Ethiopia: visit of the director of Ocha, against the backdrop of serious humanitarian crisis in Tigray
The new director of the UN humanitarian agency, Ocha, here on April 12, 2021, is going to Ethiopia this Friday, July 30, 2021. AFP - JOHN MACDOUGALL
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2 min
In Ethiopia, Tigray is running out of food from this Friday, July 30.
This is argued by the World Food Program, whose food reserves are running out in the region.
The United Nations is calling for a rapid opening of Tigray, and Martin Griffiths, director of the UN agency Ocha, is going to Ethiopia this Friday, July 30 for his first official trip.
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With our correspondent in Addis Ababa,
Noé Hochet-Bodin
Since the rebels took over the province, the territory has been under humanitarian blockade by the Ethiopian authorities. However, famine was already threatening nearly 900,000 people at the end of June. Restricted access, convoys held up, intimidated and sometimes even attacked on the edge of the Tigray. The World Food Program is standing still and cannot deliver aid that is absolutely vital for the region.
Indeed, a month ago, famine affected nearly one in six Tigrayans according to the United States.
Today, the disaster is almost irremediable, assures a humanitarian source.
Because the 14,000 tons of food stored in the region have all been consumed and almost no convoy manages to reach Tigray.
Of the 3,000 trucks that should have brought oil and grain since June 28, only 52 have passed the checkpoints.
Or less than 2%.
Humanitarian corridor
So, logically the new director of the UN humanitarian agency (Ocha) Martin Griffiths goes to Ethiopia for his first official trip.
A stay of nearly a week, in the hope of unblocking a humanitarian corridor.
A mission lost in advance, regrets a diplomat in the Ethiopian capital, who complains about the lack of cooperation from the federal government.
Samantha Power, the director of the US humanitarian agency USAID, is also expected to visit Ethiopia in the coming days.
► To listen again: In Ethiopia, Tigray in the midst of a humanitarian crisis
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