UN, Ethiopia sign deal for humanitarian access to Tigray

Ethiopian refugees who fled the fighting in Tigray Region are pictured at Umm Rakuba camp in eastern Sudan's Gedaref State, on November 30, 2020. (File/AFP)

• For weeks, the UN and others have pleaded for aid access amid reports of food, medicines and other supplies running out

NAIROBI, Kenya: The United Nations says it and Ethiopia’s government have signed a deal to allow “unimpeded” humanitarian access to the embattled Tigray region, at least the parts under federal government control.
This will allow the first aid to the region of 6 million people that has been cut off during fighting that began a month ago between the federal and Tigray regional governments. Each regards the other as illegal in a power struggle that has been months in the making.
For weeks, the UN and others have pleaded for aid access amid reports of food, medicines and other supplies running out.
A UN humanitarian spokesman says the first mission to carry out a needs assessment begins Wednesday.