By Vesla Centurion Kals
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that access to Ethiopia’s warring region, Tigray, is urgently needed to save the lives of millions of people facing a “perfect storm” of deprivation.
According to local media reports, Amhara and Afar towns are hit by cholera and measles outbreaks in addition to the direct and indirect impact of the ongoing internal conflict.
These are towns where aid agencies have limited access.
With fighting going on despite ceasefire calls, there has been no no air or road access to Tigray for right weeks now.
The WHO said its officials have been unable to verify the actual extent of disease outbreaks in the region.
The BBC said childhood vaccinations have stopped and that supplies of IV fluids, insulin and antibiotics have run out. Fewer than one in 10 health centres are functioning.
Tigray is grappling with acute food and fuel shortages, with 89% of the population living under a growing food insecurity.
It was also reported that 29% of children are suffering from malnutrition while 13 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance across Tigray, Afar and Amhara.
Speaking earlier this month, the head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is from Tigray, said there was “a very narrow window to prevent genocide”.
The WHO’s fresh concerns come amidst peace talks involving the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan representatives which are taking place in South Africa.
Despite peace talks going on since early this week, aid agencies remain restricted from accessing the affected regions.
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