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Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in? Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: What's stopping aid getting in?
(30 days later)
Humanitarian aid is desperately needed in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region but the continuing conflict is preventing supplies reaching areas in most need. The UN has warned that it will have to suspend operations by its aid agencies if no supplies are allowed into Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray soon.
More than nine million people are in need of urgent assistance in Tigray and the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions, according to the United Nations, as a result of severe drought and the upheaval caused by the fighting. Shortages in healthcare centres and hospitals are particularly acute with access to medical supplies severely restricted for many months.
Most recently, aid distribution has been suspended at two distribution points in Amhara, following attacks on World Food Programme (WFP) warehouses and staff. More than 90% of the population in the region is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN estimates.
Aid convoys have struggled to get throughAid convoys have struggled to get through
The only viable overland route into Tigray has been through the neighbouring Afar region.The only viable overland route into Tigray has been through the neighbouring Afar region.
Movement of aid along this route has frequently been affected both by fighting and bureaucratic delays.Movement of aid along this route has frequently been affected both by fighting and bureaucratic delays.
No aid convoys had been able to use this route for over a month. The Tigray hospital running out of food
But since late November, more than 200 trucks carrying supplies have reached the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle. No aid convoys have been able to use this route since 14 December due to renewed fighting and insecurity.
The WFP has also raised concerns that trucks delivering aid into Tigray have not been returning, with as many as 900 trucks affected. The UN says about 70 trucks have been waiting to set off for Tigray from Semera in the neighbouring Afar region, but are unable to do so until the security situation improves.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has also raised concerns that trucks delivering aid into Tigray have not been returning, with as many as 900 trucks affected.
The Ethiopian government accuses the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) of commandeering the trucks for their own use, but the rebels deny the accusations.The Ethiopian government accuses the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) of commandeering the trucks for their own use, but the rebels deny the accusations.
Ethiopia's Tigray war - and how it erupted
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.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 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."
Ethiopia's Tigray war - and how it erupted
Other routes remain blockedOther routes remain blocked
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 had 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. 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 says the fighters have also been restricting the flow of aid into areas under their control. All sides in the conflict have been accused of attacking or confiscating aid supplies.
The US has accused TPLF fighters of attacking and looting aid warehouses in the Amhara region.
The WFP says rebel fighters together with locals looted aid warehouses in the city of Kombolcha moments before it was recaptured by the Ethiopian army.The WFP says rebel fighters together with locals looted aid warehouses in the city of Kombolcha moments before it was recaptured by the Ethiopian army.
"WFP teams on the ground were not able to prevent the looting in the face of extreme intimidation, including staff being held at gunpoint," it says."WFP teams on the ground were not able to prevent the looting in the face of extreme intimidation, including staff being held at gunpoint," it says.
The agency has suspended aid distribution in Kombolcha and Dessie - another town retaken by the Ethiopian government - as a result.
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 the conflict escalatesHumanitarian convoys are facing severe problems accessing the region, as the conflict escalates
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 have now resumed after they 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.
"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 government of Ethiopia has created de facto blockades, making communications, banking, and other vital services needed for aid efforts almost non-existent," says USAID.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aidPrime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused the TPLF of blocking humanitarian aid
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.
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 24 aid workers have been killed in the region since fighting broke out in November 2020.
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. The international relief operation is also facing severe financial constraints. The UN estimates that it needs about $350m in additional funding for its humanitarian response in northern Ethiopia.
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 July and has been updated to include the latest information.This report was first published in July and has been updated to include the latest information.
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