Aid group says staffer killed in Ethiopia's Tigray conflict

An international aid group said Friday that a staff member has been killed in Ethiopia’s conflict in its Tigray region.

International Rescue Committee said “communication with area is extremely difficult and we are still working to gar and confirm details surrounding events that led to death of our colleague” in Hitsats refugee camp in Shire.

Tigray region remains largely sealed off from outside world as worried humanitarian organizations warn of growing hunger, attacks on refugees and dwindling medicine and or supplies more than a month after fighting erupted between Ethiopia’s government and w-fugitive Tigray one.

Ethiopia’s government has me clear it intends to man process of delivering aid to Tigray, and it has rejected “interference” as fighting is reported to continue despite its declaration of victory.

Ethiopian and Tigray governments each regard or as illegitimate, result of months of growing friction since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 and sidelined once-dominant Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Thousands of people, including civilians, are thought to have been killed in fighting, which began v. 4 and has threatened to destabilize Horn of Africa.

International Rescue Committee in a statement called for an immediate cease-fire by all parties after “an intense bout of conflict.”

aid group works to assist 96,000 refugees from Eritrea who shelter in camps near border with that reclusive country. Food in those camps reportedly ran out days ago, and thousands of refugees have left in search of help.

Frustration among humanitarian groups is widespre as Tigray region remains largely unreachable and supply-len trucks have waited for weeks at its borders.

Ethiopia’s government has reported that it has begun delivering aid, but United Nations has stressed need for neutral, unfettered access to a region where fears of ethnic tensions remain high.

This week, Ethiopia's government said its forces shot at and briefly detained U.N. staffers conducting ir first security assessment in Tigray, a crucial step in delivering aid. Ethiopia said staffers h broken through checkpoints in an attempt to go where it wasn't allowed.

“Deeply concerned about humanitarian situation in Tigray region,” president of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Francesco Rocca, tweeted on Thursday. “Lack of consistent access to civilians, hospitals without water, electricity and medicines, people in desperate need of aid. A U.N. team was also targeted; this is unacceptable! We need safe access and dialogue.”

Meanwhile, nearly 50,000 Ethiopians have fled to Sudan as refugees and w live in strained conditions in a remote region with few resources.