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UNHCR Ready to Provide Aid in Tigray as Soon as Access Restored

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The U.N. refugee agency reports it is ready to resume its
   humanitarian operation in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region as soon as
   the Ethiopian government gives it the green light to go ahead.

   Aid agencies have been unable to provide vital humanitarian assistance
   to civilians and Eritrean refugees since fighting in Tigray began a
   month ago. The agencies are waiting to receive full and unhindered
   access to the region, in line with an agreement between the United
   Nations and Ethiopian authorities.

   The U.N. refugee agency reports its staff, together with partners in
   the Tigrayan town of Shire, already have distributed water, high energy
   biscuits, clothes and other essential relief to some 5,000 people who
   have become displaced by the fighting.

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