Humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Tigray

The 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 their homes following months of violence. Around 300,000 people are now crammed into the town of Shire, camping in school buildings or makeshift homes. They fled because of fighting between federal government troops and forces loyal to Tigray's regional leaders. Between 50,000 and 60,000 people arrived in Shire over the past few weeks alone, a United Nations official told British broadcaster Sky News. It is not clear exactly what new threats of violence caused many of the thousands of people to flee western Tigray, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "acts of ethnic cleansing" had been carried out there. Ethiopia’s government has denied the 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 their homes by the violence whilst other 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 not enough. Hospitals are close to becoming overwhelmed. ''There is no food and there is no shelter," one refugee said. Even before the latest fighting in the region, Tigrayan communities were struggling to make ends meet. The conflict erupted on the brink of harvest, and after months of a locust outbreak. Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed has urged Tigrayan refugees to return to their homes and resume “normal lives.” But he issued what he called a “final notice” to the fugitive leaders of the embattled region, saying they should surrender peacefully to avoid “severe punishment” and prevent the “misery of their people.” (Image Credit: AP)

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Humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Tigray

The 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 their homes following months of violence.

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