- By Kalkidan Yibeltal
- BBC News, Addis Ababa
Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region is “on the brink of a humanitarian disaster” comparable to the 1984-85 famine that sparked the global Live Aid fundraising event, a regional leader said.
A strongly worded statement said “famine and death” hung over the northern region.
Federal authorities have denied that there is a famine.
Until November last year, Tigray and the central government were at war.
Hundreds of thousands are believed to have been killed as a result of the 24-month conflict between the federal army, its allies and Tigrayan forces.
The conflict has also disrupted agricultural life, forced hundreds of thousands from their homes and destroyed vital infrastructure, leaving Tigray highly vulnerable.
After that, drought in some areas and locust infestation worsened the situation, Tigray interim administration chairman Getachew Reda said.
It has now left 91% of the region’s population exposed “to the risk of starvation,” according to his statement.
Mr Getachew’s administration was created following a peace deal agreed last year.
Local officials had previously said hundreds of people had starved to death in recent months. Recent UN report described an “escalating food security crisis” in Tigray.
In November, the US and UN announced they would resume food aid to Ethiopia, months after it was suspended over allegations of theft.
The interim administration called on the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the international community to intervene to save lives.
However, Ethiopia’s Federal Disaster Risk Management Committee denied reports of famine in Ethiopia, adding that the government is stepping up efforts to provide support to those affected by the drought.