UN begins distributing food in Ethiopia’s Tigray
The UN’s food agency has started distributing food in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit Tigray region, according to David Beasley, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP).
This follows a deal between WFP and Ethiopia announced on Saturday that will expand access for aid workers to the region.
WFP has said it will transport 20,000 tonnes of food to Tigray to support about 1.3 million people.
Aid agencies have recently estimated that 4.5 million people are in need – more than 60% of Tigray’s population, but the Ethiopian government said only 2.5 million people are in need and says it can reach almost all of them.
Mr Beasley tweeted a video showing workers at a warehouse in Tigray preparing the food for distribution.
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Ethiopia on 4 November started a military offensive against Tigray’s former ruling party after regional troops captured federal military bases.
The government declared victory in Tigray after a month.
Thousands of residents fled the region and humanitarian organisations have not been permitted safe access to the region.
