Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray province, has reportedly been reconnected to the national grid for the first time in more than a year, according to Ethiopia’s electric utility.
In eight additional districts of the Tigray region, broken power lines are being repaired, according to Moges Mekonen, spokeswoman for Ethiopian Electric Power, who spoke to VOA’s Tigrigna Service. Power has been restored in Mekelle, according to Kibrom Gebreselassie, the director of the city’s primary Ayder Hospital. The “complete restart of electricity” has been welcomed, according to residents who spoke with the BBC.
On Tuesday, the capital’s power was said to have been restored by Ethiopia’s state media.
Because Tigray is off limits to journalists by the Ethiopian government, VOA was unable to quickly confirm the reports.
Since federal forces were forced to leave Mekelle in June 2021, the city’s power supply has been inconsistent, and since the federal government’s conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, broke out more than two years ago, the majority of Tigray has been without phone, internet, and banking services.
90% of Tigray’s 6 million residents need aid, and aid workers claim the country’s humanitarian crisis has gotten worse because of a lack of services.
Early in November, the two parties agreed to a historic cease-fire agreement that allowed for the restoration of services and pledged “unrestricted” federal assistance to the troubled area.
The majority of the Tigray region’s power, internet, and phone lines remain still down after the agreement was signed.
A small amount of food and medical assistance has also begun to trickle into the area.
The World Health Organization stated on Friday that it still lacks “unrestricted access” to Tigray for the delivery of medical supplies.
After the cease-fire on November 2, Tigrayan forces were required to disperse their troops within 30 days.
Last Monday, Tigray’s top military official declared that his country’s troops had left 65% of the frontline zones but would stay in those where foreign troops were still present.
Leaders in Tigray accuse Eritrean troops of continuing to carry out crimes against humanity in the area, such as rapes and executions.
Eritrea disavowed any culpability and skipped out on the November peace accord.
