Ethiopia is facing an ‘immense humanitarian crisis’, UN chief warns

Ethiopia is facing an “immense humanitarian crisis” amid civil war and famine, United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has warned, Report informs, citing The Guardian.

The UN chief made the comments during an emergency meeting of the security council on Wednesday, calling for Addis Ababa to grant “unhindered” aid access a week after the country expelled seven UN officials.

It is the second emergency meeting in a week to address the expulsion of seven UN officials from Ethiopia as conflict, and famine-like conditions plague the north of the country.

The UN estimates the conflict has driven 400,000 into famine-like conditions, with up to seven million people in need of food assistance in regions such as Tigray, Amhara and Afar.

Last year, long-running tensions between prime minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) erupted into fighting.

“The country is facing an immense humanitarian crisis that demands immediate attention,” Guterres said. “All efforts should be squarely focused on saving lives and avoiding a massive human tragedy.”