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Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in? Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in?
(10 days later)
The United Nations says the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia is rapidly deteriorating with the flow of aid severely disrupted. Fighting between government and rebel forces, as well as roadblocks on key transport routes, has been preventing trucks carrying desperately needed food aid from entering Ethiopia's northern Tigray 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. But for the first time in over a month, a convoy of around 40 trucks has set off from the neighbouring Afar region on route to Mekelle, the Tigrayan capital.
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. More than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions, according to the United Nations.
The UN says more than five million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Aid convoys have been blocked
What's stopping aid getting through? The only viable overland route into Tigray has been through the neighbouring Afar region.
Getting aid into areas in most need has been challenging. But no aid trucks has entered Tigray via this route since 18 October and more than 300 trucks have been stuck at Semera, unable to set off due both to the fighting and bureaucratic delays.
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. To give a scale of the urgency of the situation, the UN says 100 trucks a day need to cross into Tigray to meet the needs there.
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.
However, since mid-July, only 1,114 trucks have made it into the region, about 15% of the aid supply needed.
The US international development agency (USAID) says the conflict is "now one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world."The US international development agency (USAID) says the conflict is "now one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world."
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Blocking of aid convoys Both sides accused of disrupting aid
To the south of Tigray, 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 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.
Humanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as the conflict escalatesHumanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as the conflict escalates
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 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.
No fuel truck has entered Tigray since early August and some organisations suspended operations after fuel stocks got depleted in late September.No fuel truck has entered Tigray since early August and some organisations suspended operations after fuel stocks got depleted in late September.
The UN says 16 fuel tankers are currently in Semera awaiting permission to move. Fuel trucks that had received approval by the government to proceed to Tigray on 14 October were denied transit at a checkpoint in Afar, forcing them to return to Semera.
The movement of humanitarian workers has also been affected by the escalating fighting.The movement of humanitarian workers has also been affected by the escalating fighting.
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. Regular flights between Mekelle and the capital Addis Ababa have now resumed after they 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 government of Ethiopia has created de facto blockades, making communications, banking, and other vital services needed for aid efforts almost non-existent," says USAID.
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. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aid
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 accusations
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the rebels of blocking humanitarian assistance to Mekelle through the Afar region.Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the rebels of blocking humanitarian assistance to Mekelle through the Afar region.
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 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.
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 $350m in additional funding by December for the response in Tigray, and $1.3 billion for Ethiopia as a whole.
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.
This report was first published in September and has been updated to include the latest information.This report was first published in September and has been updated to include the latest information.
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