Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made concerning reports of conditions in the blockaded hospital in Mekelle, Tigray; what discussions they have had with the government of Ethiopia regarding medical supplies reaching that hospital; and what steps, if any, they will take, to provide support.

On her visit to Addis Ababa on 20 January 2022, the Minister for Africa discussed the clear need for an urgent improvement in humanitarian access with the Government of Ethiopia, including in her meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The humanitarian response in Tigray is at standstill owing to the de facto blockade of the region imposed by the Government of Ethiopia since July 2021. The blockade has also caused major disruption to the provision of essential services. UK funded partners report that single-use items including medical gloves and surgical materials such as chest drains are being washed and reused significantly increasing the risk of infections for patients. The UK is appalled at reports that civilians are dying due to the unavailability of insulin and other generic medicines.

According to the latest available information from the UN, no humanitarian aid trucks entered Tigray during the period 14 December 2021 - 13 January 2022 with only 12% of required aid permitted to enter Tigray since July 2021.