Tigrayans to receive medical supplies

The World Health Organization has been permitted to deliver medical supplies to Ethiopia's Tigray region for the first time in six months to relieve the humanitarian crisis, said the United Nations body, which is also calling for fuel to be allowed into Tigray urgently for distribution of medicines.

In a statement released on Monday, the WHO said the supplies, which are now in storage until they can be distributed, include essential medical equipment, personal protective equipment, antibiotics, medicines for malaria and diabetes, treatment for severe acute malnutrition, and other medicines and supplies for reproductive health.

"Our partner, the World Food Programme, began airlifting the supplies to Mekelle in Tigray on Feb 11. More shipments are planned this week. Fuel for humanitarian operations has not been allowed into Tigray since August 2021, except for two WFP trucks in November," said the WHO in the statement.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, wrote in a tweet on Monday that the aid shipment that has been allowed in only amounted to a small portion of what is required.

Lack of fuel

"After six months without access, critically needed medical supplies from WHO have arrived in Tigray, but lack of fuel prevents their distribution. This shipment represents a small portion of what is needed.

"WHO calls again for unfettered access to provide humanitarian aid," Tedros said.

The shipments, which are part of 33.5 metric tons of planned deliveries, represent a small portion of what is needed.

Without access to supplies, health workers are trying to continue providing health services with almost no medicine or functioning equipment.

The WHO intends to deliver the entire 33.5 tons of essential medical supplies by making shipments of 10 tons a day. It said the drugs and medical supplies would be delivered to the war-ravaged region in the next few days.

Political tensions between the government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and leaders of Tigray's semi-autonomous region led to fighting in November 2020, causing severe disruptions to food aid, medical supplies, cash and fuel.

The UN said the 15-monthslong ongoing civil war has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions from their homes.

According to a World Food Programme report released last month, three-quarters of Tigray's population of 6 million are using extreme coping strategies to survive and more than a third are suffering from an extreme lack of food.