The conflict in the crisis region of Tigray is worsening. Persistent air strikes have recently made humanitarian aid deliveries impossible. The UN is concerned and is warning of further escalation.
Air strikes by the Ethiopian army on a city in the crisis region of Tigray forced an aircraft with humanitarian aid supplies on board to turn back. The United Nations then warned against a further escalation of the conflict.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths spoke on Friday of an “incident that raises serious concerns about the safety of humanitarian personnel helping civilians in humanitarian need.”
The UN plane was due to land in the rebel-held city of Mekelle on Friday and was reported to have all the necessary permits. Because of the new air strikes by the army on the city, the machine then had to turn around and fly back to the capital Addis Ababa – there were no corresponding advance warnings for the attacks, according to the UN.
400,000 people threatened with starvation
A good year after the bloody conflict began with around 400,000 people in the region in the north of the country who are now acutely threatened by starvation, tensions are currently intensifying again. Last week, the Ethiopian army ushered in a new military offensive against rebels by the Central Committee of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The military conflict had started when Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy pushed ahead with the ousting of the TPLF ruling in Tigray.
The TPLF had dominated Ethiopia for a good 25 years until Abiy came to power in 2018. Many people in Tigray feel that they are not represented by the central government and are demanding more autonomy. Since the beginning of August, the conflict has spread to the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara. The clashes have led to a serious humanitarian crisis in the north of the country. According to the United Nations, because of the government blockade, only a fraction of the humanitarian aid needed reaches the people in need.
“I reaffirm our deep concern for the civilian population as the air strikes on Mekelle continue and humanitarian aid to Tigray remains inadequate,” Griffiths said. He was increasingly concerned about the impact of the fighting in the Amhara and Afar regions and the impact on civilians. In a telephone conversation between UN Secretary General António Guterres and US chief diplomat Antony Blinken, both of them emphasized their concern about the worsening conflict, according to the State Department in Washington.
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