Hanoi (VNA) – Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representativeof Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has stated that responding to humanitarianneeds in Ethiopia is currently the most urgent task, requiring support of theinternational community.

Addressing an urgent meeting of the UNSecurity Council (UNSC) on humanitarian situation in Ethiopia in New York onOctober 6, the Vietnamese diplomat called on the Ethiopian government, the UN andrelevant parties to conduct dialogues, build trust and work closely to resolvedifferences in this issue.

Tra highlighted the vital role played by UNagencies, including the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN humanitarian aid  coordinationbody (OCHA) and other international partners, insupporting humanitarian activities in the African nation.

According to the diplomat, the currentconflict in Ethiopia stems from political, historical and ethnic causes, so involvedparties need to stop fighting, conduct dialogues, and start a political processled by Ethiopia, and put interests of the people first, towards a comprehensivesolution for stability and development in the country on the basis of principlesof international law and the UN Charter.

She called on the international community, including the UNSC, to support Ethiopia to overcome current difficulties on the basis of respectingEthiopia's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres underlined the magnitude of the crisis in northern Ethiopiaafter nearly a year of fighting between federal troops and Tigray regionalforces.

The conflict has spilled overinto neighbouring Afar and Amhara, and some seven million people in totalrequire food aid and emergency support, he said.

Guterres said aid levels are currentlyinsufficient to meet needs amid obstaclessuch as roadblocks and movement restrictions, adding that access to electricityremains precarious, and millions have been cut off from communications as wellas vital services, such as healthcare.

In this context, the Ethiopian government’s recent expulsion of UN staff is inconsistent with principlesenshrined in the UN Charter, he stressed.

He urged the Ethiopian Government to allow the unrestricted movement ofdesperately needed fuel, cash, communications equipment, and humanitariansupplies into all the regions in need, while appealing to all membersof the UNSC to do all they can to support these calls and to unify behind theefforts of the UN and its partners in Ethiopia.

The UN chief said all efforts should be focused on saving lives and avoiding amassive human tragedy./.