[ad_1]
This newsletter is issued for information only and reflects the current situation and the details available at this time. The respective National Societies, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), have released Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) to support the Red Crescent Sudan; and is in the process of supporting the Ethiopian Red Cross in its response to the current situation. The International Federation continuously monitors the situation as it evolves; and is looking forward to expanding the support provided to member National Societies as needed. This will be done in coordination with other components of the Movement, including the ICRC.
The situation
Since November 3, 2020, a series of increasingly intense clashes between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray regional government has resulted in a growing humanitarian emergency that includes numerous victims and population movements both internally and across borders. An estimated 9 million people in or near the Tigray region are at risk due to increased fighting.
On November 6, 2020, Ethiopian lawmakers approved a state of emergency for a period of six months in the Tigray region. On November 7, 2020, the Ethiopian Parliament voted in favor of the dissolution of the Government of the Tigray region and established a transitional government for the region. On November 13, 2020, there was an escalation in the situation with the launch of rockets that reached the airports of Bahir Dar and Gondar in the Amhara region, which borders Tigray to the south. On November 14, 2020, the rocket launch reached the Eritrea capital Asmara.
Access to the Tigray region has been severely restricted, with roads blocked, flights suspended, and lines of communication (including telephone and Internet) closed. There are reports that access is increasing, with some roads now open, but it remains extremely limited.
The Tigray region, with a population of approximately 5 million, already hosted approximately 600,000 people who relied on relief assistance before the crisis, including 400,000 food-insecure, 100,000 internally displaced and almost 96,000 refugees and almost 16,000 migrants. returnees1. While in neighboring Ethiopia regions and surrounding countries, people were already dealing with the effects of COVID19, such as other disasters and crises, including floods, food insecurity and pests. The population movement resulting from the situation in the Tigray region exacerbates the impact of these crises, leaving people even more at risk and even more vulnerable.
