While the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, continues to collect and corroborate details of yesterday’s attack that left three Eritrean refugees dead – two of them children – and four others injured, Mr. UNHCR to all parties to the conflict “respects the rights of all civilians, including refugees”.
Grandfather speak, sending my deepest thoughts and sympathies to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives.
Fight, loot, destroy
Meanwhile, the broader humanitarian crisis enveloping Ethiopia, since fighting began between Government troops and fighters of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2020, remains continue.
About 5.2 million people currently need help in the northern regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar.
Amid widespread human rights abuses, thousands fear their lives as more than two million people have been forced to flee their homes.
And over the past few months, murders, looting and destruction of medical centers and agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation systems vital to production, have fueled humanitarian needs. high.
UN humanitarians report that the situation in the north of the country remains unpredictable and volatile.
“In Tigray, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with tensions limiting the movement of humanitarian supplies. along the only available route from Semera to Abala to Mekelle. No trucks carrying humanitarian supplies can enter Tigray as of December 15,” said United Nations Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists on Thursday in New York.
© WFP / Claire Nevill
A child is tested for malnutrition at a food distribution point in Tigray, northern Ethiopia.
Delivery is on hold
As of July 12, only 1,338 trucks have entered Tigray, which is less than 12% of demand. About 100 trucks have to be received every day to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Tigray.
As of January 3, the United Nations partners that are distributing food in the region have only about 10,000 liters of fuel left, while at least 60,000 liters are needed to transport the limited food supplies currently available in the region. Mekelle.
“Several UN and NGOs will be forced to shut down if humanitarian supplies, fuel and cash are not delivered to Tigray as soon as possible.‘, Mr. Dujarric warned.
People in need
UN humanitarian workers have reported that people continue to be displaced, including from Afar, Amhara and the Western District of Tigray.
“People are also coming back, along with those who need food, water, sanitation and shelter,” a UN spokesman said. “Our partners continue to work with authorities to ensure that return is well planned, voluntary and formal and that returnees are fully supported.”
Meanwhile, despite the challenges, aid organizations continue to provide vital support.
In Amhara, more than 33,000 people have received shelter and other aid in the past week, which Mr Dujarric said brings the total number of people helped to 586,000.
However, while food distribution continued to take place across the North, it remained well below the required level.
“We urge all parties to allow uninterrupted and unimpeded access to the people of Tigray, Amhara and Afar.”, concluded a UN official.
.
