{"id":11254,"date":"2020-11-13T12:30:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T17:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/?p=11254"},"modified":"2024-06-19T18:45:57","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T22:45:57","slug":"ethnic-conflict-in-ethiopia-escalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/ethnic-conflict-in-ethiopia-escalates\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia Escalates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As armed conflict among rival ethnic groups in the northeast African country of Ethiopia spikes, the nation\u2019s ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic is undermined, says CNEWA\u2019s president, Msgr. Peter Vaccari.

In an article in the English-language edition of Aleteia<\/a>, a Catholic news site, Msgr. Vaccari said the agency\u2019s Addis Ababa-based office is monitoring the situation carefully as CNEWA\u2019s \u201cgrave concerns over the situation\u201d continue to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe join our prayers to those expressed recently by Pope Francis and other international bodies, and we share the concerns expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, OCHA\u2019s concern for the most vulnerable, and the concerns of UNHCR that have pointed to how the current deterioration of conditions has provoked a new refugee crisis,\u201d Msgr. Vaccari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conflict has also postponed the resumption of school in the country, which was scheduled for last Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile the Catholic Church in Ethiopia is a tiny community \u2014 fewer than 1% of all Ethiopians are Catholics \u2014 the church runs the second largest school system in the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur schools are more than places of learning, but safe havens offering children and their families nutritious meals and resources and opportunities otherwise unavailable to the poorest of the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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