This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/57929853
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in? | Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in? |
| (3 days later) | |
| The World Food Programme (WFP) says it is running out of stocks of food aid in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray. | |
| Renewed fighting between government and Tigrayan forces, and the blocking of key transport routes has severely hampered the delivery of aid. | |
| The UN says more than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the region. | The UN says more than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the region. |
| Where isn't aid getting through? | Where isn't aid getting through? |
| Delivering aid to Tigray has been extremely challenging over the past few months, despite the urgent need there. | Delivering aid to Tigray has been extremely challenging over the past few months, despite the urgent need there. |
| It follows a bloody eight-month battle between the Ethiopian army and the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) for control of the Tigray region. | It follows a bloody eight-month battle between the Ethiopian army and the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) for control of the Tigray region. |
| Now the fighting has now spilled over into the neighbouring Afar region to the east, threatening one of the key supply routes into Tigray. | Now the fighting has now spilled over into the neighbouring Afar region to the east, threatening one of the key supply routes into Tigray. |
| Tens of thousands have been displaced by the latest unrest, making the need for humanitarian support ever more urgent. | Tens of thousands have been displaced by the latest unrest, making the need for humanitarian support ever more urgent. |
| There are parts of Tigray where it has been possible to reach those in need - particularly areas now stable and under the control of the TPLF. The UN estimates that overall, 75% of people in need in Tigray are now reachable; in May, this figure was only 30%. | There are parts of Tigray where it has been possible to reach those in need - particularly areas now stable and under the control of the TPLF. The UN estimates that overall, 75% of people in need in Tigray are now reachable; in May, this figure was only 30%. |
| But the UN also warns that "stocks are rapidly depleting" even in these areas, with access far from straightforward. | But the UN also warns that "stocks are rapidly depleting" even in these areas, with access far from straightforward. |
| The last aid convoy to successfully reach the regional capital Mekelle was on 12 July "after days traversing roadblocks", says the UN. | |
| This was the only convoy to reach Tigray in the whole of July. | |
| UN warns 400,000 suffering famine in Ethiopia | UN warns 400,000 suffering famine in Ethiopia |
| New front opens in Ethiopia war as aid fears grow | New front opens in Ethiopia war as aid fears grow |
| Ethiopia's Tigray war - and how it erupted | Ethiopia's Tigray war - and how it erupted |
| This represents just 1% of the food that is needed for the month, says Samantha Power, of US Agency for International Development (USAID). | |
| A convoy of 44 trucks, including nine from WFP, left Semera, the capital of the neighbouring Afar region on 28 July but appears once again to be experiencing problems entering Tigray. | |
| The WFP has estimated that at least 100 trucks need to be arriving in Tigray every day to supply aid to those in need. | |
| WFP runs out of food in #Tigray this Friday. It takes 100 trucks per day to reach everyone we are aiming to feed. 170 trucks bound for Tigray with food and other supplies are stuck right now in Afar and can’t leave. These trucks must be allowed to move NOW. People are starving. | |
| Blocking of aid convoys | Blocking of aid convoys |
| On 5 July, the government announced it would allow humanitarian flights. | On 5 July, the government announced it would allow humanitarian flights. |
| However, it put in place strict controls - including a requirement for all flights to land first in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for inspection. | However, it put in place strict controls - including a requirement for all flights to land first in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for inspection. |
| So far, these flights have only included a limited number of humanitarian personnel but not food aid. | So far, these flights have only included a limited number of humanitarian personnel but not food aid. |
| Overland routes have also been severely restricted. | Overland routes have also been severely restricted. |
| To the south, pro-government forces in the Amhara region have been preventing supplies getting through. A 29-truck convoy carrying WFP aid was forced to turn back on 29 June, reports the UN. | To the south, pro-government forces in the Amhara region have been preventing supplies getting through. A 29-truck convoy carrying WFP aid was forced to turn back on 29 June, reports the UN. |
