Famine in the Tigray War

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Famine in the Tigray War
CountryEthiopia
LocationEast Africa
PeriodNovember 2020 – present
Death rate50–100 people per day[1]
Theorycivil war, locust swarms[2]
Relief$1.3 billion (58% funded)[2]
Impact on demographics5 million in need of assistance[2]

The famine in the Tigray War is an acute shortage of food leading to death and starvation in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, which resulted from the Tigray War that started in November 2020. As of May 2021 there are 5.5 million people facing acute food insecurity and over 350,000 people experiencing catastrophic famine conditions (IPC Phase 5).[3][4] It is the worst famine worldwide since the 2011 famine in Somalia.[4]

The main reason for the famine is the ongoing Tigray War, displacement and loss of harvest due to war and locust swarms. As reported by The Economist, the federal Ethiopian government is "deliberately holding back food in an effort to starve" the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF);[5] a claim disputed by the Ethiopian government in late January.[5] On 10 February 2021, Abera Tola, head of Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), described displaced people "reach[ing] camps in Tigrayan towns [being] 'emaciated'" and that "their skin [was] really on their bones." He estimated that "eighty percent" of Tigray was unreachable by humanitarian assistance.[6] In early February 2021, Muferiat Kamil, Ethiopian Minister of Peace, agreed with World Food Programme representatives to allow increased food distribution in Tigray Region.[6]

Definitions[]

On 7 February 2021, Tufts University researcher Alex de Waal argued that the information blackout from the Tigray Region should not be used to "quibble" over the formal classification of the type of starvation in terms of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)[7] of acute food security, in which the severest classifications are "crisis (phase 3)", "emergency (phase 4)" and "famine (phase 5)".[8] De Waal said that 380,000 people had died of "hunger and violence" during the South Sudanese Civil War, among which only 1% had died in areas classified as being under "famine (phase 5)".[9]

Death counts[]

Transitional government of Tigray[]

Abraha Desta, head of the opposition polical party Arena Tigray and head of the Bureau of Social Affairs of the Transitional Government of Tigray, stated on 25 January 2021 that reports had been received of 10 people who had died from starvation in Gulomahda woreda, which in the 2007 census had 84,236 inhabitants; and 3 starvation deaths in Adwa, which had 40,500 residents in the 2007 census.[10][11] The mortality rate for a phase 5 famine is 2 deaths per 10,000 inhabitants per day.[8]

In June 2021, a Tigray regional health official stated that the district administrator of in Indafelasi, Berhe Desta Gebremariam, had reported 125 deaths by starvation, describing people as "falling like leaves", as well 315 other deaths, 558 people who had been victims of sexual violence, and the looting of 5000 homes.[12]

United Nations OCHA[]

On 15 April 2021, Mark Lowcock of OCHA said that four internally displaced people in Tigray Region were known to have died of hunger that week, and 150 people had died of hunger in Ofla.[13]

Claims of intent[]

On 22 January 2021, The Economist claimed that it was "likely that the authorities [were] deliberately holding back food in an effort to starve the rebels out."[5]

In early April 2021, the World Peace Foundation published a report in which it listed Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, "Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions" and Articles 270(i) and 273 of the as appropriate criminal laws in relation to starvation in the Tigray War. Section 4 of the report listed evidence. The authors concluded that the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments were responsible for starvation, and that "circumstantial evidence suggest[ed] that [the starvation was] intentional, systematic and widespread."[14]

In early October 2021, Mark Lowcock, who led OCHA during part of the Tigray War, stated that the Ethiopian federal government was deliberately starving Tigray, "running a sophisticated campaign to stop aid getting in" and that there was "not just an attempt to starve six million people but an attempt to cover up what's going on."[15]

In November 2021 in Human Geography, Teklehaymanot G. Weldemichel argued that "famine [in Tigray Region] was from the start an end goal of the Ethiopian and Eritrean" governments. Teklehaymanot listed key tactics that he saw as inducing a famine to include the systematic looting and destruction of infrastructure; banking measures that blocked access to cash; and a siege obstructing humanitarian aid.[16]

Causal factors and estimates[]

Woman tries to sell tomatoes and onions on an almost empty market in Hawzen on 6 June 2021

