UN warns of depleting aid and fuel as Ethiopia's Tigray crisis worsens

aid crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray region is worsening with stocks of relief aid, cash and fuel "running very low or depleted", United Nations said. Since July 12, only 10% of supplies of relief has reached stranded people due to intense fighting in region, according to UN aid coordination office OCHA. UN furr said that only accessible route to Tigray was through Afar region using Semera-Abala corridor, but this has been shut since August 22 after conflict erupted in region.

According to various humanitarian partners, an estimated 100 trucks of food, n-food items, and fuel is required in Tigray on a daily basis to assist region with equate resources. organisation furr said that to send supplies, OCHA requires at least 200,000 litres for humanitarian response every week.

Since second week of July, only as little as 282,000 litres have reached Tigray and thing has reached region since August 16. UN ncy furr said that at least USD 7 million is needed every week to sustain humanitarian operations in Tigray, which is equivalent to 300 million birrs in local currency. se transactions include staff salaries, local procurement, and cash-based assistance. Since July 12, only 47 million birrs have been given to UN ncy for assistance.

What is ongoing conflict in Tigray and Ethiopia?

conflict between Ethiopian troops and Tigray Defence Force has been ongoing for a 10-month period. Due to constant fighting in Tigray and Afar, Amhara regions has continued to affect civilians, resulting in food insecurity, displacement, and disruption of livelihoods. According to UN's report on conflict, more than 1.7 million people are being feared to be facing an acute short of food in Afar and Amhara. Earlier in August, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that "a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding before our eyes" as more than two million people h been displaced, and reportedly 300,000 more people were displaced in Afar and Amhara alone. Almost half a million people are living in conditions that are like famine.  UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that 100,000 face severe acute malnutrition within year.

(With ANI inputs)