police is crying very hard friends, the scenario that happened last week when thousands were rioting and sitting across the latter, after some protest started throwing stones. and that's enough for your work. police on horseback moved in to clear the area. ah, this is al jazeera. ah hello, i'm sammy's a news out live from coming up in the next 60 minutes. french president asked for one does forgiveness for his country's role in the 994 genocide. israel's ass trying san garza come on the international scrutiny. now the un human rights chief is calling for accountability is found to be in the lead this proportion and

was in the in front of the building. on such up may constitute the war cry, panic and chaos. in the democratic republic of congo, tens of thousands of people escape gilmer in fear of another gold canyon corruption and an out of control curve. at 19 crisis in thailand's crowded prison, i found my calling. it ticking time bomb and i'm fine. how much not have all the sport than a jeans? it sets down as real madrid code following a trophy last season. ah, now we begin this news hour in rwanda, where the french president is off for forgiveness for its countries rolled,

and the 1994 genocide. it happened during emanuel microns 1st visit, took gali as president, but the french leader stopped short of a formal apology. ties between the 2 nations long, been strained after accusations, france was complicit in the killings. france said back president polk armies rivals in the previous government during the civil war and of the to know so and putting myself with humility and respect on your side. today, i am recognizing our responsibilities in gang involved since 1990 in a conflict in which it had no precedence. the france did not know how to hear the voices of those. they warned it also overestimated strength to be able to stop those who were already there with france did not understand why wanting to obstruct the regional conflict or civil war was in fact, staying alongside a genocidal regime. while in a historic sign of reconciliation run,

the president car may praise microns speech at a memorial. for the victims of the genocide, his words were something more valuable than an apology. the they were the truth. speaking the truth is a risk, but you do it because it is right markham. why was that that? sorry moni and the capital explains how the 2 countries got to this moment. it certainly follows number events of lead up to this. i mean, it was 11 years ago and president sol cosy, came here, but didn't say anything nearly as didn't acknowledge nearly as much of a role as michel has just now. forgot me visited paris twice since mccolan came to

power. 2 years ago, things have been steadily storing and in both governments, rwanda and france, commissioned report in the last year or 2 that were both published earlier this year into france's role in the genocide. and now both of those reports kind of pretty much what has been the off line all along is that france was to some degree responsible or even complicit. that depending on on who you are. now with these 2 reports certainly shouldn't be seen as anything that's in any way independent. they're written by 2 players. very much active in this conflict in the early 990 and genocide in 1994 here in rwanda. so they should definitely be taken more of a measure of the political sentiment between these 2 governments at this time. but the, the outcome of those reports was one very much showing franz moving over to the government

around the narrative on the events of that time. when i talked to andrew, while, as he's a researcher and writer on one day joins us on sky from leave in the u. k. the 1st of all, how significant is it just the fact that the french president has gone there for a visit was hugely significant. i think this is been coming over a number of years up very hard diplomacy behind the scenes. and those reports which we just referred to, have also been put together during that time. but to have macro physically that today at the thursday memorial where quarter the 1000000 buried in kigali with the president. and which device groups there i think is, is that's really incredible. when you think this journey in 27 years

over the relations have been before that well, micro may not have apologized, but does it look like we're one is satisfied with what it did get out of the french president? well, it does so many different groups here and you know, the meet you obviously will make a big deal about this apology. and for survivors it is huge. and 5 groups have been very quick to come out and sort of say they out there really disappointed that apology was made. but to be honest, really this year macro abuse to refuse to apologize for the french involvement in algeria. and it's taken 50 years to apologize for supporting the jews to not get camps voluntarily. so, you know, wasn't an apology ever likely for political reasons? probably not back home. he got an election in a year's time. he's got both left and right. ready to use any apology to to try and

unseat him. so i think this is sort of real politic going on. i think he went as far as he could do, and i think it's person konami said what happened was pretty exceptional and was pretty brave for serving french president to come out and go as far as he did to talk about french responsibility to be alongside the they use, acknowledging the country worked alongside a genocidal regime, a western power security council, you know, member working alongside a genocidal regime that studies quite incredible in itself to have our french president quite incredible to have a feeling and kigali though that it's time to look forward and that perhaps it feels it's in a unique position to try and attract investments, french investments,

especially compared to other countries in the neighborhood. absolutely, i mean this, this 2 parts to this. the 1st thought was at the memorial, which was about the past, but very much, this is about the future. i think the macros announced to the 500000000 euros word or assistance with health and education and youth empowerment. but i think france does. the bewanda is very much a, a regional ally. it's not going well for france in western central africa. 12 is in a unique position as you say, as a member commonwealth. and frankly funny. it's bi lingual. it's got the 3rd best corruption in to see fighting corruption in africa better than many european countries doing business. it's rates number one. so going forward, you can see why french businessmen want to be involved with this country and

