In a stark revelation, the UK-based charity Oxfam has disclosed that one in three individuals in northern Ethiopia is grappling with extreme hunger.
This dire situation encompasses nearly 10 million people across the regions of Tigray and Amhara.
The root causes of this alarming hunger crisis are multifaceted, stemming from a combination of conflict and drought.
These adversities have severely disrupted agricultural activities, leading to significant reductions in harvest yields.
As a result, millions of individuals are now resorting to desperate measures to sustain themselves, facing what Oxfam describes as “unimaginable ways” of survival.
Tragically, the consequences of this hunger crisis are already proving fatal, with reports from a federal government agency indicating that nearly 400 individuals have succumbed to starvation in Tigray and Amhara.
Oxfam warns that without a significant escalation in relief efforts, the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia is poised to deteriorate further, potentially resulting in a catastrophic outcome.
However, challenges persist in delivering adequate aid due to funding shortfalls and ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Amhara region.
Despite these urgent warnings from humanitarian organizations and reports of impending famine from officials in Tigray, the federal government has downplayed the likelihood of famine, adding complexity to the response efforts.