Tigray Faces Dire Food Crisis Amid Political Tensions

Local officials in Tigray province have raised alarms that over two million people are at risk of starvation, as the region grapples with the aftermath of conflict and severe drought. The BBC's exclusive access to affected areas, coupled with satellite imagery analysis, highlights the gravity of the situation. While some residents have returned home following the end of the war, many remain in camps, dependent on food aid due to failed crops. A displaced woman expressed her hope for a return to farming, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency for her children's future. The current crisis in Tigray has drawn comparisons to the devastating famine of 1984, which claimed nearly a million lives. However, Ethiopian officials, including Shiferaw Teklemariam from the national Disaster Risk Management Commission, have disputed claims of imminent famine, asserting that official assessments do not indicate a looming food crisis in Tigray or elsewhere in the country. This divergence in perspectives underscores the ongoing tensions between the Ethiopian government and humanitarian organizations. Relations between the government and aid agencies have been fraught, particularly during the conflict, with allegations of food aid being obstructed. In June of the previous year, the UN's World Food Programme and USAID halted food assistance to Ethiopia, citing evidence of theft by government officials. This political backdrop has led to a slow response from aid agencies, which are reportedly facing funding shortages and are wary of controversy. In light of these challenges, USAID has called on the Ethiopian government and other donors to bolster support for the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable populations in Tigray.