security obviously, which is a big issue on the continent is obviously very good as well in, in the one de. so the number of reasons that term macaroni and kids who have a warm relationship themselves can see a good future ahead. i think. all right, thank you so much for your comments on that. andrew was thank you. was plenty more still ahead on the news hour, including molly's mandatory releases, detain civilian leaders for the armies. fill in charge for lightning strike. try for tampa bay. they take a huge step towards winning and knowledge championship. ah. a special session of the you and human rights council has resumed in geneva, members are expected to vote on an independent investigation into possible human

rights violations in the occupied palestinian territory. the un human rights chief, michelle bachelor, says israel strikes in densely populated areas in gaza could amount to war crimes. she says so far, there's no evidence to suggest the presence of hamas in homes and media offices that were destroyed by israeli forces. i also said rockets find by hamas during the 11 day conflict. the 3 a violation of the rules of war is found to be in this proportion and what's the impact on such up stock make on war crimes? on the other hand, it is also a violation of international humanitarian law to locate military assets in the populated areas or 2 lounge attacks from however,

the actions of one party do not show the other from its obligations on the international. let's remind you of the scale of destruction in garza, this is the immediate aftermath of 11 days of israeli bombardment. the un says more than $58000.00 pound extensions have been displace after israeli strikes damaged. at least 450 buildings. they include hospitals, schools, and other critical civilian facilities. given the say, it is live in garza. james bayes is in west jerusalem at 1st. let's talk to kristen salumi at the un where virtual security council meeting is underway on the lease. so kristin, how is that? how's diplomacy shaping up in that security council meeting? well, it's interesting to know that this is the 5th security council meeting on the situation

in the middle east in the last couple of weeks. and certainly the recent hostilities in the region are the focus of today's discussions. but this is actually a regularly scheduled meeting of the un security council. they have them every month on the situation in the occupied palestinian territories. because this is one of the most longest standing conflicts and agenda items for the security council. and we are hearing in the remarks today reference to the long standing issues that underlie the most recent conflict for venice law. the special coordinator for the middle east for the secretary general, gave his briefing and he described a tense cease fire. one that he felt he stressed that the pressure from the international community was crucial and bringing about. and he made an appeal for continued pressure on some of the underlying issues that led to attention. he described simmering tensions on both issues around religious sites in

jerusalem. he talked about forest evictions. he talks about inflammatory comments on both sides of the fight there that lead to the hostilities the most recent bombardments. and he said that it would be a mistake to go forward business as usual without addressing some of those underlying issues that led to this situation. so while he talked about a pathway towards negotiations and resuming hope for a 2 state solution, we know that the united states, one of the key interlocutors in the region for past peace efforts has been reluctant to go that far. we heard from secretary of state anthony blinking in the region recently that he's very focused on the humanitarian aspects of fire and restoring peace indignantly. yes, but an unwillingness to wait in on those trickier issues. and any moment now we're

going to be hearing from the united states ambassador to the us and i suspect to hear more of that resistance. so without the united states on board, these calls from the u. n. so far are just that call us for more focus on the underlying issues. and kristen, does it look like on the bottom line of this is it looked like agencies like 100 are going to get more funding? well certainly that is the hope and that is one thing that the united states has put its efforts behind in the un itself. on rod, the main organization that deals with palestinian relief in garza, in particular, launched a $95000000.00 emergency appeal. they say that's what they need to fund more long term sustainable humanitarian development. we heard today that some 800000 people in dies are,

have no access to clean water. that electricity is now down to 4 to 6 hours a day. 50 for educational facilities have been damaged hospital. the medical centers have been damaged. there's worry about the corona virus spreading so many very serious issues that need to be addressed. and right now that is the immediate concern, certainly for the united nations moving forward to bring some normality back to this region. that's been so devastated. but also even here, when talking about humanitarian issues, we're hearing un official say it really doesn't make sense unless this is a sustainable piece one that's going to last. otherwise we're going to find ourselves right here. again, in a few years, if those underlying issues are not addressed. i thank so much christian salumi, then let's bring in though now diplomatic as jo james space, he joins us live from west jerusalem. so james, let's talk about the un human rights council meeting. does it look like it's going to pass that resolution on an investigation?

