United Nations agencies deliver lifeline food assistance to 25,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray region

ADDIS ABABA –Eritrean refugees in two camps in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia received a month’s worth of food supplies through a joint delivery by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Ethiopia’s Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) on 15 December.

In coordination with Federal authorities, a convoy of 18 trucks delivered 248 metric tons of corn soya blend, grains, pulses and vegetable oil to local humanitarian partners for distribution to 13,022 Eritrean refugees in Mai Ayni camp. Similarly, 239 metric tons of food were delivered to Adi Harush refugee camp to support 12,169 refugees there. WFP, UNHCR, and ARRA provided monitoring support during both distributions.

“I am pleased we were able to replenish food supplies for refugees who last received two months’ worth of food in mid-October,” said Steven Were Omamo, WFP Representative and Country Director in Ethiopia. “Refugees in these camps depend on WFP food assistance for survival and maintaining a consistent supply is a lifeline.”

Shortly after food reached the camps, distribution began organized by ARRA, with support from WFP and UNHCR. It was completed on the 23 December 2020.

“Families, women, men, children – even newborns, have been cut off from supplies and essential services for many weeks, so this distribution was urgently needed,” said Ann Encontre, UNHCR’s Representative in Ethiopia. “Thanks to the smooth partnership with ARRA and WFP we were able to provide this aid. We now need to ensure that the same can be done for the remaining camps as well as re-establish critical protection services and ensure basic needs like shelter, access to medical care and schools as quickly as possible. Every day, every hour counts.”

“I am confident that UNHCR will be able to resume its full mandate in the camps very soon,” she added.

ENDS

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, protects people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, protecting millions of people by responding with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights and helping them build a better future.

Follow us on Twitter @Refugees @UNHCREthiopia

The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media, @WFP_Ethiopia

For more information, please contact:

• In Addis Ababa, UNHCR: Chris Melzer, +251 97 819 9207, [email protected]
• In Nairobi, UNHCR: Dana Hughes, +254 733 440 536, [email protected]
• In Addis Ababa, WFP: Edward Johnson, +251 935998863, [email protected]
• In Nairobi, WFP: Peter Smerdon, +254 707 722 104, [email protected]
• In Rome, WFP: Frances Kennedy,+39 06 6513 3725, +39 346 7600 806, [email protected]