ETHIOPIA : Ethiopia’s ombudsman office, in an unprecedented move, acknowledged the grim reality of hunger-related deaths in Tigray and Amhara. While local officials had reported such deaths earlier, the federal government consistently dismissed these claims as “completely wrong.” The ombudsman’s office sent experts to assess the situation, revealing that 351 people perished due to hunger in Tigray over the past six months, with an additional 44 deaths in Amhara.

Despite aid agencies resuming grain deliveries after a hiatus prompted by theft concerns, only 14% of the 3.2 million people targeted for food aid in Tigray have received it by January 21, per a memo from the Tigray Food Cluster. Urgent calls to scale up operations underscore the risk of severe food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly affecting vulnerable children and women.

The United Nations and the United States suspended food aid to Tigray in mid-March last year due to large-scale theft. Although aid resumed in December with reforms, Tigray authorities argue that food isn’t reaching those in need. Technical issues, GPS tracking problems, and insufficient funds have hindered the new aid delivery system, leaving some Tigray residents needing food aid for over a year.

The hunger crisis isn’t confined to Tigray alone; approximately 20.1 million people across Ethiopia urgently need humanitarian food assistance due to drought, conflict, and economic hardships. The Famine Early Warning System warns of impending crisis-level hunger or worse in various Ethiopian regions through early 2024.

The civil war’s aftermath in Tigray, compounded by persistent insecurity, has led to a reduced planting season and catastrophic crop failures. The poor harvest prompted Tigray’s authorities to issue warnings of an “unfolding famine” reminiscent of the devastating 1984-85 crisis, emphasizing the need for immediate and substantial aid.

While Tigray’s leader, Getachew Reda, sounded the alarm about mass starvation deaths last month, Ethiopia’s federal government continues to deny the existence of a large-scale hunger crisis, accusing him of politicizing the situation. As international concern grows, urgent actions are imperative to prevent further loss of lives in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions.

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