WFP’s northern Ethiopia action hindered over passage barrier

Date:

Share post:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that its life-saving food assistance operations in northern Ethiopia are about to grind to a halt because intense fighting has blocked the passage of fuel and food.

 

The escalation of conflict across northern Ethiopia means that no WFP convoy has reached Mekelle since mid-December. Stocks of nutritionally fortified food for the treatment of malnourished children and women are now exhausted, and the last of WFP’s cereals, pulses and oil will be distributed next week.

“We’re now having to choose who goes hungry to prevent another from starving,”  said Michael Dunford, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa.

“We need immediate guarantees from all parties to the conflict for safe and secure humanitarian corridors, via all routes, across northern Ethiopia. Humanitarian supplies are simply not flowing at the pace and scale needed. The lack of both food and fuel means we’ve only been able to reach 20% of those we should have in this latest distribution in Tigray. We’re on the edge of a humanitarian disaster.”

More than a year into the conflict in northern Ethiopia, an estimated 9.4 million people require humanitarian food assistance. This is an increase of 2.7 million from just four months ago, the highest number yet. At the same time, because of fighting, food distributions are at an all-time low.

WFP plans to reach 2.1 million people with food assistance in Tigray; 650,000 in Amhara; and 534,000 in Afar Region.

WFP also warns it will likely run out of food and nutrition supplies for millions of people across all of  Ethiopia from next month due to an unprecedented lack of funding. WFP is calling for an additional US$337 million to deliver its emergency food assistance response in Northern Ethiopia and US$170 million to reach those affected by severe drought in Somali region over the next six months.

Addis Insight
Addis Insighthttps://addisinsight.net/
Addis Insight is Ethiopia’s fastest growing digital news platform, providing consumers with the latest news from Ethiopia and its diaspora. We provide marketers with innovative opportunities to leverage our stories and overall brand with a fiercely curious and highly engaged audience.
spot_img

Related articles

Ethiopia’s Government Bans Two Prominent Human Rights Organizations

The Civil Society Organizations Authority (ACSO) confirmed on Wednesday that it has banned two organizations known for their...

ADvTECH Expands into Ethiopia with $7.5 Million Acquisition of Flipper International School

In a significant move to expand its presence across Africa, JSE-listed private education provider ADvTECH Group has announced...

Safaricom Confirms No Coverage for Western Parts of Ethiopia in Next Phase of Expansion

During a visit by the House of People’s Representatives to its headquarters, Safaricom Ethiopia announced its next phase...

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Moves to Establish an Investment Bank

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is in the process of establishing an investment bank, a move aligned...