UN claims that 400 000 people face famine in Ethiopia’s Tigray region

The UN appealed for urgent humanitarian action in war-torn Tigray, Ethiopia, on July 1, 2021. The Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ramesh Rajasingham, stated that over 400 000 people have crossed the threshold into famine in the Tigray region, about 1.8 million people are on the verge of famine, with about 33 000 children malnourished. Furthermore, Ramesh Rajasingham stated that this situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks, as the conflict escalated, and that humanitarian assistance is imperative. Moreover, senior UN Official, Rosemary DiCarlo urged Ethiopia to endorse a ceasefire on July 1, 2021. The UN official claimed that a ceasefire would facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the region, as well as commence political efforts to resolve the conflict.