United Nations allocate $25M to 'support lifesaving assistance' in Ethiopia's besieged Tigray

CAIRO – 16 November 2021: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths announced Monday that the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) is allocating $25 million "to support lifesaving assistance in Ethiopia."

That brings the total up to $40 million as $15 million have been dedicated by UN-affiliated Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF), which is specialized in dealing with natural disasters. Griffiths noted that the funds will be used in supporting "aid efforts in the North and drought response in the South." By the North, the international official means Tigray region, where armed conflict is ongoing.

I am allocating $25M from @UNCERF to support lifesaving assistance in Ethiopia. A $15M allocation from the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund is also ongoing, bringing the total to $40M.

The funds will support aid efforts in the north of the country and drought response in the south.

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) November 15, 2021

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had indicated earlier that "364 aid trucks have been waiting for authorization to access Tigray since October 18," according to UN News website. It is quoting OCHA's statement as saying, "It is estimated that 80 per cent of essential medication is no longer available in Tigray while most health facilities are not functional due to damage and lack of supplies."

The office added that, "Only 19 of the 59 mobile health and nutrition teams operating at the end of August are still providing services, owing to a lack of supplies and fuel," UN News website reported.

The United Nations (UN) said earlier this week that at least nine of its staff remain detained by Ethiopia's federal government in Addis Ababa, and that 70 truckers who were to drive humanitarian aid into the northern Tigray region have also been taken into custody.

The conflict between Tigray and the federal government has been ongoing since November 1, 2020, as a result of the former's objection of the postponement of elections, and the marginalization of politicians affiliated to the TPLF, that used to be an integral part of the consecutive governments for decades.