Humanitarian crises monitoring: Ethiopia’s Tigray region

International Development Committee Closed Non-inquiry session
Opened: 3 Mar 2021 Closed: 21 Jul 2021 Parliament page
Report and Government response published The International Development Committee (IDC) has said that the UK’s response to the deeply concerning humanitarian situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region will be an early test of the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where it’s combined development and diplomatic strengths can be utilised to … Read more
23 Recommendations
50 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
6 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 9 events
5 Dec
2022
Correspondence
5 Dec
2022
Correspondence
16 Dec
2021
Correspondence
23 Nov
2021
Correspondence
23 Nov
2021
Correspondence
16 Jul
2021
Report published
30 Apr
2021
Report published
24 Mar
2021
Correspondence
18 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
18 Mar 2021
View on parliament.uk
Humanitarian crises monitoring: Ethiopia’s Tigray region
Christian Rogg · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Dr Alastair McPhail CMG OBE Edward Brown · World Vision James Duddridge · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Paul Turnbull · UN World Food Programme Ethiopia
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Tenth Report - The humanitarian situation in Tigray 30 Apr 2021 73 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
29 results
Clear
9 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
We commend the work of aid agencies in their provision of lifesaving assistance to communities...
We commend the work of aid agencies in their provision of lifesaving assistance to communities in Tigray, despite the extraordinarily difficult circumstances in which they are delivering this help. It is likely that the number of people whose basic needs … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the growing needs and states it will work through the multilateral system to address the restoration of basic services and continue to support the humanitarian response where access is possible, but highlights that insecurity prevents full resumption of services.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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16 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
With Ethiopia currently the UK’s largest bilateral recipient of ODA, we are surprised that the...
With Ethiopia currently the UK’s largest bilateral recipient of ODA, we are surprised that the UK Government has not allocated more financial assistance to the humanitarian response to the crisis in Tigray.
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's surprise by stating total UK support to the crisis is £47.7m since November 2020, and that they keep their level of support under review while also engaging through diplomatic and political channels.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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19 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
OCHA’s 8 March situation update reported the looting of humanitarian supplies and the destruction and...
OCHA’s 8 March situation update reported the looting of humanitarian supplies and the destruction and vandalisation of humanitarian infrastructure.48 James Duddridge MP, Minister for Africa, told us that five Ethiopians working for international organisations that received UK funding were killed … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the humanitarian context by outlining its ongoing diplomatic efforts, including high-level meetings and engagement with international bodies, to urge an end to violence, secure humanitarian access, and address human rights abuses.
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26 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Paul Turnbull, Deputy Country Director and Representative of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in...
Paul Turnbull, Deputy Country Director and Representative of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Ethiopia, said: The situation in November and December was really terrible. It was not until about the middle of December that ICRC, and then WFP, … Read more
Government Response
The government states that ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors is a key priority, an issue raised bilaterally, and they continue to work with partners to improve access and reduce conflict.
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27 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
James Duddridge MP said: Sadly, some of the needs will be very basic—and even more...
James Duddridge MP said: Sadly, some of the needs will be very basic—and even more basic than the right to education and a health service. Just getting clean water and food to people, and stopping the rape and the forced … Read more
Government Response
The government states that ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors is a key priority, an issue raised bilaterally, and they continue to work with partners to improve access and reduce conflict.
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29 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are amongst the hardest hit by the crisis.69 In March the...
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are amongst the hardest hit by the crisis.69 In March the UN’s initial estimate was that there were 521,200 newly internally displaced people, of whom 493,300 were in Tigray, 23,680 in Afar, and 3,850 in Amhara … Read more
Government Response
The government works with partners to understand needs, has redirected some aid to Tigray, and continues to review its aid programme while working with other donors to support resource mobilisation.
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31 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
As the crisis continues, IDPs in the region are unlikely to be able to return...
As the crisis continues, IDPs in the region are unlikely to be able to return home and the fragile security situation makes further displacements likely. The Humanitarian Needs Overview said: The situation in Tigray will continue to impact the overall … Read more
Government Response
The government works with partners to understand needs, has redirected some aid to Tigray, and continues to review its aid programme while working with other donors to support resource mobilisation.
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32 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
There is an urgent need to scale up the response to meet the existing critical...
There is an urgent need to scale up the response to meet the existing critical needs of displaced people.77 Paul Turnbull, UN WFP Ethiopia, told us that coordination was difficult, especially in a covid19 environment where the number of people … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors, stating it is a key FCDO priority and has been raised bilaterally with Ethiopian authorities and with partners to improve access.
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33 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
As insecurity continues in Tigray, humanitarian access to the region remains constrained, particularly in and...
As insecurity continues in Tigray, humanitarian access to the region remains constrained, particularly in and around the city of Shire.79 Fighting, clashes, and ambushes have affected not only the safety and wellbeing of millions of people but also constrained humanitarian … Read more
Government Response
The government states that ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors is a key priority, an issue raised bilaterally, and they continue to work with partners to improve access and reduce conflict.
