Over 50 individuals in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions have reportedly died from hunger caused by drought, as disclosed by local authorities to the BBC.
In Tigray’s Yechila town, 46 displaced individuals lost their lives due to hunger following their displacement due to the drought, as stated by Gebrehiwot Gebregziabher, head of Tigray’s Disaster Risk Management office.
Adjacent to Tigray, in the Wag Hemra area of Amhara, a local official reported at least six human deaths and the loss of 4,000 cattle due to food shortages linked to the drought.
The situation has been compounded by the suspension of food aid by the US and the UN for over five months, driven by allegations of significant theft.
This suspension has worsened the humanitarian crises in a country already grappling with conflict and extreme weather conditions, leaving millions reliant on aid.
While severe drought affects parts of northern Ethiopia, unusual heavy rains are anticipated in the country’s southern and eastern regions.
The UN has noted that recent floods and landslides have resulted in over 40 fatalities in the past weeks, particularly impacting the eastern Somali region.
Source-BBC
