OMNA TIGRAY – FEBRUARY 2021 SITUATION REPORT

It has been 90 days since PM Abiy Ahmed began a “law and order” enforcement operation against the elected Tigray regional government that quickly escalated into a regional war with international actors. Since November 4, 2020, the conflict has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, reportedly 2.5 million people internally displaced, and over 60,000 refugees fleeing into Sudan.
Nearly 4.5 million (up to 50-75% of the Tigrayan population) is in need of food aid, 2.3 million children are in need of aid, only five out of 40 hospitals are accessible, 300 motorized water sources are dysfunctional, and local markets are near collapse.

At least 700 women have reported being raped in Mekele, Tigray in a time span of two weeks. Aid agencies suspect thousands of women have been victims of weaponized sexual and gender-based violence at the hands of invading forces. The Eritrean government is heavily involved in committing the largescale killings, raping, looting, and destruction of infrastructure and UNESCO heritage sites. Alongside the Ethiopian government, Eritrean forces are among the primary reasons why unfettered humanitarian aid is being blocked from entering Tigray.