well, we don't know the answer to that question. it's not going to vote yet. we would think he would come to a vote about now we think now probably maybe some time during this hour. remember, this is to set up a new commission of inquiry been commissions of inquiry before the word, an ongoing, independent commission of inquiry starting from april. this year with no end date, which is interesting. the problem i think with the commission of inquiry and with much of the un human rights architecture, is israel doesn't really cooperate. there's a special report, for example, for the situation human rights situation in the bi territories. and israel doesn't let him in the let him do any investigations, a tool. so there is a potential problem that, but there's one thing somebody does different this time around. and that's that these are not just human rights reports that are going to be filed and put on the library shelf and get dusty. because this time around, there's

a very new component which is the fact that palestine signed up to the roman statute that jurisdiction was accepted, meaning that palestinian territories are subject to the international criminal cause jurisdiction. and they are going to take action, whether they're going to actually make a case is not clear, but they're already started the investigation that was decided on the 3rd of march . that makes this all very different when the high commissioner for human rights michelle bash lay says that what has happened may constitute war crimes. will actually, there is a body potentially, that could bring those more crimes to a court hearing on james, how significance will it be if this time a permanent commission of inquiry is established? well, deponent is not a word used. the word used is ongoing and certainly i don't think israel is

particularly worried about the commission of inquiries and say they've had those before. it's interesting speak to people here what you got to remember and i know you know, well, sammy, is that everyone here has lived with this conflict for all their lives and got to julie un meetings taking place human rights council security council. both going on right now. yes. the academics and the politicians and he writes, experts are watching them very closely. the ordinary politician of the ordinary people here. well, i think they've given up faith in the international community or don't care what the u. n. a said blistering attacks on israel in the human rights council, and it's not on israeli tv and you can't find it on the israeli web sites. so is it the case, you know, getting more into how people are viewing this? does it look like an issue of, you know, what side of the, the device you sit on in terms of how you view what's happening in the human rights

council? oh, absolutely. israel was very strong and eight's view on the human rights council. the israeli ambassador to geneva spoke and said that the human rights council was always biased against israel, saying that 30 percent of all the special sessions that the human rights code council of ever had target israel and her in her words and saying that it was a ritual of israel as singled out for the palestinian side in that meeting, rid molecule, foreign minister speaking and heap, and pushing very hard in the meeting that we need to move on now to accountability . and that of course, brings us back to the international criminal court and the possible role it comply . key man in this is green. com, the new chief prosecutor about to take up his job. difficult decisions for him to make with regard to this, but already the existing chief prosecutor has started an investigation. alright,

james space there. thanks for that. let's talk now to human the said live in garza and i understand humans today. there's a memorial for the press building, the al jazeera and a p press building that was bomb the i guess significant. it just goes to show how significantly important that building was a symbol of information of press freedom. yes and did sammy today, journalist from all over this trip have come here to make a ceremony a common duration ceremony for all the victims off the war which are at least $253.00 and the a for all the media and also for including, sorry, the during the list day use her say me who was also killed in a targeting home and also to show the importance of how they have law. the media offices here in the gaza strip. not only the

media agenda building, which house and the media offices, but several other buildings. that house to almost all other media offices. and because the strips were targeted and brought to the ground. so the jury that today have come here to, to, to pay the, the victim i come home ration and to stand for them and light candles in their memory. and also to, to remind themselves of how important their offices and their, their, where it was. and now it's all a matter of all the rubble that is less for them from every office or media also in the gaza strip that was before. all right, thank you so much given the say that spring and now i'll just serious senior political analyst moran, the shower. he joins us on skype from rome. ottawa,

how effective with this resolution be if it's passed in the un human rights council, what symbolically it would be very effective in terms of experimentation, probably would be quite improbable. but i think the bit about the human rights council investigating the root causes is a very important addition to previous resolutions. and if that passes, we will get to know more that the national committee will get to know more about the palestinians as a victim or not of a week or 2, but rather washers the pos years of occupation, 70 plus years of this possession. that clearly would be a win for the indians, but it would remain to be somebody whether you've been watching football as unveil the palestinian flag on the field, or whether you've been listening to comments of people like her all the rivera and

fox news, is it fair to say there's a feeling that there's been something of an evolution in western public opinion, but manifested itself during this last conflict. you know, i think even these radios are admitting that they have lost what they call the hash tag war. so certainly in the virtual world of social media is receiving endo criticism and then on see ations like we've never seen before. something happened this time around, then there's probably a good number of reasons what it, whether it is the black lives matter movement that given international movement or whether it's the spring or the new generation of add up, some kind of seniors was able to articulate themselves online and in the streets or various western capitalism and other capital of the world. be that as it may clearly this time around, we have a real push back in the, in the,

in the public opinion. and i would even say that in as far as the national, the course of its national public opinion, certainly israel has lost the court case there. what's happening to the once active and common european position on this? it's really, it's really sad what's happening here. of course, you know, as we all know, there has to be a total consensus and this time are on, for example, with one country like hungary i was able to block a possible decision. that's where the call for me get. she's fired during the war. so the p as are, are decapitated issue world by anyone member. and hence a consensus on controversial foreign policy as it were not used to combine. now when you add to it that, that the union is polarized between the likes of i've learned what is taking bullish position against the israeli occupation and such and the populace tongue guardian or sticking opposition pro nathan. now,

