Faced with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ethiopia since the resumption of hostilities in Tigray (in the north of the country) on 24 August, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, reiterated on Friday 30 September the EU’s concerns and its call for full humanitarian access throughout the country.
“In accordance with international humanitarian law, the EU calls on all belligerents to grant unhindered access to humanitarian organisations so that they can reach all those in need,” he said.
In a statement, he said that tens of thousands of people were reportedly newly displaced and that damage to civilian property and infrastructure was widespread. In addition, according to the World Food Programme, 13 million people in the regions of Tigray, Afar and Amhara are in need of food aid due to the conflict.
“The renewal of fighting is severely hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid in northern Ethiopia. commodities and fuel as well as cash availability are still totally blocked for Tigray and greatly impeded in all affected areas in Amhara and Afar,” the Commissioner lamented.
Mr Lenarčič regretted that humanitarian organisations had been forced to suspend their operations while “millions of highly vulnerable people depend on humanitarian aid for their survival”.
He also mentioned that, “at the same time, Ethiopia is experiencing the worst drought on record since 1981, leaving an estimated 7.4 million people facing grave food insecurity”.
The EU encourages all parties to an immediate cessation of hostilities and a permanent ceasefire agreement, as the Commissioner reiterated (see EUROPE 13022/32). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)