issued demands in connection with the truce.

The government has called on the rebels to “desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in” the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.

The rebels have in turn urged the Ethiopian authorities “to go beyond empty promises and take concrete steps to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access” to Tigray.

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. 

The fighting intensified in the second half of 2021 before reaching a stalemate. The rebels at one point claimed to be within 200 kilometres (125 miles) of the capital Addis Ababa. 

According to the UN, the war has displaced more than two million people, driven hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine and left more than nine million in need of food aid.

The conflict erupted in November 2020 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. 

Thousands of people have died as fighting has dragged on, while accounts have emerged of massacres and mass rapes, with both sides accused of human rights violations.

Top EU officials warned China’s leader Xi Jinping at a virtual summit Friday that any attempt to aid Russia’s war in Ukraine could hurt business ties between the two economic superpowers. 

The EU and US worry that Beijing’s failure to condemn the invasion means it could be willing to help the Kremlin sidestep the impact of sanctions or even supply hardware to aid the war effort.

“No European citizen would understand any support to Russia’s ability to wage war. Moreover, it would lead to a major reputational damage for China here in Europe,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. 

“The business sector is watching very closely the events and evaluating how countries are positioning themselves. This is a question of trust, of reliability and of course of decisions on long-term investments.”

Von der Leyen insisted that “China has an influence on Russia and therefore we expect China to take its responsibility to end this war and that Russia comes back to a peaceful negotiations solution”.

The talks with President Xi — initially intended to focus on issues like trade and climate change — were overshadowed by Western fears of Chinese support for Moscow in its attack on Ukraine.

Chinese state media reported that Xi told the EU the two sides should “play a constructive role on China-EU relations and major issues concerning global peace and development, as well as provide some stabilising factors to a turbulent world”.

“We hope that the EU can form its own perception of China, pursue its own independent policy towards China,” Xi was reported to have said. 

A Chinese foreign ministry official said after a first round of talks involving premier Li Keqiang that the two sides “agreed to work together to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the world”.

– Frozen trade pact –

The EU’s relations with its largest trading partner had already been battered by tensions ahead of Moscow’s assault on Ukraine and the annual summit was skipped last year as ties frayed.

The exchange of tit-for-tat sanctions over the plight of China’s Uyghur minority, followed by Beijing’s trade coercion of EU-member Lithuania over Taiwan, soured the mood.

The downgrade in relations came surprisingly quickly after the EU and China secured the investment deal in late 2020 long sought by Germany.

Human rights concerns, and US pressure on the EU, sapped momentum, sowing distrust and sinking diplomatic ties.

– ‘No limits’ –

The tensions over Russia’s war on Ukraine now threaten to hit relations harder — even if the EU for now is shying off threatening sanctions on Beijing if its helps the Kremlin.

In a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said that “China-Russia cooperation has no limits”, repeating a line used by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi.

European Council boss Charles Michel, who was also on the virtual summit, warned that the talks were not “business as usual”.

“Any attempts to circumvent sanctions or provide aid to Russia would prolong the war. This would lead to more loss of life and greater economic impact,” he said.

“This is not in anyone’s long-term interest. We will also remain vigilant on any attempts to aid Russia financially or militarily.”

But experts say the EU remains reluctant to go too far in pressuring Beijing as it fears hitting its mammoth trade ties at a time when soaring energy prices and inflation are already causing major economic pain.

“The idea of detaching China from Russia is a pipe dream,” said Sylvie Bermann, a former French ambassador to both Moscow and Beijing.

Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

– Russian fuel depot attacked –

Ukrainian helicopters have carried out a strike on a fuel storage facility in Russia’s western town of Belgorod, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border, according to the local governor. 

“There was a fire at the petrol depot because of an air strike carried out by two Ukrainian army helicopters, which entered Russian territory at a low altitude,” Vyacheslav Gladkov says on Telegram.

– Mariupol evacuation doubts –

The Red Cross says it is “not yet clear” that the evacuation of civilians from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol will go ahead as planned.

“We remain hopeful, we are in action moving towards Mariupol… but it’s not yet clear that this will happen today,” spokesman Ewan Watson says as an ICRC team of three cars and nine staff heads towards the city.