you really get figured out that in the midst of this, it's really becoming more and more paralyzed. now, you still have positions like, for example, the french foreign minister say something that we are approaching are paid in palestine. not to say that the or the other part, but anyway and or i knew the friendship bosh bosh, but in practice was report to jerusalem. but here for example, in italy, the, the hyper national parties who are very influential have all stood with israel. in fact, within europe, in general hyper nationalists, i would say even some of the races were foams, the ones who could that then or where, and there's some lights on all sides with israel. so there is a bit of a paralysis that if you just agreement the fault lines cut any which way, horizontal or vertical and the, and the continent. and so it's not able to take a real position. so for, for, for, for

a continent that actually claims to be standing for universal human rights. 8 is certainly not being effective. not being bullish, not ready, according to its war, cries and fetch is a very sad situation or i am or one be shot to thanks so much. washington's relationship with its important east african ally, ethiopia is under strain. it's now under the spotlight on capitol hill. the senate foreign relations committee is holding a hearing on the conflicts in t gray and america's response. on wednesday, president biden released the statement saying, the launch scale human rights abuse is taking place in t gray, including widespread sexual violence, unacceptable, and must end. he also demanded what he called belligerents in the tea gray region to declare and adhere to a cease fire. and for error tran and horror forces to withdraw

and bring you up to speed with what's been happening well, 97 months into the conflict into great thousands of people have been killed. the millions more need assistance. the you and his warning, ethiopia could face its 1st famine since the 1980s. if the opium troops backed by new founded ally, eritrea launched a military offensive into gray in november against a group controlling the region. that's a gray and people liberation front dominated ethiopian politics and mercury for nearly 30 years. until prime minister abbey asked me to power 3 years ago. the t p i left says its leaders were unfairly targeted with abby's government says they provoke the conflict by attacking its federal military base in the north. the great physician party say 50000 people, have been killed in the fighting a more than 2000000, displaced many a flood to neighboring sedan. hundreds of cases of sanctuary. violence have also

been reported and people are struggling to access clean food and water. allen fisher is life for us on capitol hill. so alan, understand that hearing did begin a short time ago. where is it going? while just opening statements from the committee chair who is a democrat and his opposite number, who is a republican rib degree of unanimity on capitol hill with both sides condemning what is happening integrate and what you're doing there. as you say, in the last 24 hours, we've had job bite and call for an immediate cease fire. we have that in recent weeks. anthony blink and the secretary of state saying, what is happening in t grey is very close to ethnic cleansing. we've had the senate unanimously approving sanctions, mainly travel sanctions on people involved in the fighting. get bob menendez, who is the chairman of the committee, said just delivered some opening statements which were very critical of seeing that

the bite min ministration is doing. okay. but needs to do a lot more. it needs to start talking about economic sanctions against european and needs to talk about holding those responsible for some of the source, particularly those and breach of human rights to account. and those measures have to be put in place. now, what we're seeing is a very big ally of the united states in the horn of africa, suddenly becoming on the wrong in the united states, c as its interest there. first of all, for spreading democracy, the united states, it says it's very much invested in particularly in the fight against terrorism and what they regard as a very volatile area. and you can understand just how 10 things are when the government says that essentially the biden administration should, but they should back off. they shouldn't be involved in what is going on in the internal affairs. and if so, what we're expecting over the next couple of hours. it's certainly the members of

the administration to lay out where the us sees that going from this point. but what is also clear is that members of the senate foreign relations committee are looking for some strong action, and they're not talking about something down the road. they want the bite administration to take action and take action. no. alright, i don't, fisher, there still had an, i'll just hear a us president know what is an investigation into the origins of covey 19 and inspired. it's been a while, but basketball fans of the world's most famous arena finally have something to shout about. ah hello there. the heat continues for much of the middle east, though temperatures across the gulf states will dipped slightly. we've got to ship

now, wind blowing in, kicking up the dust and bringing a lot of hazy sunshine to could tar pots of saudi arabia and the u. a. e. but as we go into saturday, those temperatures picking up, we don't see tempt just as high in musket. we were high up in the forty's, but they lowered down to the early forty's. by the time we get into saturdays looking, clear and hot as well across the event temperatures here in iraq, edging up, 46 in baghdad. for the wet weather, we have to go to turkey in the northern areas. there is also some weather across your pin rift. valley as we go to the horn of africa, but centrally across the tropics, pretty clear picture for this time of year. not as many storm clouds as we expect to see for the stormy weather. we have to go to the gulf of guinea, but things are cooling slightly in kenya, 24 degrees in nairobi. and as we head to southern africa, things are looking rather warm and dry fine weather full botswana, zimbabwe and south africa,

