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| Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Reuters) |
The government of Ethiopia has sent a letter to the World Health
Organization, accusing its Ethiopian director-general of misconduct,
after his sharp criticism of the war and humanitarian crisis in the
country.
Ethiopia nominated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to be the head of the
UN health agency four years ago, but says he has not lived up to the
integrity and professional expectations required from his office,
accusing him of interfering in Ethiopia's internal affairs, according to
a press release issued late on Thursday.
"Through his acts, (Tedros) spread harmful misinformation and
compromised WHO's reputation, independence and credibility," Ethiopia's
ministry of foreign affairs said.
WHO had no immediate response to the claims.
Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, has repeatedly deplored the situation in
his home country and called for humanitarian access to the
conflict-ridden region of Ethiopia.
"Nowhere in the world are we witnessing hell like Tigray," said Tedros at a media briefing on Wednesday.
He cited a missive WHO had received recently from a physician in the
region, who said health authorities had run out of basic medicines for
diseases, including diabetes, in June and were now using expired stocks
and intravenous fluids.
Tedros condemned Ethiopia's blockade of international access to
Tigray, saying that WHO had not been allowed to send any supplies to the
region since July, noting the UN agency had access to Syria and Yemen
even during their worst conflicts.
He said there should be unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray and that just respecting the constitutional order would bring this
problem to a "peaceful conclusion".
He continued: "Of course, I am from that region and from the northern part of Ethiopia. But I am saying this without any bias. "
The Ethiopian government said Tedros was using his office to advance
his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia and that he continues
to be an active member of the Tigray People's Liberation Front; Tedros
was foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the
country's ruling coalition.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front, the political party that runs
the Tigray region, has been clashing with Ethiopian federal forces since
the country's Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister accused the
heavily armed regional government of attacking a military base.
Each government regards the other as illegitimate after a months-long falling-out amid political reforms.
In September, France, Germany and other European countries nominated
Tedros for a second term as WHO's director-general, the first time any
candidate was not supported by his or her home country.
Tedros is expected to be confirmed for another five-year term in May, as he is running unopposed.
Under Tedros, WHO came under withering criticism from the Trump
administration over allegations of grievous missteps in responding to
COVID-19 and for allegedly colluding with China in the early phases of
the outbreak.
Tedros has been a leading voice urging rich countries and vaccine
makers to do more to improve access to COVID shots in the developing
world -- a call that has largely gone unheeded.
