WASHINGTON - Millions of Ethiopians in western Oromia are cut off from phone and internet access due to a government-imposed shutdown, according to the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. The lack of information is particularly important as Ethiopians seek vital news about the global spread of coronavirus, HRW said Monday. The shutdown is also making it difficult for outside observers to gauge the humanitarian needs inside the Oromia region. ‘Blanket communication bans’The Ethiopian government began cutting connections to mobile phone networks, landlines and the Internet in the Oromia region on Jan. 3, HRW said. It can be demonstrated with reason,” he said, speaking about an ongoing counterinsurgency operation in the Oromia region.

Source: Ethiopian News March 23, 2020 19:52 UTC