Addis Ababa – Ethiopia on Thursday described fuel shortages in the war-wracked Tigray region as a “myth” and accused Tigrayan rebels of seeking to launch a new offensive.
Humanitarian agencies have said the fuel Addis Ababa is allowing them to deliver to the region was insufficient and warned that the shortages were crippling the distribution of emergency aid.
Tigrayans are in the grip of a humanitarian crisis, according to the UN, and have for months been without access to basic services such as electricity, telecommunications, internet and banking.
After a visit to Tigray’s capital Mekele, the European commissioner for crisis management Janez Lenarcic on Tuesday urged the government to lift “without delay” the restrictions on Tigray, particularly on the supply of fuel.
On Thursday, Ethiopia’s government communications service said three tankers carrying more than 137 000 litres of fuel had arrived in Mekele last week.
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The total amount of fuel sent to the region stood at 920 309 litres since aid convoys resumed in April, it said on Twitter.
“The myth of fuel shortage is a TPLF hidden agenda to enhance mobility of its army in preparation for another round of conflict,” it said, referring to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.