In an 8 January meeting of the Tigray Emergency Coordination Center between international aid groups and Transitional Government of Tigray officials in Mekelle, capital of Tigray Region, a regional administraor, Berhane Gebretsadik, estimated that "hundreds of thousands" were at risk of starvation if food aid wasn't increased, and that in Adwa, people were "dying while they [were] sleeping".[17]

An federal official stated that there was "no starvation in Ethiopia" on 19 January 2021, according to The Economist.[5]

On 22 January 2021, The Economist described estimates by Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)[18] as Tigray being "probably one step from famine" and quoted a "Western diplomat" estimating, "We could have a million dead there in a couple of months". The burning of crops and abandonment of fields prior to harvest time were listed by The Economist as causative factors of starvation.[5]

On 25 January 2021, Abraha stated that many people were displaced after having their property looted and that food was available, but there was a distribution problem, since drivers were afraid. He stated that foreign aid organisations were unable to leave the capital Mekelle due to security concerns for convoys. He described the situation as "'unprecedented in its history', and that 4.5 million people were in need of emergency food assistance".[10] The Economist described the access blocks as including the initial federal government authorisation, authorisations from neighbouring regional governments, and blocks by local armed forces "citing security" or worried about food being provided to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).[5]

In early February 2021, the FEWS NET classified the level of starvation in Tigray Region under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) criteria as "Emergency (Phase 4)" in the central areas and as "Crisis (Phase 3)" in the rest of Tigray Region apart from Western Tigray. FEWS NET saw the armed conflict and access constraints, low levels of economic activity and income-earning, and "significant disruption to market activity" as being key factors for phase 4 level acute food security to continue in central and eastern Tigray through to May 2021.[19]

According to Human Rights Concern Eritrea (HRCE), prior to the Eritrean refugees in the Shimelba and Hitsats refugee camps being forced to return to Eritrea, they were so hungry that they were "forced to eat grass and roots".[20]

On 10 February 2021, , head of Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), stated,

Displaced civilians who have managed to reach camps in Tigrayan towns are 'emaciated'. You see their skin is really on their bones. You don't see any food in their body.

— Abera Tola, AFP[6]

Abera stated that "eighty percent" of Tigray was unreachable from humanitarian assistance. He predicted that the number of deaths by starvation could mount to "tens of thousands" within two months.[6]

On 2 July 2021, the United Nations Security Council discussed the issue and told that more than 400,000 people were being affected by food insecurity and that 33,000 children were severely malnourished. The report also stated that 1.8 million people were on the brink of famine.[21]

USAID food aid, high energy biscuits, in Tigray

On 16 November 2021, Dr Hagos Godefay, the former head of the health bureau in the pre-conflict Tigrayan government, announced that research had confirmed that at least 186 children under the age of 5 had died in Tigray due to starvation between late June and October 2021.[22]

An investigation revealed in November 2021 that the UAE opened an air bridge to provide extensive military support to the Ethiopian government, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians and displaced millions. More than 90 flights were operated between Sweihan Base, Abu Dhabi, and Harar Meda Base, south of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, between September and October 2021. The UAE took support of two private shipping companies, including one Spanish and one Ethiopian firm, to carry out this extensive operation. The satellite images also showed a Chinese-made Wing Loong drone at the Ethiopian airport.[23]

On 27 November 2021, The Economist reported that Turkey, Iran, Israel and the UAE have all been selling weapons to Ethiopia, while the relations soured between the US and Ethiopia. Eritrea reportedly dispatched troops on behalf of Abiy Ahmed, and the UAE was accused of flying drones. The Emirates also pledged billions in aid, going against America that suggested restraint. The help from such autocratic powers escalated the war in Tigray, causing humanitarian crisis for tens of millions of Ethiopians.[24]

Food aid distribution[]

Distribution of USAID food aid, wheat, in Tigray

On 1 February, Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, stated that "twelve weeks since the start of conflict in [Tigray Region], meaningful humanitarian operations [had] still not begun", with aid organisations unable to access much of the region, especially away from Mekelle and major roads, and with administrative delays and unpredictability in obtaining authorisations for access. Egeland stated that he had "rarely seen a humanitarian response so impeded and unable to deliver in response for so long, to so many with such pressing needs."[25]

In early February 2021, Muferiat Kamil, Ethiopian Minister of Peace, agreed with World Food Programme representatives to "scale up" food distribution in Tigray Region, authorising 25 international staff for access, while another 49 awaited approval.[6] On 12 February, a total of 53 international staff of United Nations agencies and NGOs had received approval to enter Tigray Region.[26]

