Humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Tigray

war-torn region of Tigray in Ethiopia is experiencing a large-scale humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands of people continue to seek refuge after fleeing ir homes following months of violence.

Around 300,000 people are w crammed into town of Shire, camping in school buildings or makeshift homes.

y fled because of fighting between federal government troops and forces loyal to Tigray's regional leers.

Between 50,000 and 60,000 people arrived in Shire over past few weeks alone, a United Nations official told British brocaster Sky News.

It is t clear exactly what new threats of violence caused many of thousands of people to flee western Tigray, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "acts of ethnic cleansing" h been carried out re.

Ethiopia’s government has denied allegations but witnesses and humanitarian workers have described scenes where Ethiopian federal authorities stood aside as Tigrayans were targeted.

Some of those who have fled have been forced out of ir homes by violence whilst or have been banished by militias in Ethiopia's neighbouring Amhara region.

Shire is a base of operations for humanitarian efforts that workers have said are t eugh. Hospitals are close to becoming overwhelmed.

''re is food and re is shelter," one refugee said.

Even before latest fighting in region, Tigrayan communities were struggling to make ends meet.

conflict erupted on brink of harvest, and after months of a locust outbreak.

Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed has urged Tigrayan refugees to return to ir homes and resume “rmal lives.”

But he issued what he called a “final tice” to fugitive leers of embattled region, saying y should surrender peacefully to avoid “severe punishment” and prevent “misery of ir people.”

(Im Credit: AP)