The Ethiopian government on Friday refuted accusations that it is blocking humanitarian aid to the northern Tigray region, which is currently facing a famine crisis, reported Africa News.
“The allegation that we are trying to suffocate the Tigrayan people by denying humanitarian access and using hunger as a weapon of war is beyond the pale,” Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen told diplomats in Addis Ababa on Friday. “We have been exerting every possible effort to rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore electricity, telecoms, internet, and banking services.”
He said critical infrastructures continue to be a target of attack by the TPLF, which has made it extremely difficult for the government to provide uninterrupted services to the people.
Tigray is said to be facing the world’s worst hunger crisis in a decade, with the United States government saying up to 900,000 people face famine conditions in a situation it calls entirely man-made.
Earlier this week, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which ruled the region bordering Eritrea, declared that it was back in control of the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, after nearly eight months of fighting.
The Ethiopian government announced a unilateral ceasefire in Tigray, which the TPLF denied to obey, and the withdrawal of federal troops from Tigray. The rebel fighters slammed the Ethiopian government’s army pullout, saying it was an absolute lie.
There are reports of continued clashes in some places as there is immense international pressure from all sides to pull back.
Last month, the United Nations said at least 350,000 people in Tigray faced famine. However, last week, the US Agency for International Development estimated the number to be around 900,000.
On Friday, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said it resumed delivering humanitarian aid to the people in Tigray but faces continuing access problems and is way behind in bringing life-saving supplies to people facing starvation.
