Ethiopia: UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by escalation in fighting across Tigray |

The latest wave of violence began in August, after a fragile five-month humanitarian ceasefire, which has halted aid deliveries to Ethiopia’s northern region, where up to five million civilians are in need of aid.

Aid distribution continues to be hampered by lack of fuel, and the closure of communications across Tigray, while Tigrayan authorities have said that Eritrea has launched an offensive in support of Ethiopian Government forces, according to news reports.

Aid workers, civilians killed

The UN’s partner organization, the International Rescue Committee, has reported that one of its staff was killed in an attack in Tigray, while delivering aid to women and children in Shire town, on Friday.

In a statement on Saturday, the agency said that another IRC staff member was also injured in the attack, and that two other civilians were said to have been killed and three injured during the bombing. Aid workers and civilians should not be targeted, the IRC added.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Shire and other Tigrayan regions have suffered several airstrikes since August.

‘The worst effect’

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement issued by his spokesman, that the escalation in the conflict is “a The devastating impact on civilians in what was already a dire humanitarian situation“.

He is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his full support to the African Union’s mediation process and reaffirmed the readiness of the United Nations to support the resumption of talks as soon as possible so that they can reach a lasting political solution to this tragic conflict.”

Just last month, the African-style talks were supposed to take place in South Africa, but they were postponed.

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced in Tigray and the northern regions of Amhara and Afar, while tens of thousands are believed to have been killed. Millions of lives were affected by the conflict.

Help update

In a humanitarian update on October 4, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, said that UN staff are now allowed to move in and out of Tigray once more, but life-saving air supplies by road and air need to resume in speed.

“Those flights have been temporarily suspended since August 25, delaying the transfer of supplies and operating funds into the region, which is essential for operations,” he said, briefing reporters in New York.

“Despite security concerns, access restrictions and lack of resources, our partners continue to respond in the areas they can access in the three regions”, he said.

“In Tigray, the remaining humanitarian goods continue to be distributed and basic services provided, despite extremely difficult operational challenges.”

As of September 26, 32 mobile health and nutrition clinics are still operating at 58 health facilities and evacuation sites in the region, he said. In Amhara and Afar, displaced families are being helped with food, water, emergency shelter and other supplies, as well as health services, Mr. Dujarric added.