Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Acknowledged
Paul Turnbull, Deputy Country Director and Representative of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in...
Conclusion
Paul Turnbull, Deputy Country Director and Representative of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Ethiopia, said: The situation in November and December was really terrible. It was not until about the middle of December that ICRC, and then WFP, could deliver anything from outside of Tigray. There was no movement from the stocks that were already in Mekelle, because there was no fuel. There was just no way to move things from Mekelle to the other areas.62 50 The current desert locust outbreak is the worst in 25 years. 51 OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Ethiopia, February 2021, p.6 52 OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Ethiopia, February 2021, p.6 53 OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Ethiopia, February 2021, p.10 54 UNHCR, Situation Update: Ethiopia, Tigray, 3 March 2021, p.2 55 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 30 March 2021, p.1 56 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.1 57 International Medical Corps, Ethiopia–Tigray Region Humanitarian Update Situation Report #6, 18 March 2021, p.1 58 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.8; See also Q10 and Q17 59 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.2 60 OCHA, Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report, 13 March 2021, p.8 61 Q21 62 Q8 [Paul Turnbull] The humanitarian situation in Tigray 15 UNICEF have said that humanitarian aid alone is not enough, and that, Monitoring, reporting and protection services for those affected must be urgently expanded to meet the growing needs of survivors.63
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states that ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors is a key priority, an issue raised bilaterally, and they continue to work with partners to improve access and reduce conflict.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
We do not share this assessment. There remain pressing issues regarding the importation of communications equipment and travel approvals, for example, that Mr Beasley’s visit did not address. Whilst there have been some, more recent, small improvements in access to telecommunications equipment by UN agencies, NGOs still have very little access. Weapons bearers also continue to routinely deny access to humanitarian agencies and loot humanitarian aid that has been delivered. There remains a need to continue to press the Government of Ethiopia, the Government of Eritrea, TPLF and other forces controlling territory to ensure widespread and sustained access for humanitarian actors in the region. We also continue to call for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces.
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