Sir, – Some 4.5 million people in Tigray are currently in urgent need of food aid – almost the entire population of the Republic of Ireland. Unicef has estimated that more than 33,000 children are at risk of imminent death due to severe malnutrition.
The situation in Tigray has again underlined the need for unimpeded humanitarian access in conflict, as emphasised by Ireland on the UN Security Council.
While the recently declared ceasefire has allowed for some movement of humanitarian actors within the region, access to Tigray remains limited and the recent killings of aid workers has led some agencies to evacuate personnel.
As with any conflict, the impact on women and girls has also been disproportionate. There have been many deeply concerning reports of sexual violence against women and girls in Tigray.
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The world cannot continue to avert its gaze from the crisis in Tigray for much longer.
Swift, decisive action from the international community is needed to ensure that a generation of children are not lost to hunger and conflict. – Yours, etc,
JOHN RYNNE,
Plan International Ethiopia,
Addis Ababa.