UN warns of worsening famine, more clashes in Tigray, Ethiopia Reuters

Authors: Michel Nichols and Doinsola Oladipo

UN (Reuters)-Senior UN officials warned the Security Council on Friday that more than 400,000 people are in famine in Tigray, Ethiopia, and that despite the unilateral ceasefire by the federal government, there is still the risk of more conflicts in the region.

After six private discussions, the Security Council held its first public meeting since fighting broke out in November between government forces and Tigray fighters from the former ruling party of Tigray, supported by the army of neighbouring Eritrea.

Ramesh Rajashingham, the acting head of United Nations aid, told the Security Council that the humanitarian situation in Tigre has “deteriorated drastically” in recent weeks, and the number of people suffering from famine has now increased by about 50,000.

“It is estimated that more than 400,000 people have crossed the threshold of entering the famine, and another 1.8 million people are on the brink of famine. Some believe this number is even higher. 33,000 children are severely malnourished,” he said.

The Ethiopian government announced a unilateral ceasefire on Monday, which TPLF considers a joke. There are reports that as international pressure for all parties to retreat increases, conflicts in some places continue.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, stated that the Ethiopian government must show that “it does intend to use a ceasefire to solve a humanitarian disaster” and warned that any refusal to provide assistance “is not a humanitarian ceasefire. Sign of siege, but siege.”

Taye Atske Selassie Amde, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters after addressing the Security Council that the purpose of the ceasefire is “not to siege the city, but to save lives”.

Ander questioned the need for a public safety committee meeting, telling the agency to announce a ceasefire to improve access to aid, “our friends should be encouraged to support and reduce unhelpful pressure.” He said the government hopes that the ceasefire will also trigger dialogue.

Thomas Greenfield urged all parties to the conflict to “seize this moment,” warning that Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa could suffer devastating consequences if they fail.

Rosemary DiCarlo, head of United Nations political and peacebuilding affairs, said that the Eritrean army has withdrawn to the area near the border, while the army from the neighboring area of ​​Amhara remains in the western area of ​​Tigray that they occupy.

“In short, the security situation is likely to see more confrontations and rapid deterioration, which is very worrying,” she told the Security Council, urging TPLF to support the ceasefire and allow Eritrean troops to withdraw completely.

Although Russia and China are not opposed to Friday’s public meeting of the Security Council on Tigray, they made it clear that they consider the conflict to be Ethiopia’s internal affair. The Russian ambassador to the United Nations said: “We believe that the Security Council’s intervention to resolve this issue will backfire.

Russia and China, as well as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom are all veto powers in the Security Council.