UNFPA Ethiopia Response to the Tigray Crisis – Situation report (1-15 July 2021)

Background

Since the declaration of the unilateral ceasefire by the Federal Government on June 28, the withdrawal of the Ethiopian Defense Forces and the takeover of most parts of Tigray by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), the situation remains highly unpredictable and volatile in Northern Ethiopia. Humanitarian access within the region improved considerably – with many partners able to reach previously inaccessible areas – while movements in and out of the region have been extremely challenging impacting humanitarian actors’ capacity to restock supplies and mobilize additional staff to sustain operations. Electricity and telecommunications remain cut off and banking services are still not available further constraining partners’ ability to resume operations and provide assistance to nearly 91% of the region’s population1 in need of emergency aid.

Conflict in the area around the borders of Tigray is ongoing while the humanitarian situation continues to alarmingly deteriorate with over 5.5 million people2 in Tigray and the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara facing high levels of acute food insecurity and nearly 400,000 people experiencing famine conditions.

In the midst of the unfolding events, the United Nations or the Global Protection Cluster continue to call for the upholding of the ceasefire until its envisaged end date in September and the protection of civilians, particularly women, children and refugees. Meanwhile, military tensions are escalating especially in the western part of Tigray.

Source: United Nations Population Fund