04/20/2021
Crisis in Tigray enters sixth month with no clear end in sight amid 'severe and ongoing child rights violations'
https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/crisis-tigray-enters-sixth-month-no-clear-end-sight-amid-severe-and-ongoing-child
GENEVA, 20 April 2021 -, This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF spokesperson James Elder – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. "The crisis in Tigray has entered its sixth month with no clear end in sight. "More than one million people have been displaced, and fighting continues. Access and security…, Education, "Children in Tigray have been hit by COVID-19 then conflict. That means 1.4 million children have been out of school for more than a full year (since March 2020). Yes, not a day of school in 13 months. "I met a 16-year-old girl, Merhawit who fled fighting in the west of Tigray, and walked – with her baby brother on her back – for 300km. Yes, she…, Water, "A recent assessment in 13 towns by UNICEF and partners revealed that more than half of the boreholes are non-functional. These were advanced systems – with generators and electrical circuitry – and most have been damaged and looted. "I saw an example of this destruction in a health clinic 100km from Mekelle. This had an entire new operation ward…, "The sanitation, situation is another matter of grave concern. Conditions in many of the displacement sites are poor. They are overcrowded, unsanitary and unsafe .. as such they magnify risks of exploitation of children, and make it impossible for people to practice COVID-19 prevention measures. "From a health perspective, the presence of large numbers of…, Protection and gender-based violence, "The personal statements I received from children who had been raped or testimonies of women who were victims of sexual violence were harrowing. "You will all be aware that the President of Ethiopia, the Minister of Women, Children and Youth, the IASC Principals and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have spoken against multiple cases of…, Nutrition, "Fighting broke out just as people should have been harvesting. "That’s their income for a year. Many also had cattle stolen. They have lost access to fertilisers and vaccines for their livestock. "And now they should be planting. But more than 1 million people are displaced and as such cannot access their land. "As such, we are seeing a spike in…, "In response, , since November last year, UNICEF has provided emergency supplies including drug kits, nutrition supplies, school-in-a-carton kits and early childhood development kits. "In WASH, UNICEF is leading on efforts to rehabilitate damaged water schemes, supply of water through trucking, and the provision of hygiene supplies. Through these efforts, more…
