31 March 2022 | UNDSS Comms
On 4 November 2020, a clash between the Ethiopian Defense Forces and security forces of the ruling Tigray People¡¯s Liberation Front marked the start of a war. The UN mobilized emergency humanitarian assistance despite the fuel, cash, and supply shortages. Over 60,000 people crossed over to neighboring Sudan as refugees with thousands allegedly killed. UNDSS supported the safe relocation of UN staff members with non-critical functions and their dependents, staff from international non-governmental organizations and foreign nationals as well as coordinating the psychosocial support in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. As the conflict escalated, humanitarian partners suspended activities in the area due to the ongoing threats of drone strikes.
On 31 March 2022, UN colleagues collaborated in a joint effort to conduct a humanitarian mission -its first since 2021- comprising a convoy of 20 vehicles ferrying food, non-food items, and fuel from Samera (Afar Region) to Mekelle (Tigray Region). ¡°The mission required precise coordination with colleagues from World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure the safe delivery of essential commodities. UNDSS drove ahead of the convoy to secure a safe passage through the conflicting parties,¡± narrated Paepae Wiki, Chief Security Adviser in Bangkok. The journey of about 477 kilometres was conducted in rough terrain and temperatures at times exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. ¡°We drove through over 12 kilometres of no man¡¯s land, multiple checkpoints and suffered a mechanical breakdown. However, after a whole day of travel, WFP successfully achieved its mission,¡± added Mr. Wiki.
On two other occasions, UNDSS went ahead to support the safe passage of 112 vehicles on humanitarian missions to different parts of Tigray with OCHA joining the team. According to OCHA, 3,400 metric tonnes of food have since been delivered to the Tigray region in one month against a daily food requirement of 4,675 metric tonnes. ¡°UNDSS looks forward to supporting more UN agencies in safely delivering their services to alleviate human suffering in the Tigray region,¡± concluded Wiki.
Almost two years after the armed conflict started, the northern part of the country remains unpredictable and volatile, with the humanitarian situation still dire. Some areas are still hard to reach with the population¡¯s access to humanitarian assistance and services highly restricted. However, UNDSS continues its mission of enabling UN system operations through trusted security leadership and solutions.