| It's also been impossible to bring in aid by road from Sudan, into western Tigray, an area under the control of groups supporting the Ethiopian government. | It's also been impossible to bring in aid by road from Sudan, into western Tigray, an area under the control of groups supporting the Ethiopian government. |
| Humanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as fighting escalates | Humanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as fighting escalates |
| Until recently therefore, the only passable land route has been through eastern Tigray, with convoys entering via the Afar region of Ethiopia. | Until recently therefore, the only passable land route has been through eastern Tigray, with convoys entering via the Afar region of Ethiopia. |
| However, with recent fighting spilling into Afar, this route in now in jeopardy as well. | However, with recent fighting spilling into Afar, this route in now in jeopardy as well. |
| The WFP suspended movement of convoys from Afar into Tigray after a convoy of 10 vehicles was attacked on 18 July. It's not clear who carried out the attack, but observers suggest pro-government militia were responsible. | |
| A further convoy of trucks set off on on 30 July from the Afar town of Semera heading for Tigray after lengthy delays for security clearance. | |
| The UN has complained that that multiple checks have been delaying the movement of aid convoys. | |
| Billene Seyoum, a spokesperson for the Ethiopian prime minister, told the BBC that "these need not be considered as 'restrictions and numerous roadblocks' as the government has to equally ensure and guarantee security". | |
| Government accusations | Government accusations |
| The head of Ethiopia's disaster relief agency, Mituku Kassa, has accused the TPLF in the Afar region of stopping aid trucks destined for Tigray. | The head of Ethiopia's disaster relief agency, Mituku Kassa, has accused the TPLF in the Afar region of stopping aid trucks destined for Tigray. |
| Prime minister Abiy Ahmed has also accused the rebels of blocking humanitarian assistance to Mekelle through the Afar region, by bombarding the road with heavy artillery. | |
| The TPLF has not commented on the government's claim but has previously said it would "extend whatever support is necessary to ensure the safety and security" of aid workers. | The TPLF has not commented on the government's claim but has previously said it would "extend whatever support is necessary to ensure the safety and security" of aid workers. |
| Meanwhile, the UN says checkpoints set up on the main routes into Tigray have delayed movement of humanitarian cargo. | Meanwhile, the UN says checkpoints set up on the main routes into Tigray have delayed movement of humanitarian cargo. |
| The government has been critical of aid organisations and has insisted on checking all the cargo being transported. | The government has been critical of aid organisations and has insisted on checking all the cargo being transported. |
| Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aid | Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aid |
| It comes after Foreign Affairs minister Redwan Hussein accused certain, unspecified, humanitarian organisations of working to arm the TPLF, claiming the government had caught them delivering weapons and equipment to the rebels. | |
| "They have been using aid as a cover and arming the rebel groups to prolong the conflict and chaos," he said, in a televised address. | "They have been using aid as a cover and arming the rebel groups to prolong the conflict and chaos," he said, in a televised address. |
| The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says public statements casting suspicion on aid organisations' activities are jeopardising the safety of its staff and patients. | |
| The UN says 12 aid workers have been killed in the region since fighting broke out in November last year. | The UN says 12 aid workers have been killed in the region since fighting broke out in November last year. |
| More than a million people have been displaced by the conflict in Tigray | More than a million people have been displaced by the conflict in Tigray |
| The international relief operation is also facing severe financial constraints. The UN estimates that it needs $435 million additional funding between now and December 2021. | |
| Large parts of the region have been under a communications blackout and without electricity, affecting delivery of key services. | Large parts of the region have been under a communications blackout and without electricity, affecting delivery of key services. |
| "Shortages of fuel and cash, as well as a communications blackout, are significantly hindering the resumption and preventing the scale-up of humanitarian response," the UN says. | "Shortages of fuel and cash, as well as a communications blackout, are significantly hindering the resumption and preventing the scale-up of humanitarian response," the UN says. |
| The prime minister's spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, told the BBC "resumption of these services heavily depends on the acceptance of the belligerent group [the TPLF] to a ceasefire." | |
| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
| Send us your questions | Send us your questions |