(AG) – Tigray Regional State official Abraha Desta told Voice of America (VOA) that humanitarian aid delivery is being blocked by TPLF rebels, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis. “Drivers are afraid,” said Mr Abraha, and some children in central Tigray are dying of starvation.
The interim Tigray government revealed that about 50,000 people in Mekelle already received aid and over 300,000 are expected to get humanitarian aid soon. However, half a million Tigrayans depended on food aid even before the conflict began, and over a million more need aid due to the conflict. But some transportation routes are being ambushed by remnant militias of the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).
Abraha also revealed that some international humanitarian organizations are themselves refusing his Tigray administration’s request for more aid, due to security concerns, according to VOA. It is unknown the reasons for the refusals, though experts say there are individuals in the NGO community who are sympathetic to the rebels and the TPLF was also infamous for staffing local NGO positions with its own members.
Abraha said the government is providing more security convoys to protect aid routes from the rebels.
This is not the first time the TPLF are accused of blocking aid. The BBC has previously reported that TPLF commanders diverted western aid money to buy weapons and finance their armed struggle in the 1980s. Tens of thousands of Tigrayans died due to starvation in that period.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen revealed that creating a humanitarian crisis was part of the TPLF’s military final strategy. “Tigray administration officials have been alarmed by the extent of damage the TPLF caused on infrastructure on its way out, in order to hurt Tigrayan people and use their suffering as a weapon to recruit support.”
In October, the former TPLF leader Seyoum Mesfin said “we will turn Ethiopia into Syria.” The conflict began after insurrectionist TPLF militias ambushed the federal forces stationed at Tigray in November.
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The people of Tigray and the provisional governors should assist the defence forces to secure the aid in order to reach the truly affected living in all corners of Tigray.