Ethiopia: Starvation looms in Tigray as locals eat roots and flowers

An Ethiopian woman scoops up grains of wheat after it was distributed by the Relief Society of Tigray. PHOTO: AP

NAIROBI, Kenya - The ongoing fight between Tigray Defense Forces [TDF] and the Ethiopia National Defense Forces [ENDF] is gradually causing a humanitarian crisis, United Nations has said, adding that there is a need for an urgent truce.

In a statement, the UN, which has been working hard to ensure humanitarian assistance is given, said the growing crisis in Ethiopia is a "stain on our consciousness", as thousands of people face starvation while war rages on.

The crisis was triggered following an attack by TDF on the Northern Command, forcing the federal government under Abiy Ahmed to activate an operation, which has been widely criticized. However, even after the withdraw by ENDF, the TDF gathered momentum after a retreat.

Abiy Ahmed, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, claimed the attack against TDF was a necessary response following attacks on military camps and soon after, reports of people starving started to emerge after witnesses described how Ethiopian and allied forces had destroyed or looted food sources.

There have been calls for a ceasefire in the region but fighting has even escalated to the neighboring states such as Afar and Amhara, which support the Federal Government. The ENDF has struggled to contain TDF, further showing the magnitude of the crisis.

Martin Griffiths, the UN's humanitarian chief, has now revealed only 10% of needed humanitarian supplies have been reaching Tigray recently.

He said: "So people have been eating roots and flowers and plants instead of a normal steady meal. "The lack of food will mean that people will start to die."

Mr. Griffiths also called the crisis a "stain on our consciousness" as he described a recent visit to Tigray, where around 200,000 children have also missed out on getting vaccinations since the fighting began.

The United States has banned a number of individuals believed to be triggering the chaos in the Horn of Africa nation. Already, Sudan has offered to mediate the crisis but no formal meetings between Addis Ababa and former TPLF rulers have taken place.

There are reports that Ethiopia is charging ENDF to renew attacks against the ever-strong TDF with assistance from Eritrea. The Eritrea troops have been also accused of masterminding genocide in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

GAROWE ONLINE