The United Nations Wednesday said it is “deeply concerned” over the escalation of the conflict in northern Ethiopia.Speaking to reporters in New York, the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the Secretary-General of the United Nations has received alarming reports of aerial attacks in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle on Tuesday.
The Organization was still trying to verify the details, but it is worried about the potential impact on civilians who reside or work in the affected areas.
Thousands are feared killed amidst allegations of widespread human rights abuses, with more than two million forced to flee their homes, he said .
Over the past few months, humanitarian needs have grown, amid killings, looting and destruction of health centers and farming infrastructure, including irrigation systems that are vital to the production effort.
According to Mr. Dujarric, António Guterres is stressing that all parties must avoid the targeting of civilians or civilian infrastructure, and reiterated his call for all hostilities to stop.
“He urges the parties to prioritize the welfare of the people and to provide the necessary support for critical humanitarian assistance to flow, including facilitating the movement of fuel and medicines”, Mr. Dujarric said.
The lack of essential supplies, especially cash and fuel, is severely disrupting aid operations in Tigray, where at least 400,000 people are now facing famine-like conditions.
Under international humanitarian law, all parties have an obligation to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. This includes hundreds of humanitarian workers who are working tirelessly to aid millions of civilians.
Civilians are being “caught up in the fighting and the fighting itself is forcing us to reduce life-saving operations when people need them most, including food distributions, water distribution and health services”, Mr. Dujarric said.
JDC TV, Video news 
