People rely on untreated water to survive in Ethiopia's Tigray: UN

Source: Xinhua| 2020-12-01 08:19:31|Editor: huaxia

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Following damage and destruction of the water infrastructure in Ethiopia's Tigray region during a nearly month-long conflict, affected people reportedly have been forced to use untreated water to survive, UN humanitarians said on Monday.

"It is critical that essential supplies and services are restored immediately in Mekelle and across the Tigray region, and the UN and partners are working with all parties to this end," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a release, referring to the capital of Tigray regional state.

There are also reports of critical shortages of medical supplies in Mekelle and across the Tigray region needed to treat people injured during the fighting, OCHA said.

OCHA said it and colleagues have been denied access to relief material and communications, despite the federal government's assurances and the United Nations' oft-repeated concern for civilians, including the displaced and approximately 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray.

The humanitarians have complained that it has been difficult to obtain information about the more than 200 aid workers in Mekelle.

While acknowledging the government's commitment to ensuring humanitarian assistance is made available to impacted people, OCHA called for "unconditional, full and immediate humanitarian access to reach people in need in Mekelle and across the Tigray Region."

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters in a regular briefing, "There's a shortage of water. Water plants have been destroyed. There's a shortage of fuel. Banks have been closed, which means markets have been closed. There's a humanitarian toll. There's an economic toll, which has a direct impact on the humanitarian situation." Enditem

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