Update on the Ethiopia Crisis

Article written and website edited by Misaki Tomiyama

As the clash between the government of Ethiopia and the TPLF (TPLF- a military party in the northern Tigray state) aggravates, many people living near the conflict hit regions are forced to be sent as refugees to Sudan, and other neighbouring countries. Furthermore, the living conditions for these refugees are severe.

(for more background information about the Ethiopia crisis- Ethiopian air strikes, Ethiopia Crisis, What's happening in Ethiopia)

The Ethiopian government has announced that they have captured Mekelle (Regional capital of Tigray) over the weekend, but the soldiers of TPLF are still fighting around that area. Hundreds of people have been reported to have been killed, and sent a surge of refugees to Sudan, leaving the UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) concerned and alarmed. The refugees are living under severe conditions, without proper food, shelter, medicines and other basic necessities. The refugee camps have a scarcity of food, and malnutrition and hunger are dangers in the refugee camps.

Recently, the UN and Ethiopia have come to a conclusion that they will allow aid into the country's Tigray region according to the UN officials. There are many regions in Ethiopia where there are communication blackouts and blocking of transportation, however, communication was fully restored in the southeast region of Tigray- Alamata. For the other regions, the exact details of the involvement in the conflict, exact numbers of deaths are still unclear because of the communications blackout.