TIGRAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 (CISA) –The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi has described the situation at Tigray as extremely grave during a press conference at Addis Ababa on February 1.
“The humanitarian situation in Tigray, I think I will say something that everybody knows, but I think it’s important to repeat it, is extremely grave. People need all possible forms of support: food items, non-food items, medicine, clean water, shelter. The closure of the banking system, of the telecommunication system has added to the hardship of thousands of people, so the restoration of services is a very big priority and the United Nations as you know also estimates that hundreds of thousands, figures are difficult put forward in this situation, have been displaced and continue to be displaced,” he said.
He noted that six humanitarian workers have lost their lives in recent weeks and added that the UN and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) need assistance from the government to make easy and safe their mission to provide humanitarian aid to the affected population.
“Access is fundamental for the UN and NGOs. There are 16 UN agencies and 25 NGOs that have submitted requests for clearances. What I have discussed with all interlocutors, the Minister of Peace, Deputy Prime Minister but also the Prime Minister, is the importance to have an access management system, a clearance management system, that is fast, that is efficient and as close to the field operations as possible,” he said.
