Ethiopia: Red Cross convoy arrives in Tigray

MEKELLE, Ethiopia - Efforts to save an emerging humanitarian crisis in Tigray have already taken shape, following the trickling of more food to the hunger-stricken region which has been battling the war that was engineered by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF].

State media reported that the fifth convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] to Tigray since the declaration of the ceasefire had arrived in Mekelle on Monday afternoon. Previously, access to the region was fairly difficult.

According to the state media, the delivery of the food supplies was facilitated by the government, which had previously been accused of imposing the blockade. The convoy carried medical items, water treatment supplies along with essential household items, ICRC indicated.

Further reports indicate ICRC supported 9,000 persons who have been displaced and are currently living in two camps in Semera, Afar region a few days ago. IDPs received one month’s food ration which includes wheat flour, lentils, and oil.

The ENDF, Eritrean troops, and Amhara regional soldiers had been blamed for causing artificial food shortages in the region by blocking humanitarian trucks. The Tigray Defense Forces [TDF] which had been at loggerheads with Addis Ababa also retreated to allow access to humanitarian aid.

Getachew Reda, the spokesperson of TDF, recently accused Eritrea of the continued occupation of the Tigray region, calling the international community to chip in and solve the conflict. Eritrea has been fighting alongside the Ethiopian army in Tigray.

"The thugs in Asmara have long made it their vocation to thrive in chaos. They committed the most heinous crimes imaginable against the people of Tigray including genocide. They continue to occupy our sovereign territories with impunity. They are an occupation force pure and simple," he said.

"The International Community needs to denounce their destabilizing role in the region, not just in Ethiopia. One thing should be clear though: we won’t stop at nothing before every square inch of Tigray is liberated, peacefully or otherwise. "

Recently, the United Nations stated that thousands of people were facing starvation in Tigray while asking the two wrangling sides to reach a truce. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he was keen to restore peace in the country through constructive dialogue.

GAROWE ONLINE