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34 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
When the offensive began in November, the Ethiopian Government imposed a communications blackout.83 Access to...
When the offensive began in November, the Ethiopian Government imposed a communications blackout.83 Access to the internet and communications were and continue to be cut off or limited.84 Road and air access to the Tigray, Afar and Amhara Regions were … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO acknowledges that ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors is a key priority, confirming that officials and the Foreign Secretary have repeatedly raised this issue with Ethiopian authorities. They continue to work with partners to improve access and seek a political solution.
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35 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
On 3 March, the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced that aid agencies could operate in the...
On 3 March, the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced that aid agencies could operate in the region by providing a notification to the Ministry of Peace.87 Access has improved slightly as the Ethiopian Government has eased some of the initial restriction. … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges that ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors is a key priority and states they have raised this bilaterally with Ethiopian authorities and continue to work with partners to improve access and reduce conflict.
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36 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation, Tufts University, has described the...
Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation, Tufts University, has described the provision of permits and access to Tigray as a “process of death by bureaucracy” through “drip, drip arbitrary individual permits” with permits issued in a … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the difficulties with access by stating it remains a key priority, has been raised bilaterally with Ethiopian authorities, and that they continue to work with partners to improve access and reduce conflict.
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40 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
On 12 April the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary said: I heard first hand, from...
On 12 April the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary said: I heard first hand, from humanitarian workers in Gondar, about the access challenges …. the Ethiopian government have announced changes in the process for humanitarian agency personnel to enter and … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns by stating that ensuring humanitarian access and safety is a key priority, has been raised bilaterally with Ethiopian authorities, and that they continue to work with partners to improve access and find a political solution.
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44 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
In mid-March, 900,000 people had been given complete food baskets, almost 700,000 had been provided...
In mid-March, 900,000 people had been given complete food baskets, almost 700,000 had been provided with water, and 136,000 with shelter.108 Water trucking had exceeded the initial targeted population of approximately 455,300 people. But OCHA warned that the number of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the situation by outlining its ongoing work with partners to assess needs, redirecting existing aid to Tigray, and continuing to review its aid program while coordinating with other donors for resource mobilisation.
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45 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
The response to the need for shelter was alarmingly low compared to the response to...
The response to the need for shelter was alarmingly low compared to the response to other needs.110 Paul Turnbull said IDP camps could probably be avoided if enough support could be provided to IDPs and their hosts. He noted the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the humanitarian needs by stating its ongoing work with partners to assess critical gaps, redirecting existing aid to Tigray, and continuing to review its aid programme while seeking further resource mobilisation.
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46 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Hunger in Tigray is an acute problem, with the World Peace Foundation detailing how the...
Hunger in Tigray is an acute problem, with the World Peace Foundation detailing how the situation goes beyond immediate destruction and includes “dismembering the components of an elaborate food security system built up over decades”.113 Considering how the international community … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it will use all necessary political levers to address the crisis, supporting initiatives for increased dialogue at the Security Council under UNSCR 2417 and considering further opportunities to improve humanitarian access.
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49 Recommendation Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Food security is a crucial component of the emergency response and we are deeply concerned...
Food security is a crucial component of the emergency response and we are deeply concerned by reports that hunger is being used in the conflict to achieve political ends. With the FCDO having appointed a Special Envoy for Famine Prevention … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it will use all necessary political levers, supporting initiatives for increased dialogue at the Security Council under UNSCR 2417, and considering further opportunities to improve humanitarian access and reduce conflict intensity.
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50 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
People in Tigray have very little access to healthcare.115 Hospitals, health facilities, medical supplies and...
People in Tigray have very little access to healthcare.115 Hospitals, health facilities, medical supplies and ambulances have been looted. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) estimated that barely 1 in 10 health facilities were functioning; of the 106 health facilities MSF teams … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the severe lack of access to healthcare due to insecurity and looting, stating it will work through multilateral systems and continue to support humanitarian responses to restore basic services where possible.
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52 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Dr Christian Rogg, the FCDO’s Development Director for Ethiopia, echoed CARE International’s findings, telling us...
Dr Christian Rogg, the FCDO’s Development Director for Ethiopia, echoed CARE International’s findings, telling us that most healthcare facilities were not functioning. He said restoring services would be challenging because facilities had been looted and personnel had left leading to … Read more
Government Response
The government states it will work through the multilateral system with donors to address basic service restoration, but notes insecurity currently prevents services from resuming. It continues to support the humanitarian response and improve access for partners.
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53 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Around 1.3 million children have not been able to access education.123 UNICEF reported that schools...
Around 1.3 million children have not been able to access education.123 UNICEF reported that schools had been looted, vandalised and occupied by armed forces and groups.124 About a quarter of the schools in Tigray have been damaged125 and cases of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the disruption to basic services, including education, and states it will work through the multilateral system and continue to support the humanitarian response where access is possible, but notes that full resumption of services is hampered by insecurity.