21 in johannesburg. and they'll be rain for cape town on the weekend. the bit going block chains and crypto guarantees. disruptive technology join with me and introducing a bill to outlaw crypto currency all the way to a fair, a financial system with big open for software. we can trade out or money without paying for government award winning filmmaker toast and huffman looks at all sides of the complex crypto crypto piano pick going chains. and the internet on out here are moving drug called so digital anti group in a population called in the middle. what's your reason for being a mature? why do you want this territory? i'm reporting from an empty center of mixed violence to investigate the can an

upcoming election change. anything for people living here where we were getting to join me, john, home and for the full report on out. oh, a welcome back here. watching out. just to recap, headlines now. french president demand your mike crawl is also wondering full forgiveness for his country's role in the 994 genocide. from the facts president poll konami's rivals in the previous government during the civil war. un human rights chief showed bachelor, says israeli,

as strikes in gaza could amount to war crimes. members of the us, human rights council are considering a resolution call for independence investigation. in the democratic republic of congo, tens of thousands of people are trying to escape the city of goma. after warnings of volcano may erupt again, mount mo, go a routed on saturday, sending rivers of lava flowing towards the city, destroyed hundreds of homes along the way. thousands of people were killed. many more still missing. i'm going to kick alley as a situation seems to be uncertain. in coma, the volcano may erupt again and were scared. we were told by the authorities last night that we had to leave with our families. how much house has been monitoring the developments from in bob way? she says the government is dealing with the jewel crisis of regional violence and mass displacement authorities of or did a partial evacuation say,

looking at about 10 neighborhoods in garden city and this panic for people seem to be moving. try to get out of the city by road or by boat because of the chaos in some places. parents are being told to write down on pieces of paper, the names and the phone numbers in case they get separated from the children and families. i've been told to carry as much as they can in case it could be a while before they get to come back into the city. authorities are doing this now raised their law because they could have 5 last tied back in 2002. when the volcano erupted, they will qualify for having reacted to lay to thousands of people back in diets with the time is thought they trying to get ahead of things or the credit for the time seems to be that they having people to leave goal my go to so called area, but people are asking if we get to the areas what, how will be going to get where we got to stay? what we going to say trust that seems to be on the back of everyone's mind. now

this isn't the area that's known for a lot of problems over the if it's not a threat to the volcano erupt, the insecurity in the region as well overnight in been, he was about to the club from gold. my favorite village is attacked by a melissa group from the 80 s people. they are saying that they came in overnight, they attacked these villages, killed people using knives. and they said he saw people say to be a kid, that the of authorities will not be dealing with insecurity in that part of the country. but also with a trace of the volcano erupted, an agreement has been signed by leaders and some audience resolve along running in pass over holding elections to government says will now be held within 60 days. the prime minister and regional state presidents have been meeting about the vote that was due to be held in february. the opposition is refused to recognise mohammed up the law him hummer. the president's in san is his 4 year term expires. the dispute

triggered sumani is worst political violence in years. molly's transitional leaders have been released after being removed by the country's vice president. according to the military colonel, see me go to one of the military officers who lead last year's coo arrested. the prime minister in president on monday, the un security council used an emergency meeting to call for their immediate release were held in a military base in the town of cathy, on going to his representative says they've resigned from their positions. nicholas hawkins and by mccomb. he says marty and so hoping for a return to normality as soon as possible. the theme. according to the resignation from the french president of transition into prime minister, the strong man, the one in charge is no other but the vice president, the, the leader of the military who toppled a very move are kate i in august. i see me going now it's in the release has to be

made official of the government. the president of transition by and, and the prime minister most are once there's been a relief among many mile the end to see perhaps that the situation is slowly returning to normal. but there's also a lot of anger about the grievances and the presidency. by the way, my cold doing this during the did the removal of the president, the transition, the prime minister call this occur within here among the volume that you've been to on the street. they feel that this situation has put a reset button and perhaps that it will be an opportunity for molly is to get to grips and gets a job, going to return to the civilian rule that they wish for as quickly as possible. your opinion. foreign ministers are discussing what kinds of sanctions to impose on

the roof after the full landing of an u passenger jet. the oil sector is one possible target, as well as the potash industry. you airlines on now avoiding piano russian space. now there are reports, australia airlines says a flight from vienna to moscow was denied permission to land without passing over. b ellers in president joe biden has ordered us intelligence agencies to investigate the origins of the corona virus. he's expecting them to report back in 3 months and says the intelligence community is divided and whether the virus emerged naturally, whether it escaped to live in the chinese city of wu han castillo has already and has more with more than 50 percent of us adults now vaccinated president joe biden is turning his focus to the origins of covered 19th. he's given his team 90

