Ethiopia is facing a humanitarian catastrophe as drought and conflict have pushed millions of people to the brink of famine. The country’s ombudsman office has confirmed that nearly 400 people have died of hunger in the northern regions of Tigray and Amhara in the last six months, while aid agencies warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly.
The impact of war and drought
Tigray and Amhara have been engulfed by violence since November 2021, when a civil war broke out between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a rebel group that once dominated Ethiopian politics. The fighting has displaced more than two million people, disrupted basic services, and hampered humanitarian access.
The war has also exacerbated the effects of a severe drought that has hit the Horn of Africa, leaving crops and livestock devastated. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), more than 20 million people across Ethiopia need food assistance, with 5.2 million in Tigray alone facing emergency levels of hunger.
The challenges of delivering aid
Despite a ceasefire declared by the government in June 2022, the conflict has continued to rage in parts of Tigray and Amhara, where the TPLF has expanded its territorial control. The insecurity and bureaucratic hurdles have made it difficult for aid workers to reach the most vulnerable populations.
In March 2022, the WFP and the US suspended food aid to Tigray after discovering a large-scale scheme to divert humanitarian grain, allegedly involving government officials and the military. The aid agencies resumed deliveries in December, after introducing measures to prevent theft, such as GPS trackers and QR codes.
However, the new system has faced technical glitches and funding shortages, and only a fraction of the targeted beneficiaries have received food aid so far. Some people in Tigray have not received any food assistance for over a year, according to aid workers who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The call for action
The Ethiopian ombudsman office, a state-appointed body that investigates public complaints, has urged the government and the international community to take swift action to address the hunger crisis. The office said it conducted a 10-day assessment in Tigray and Amhara, and found that 351 people had died of starvation in Tigray, while 21 had died in Amhara.
The office also said that the actual death toll could be higher, as some areas were inaccessible or unreported. It called for more transparency and accountability in the distribution of food aid, and for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers from attacks.
The UN and other humanitarian organizations have also appealed for more funding and access to deliver life-saving assistance to Ethiopia. The UN has requested $1.4 billion for its humanitarian response plan in 2024, but has only received 11% of that amount so far.
Hope for recovery
Despite the grim situation, there are some signs of hope for a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in Ethiopia. The African Union has appointed former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo as a special envoy to mediate between the warring parties and facilitate dialogue.
The US and the European Union have also increased their diplomatic pressure on both sides to end the hostilities and respect human rights. The US has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals and entities involved in the conflict, while the EU has suspended budget support and development aid to Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, some local initiatives have emerged to foster reconciliation and healing among the communities affected by the war. For example, a group of women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds have formed a peace committee in the town of Shire, where they organize dialogues, workshops, and cultural events to promote harmony and tolerance.
As the international and regional efforts to end the conflict continue, the people of Ethiopia hope for a swift and peaceful resolution that will allow them to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, and to overcome the hunger and suffering that have plagued them for too long.
Source: Reuters
