Since last July, approximately 225 people, including children, have succumbed to starvation in Ethiopia’s drought-affected and conflict-ridden Tigray region, as reported by local officials.
The majority of the deaths, totaling 209, were documented in the rural area of Edga Arbi. Additionally, 16 individuals displaced by a two-year civil war, which concluded in 2022, have lost their lives due to hunger in another area.
Tigray officials had previously issued warnings about the possibility of a famine akin to the one witnessed in Ethiopia in the mid-80s, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children and adults.
Despite these concerns, the federal government denies an imminent famine and asserts ongoing efforts to provide aid.
According to the United Nations, over 20 million people in Ethiopia require food assistance due to conflicts, drought, and flooding.