days to investigate how and where the virus 1st emerged. perhaps most controversially, the report will look at whether the virus was leaked from this chinese lab in walk on china needed to provide more access to the lab corporate more fully with the scientific investigators. and we don't think that they have met that standard once dismissed as a conspiracy theory. now leading scientists say the possibility of the lab leak should not be ignored. we're hearing about people who work at the institute of i ology, becoming sick with an illness. we know that this has been spreading since november . we've seen the chinese government been very reticent to allow press to investigate the origins of this virus. we know the wall street journal reporters have been detained by police. we know the b, b. c has been chased out of certain areas where people are looking for the origin. so i think that raises question back in march,

a joint investigation by china and the world health organization concluded the probable source of the virus with animal to human transmission from work market. an accidental lamp leak at said was highly unlikely. noted that many governments have criticize the reports, credibility, they say access was limited, and the chinese government withheld data. they argue china's apparent influence on the w h. o has tainted the reports. validity, china denies of virus league from one of its labs, saying its critics are playing politics. may was single with 33000000 confirmed cases and about 600000 deaths from coven 19 in the u. s. which are the highest numbers in the world. the u. s isn't reflecting on its own problems, but rather attempting to make a scapegoat out of china. my question is, what are they able to find? can they sleep at night with an untroubled conscience that might, in administration, says, knowing the origins of cove 19 is

a matter of global health. a way to stop another pandemic in the future. but the report could have far reaching consequences that go beyond the health sector. capielo visit a young al jazeera. oh. all right. now robert, go. that is acting assistant secretary of state for the bureau of african affairs u. s. department, he's speaking in the centers on that phone relations committee. hearing about policy on the see ok. let's listen in what he's saying in the open national defense force and heart regional forces. eritrea and defense forces, an art to some, but a lesser degree by the degree people's liberation front in western te great security forces belonging to be har, regional government, or forcing ethnic grey and from their homes. and what secretary clinton has described as actually ethnic cleansing, the are trained defense forces undertaking a campaign of unremitting violence and destruction that amounts to the collective

punishment. the people of t great. the violence abuses and atrocities are unacceptable. they must stop now. despite statements by the open government that the conflict is over, the security situation is worse than in recent weeks. exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis and hindering are already difficult response. u. s. anyone analysis shows that the continuing conflict is resulted in a situation close to famine. their confirmed reports of 2 grains died from malnutrition and starvation increased fighting checkpoints, lawlessness and harassment by the warring parties, blocking humanitarian movements, and putting them physical risk throughout te gray, the killing. so you say partner staff, member and 7 other humanitarian workers are tragic and we condemn. since the beginning of the conflict, the u. s. government has worked with international partners to end it. we seek an immediate cease fire full and unhindered humanitarian access protection of civilians. the withdrawal of eritrea and forces in har regional forces,

a political settlement of the crisis, and an independent international investigation of human rights violations and abuses and atrocities and accountability for those responsible. the administration is using every available tool to alleviate suffering and the conflict we coordinated with like minded partners, regional governments, the african union in a wide range of other organizations and individuals. we have pressed the un security council in the un human rights council to put the situation in ethiopia on their agenda and the act to in the crisis. we've engaged directly with the open an air train government, highest levels, pressing them to in the hostilities. and to follow through on commitments for the withdrawal of air train forces, as well as to protect civilians and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. multiple call some secretary state to prime minister abi sen. coon's traveled ethiopia on behalf of president biden, resulted in some modest progress. but it is far from sufficient. following his

appointed special envoy, felton took a 2 week trip to the region, early this month, intensive effort to find a durable solution. he will return to the region next week. will diplomatic efforts have been under way? the administration has also taken stronger steps in light of the human rights situation. we have restricted our foreign assistance. ethiopia, we will continue. however, humanitarian assistance and other critical programs in health, food security, democracy and human rights. we are withholding support for new lending from the multilateral development banks that does not address basic human needs and asking our allies to do likewise, the secretary of state is taking steps to impose these are restrictions on the opium, an era tray, and government officials and power regional and irregular forces and members of the p p. f, who are impeding the resolution of the crisis blocking humanitarian access. committing atrocities should those stoking the conflict fail to reverse course ethiopia in eritrea should anticipate further actions. it cannot be business as usual in the

face of the violence in atrocities and te, greg tragically, well today is the worst. the conflicts need is only one of them from attacks on ethnic m horns and the moves and banish and go go, moves ethnic romo and horns and romeo to violence between people in the far and molly regions to the multiple conflicts and folding in the southern nations. nationalities and peoples legion, ethiopia is at a turning point. the government's responsive mass arrests, media restrictions, human rights violations. declining political space is fueling inter communal rivalry in imperiling national elections now scheduled for june 21. widespread insecurity, mass displacement and logistical challenges. re serious questions about these elections and the united states has made the decision not to deploy in servers to monitor them. we urge the ethiopian government to begin in inclusive dialogue, a reconciliation in the deep rooted conflicts and to find

