Ethiopia Intensifies Efforts to Evacuate Citizens from Lebanon

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is actively working to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon amid challenging circumstances, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Nebiyat Getachew, spokesperson of the ministry addressed the media, focusing on the current situation in Lebanon.In response to recent developments, the Ethiopian government has established a technical committee dedicated to assessing the circumstances of its citizens there.This committee has facilitated the repatriation of approximately 51 vulnerable individuals, with over 3,000 more registered for return.The government is committed to strengthening its evacuation efforts in collaboration with various organizations and institutions through its citizen diplomacy.Additionally, Nebiyat announced that Ethiopia has been elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2025-2027 during the 79th UN General Assembly meeting held in New York.He added that out of the 193 participating countries, over 171 voted in favor, mar king the third term in the council.According to him, this marks Ethiopia's third term on the Council, following its previous memberships from 2013-2015 and 2016-2018.The election highlights Ethiopia's ongoing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights at both the national and international levels.During the 79th UN General Assembly, the Ethiopian delegation, led by former Foreign Minister Taye Atske Silassie, attended the meeting and engaged in various sideline discussions.Nebiyat added that these discussions aimed to ensure Ethiopia's national interests in various spheres while highlighting its role in the Horn of Africa.The meeting also provided an opportunity to express Ethiopia's commitment to growth and partnership with BRICS member countries and to raise concerns about the post-ATMIS situation in Somalia; the ambassador said.During the occasion, ambassador Nebiyat responded to questions raised from the journalists.Source: Ethiopian News Agency