As of 15 April 2021, humanitarian aid distribution was blocked on several of the main roads by military fighting, by the Eritrean Defence Forces, and by Amhara Region security forces.[13]

Food distribution partners in Tigray on 31 May 2021

Blockade of aid deliveries[]

On 30 September 2021, following a UN statement about the federal Ethiopian blockade against deliveries of food aid to Tigray, the federal government expelled seven senior United Nations (UN) officials . The federal Ethiopian authorities accused the UN officials of "meddling" in Ethiopian "internal affairs". The officials were given 72 hours to leave Ethiopia.[27][28] On 4 November 2021, research Alex de Waal called for UN organisations to negotiate the shipping of food aid into Tigray Region directly with the Tigrayan government, the Oromo Liberation Army "and whoever controls territory and people", overriding the political control of the federal Ethiopian authorities if necessary.[29]

References[]

  1. ^ "Tigray is edging closer to famine". The Economist. 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Over 5 million people face extreme hunger as the Tigray conflict surges past six months – Oxfam". 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ "5.5 Million People in Tigray and Neighbouring Zones of Afar and Amhara Face High Levels of Acute Food Insecurity" (PDF). Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. June 2021.
  4. ^ a b "350,000 people in famine conditions in Ethiopia's Tigray". Al Jazeera. 10 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "After two months of war, Tigray faces starvation – Ethiopia's government appears to be blocking food deliveries to the region". The Economist. 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Ethiopian Red Cross says 80 percent of Tigray cut off from aid". France 24. AFP. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  7. ^ "IPC Overview and Classification System". Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. 2013. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b "IPC and Famine". Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. 2013. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ de Waal, Alex (7 February 2021). "Viewpoint: From Ethiopia's Tigray region to Yemen, the dilemma of declaring a famine". Tufts University. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b Ekubamichael, Medihane (25 January 2021). "News: Tigray region interim admin official admits death of 13 due to lack of food; says crisis scale 'unprecedented' in region's history". Addis Standard. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ^ Zekaria, Samia (18 October 2010). "Tigray". Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia). Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ^ Anna, Cara (30 June 2021). "Trapped in Ethiopia's Tigray, people 'falling like leaves'". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Breaking: Report received by the UN 'just this morning' reveals 150 people died of hunger in Tigray; Eritrean forces, Amhara region authorities restricting humanitarian access". Addis Standard. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Starving Tigray – How armed conflict and mass atrocities have destroyed an Ethiopian Region's economy and food system and are threatening famine" (PDF). World Peace Foundation. 5 April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. ^ Schifrin, Nick (6 October 2021). "Ethiopia's 'sophisticated campaign' to withhold food, fuel and other aid from Tigray". PBS. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  16. ^ Weldemichel, Teklehaymanot G. (18 November 2021). "Inventing hell: how the Ethiopian and Eritrean regimes produced famine in Tigray". Human Geography. SAGE Publishing. doi:10.1177/19427786211061431. S2CID 244412611. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  17. ^ Zelalem, Zecharias (19 January 2021). "Starvation crisis looms as aid groups seek urgent Tigray access". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  18. ^ Brown, Molly E. (2008). "The Future of FEWS NET". Famine Early Warning Systems and Remote Sensing Data. Springer. pp. 297–309. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-75369-8_18. ISBN 978-3-540-75367-4. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Continued conflict in Tigray coupled with low economic activity drives Emergency (IPC Phase 4)". Famine Early Warning Systems Network. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  20. ^ "The Hidden Truth of Ethiopia's plan 'to Close Two Refugee Camps in Tigray'". Human Rights Concern Eritrea. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Ethiopia Tigray conflict: Famine hits 400,000, UN warns". BBC News. BBC. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Scores of children killed by starvation in Tigray, says health official". The Guardian. 16 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Report: UAE operating 'air bridge' to Ethiopian army". i24news. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  24. ^ "As America retreats, regional rogues are on the rise". The Economist. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Statement from Secretary General of NRC Jan Egeland: Aid still not reaching Tigray". ReliefWeb. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 12 February 2021". ReliefWeb. 12 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Ethiopia expels top UN officials amid Tigray aid crisis". BBC News. 30 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Ethiopia orders expulsion of 7 top UN officials for 'meddling'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  29. ^ de Waal, Alex (4 November 2021). "Tigray is starving, it is time for the UN to act". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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