a shared democratic path forward. united states is prepared to support such a dialogue. finally, there are the ongoing challenges around the ground, ethiopian renaissance damn, and the alpha shock, a border area between sudan in ethiopia, and the girl the united states believes egypt. ethiopian sedans, concerns over water security, can best be addressed to serious negotiations among the parties under the leadership of the african union. both problems, those risks to the regional peace and security in the united states government is working hard with partners to help us solve them. as i said at the beginning, the united states is committed to a partnership with the ethiopian people, countries national unity stability in the horn of africa. but mister chairman, members, alarm bells are ringing, and ethiopia, the risk of protected and wider conflict is growing. the time for action to prevent it is now in that regard, i want to thank the congress with a strong resolutions and statements that have been issued. they're important may

help state department will continue to work closely with you to address the crises in ethiopia. i look forward to your questions. thank you very much. thank you. invested in miss charles chairman menendez ranking member rash, distinguished members of the committee. thank you. i'm sorry. do you have your microphone close? thank you. just better carmen mendez ranking member rash, distinguished members of the committee. thank you for this opportunity to discuss the crisis in ethiopia, the life saving assistance that us 8 is providing and the ongoing challenges that impact our response. i also want to thank the committee for its continuous engagement, not least, of which senator can for his recent travel to the request of president biden. many of us 1st learned the word famine in relation to ethiopia. nearly 40 years ago. i want to be clear without an immediate cessation of hostilities,

proved humanitarian access, and a scale of assistance. we could again see widespread famine and ethiopia, this year, the 1st time since the 1980s in ki gray. after more than 6 months of hostilities, approximately $5200000.00 people are in need of assistance out of a total population of $6000000.00. approximately 2000000 of them are children. a striking of the numbers are even more striking. are the lived experiences of people in the region. i want to take a moment to share one of their stories. marianne as soon as for a person receiving assistance from one of our partners into gray plus $25.00 members of her family, her brother. and recently her 5 month old baby boy has just come to mount attrition . maria now suffers from extreme mental distress due to the trauma she's experienced. the grim reality is that there are roughly 2000000 other stories, that displacement like my am in

t grey and across the border and sudan where 63000 refugees have flood the scale of need is staggering. and averting famine will require more than just food assistance . it requires health, nutrition and water and sanitation services to help malnourished bodies fight off illness. but the ongoing fighting has destroyed critical water and hygiene infrastructure and cause t great health system to collapse. just 16 percent of hospitals and health centers are fully functioning. we've also her devastating reports of abuse by arm doctors across t gray. the reports not only speak to widespread incidence of rape and other gender based, silent, but a systematic attempt to dismantle society and destroy family. some perpetrators or targeting the wives, the priests, abusing women in front of their families, or using a level of violence, so brutal that women are left with organ damage. the severity of abuse is among the absolute worst. i have seen and nearly 2 decades of humanitarian work. we usa

d condemned these abuses in the strongest possible terms. in a phase of staggering, the united states has responded with significant support and advocacy for the largest donor to the humanitarian response. providing nearly 305000000 and humanitarian assistance since the conflict began. usa, it is providing enough food to feed 4000000 people and treat more than 400000 women and children suffering from malnutrition. for 3 months, our partners will run nearly 60 mobile health and nutrition units across p gray and support the operation and rehabilitation of $300.00 health facilities. to respond to the agreed us use of gender based violence and conflict are providing safe spaces for women and girls. training for social workers, psycho social support and case management for survivors. however, our assistance will not be enough to avert salmon and ethiopia, if the parties to the conflict continue to obstruct dr. currently,

over 1000000 people in need or out of reach of humanitarian assistance. the response to play by access constraints imposed by the government of if you're, if you're including restrictions on visas and communications equipment for humanitarian staff, both of which are critical for our partner, security and ability to sustain and expand operations. but our biggest challenges are the ongoing hostilities and the continued blocking of access by air trans, defense forces, ethiopia, national defense forces, i'm har, regional forces, and others are partners also report increase hostility and targeting of humanitarian workers. by blocking food assistance and preventing famine, farmers from planting and harvesting, these actors are actively exacerbating the risk of salmon and gray. lastly, the key gray responses underfunded, and we continue to urge other dinners to scale up their assistance to meet annette that needs. i'm honored to be here today to discuss our work and underscore the

