If the food aid suspension continues, a tragedy similar to the humanitarian disaster in Tigray could soon affect more than one hundred million people, many of whom live in areas stricken by the worst drought in decades.

At least 700 people in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray have recently died because of hunger as the United States and the United Nations suspended food assistance.

Reports of the region, which has been suffering from famine for over two years, show that many Tigrayans have been weakened by several days without food and will continue to starve under the devastating impact of the aid stoppage.

Although basic services, including electricity, banks, telecommunications, were gradually returned after the November peace agreement, hunger remained as one of the main factors threatening the lives of many and increasing the number of people going to the food distribution centers. The deterioration of the situation is clearly evidenced as some displaced people are begging in the streets and others seek help from food distribution centers to save their lives.

Starvation-related deaths are the predictable outcome of the food assistance pause. The very young are especially more vulnerable, as shown in a recent report by Duke Burbridge, indicating a 28% increase in starvation related deaths in children under five in Tigray before June, 22nd, 2023.

If the food aid suspension continues, a tragedy similar to the humanitarian disaster in Tigray could soon affect more than one hundred million people, many of whom live in areas stricken by the worst drought in decades.