The EU said on Monday it would allocate 53.7 million euros ($ 64.6 million) in humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia, including those affected by the conflict in the northern Tigray area, according to a statement.
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EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, who is expected in Ethiopia on Tuesday, said the conflict in the Tigray region has exacerbated an already difficult situation in the Horn of Africa.
On November 4 last year, Ethiopia launched a sweeping law enforcement operation against the forces of the former almighty Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), now banned after the latter stormed an Ethiopian federal army command stationed in Tigray, killing soldiers and looting significant military hardware.
On November 28, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared military engagement over after the fall of the regional capital of Mekele to the federal army. But sporadic fighting continued in the region as hundreds of thousands of people were internally displaced and more than 60,000 fled to neighboring Sudan.
“Humanitarian needs – even basic survival needs such as food security, health and shelter – are growing. In addition, violence is increasing in several parts of the country,
“In addition, the situation in Tigray five months after the conflict remains serious despite minor improvements, keeping millions of people in need of assistance, especially in rural and inaccessible areas,” he said.
Lenarcic will meet with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen when he arrives in Ethiopia, according to the statement.
He said the key priority remains to ensure humanitarian access to all people in need in the Tigray region.
The Ethiopian government is working to reach six Woredas (districts) that have not received any food aid, targeting about 300,000 people, according to the UN.
Since the violence began in early November 2020, refugees have arrived at remote border points that take hours to reach from the nearest cities in Sudan. Many of the refugees are women and children.