united states commitment to the people in the area. but while our humanitarian assistance can help alleviate urgent needs, it will not address the root causes of the conflict or ongoing human rights abuses . despite the heroic efforts of local communities and humanitarian workers, the trajectory of the crisis and to great is clear, widespread famine unless the parties to the conflict provide unhindered humanitarian access and allow the people of t gray to once again plant. we owe it to women. my husband was a sesame farmer and western t grade before she was forced to leave her home with her husband and 3 children. she now lives in an overcrowded school room with 24 other women and their families . she told her partners that without assistance she and her family would have starved and we went to hobbins neighbors, a 1000000 of whom continue to be out of reach of assistance to demand better from the parties to the conflict. thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today . i welcome your question. thank you very much. we'll start our round of 5 minute

questions. the conflict and t bray has taken a terrific call on the population as we've spoken about in heard here. and the implications for international peace and security are significant. the secretary blanket and at a house foreign affairs hearing on march the 10 said there have been quote, acts of ethnic cleansing in western t. great. so and bassett, or are we witnessing war crimes or crimes against humanity in te gray? thank you mister chairman. the united states, as i said, is horrified by the reports of brutal killing, the sexual violence, gang, rape, the force, removals, wanton destruction. the acts of ethnic question cleansing and secretary blinking, referred to, we can bam, all of these in the strongest possible terms, the un high commissioner for human rights is warned that the international

community is seen atrocities that may well amount to war, crimes or crimes against humanity. the patriarch of the open orthodox churches termed the conflict, a genocide against the to great people. and the department of state takes those warnings extremely seriously and it's pressing all parties and the conflict. so the state to state depart is not ready to call it. we are mr. trim, we are acutely aware of the need to determine whether the conduct meets the legal standards for across the pines and then we are a gated lead and we are acutely waiting for that determination damage. we haven't any of us. we believe in fact, these are war crimes and crimes against humanity. so i understand the concerns of such a designation, but we cannot turn blindly away one such things happen in the world. and so i look forward for the state department's determination. i hope they will come to

the right one. in addition to these restrictions and pausing assistance, what other measures the administration prepared to take to respond to the continuing human rights abuses? mr. kevin, let me just add on the previous question that we do have a fact based review underway that is being conducted very quickly. and the secretary of state has the final determination on this. we with respect to the other actions that were prepared to take beyond the visa restrictions. as i noted my statement, we have suspended much of our system, certainly related to economic growth and security assistance. we are looking at arrange of other sanctions to include global that net sky act sanctions, other potential sanctions that would be targeted individuals or institutions that are support supporting the ongoing conflict. competing resolution impeding an end

to the conflict or otherwise, obstructing humanitarian access, or committing human rights abuses and violations. we've made very clear the secretary statement and previously that if we do not see immediate progress on these runs, we will be imposing additional sanctions. we're going to be an era tree or can expect further give me a sense in the committee, a sense of what the implication for as a us strategic interest in the horn of africa should instability. and if we become more widespread, obviously the risk at this moment is very large. if the conflict in ethiopia spreads, it will the stabilize the entire region. ethiopia has been a critical anchor in the region based apply peacekeeping troops. to some missions there are in somalia, i think if,

if the opium continues down the road that it's, it's going there is a risk of a massive humanitarian crisis refugee crisis. and it poses a risk to the wider region as well. obviously, the red sea area is a critical thoroughfare for commerce, and it is potential for a wide area that would be stabilized in most significant risk, the interests, the united states, and obviously the people of the region. finally, miss charles, your testimonies rather riveting what what is the scope and scale of the sexual and gender base violence. and t gray is the government trying to suppress information about the extent of the use of rape as a weapon of war and. and what efforts are we making to respond to the needs of survivors? give them the gaps identified by n jose. thank you for that question. senator menendez,

what we're seeing is widespread and systematic targeting of women using gender based violence in ways that really are quite heretic. and as i mentioned in my testimony, some of the worst instances of gender based violence i've seen in my, in my 20 years of humanitarian work, we are providing support services for victims of gender based violence including psycho social care, safe spaces for women and girls training of social workers, the un estimates that 22000 women could seek treatment for gender base violence this year and t grey. we anticipate that that's a significant underestimate of the number of women who have suffered from gender based violence, not least of which because of the steps that the parties are taking to you block access. and we feel like as much as we are supporting protection and support for

victims of gender based violence, the ability of our partners to, to be present and make sense, sustain presence throughout te gray, not just in in urban centers is necessary to ultimately help provide protection services. thank you. center issue. thank you mr. mess regarding i like lots of people around here been visited by all of the parties involved in the gird and the feeling of the dam and the concerns surrounding that. what, what are your thoughts as to what the current conditions on the ground have done as far as the negotiations to, to try to come to some resolution to that? thank you senator. so obviously there is a substantial effort underway to get all of the parties to come to.