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54 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Basic services were cut off at the start of the conflict and more than 4.5...
Basic services were cut off at the start of the conflict and more than 4.5 million people have been without adequate power or communications for more than four months.129 Filippo Grandi pointed out that the closure of the banking and … Read more
Government Response
The UK states it will work multilaterally with partners to address the restoration of basic services, but notes that high insecurity prevents full resumption. It continues to support the humanitarian response to provide access where possible and remains concerned about food security.
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56 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary said the looting of health centres and destruction of...
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary said the looting of health centres and destruction of vital infrastructure by Eritrean forces and other belligerents had led to “the disintegration of essential basic services and is exacerbating the parlous humanitarian context.”132 He … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the challenges posed by looting and insecurity in Tigray, stating it will work through multilateral systems to address the restoration of basic services and continues to support the humanitarian response where access is possible.
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57 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
The provision and distribution of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, such as shelter, food and medicine, is...
The provision and distribution of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, such as shelter, food and medicine, is a vital first stage in the response to the situation in Tigray. Following this, the restoration of basic services such as schools and hospitals will … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the vital importance of restoring basic services and states it will work through the multilateral system and continue supporting the humanitarian response where access is possible, but highlights that ongoing insecurity means full resumption of services is not possible.
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58 Recommendation Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
We recommend that the FCDO applies its learnings from other crises and works with other...
We recommend that the FCDO applies its learnings from other crises and works with other donors to create a plan of action that is properly funded for the restoration of basic services to Tigray. In creating this plan, it should … Read more
Government Response
The government states it will work through the multilateral system with donors to address basic service restoration, but notes insecurity currently prevents services from resuming. It continues to support the humanitarian response and improve access for partners.
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63 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
The UN regularly publishes and updates information on the funding needed and provided for the...
The UN regularly publishes and updates information on the funding needed and provided for the crisis in Tigray. In February it published a breakdown that showed that while the overall response was 71% funded, some sectors were a long way … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the humanitarian funding gaps, stating it works with partners like OCHA to assess needs and gaps, has redirected aid to Tigray, and collaborates with donors to avoid overlap and mobilise further resources.
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65 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
On 8 April US AID announced it was “providing more than $152 million in additional...
On 8 April US AID announced it was “providing more than $152 million in additional humanitarian assistance” to address “life-threatening hunger and acute malnutrition, as well as provide safe drinking water, urgently needed medical and health support, and shelter for … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is working with partners to assess needs and identify gaps, has redirected some aid to the Tigray response, and continues to review its aid program and work with donors to support resource mobilisation.
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68 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
A failure to adequately resource the response to this crisis increases the risk of a...
A failure to adequately resource the response to this crisis increases the risk of a ripple effect of instability throughout the region. The failure to support the communities of Tigray, combined with the lack of an inclusive political settlement, compromises … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed that addressing humanitarian needs and supporting a political settlement are priorities, and stated that initial consideration of reconstruction and recovery planning will commence at an early stage.
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71 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
The humanitarian crisis in Tigray—and the international response to it—matters on three levels.
The humanitarian crisis in Tigray—and the international response to it—matters on three levels. First, it matters because of the scale and harrowing nature of the suffering, with lives lost and devastated because of the conflict. The international community has a … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's broader calls for action to address the conflict, humanitarian needs, political settlement, and reconciliation, stating agreement with these goals but emphasizing that an end to fighting is a prerequisite.
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72 Conclusion Acknowledged
Tenth Report - The humanitarian si…
Finally, it matters because the conditions—a conflict that could become protracted or could destabilise the...
Finally, it matters because the conditions—a conflict that could become protracted or could destabilise the region and spread, allegations of human rights abuses, gender-based violence, sexual violence, the allegations of genocide and the use of hunger as a weapon of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's broader calls for action related to the conflict, humanitarian needs, political settlement, and reconciliation, stating agreement with these goals but emphasizing that an end to fighting is a prerequisite.
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Government Response AI assessment · 71 of 23 classified
Accepted 24
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 29
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 9
Rejected 5
Total 23 recs + 50 conclusions
Correspondence 6 letters
5 Dec 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Development regarding the humanitarian situation in Tigray - 30 November 2022
Parliament page
5 Dec 2022 From committee Letter to the Minister for Development regarding the humanitarian situation in Tigray - 31 October 2022
Parliament page
16 Dec 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Africa regarding the Humanitarian situation in the north of Ethiopia - 14 December 2021
Parliament page
23 Nov 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Africa regarding Escalation of conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia - 16 November 2021
Parliament page
23 Nov 2021 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs regarding Escalation of conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia - 25 October 2021
Parliament page
24 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from the Chairs of both the International Development & Foreign Affairs Committees to the Foreign and Development Secretary regarding the situation in Tigray - 23 March 2021
Parliament page