The World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus has lamented that he was unable to send money to his starving relatives in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
Dr Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, said the region has remained completely sealed off for two years since the beginning of the conflict and people were suffering.
“I have many relatives there. I want to send them money. I cannot send them money. They’re starving, I know, I cannot help them,” Dr Tedros said.
“I don’t know even who is dead or who is alive,” he said as he was unable to speak to them.
Here is a video excerpt from the briefing:
The conflict, which began in November 2020, has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and left millions in need of food aid.
The region has been without basic services such as electricity, telecommunications and banking.
Fighting resumed this week after months of calm following the humanitarian truce agreed in March between Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian government.
