HOLYROOD funding is to help three Scots charities deliver "urgent humanitarian relief" to thousands of people left without homes and food by turmoil in northern Ethiopia, it has been announced.
Fighting has been raging in the rural Tigray region since November, driving thousands of people from their homes and into destitution.
More than 1.3 million people now need urgent aid as conflict continues between Ethiopian government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
Tens of thousands of people have fled into neighbouring Sudan, with access to food and hygiene increasingly difficult in Tigray, where internet and phone lines were cut.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the localised war was over in the same month it began.
But it's still using troops from Eritrea to bolster its security efforts as fighting continues, with estimates suggesting around one third of the province may be outwith the control of authorities in capital Addis Ababa.
Reports of massacres and sexual violence are rife.
Last week Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said her office had corroborated evidence of incidents that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Today the Scottish Government announced a £340,000 package for three Scotland-based charities to work with those affected in Tigray and Sudan.
Tearfund’s project will provide food and hygiene and health support, while Sciaf will supply funds for immediate assistance to those who have lost their homes. Meanwhile, Mercy Corps will provide support to refugees in Sudan through its established health service in the Um Rukaba refugee camp.
International Development Minister Jenny Gilruth said: "The situation in Tigray is extremely concerning, with many facing rising hunger. The conflict has exacerbated an already fragile situation impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and a lost harvest due to a locust infestation.
"Our Humanitarian Emergency Fund stands ready to help when confronted with such a pressing emergency. The Scottish Government is committed to fulfilling its role as a responsible and compassionate global citizen, and this aid will provide essential help to those in desperate need."
READ MORE: 'An attack on aid': Sciaf and Mercy Corps on UK overseas aid budget cuts
Alexandra Angulo, executive director of Mercy Corps, said: "People fleeing the conflict in Ethiopia need urgent help. Over 50,000 people have crossed the border into Sudan already, and although our health clinic in Um Rukaba camp has provided vital services to over 10,300 people, the needs are growing. This humanitarian crisis is being further exacerbated by the significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
"With this generous support from the Scottish Government, we'll be able to help more people access healthcare, provide essentials like clean water and blankets and offer cash payments for those most at risk."
Sciaf director Alistair Dutton welcomed the support, saying: "Working with the Ethiopian Catholic Church and our local partners, who have stayed with their people throughout the fighting, despite the danger to themselves, we’ve been able to provide shelter, mattresses and other essential items like blankets and cooking utensils to men, women and children who have fled the fighting and are experiencing unimaginable suffering."
And Graeme McMeekein, head of Tearfund Scotland Graeme McMeekin said: "This funding from the Scottish Government is crucial right now to help our partners in Tigray respond to the urgent needs they see all around them in the midst of this devastating conflict situation.
"These vital funds will mean vulnerable families will receive food and cash to provide for their immediate needs, as well as basic hygiene materials such as soap and face masks – which we know are all the more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will also enable Tearfund partners to provide psychosocial support to many who have experienced significant emotional trauma."
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