
The Tigray region has been besieged and gotten little to no humanitarian assistance over the last two years. There been little to none and the United Nations Organizations, Humanitarian Organizations and stakeholders could barely keep their operations up and going. So, it was bad enough that the conflict is starting again after a few months of a humanitarian truce.
The Tigray Defence Force (TDF) with the looting of the World Food Programme (WFP) of fuel. They are hurting the population and the ability of the humanitarian assistance in the Tigray region. A region they know is hurting and of desperate need. We know also the blockade has blocked all normal transport or trade of fuel. So, this was maybe the only resort to have fuel for the war-effort, which is done in self-defence against the Tripartite Alliance of Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Amhara allies (Amhara Regional Special Force and Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano”) and Eritrean Defence Force (EDF).
However, by doing the looting of the WFP the TDF is doing what the Federal Government has claimed for so long. The Federal Government has claimed aid and humanitarian assistance has been used for the war-effort. Now that is actually happening, but that’s also true, because there is no other source or option for the TDF. That is the making of the Addis Ababa regime and how they besieged the region over the last two years. It is their making, but they can use this as vilification of the WFP and the TPLF, which it does and will do.
Here is the recent news about it!
United Nations:
“However, we are very concerned for the civilians in frontline areas and call on all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure their protection.
Just an example of what the impact that the renewed fighting is having, this morning, on August 24, the WFP warehouse in Mekelle was forcibly entered by Tigray Forces, who took 12 full fuel tankers with 570,000 litres of fuel. The team on the ground unsuccessfully tried to prevent this looting.
These fuel stocks were to be used solely for humanitarian purposes, for the distribution of food, fertilizer and other emergency relief items. This loss of fuel will impact humanitarian operations supporting communities in Northern Ethiopia” (United Nations – ‘HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, WEDNESDAY, 24 AUGUST 2022’ 24.08.2022).
FDRE Government Communication Services:
“The Government does not want to dignify TPLF’s endless falsehoods with a response. The TPLF has been making all sorts of accusations over the last couple of years. It has ceaselessly spewed hostile propaganda. It has been mobilizing the population in the Tigray region with threats to all those opposed to forced conscription. Draconian punishments and denial of access to humanitarian aid are used as weapons to mobilize the population for war” (FDRE Government Communication Services – ‘A statement by the Federal Government of Ethiopia peace talks main committee’ 24.08.2022).
For anyone who has defended and wanted as much as possible humanitarian aid to get into the Tigray region. The ones who wanted that… will now see the fuel being used in war. It will be beneficial and be helpful for movement of troops and possible vehicles or mechanical divisions of the TDF.
This here will play along to the narrative of the dangers of humanitarian assistance to the Tigray region. Even if it is a one time incident. We know that humanitarian assistance has been raided and looted in Afar region by other entities too. That happened so it could reach or get to the ones in need in Tigray. Therefore, this isn’t anything new, but just makes everything harder.
The looting of the WFP in Mekelle will only amplify the outrage of Addis Ababa. Which we know is there and they want to stop everything moving into Tigray. That’s what the road-blocks, the checkpoints and the hurdles any convoy has had over the last two years. Therefore, this isn’t making it better.
The TDF did a gamble, possibly the last resort… but was it worth it? Time will tell… the WFP, the UN Organizations and stakeholders all have to sort this one out. While the one in need and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding isn’t getting any better by doing this. It is only getting worse… that’s the tragic part here and the innocent usually dies first in war together with the truth. The truth here is that the TDF had most likely no other choice, but it doesn’t make right…
Just like it was never right of the Addis Ababa regime or the Tripartite Alliance to block the roads, stop the humanitarian assistance from entering and helping the Tigray region in the hour of need. However, they did that and created a man-made famine, which a vast amount of hte population of Tigray is facing now. In addition to the war, which is now being fought on several of fronts. Peace.














