The Ethiopian government on Saturday vehemently rejected dire warnings from Tigrayan authorities about a looming famine in the war-scarred region, despite acknowledging a significant humanitarian crisis fueled by drought and lingering conflict.
Getachew Reda, president of Tigray’s interim administration, painted a grim picture on Friday, claiming 91% of the population faced “starvation and death.” He likened the situation to the devastating 1980s famine that claimed over a million lives, drawing immediate pushback from Addis Ababa.
Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu refuted the famine claims, emphasizing that while 3.8 million people in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar faced drought risk and another 1.1 million suffered from floods, the situation wasn’t comparable to the historical tragedy. He asserted the government was actively providing aid.
Amidst these differing narratives, an underlying urgency persists. Getachew declared a disaster emergency in rebel-controlled areas, citing limited resources and pleading for international support. He blamed the war, which erupted in November 2020, for displacing millions and leaving hundreds of thousands dead.
Adding to the complexity, food aid deliveries had been suspended by the UN World Food Programme and USAID in June due to alleged diversion of supplies. However, distribution has recently resumed, offering a glimmer of hope amidst continued access restrictions for independent media verification.
Getachew, once the public face of the Tigrayan rebels, now heads the interim regional authority established after the November 2022 peace deal. While the fragile truce eases immediate concerns, the humanitarian situation remains precarious, demanding both sustained aid efforts and robust measures to address the root causes of the crisis.
Unfettered access for independent observers and a genuine commitment to transparent governance are crucial to ensure effective resource allocation and prevent a potential catastrophe. Navigating the intricacies of conflicting narratives and political tensions while prioritizing the desperate needs of the people will be the defining challenge in alleviating the suffering in northern Ethiopia.
