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Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in? Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in?
(2 months later)
More than 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Tigray The United Nations says the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia is rapidly deteriorating with the flow of aid severely disrupted.
The United Nations says the flow of humanitarian aid into Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has been severely disrupted with no supplies currently getting into the region. No aid supplies have been delivered into the Tigray region for nearly three weeks, while some areas in the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar, where aid is also needed, also remain inaccessible.
Fighting between government and Tigray forces, as well as roadblocks on key transport routes is preventing convoys carrying food aid entering the Tigray region. Fighting between government and rebel forces from the Tigray region, as well as roadblocks on key transport routes is preventing convoys carrying food aid entering the Tigray region.
The UN says more than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.The UN says more than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
What's stopping aid getting through?What's stopping aid getting through?
Getting aid into areas in most need has been challenging, as the only viable overland route through the neighbouring Afar region has been put in jeopardy by TPLF attacks as well as by restrictions imposed by the regional and federal authorities. Getting aid into areas in most need has been challenging.
The UN says no trucks carrying provisions have entered Tigray via this route since 22 August, and none with food aid since 20 August. The only viable overland route into the Tigray region through the neighbouring Afar region has been put in jeopardy by Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) attacks as well as by restrictions imposed by the regional and federal authorities.
An estimated 172 trucks are now stuck at Semera, the regional capital of the Afar region. The UN says no trucks carrying provisions have entered Tigray via this route since 18 October.
An estimated 369 trucks are now stuck at Semera, the regional capital of the Afar region, unable to set off into Tigray.
The UN says 100 trucks a day need to cross into Tigray to meet the needs there.The UN says 100 trucks a day need to cross into Tigray to meet the needs there.
However, since mid-July, only 335 trucks have made it into the region, which is less that 10% of the aid supply needed. However, since mid-July, only 1,114 trucks have made it into the region, about 15% of the aid supply needed.
Grant Leaity, the UN's acting humanitarian coordinator for Ethiopia, warns that the situation is "set to worsen dramatically". The US international development agency (USAID) says the conflict is "now one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world."
UN warns 400,000 suffering famine in EthiopiaUN warns 400,000 suffering famine in Ethiopia
New front opens in Ethiopia war as aid fears growNew front opens in Ethiopia war as aid fears grow
Ethiopia's Tigray war - and how it eruptedEthiopia's Tigray war - and how it erupted
Blocking of aid convoysBlocking of aid convoys
To the south, pro-government forces in the Amhara region have been preventing supplies getting through. To the south of Tigray, pro-government forces in the Amhara region have been preventing supplies getting through.
Fighting has also spread into this region, displacing more people and making the routes insecure.Fighting has also spread into this region, displacing more people and making the routes insecure.
The US has accused the TPLF fighters of attacking and looting aid warehouses in the areas they have captured in the Amhara region.The US has accused the TPLF fighters of attacking and looting aid warehouses in the areas they have captured in the Amhara region.
It says the fighters have also been restricting the flow of aid into areas under their control.
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.
And now, with the route via the Afar region severely restricted, the problem has become particularly acute.And now, with the route via the Afar region severely restricted, the problem has become particularly acute.
In a recent attempt to evaluate the route, a UN vehicle was blocked by Afar regional police and forced to turn back. Humanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as the conflict escalates
"Consequently, Mekelle-Semera movements were cancelled by the UN until further notice," according to a UN spokesman. The delivery of fuel, which is needed for the movement of aid and water trucks, and the operation of power generators has also been restricted by the government.
The UN also says delays in getting approval from government officials and multiple checks have been delaying the movement of convoys. No fuel truck has entered Tigray since early August and some organisations suspended operations after fuel stocks got depleted in late September.
It says with the current procedures, only 30 trucks can be checked each day. The UN says 16 fuel tankers are currently in Semera awaiting permission to move.
Humanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as fighting escalates The movement of humanitarian workers has also been affected by the escalating fighting.
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". Regular flights between Mekelle and the capital Addis Ababa were suspended on 22 October as the government launched a series of airstrikes against targets in rebel-controlled areas.
And the movement of aid workers by road is also restricted.
The UN says in late-October, 14 humanitarian workers travelling from Semera to Mekelle were denied permission to proceed with their journey at a checkpoint in Afar.
The movement of humanitarian workers within the Amhara and Afar regions has also been restricted, the UN says.
"The government of Ethiopia has created de facto blockades, making communications, banking, and other vital services needed for aid efforts almost non-existent," the USAID says.
Government accusationsGovernment 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. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the rebels of blocking humanitarian assistance to Mekelle through the Afar region.
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 denied the accusation and instead blamed the government.The TPLF has denied the accusation and instead blamed the government.
"They are using conflict that is taking place in areas where there is no traffic whatsoever and he is giving all kinds of excuses and pretexts to obstruct food convoys," Getachew Reda of the TPLF told the BBC."They are using conflict that is taking place in areas where there is no traffic whatsoever and he is giving all kinds of excuses and pretexts to obstruct food convoys," Getachew Reda of the TPLF told the BBC.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aidPrime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aid
Foreign Affairs Minister Redwan Hussein has also accused certain, unspecified, humanitarian organisations of working to arm the TPLF, claiming the government had caught them delivering weapons and equipment to the rebels.Foreign Affairs Minister Redwan Hussein has also accused certain, unspecified, humanitarian organisations of working to arm the TPLF, claiming the government had caught them delivering weapons and equipment to the rebels.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says public statements casting suspicion on aid organisations' activities are jeopardising the safety of its staff and patients.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 23 aid workers have been killed in the region since fighting broke out in November last year.The UN says 23 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 The international relief operation is also facing severe financial constraints. The UN estimates that it needs $255m in additional funding by December.
The international relief operation is also facing severe financial constraints. The UN estimates that it needs $170m in additional funding between now and December 2021.
Large parts of the region have been under a communications blackout and without electricity, affecting the delivery of key services.Large parts of the region have been under a communications blackout and without electricity, affecting the 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." This report was first published in September and has been updated to include the latest information.
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