– China warned –

The EU’s top officials have warned China’s leaders at a summit not to help Russia wage war on Ukraine or sidestep Western sanctions, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen says. 

“It would lead to a major reputational damage for China here in Europe,” Von der Leyen said after video talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

– Depardieu offered explanation –

The Kremlin is offering to “explain” Moscow’s actions in Ukraine to French actor Gerard Depardieu after he denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “crazy, unacceptable excesses” and slammed the war.

Depardieu, a friend of Putin, took Russian nationality in 2013 to protest against a proposed tax hike on the rich in his homeland.

– ‘Russia preparing powerful strikes’ –

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is preparing “powerful strikes” in the country’s east and south, including the besieged city of Mariupol.

NATO also says it is not seeing a pull-back of Russian forces in Ukraine and expects “additional offensive actions”.

– EU official visiting Kyiv –

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola says she is on her way to Ukraine, making her the first EU leader to visit the war-torn country.

The Maltese MEP, who was elected in January, tweets “On my way to Kyiv” alongside a Ukrainian flag, but gives no further details.

– Lavrov lauds India –

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov praises India’s refusal to condemn the Ukraine invasion, stressing their “friendship” and saying Moscow and New Delhi will find ways to circumvent “illegal” Western sanctions and continue to trade.

– Russia leaving Chernobyl –

Russian forces have begun to pull out of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power site and move towards Belarus, but took an unspecified number of captive Ukrainian servicemen with them, officials in Kyiv say.  

– Putin may be ‘isolated’-

US President Joe Biden says Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin may be “isolated” and could have placed some of his advisors under “house arrest”.

– New gas war front –

Putin says “unfriendly” countries, including all EU members, must set up ruble accounts to pay for gas deliveries from April, or “existing contracts would be stopped”. 

– Football fundraisers –

Ukraine football champions Dynamo Kyiv say they are planning a series of friendlies, including against PSG and Barcelona, to raise money for their war-scarred nation.

Ukraine’s championship has not been resumed after the winter break due to the Russian invasion of the country which began on February 24.

Pope Francis apologised Friday to Indigenous people for abuse committed at church-run residential schools in Canada, and said he hoped to visit the country in July.

“I ask for God’s forgiveness for the deplorable conduct of these members of the Catholic Church,” he said, telling Indigenous delegations at the Vatican it caused him “pain and shame”.

Numerous investigations into the former residential schools are underway across Canada after the discovery of mass unmarked graves, with more than 4,000 children believed to be missing, according to authorities.

Francis said he heard “stories of suffering, deprivation, discriminatory treatment and various forms of abuse” during meetings this week with survivors from the First Nations, Metis and Inuit groups.

“I join the Canadian bishops in asking you for forgiveness,” he said.

The 85-year old said “I hope” to travel to Canada for the country’s St Anne’s Feast Day on July 26.

– ‘Words necessary’ –

“The pope’s words were necessary and I deeply appreciate them,” Cassidy Caron, president of the Metis National Council, told journalists after the meeting.

“I now look forward to his coming to Canada where he can deliver this heartfelt apology directly to our survivors and their families,” she said.

Francis heard first-hand this week of centuries of abuse committed at the schools, and the delegations had pressed him for an apology for a scandal that rocked the Catholic Church.

Some 150,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 residential schools across Canada, as part of a government policy of forced assimilation.

They spent months or years isolated from their families, language and culture, and many were physically and sexually abused by headmasters and teachers.

Francis slammed Friday the “ideological colonisation” of which “so many children have been victims”.

“Your identity and culture have been wounded, many families have been separated,” he said.

He described as “chilling” the “unresolved traumas that have become intergenerational traumas”.

Thousands are believed to have died of disease, malnutrition or neglect. More than 1,300 unmarked graves have been discovered since May 2021 at the schools.

A truth and reconciliation commission concluded in 2015 the failed government policy amounted to “cultural genocide.”

In January, Canada announced a $31.5 billion agreement to reform its discriminatory child welfare system and compensate Indigenous families who suffered because of it.

The first international aid convoy in three months will soon enter Ethiopia’s war-stricken Tigray region, the UN said on Friday, one week after the government and Tigrayan rebels agreed to a conditional truce.

