London - The World Health Organization's director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that lack of international attention being paid to the plight of civilians in Ethiopia's war-shattered Tigray region is due to racism.
He called it it the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world", with 6 million people unable to access basic services. An emotional Tedros also questioned why the situation is not getting the same attention as the Ukraine conflict.
"Maybe the reason is the colour of the skin of the people," Tedros, who is from Tigray, told a virtual media briefing on Wednesday. In April this year at a briefing, he questioned whether "black and white lives" in emergencies worldwide are given equal attention.
In northern Ethiopia, food and nutrition supplies are urgently needed. However, humanitarian organizations in Tigray face numerous challenges, including shortage of supplies and suspension of essential services. Access to the region remains limited and humanitarian partners are relying on airlifts.
According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), “High levels of hunger and acute malnutrition already exist, and a forecast for a fifth poor season in late 2022 signals the impacts of drought will likely persist through at least mid-2023.”
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 20.4 million people currently need food support. Growing levels of food insecurity are due to persistent droughts and the desert locust infestation. Food and nutritional insecurity have soared further because of large numbers of livestock deaths, which remain the main source of nutrition and income for affected communities.
Pope Francis appeals for Tigray
During the Sunday Angelus on June 13 2021, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the population of the Tigray region in Ethiopia, "struck by a grave humanitarian crisis that leaves the poorest people exposed to famine. Today there is famine; there is famine there. Let us pray together that the violence may cease immediately, that food and health assistance be guaranteed to everyone, and that social harmony be restored as soon as possible. In this regard, I thank all those who work to alleviate the people’s suffering."
Pope's appeal.
WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan also hit out at an apparent shortage of concern about the drought and famine unfolding in the Horn of Africa, and the ensuing health crisis.
"No one seems to give a damn about what's happening in the Horn of Africa," said Ryan, speaking at a virtual media briefing on Wednesday.
The WHO called for $123.7 million to tackle the health problems resulting from growing malnutrition in the region, where around 200 million people live and millions are going hungry.
-Reuters