Thousands of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit northern region of Tigray have run out of food, the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, has said.
It appealed for urgent access to the region to provide emergency assistance.
Communications and aid access have been blocked since the start of the conflict between the federal government fighters loyal to Tigray leaders a month ago.
Nearly 100,000 Eritrean refugees are in Tigray. They fled political persecution and compulsory military service.
A lot of focus has been on the tens of thousands who have fled to Sudan from Tigray during the fighting, but there is also concern about these Eritreans.
The UNHCR also said it was “alarmed” at unconfirmed reports of attacks and abductions and at the refugee camps.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Sunday that the military offensive in Tigray had ended after federal forces took control of Tigray’s capital, Mekelle.
But Debretsion Gebremichael, who leads the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said fighting still continues and his forces have made some gains.