The arrival of aid in Tigray, where hundreds of thousands of people face starvation, could help shore up the shaky ceasefire between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Abiy’s government last week declared an indefinite humanitarian truce in the 17-month conflict, with the TPLF agreeing to a “cessation of hostilities” if aid arrives in Tigray.

“WFP-led convoys to Tigray are back on the road & making steady progress!” the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said on Twitter.

“Just arrived in Erepti (in the neighbouring Afar region) & will soon cross into Tigray, bringing in over 500 mt (tonnes) of urgently needed WFP/partner food & nutrition supplies for communities on edge of starvation.”

The TPLF said the 20 aid trucks were now in territory under its control in Afar and on their way to Tigray’s capital, Mekele.

“This is one good step in the right direction; the bottom line, though, isn’t about how many trucks are allowed but whether there is a system in place to ensure unfettered humanitarian access for the needy!” TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter.

He told AFP in Nairobi that it was likely that the aid convoy would take “a few hours” to reach Mekele as the trucks may have to refuel.

– ‘Extreme lack of food’ –

The development comes just days after both sides accused each other of blocking an aid convoy headed for Tigray, which has not seen any humanitarian supplies arrive by road since December 15.

Nearly 40 percent of Tigray’s population face “an extreme lack of food,” the UN said in January, with fuel shortages forcing aid workers to deliver medicines and other crucial supplies sometimes by foot.

Since mid-February, humanitarian operations in Tigray, where more than 400,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, have been virtually halted due to local shortages of fuel, food and cash, according to the United Nations. 

Tigray 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.

Both sides have issued demands in connection with the truce.

The government has called on the rebels to “desist from all acts of further aggression and withdraw from areas they have occupied in” Afar and Amhara regions.

The rebels have 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 in November 2020 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. 

Thousands of people have died as fighting has dragged on, while accounts have emerged of massacres and mass rapes, with both sides accused of human rights violations.

A Russian governor on Friday accused Ukrainian helicopters of bombing a fuel storage depot in western Russia, sparking a huge fire, in Kyiv’s first reported air strike on Russian soil.

The Kremlin said the reported Ukrainian air strike on Belgorod, a town around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Russia’s border with Ukraine, would hinder future peace talks.

“Of course, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Also on Friday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators resumed peace talks via video conference, following face-to-face talks in Istanbul earlier this week. 

Both Ukraine’s foreign and defence ministries said they could neither confirm nor deny that Kyiv was behind the attack.

“I am a civilian,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters in Warsaw.

Defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said Ukraine should not “take responsibility for all miscalculations, all disasters and all events taking place on Russian soil”. 

The incident marked the first time Russia has reported a Ukrainian air strike on its territory since the conflict began.

Russia’s announcement came on the 37th day of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, with thousands killed and more than 10 million displaced in the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

– Petrol panic buying –

Moscow has repeatedly said it has destroyed Ukraine’s airforce.

“There was a fire at the petrol depot because of an air strike carried out by two Ukrainian army helicopters, which entered Russian territory at a low altitude,” Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on messaging app Telegram.

Two employees at the storage facility were injured in the fire, he said.

Some 170 firefighters battled to put out the enormous blaze, which started around 6:00 am (0300 GMT), the emergencies ministry said.

A massive fire was raging, with black and white smoke billowing overhead, a video released by the ministry showed.

Russian energy giant Rosneft, which owns the facility, said it had evacuated staff.

Long lines of cars formed at filling stations, but the governor urged residents to refrain from panic buying, saying there was enough petrol.

“There aren’t any problems with fuel in the region and there won’t be any,” Gladkov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been notified of the strike, Peskov told reporters.

He insisted that it was “an absolute fact” that Russia had air supremacy in the conflict.

Earlier this week, explosions could be heard from an arms depot in Belgorod, but the authorities did not provide any clear explanation for the blasts.

Belgorod lies around 80 kilometres from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has been pummelled by Russian forces since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.

Separately, the Russian defence ministry said that Moscow had destroyed six military facilities in Ukraine, including five depots containing ammunition, rockets and artillery weapons.