United Nations warns Ethiopia's Tigray region could run out of aid amid conflict

The United Nations country director in Ethiopia has warned of vital aid supplies being at risk amid the ongoing crisis in Tigray region. According to BBC reports, Catherine Sozi said a shortage of basic commodities like flour and fuel are being reported. As per reports, the UN supplies Tigray with food relief on a regular basis. The crisis in Ethiopia is not sudden and has been building up for months.

In September this year, the Tigray region had conducted elections despite orders from the federal government to postpone all kinds of polls due to the coronavirus pandemic. The election has been a bone of contention ever since.

The National Electoral board of the nation has declared the polls it illegal. Also, during a recent press conference in Addis Ababa, the deputy army chief Berhanu Jula said that the country has entered into a "war" that was not at all anticipated. He further said that the war is shameful and senseless.

Read: UN Continues To Face Cash Crisis, Could Close The Year With Greater Arrears Than In 2019

Unrest in Ethiopia continues

Meanwhile, as a direct consequence of the growing conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, Sudan could end up with 200,000 refugees. According to reports, nearly 10,000 people have already crossed the border, some of whom are injured.

Al-Sir Khalid, the head of the refugee agency in Sudan’s Kassala province told The Associated Press that there are lots of children and women among the migrants. He added, "They are arriving very tired and exhausted. They are hungry and thirsty since they have walked long distances on rugged terrain." He also said that the situation is deteriorating. This comes amid a lack of humanitarian access and they urgently need food and fuel. 

Read: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Reshuffles Cabinet Amid Rising Civil War Concerns

Earlier this week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced major changes in his government’s military and intelligence leadership as he reshuffled many top officials amid the conflict with the Tigray region. With this, he also urged all his citizens to not target the ethnic Tigrayan people amid growing fears of a civil war. The cabinet reshuffle aimed at bringing the most outspoken supporters of the Tigray operation to the forefront.

Ethiopia’s central government and Tigray’s regional government, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, blame each other for starting the conflict and each regards the other as 'illegal'. The TPLF dominated Ethiopia's ruling coalition for years before Abiy came to office in 2018. It has since then accused the prime minister's administration of targeting and marginalizing its officials.

According to reports, the European Union, the African Union and others have urged Abiy to put an end to the conflict as it may lead to destabilization in Ethiopia. 

Read: Ethiopia Conflict Tensions Spread As 150 'operatives' Held

Also Read: Ethiopia Is At 'war' With Tigray Region, Says Deputy Army Chief, Berhanu Jula

(Image Credits: AP)