Deteriorating conditions putting Eritrean refugees at grave risk in Tigray – African Business

UNHCR is deeply alarmed by the conditions in which Eritrean refugees live in Tigray camps.

After three weeks without access due to security, UNHCR staff reached Mai Aini refugee camps in Tigray, Ethiopia earlier this week. This was the first time since recent air strikes near the camps. Our team discovered refugees in distress, unable to eat enough, lacking medicines, and without clean water.

Refugees told UNHCR of increasing preventable deaths – more than 20 over the last six weeks – linked to the overall decline in conditions, and in particular the lack of medicine and health services. Since January 1, the camps’ clinics were closed. They finally ran out of medicine.

Lack of fuel means that clean water cannot be pumped or transported to the camps. As a result, refugees have to collect water from streams that are rapidly drying out, which increases the risk of water-borne illnesses.

Despite concerted efforts to alleviate extreme hunger, there is no way to transport supplies into the region. We were told by refugees that they had sold their belongings and clothes to get food because there was no food in the camp.

Security has meant that basic services for Eritrean refugees have been severely compromised in both camps for several months. These camps show the dire situation of millions of displaced people throughout the region.

UNHCR has been requesting that all parties agree to a ceasefire and guarantee safe passage. Without much progress, the UNHCR is still calling for the voluntary relocation of more than 25,000 refugees from the camps to a new site provided in Dabat by the government in Ethiopia. If food, medicine, fuel and other supplies cannot be immediately brought in, and if we continue to be unable to relocate refugees out of harm’s way to where we can provide them with life-saving assistance, more refugees will die.

We agree with the UN-wide call to all parties in Ethiopia for protection of civilians and respect and protection of the human rights, fundamental freedoms, and dignity of all people, including refugees.

This conflict must not be made to hold refugees hostage.

Distributed by APO Group, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).