Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK aid is able pass into Ethiopia and the Tigray State during the current conflict.

We are deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. The humanitarian response in Tigray is now at standstill owing to the de facto blockade of the region imposed by the Government of Ethiopia since July 2021 and also due to recent military action by Tigrayan Defence Forces along the Tigray-Afar border. We are working with our international partners and humanitarian agencies so that in the event that access is granted or when there is an easing of the blockade relief can be delivered to Tigray as quickly as possible. UK funding to the crisis in the north has included support to help strengthen humanitarian logistics, to improve the security of the response and to augment civil-military coordination. The UK's assistance has helped relief agencies to deliver some aid in a highly insecure and complex operating context. In addition to Tigray the UK's support is also benefitting communities in Afar and Amhara regions directly impacted by the conflict.

The conflict is causing appalling suffering to the civilian population, with over 400,000 people in Tigray now living in famine-like conditions and over 25 million in need of urgent humanitarian assistance across the country. All parties to the conflict in the north must agree a ceasefire and allow aid to reach people in need. On 20 January, I met with Prime Minister Abiy and also spoke to State Minister Redwan, stressing the need for rapid and sustained humanitarian access and to lift the blockade on aid to northern Ethiopia. I also met UN Regional Coordinator Daniel Endres to discuss the humanitarian situation. We have been clear at the United Nations Security Council that all parties to the conflict must come to the negotiating table, and uphold their duty to protect civilians, in accordance with their international legal obligations.