There is a massive crisis occurring in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The United States has warned that food aid will run out this week in the region because of a restriction imposed by the Ethiopian government.
Hunger has been common in the region for a long time, but things have gotten much worse as of late. There has been a food shortage since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the situation is starting to intensify.
Details of the Blockade
The United States Agency for International Development, which helps underprivileged countries receive necessities of life, has been very forward with the problem occurring in Tigray. A spokesperson for the agency said 7% of the necessary food has been reaching the area in the past nine months. There has been a war in the country that has caused the Ethiopian government to obstruct international aid.
Samantha Power, an agency administrator, said, “This shortage is not because food is unavailable, but because the Ethiopian government is obstructing humanitarian aid and personnel, including land convoys and air access.”
If the blockade continues from the Ethiopian government, thousands of people will die. There could be up to 900,000 individuals that are short on food. If this were the case; it would be the worst food famine in over a decade.
From the Ethiopian’s Point of View
The Ethiopian government is trying to keep food out of Tigray to hold off the insurgency trying to take over the nation. The government has been playing defense since Tigray troops dethroned much of the region from the primary government in the country. However, many people are caught in the crossfire, and food is the primary necessity being deprived.
The Ethiopian government hopes that there will be a retreat from Tigray forces if they keep food out of the region. Yet, this has not been the trajectory of the situation as of late. The government has accused many individuals of supporting the rebellion, and they have stolen personal items from people as a penalty.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also taken a toll on the region because of the blockade efforts. The Doctors Without Borders program was suspended earlier this year, which is critical during these challenging times. The United States has accused Ethiopia of harming citizens for the actions of the few, but these critiques have been denied.
An Ethiopian Prime Minister spokeswoman was very forward with her response when asked about these allegations. She said, “That is not the case. Security is the top priority, and there will be “continuous checks and processes for aid entering Tigray, and any hiccups are discussed with affected partners.”
The United Nations has been very critical of Ethiopia. On Friday, a UN spokesperson said they are trying to kill thousands by blocking off resources to the area. Although, Ethiopia is not going to stop until the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which they classify as a terrorist group, is detained.
There has not been much dialogue between the two sides which indicates that things will continue violently. The Ethiopian prime minister will not pull troops out of the area, meaning the fighting will continue.
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