For 5th time this year, Pope pleas for peace in Ethiopia

Pope Francis noted that the Tigray conflict has been ongoing for more than a year, causing a humanitarian crisis.

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After praying the midday Angelus on November 7, Pope Francis said he is following with concern the news of the Horn of Africa, in particular of Ethiopia.

He urged everyone to pray for this people, “so harshly tried” and noted that the conflict “has lasted for more than a year and has claimed many victims and brought a humanitarian crisis.”

The Pontiff once again called on those involved in the conflicts, that “the peaceful way of dialogue prevail.”

This is the fifth time in a year that the Pope has spoken about this regional conflict: he already called for prayer on September 8, denouncing the famine resulting from the conflict. On June 13, he called for the population to be protected. This followed after his calls for prayer on November 8 and 27 of last year.

The conflict that shakes the region of Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, has resulted in several hundred thousand people, including many children, being threatened with famine, according to UNICEF. Amnesty International has also denounced hundreds of cases of rape, sexual slavery and mutilation in the region.