Services to Eritrean refugees in Tigray region remains disrupted: Government

Addis Ababa, August 26, 2021 (FBC) – In a biweekly press briefing, Press Secretariat of the Office of the Prime Minister, Billene Seyoum said that services to Eritrean Refugees in Tigray region still remains disrupted putting lives of tens of thousands of refugees at stake.

The orchestrated and heinous on Eritrean refugees by TPLF forces targeting Shimelba, Hitsats, Mai-Aini Adi Harush Camps has resulted in the looting, abduction and killing of Eritrean refugees, the Press Secretariat underlined.

On the other hand, she said 457 trucks loaded with humanitarian assistance have been deployed to Tigray region with 380 trucks which have already arrived in the region.

Due to TPLF’s incursion to the Amhara and Afar Regional States, the number of people displaced surpassed 500,000 thousands. She called for urgent humanitarian assistance to displaced in the two regions.

Billene also said close to 4.5 million People affected by the atrocities as a result of the incursion and related destructions

Regional Emergency Response Coordination Centers have been activated in the two regions, she indicated, adding that emergency service posts are installed.

Government is working with the Afar leadership elders and community representatives in Afar region to facilitate smooth humanitarian access.

She indicated that 4,800 quintals of food for IDPs in Afar Region, she said, adding WFP has allocated three rounds of aid to the region.

According to the Press Secretariat, 4,621 quintals of food has also been distributed to more than 30,000 beneficiaries in Amhara region.

She indicated that 2,800 quintals of food are moving to Wag Hemra Zone of the Amhara region while 2,000 has been delivered to IDPs in Debark. Partners have mobilized resources to around 60,000 IDPs in Dessie town and 5,000 quintals of food distribute to over 30,000 IDPs in this area.

She also noted that 457 trucks loaded with humanitarian assistance have been deployed to Tigray region with 380 trucks which have already arrived in the region.

Based on concerns raised by international relief organizations, the government has decided to reduce number of checkpoints from 7 to 3 to enable efficient transit of humanitarian assistance to Tigray region, she added.