For the first time since the beginning of the Ethiopian military offensive in Tigray, a convoy with international aid supplies has reached the embattled region. As the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced today, the delivery was organized in coordination with the Ethiopian authorities. The Ethiopian Red Cross also took part.
The convoy reportedly consisted of seven trucks carrying medicines and medical equipment for the treatment of more than 400 people in the regional capital of Mekele. The aid delivery will benefit the capital city hospital, the regional health department and the pharmacy of the Ethiopian Red Cross.
Hospital closed intensive care unit
The hospital had to close its intensive care unit and operating room because the medical equipment and fuel for the generators ran out. At the same time, doctors had to treat more and more injured people at the end of November.
„This medical aid convoy will help replenish supplies, help patients and reduce the number of difficult life-and-death decisions,“ said ICRC Regional Director for Africa Patrick Youssef. According to the ICRC, the delivery also included blankets, clothing, cooking utensils and soap for around 100 families.
A humanitarian corridor called for
The international community had been calling for humanitarian access to the crisis region for weeks, which had been practically cut off from the rest of the world since the beginning of the conflict in early November.
At the beginning of December, the UN announced that it had reached an agreement with the Ethiopian government that would guarantee „unconditional access for humanitarian aid“. The deal failed, however, as Addis Adeba insisted on keeping the lead on the matter. The Ethiopian government appears to want to prevent outsiders from playing a leading role in the relief effort.
