UN, Ethiopia Sign Deal For Aid Access To Tigray

Some people are now drinking untreated water, increasing the risk of Diseases, says agency; Mekele hospital staff suspends other activities to focus on treating the wounded from the conflict: ICRC

- 

In a breakthrough, a month ater deadly conflict cut off Ethiopia’s Tigray region from the world, the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday said it and the Ethiopian government have signed a deal to allow “unimpeded” humanitarian access, at least for areas under federal government control ater the prime minister’s declaration of victory over the weekend.

This will allow the first food, medicines and other aid into the region of 6 million people that has seen rising hunger during the fighting between the federal and Tigray regional governments. Each regards the other as illegal in a power struggle that has been months in the making.

For weeks, the UN and others have pleaded for access amid reports of supplies running desperately low for millions of people.

A UN humanitarian spokesman, Saviano Abreu, said the first mission to carry out a needs assessment would begin on Wednesday.

“We are of course working to make sure assistance will be provided in the whole region and for every single person who needs it,” he said.