Africa-Press-Ethiopia
While there have been some recent improvements in humanitarian access in Tigray, the situation in the region remains alarming, with active conflict in some areas restricting humanitarian movement and response.
Last week, insecurity in the Adigrat area, in Tigray’s East zone, reportedly affected the movement of more than 20 relief trucks.
The UN is also concerned about worsening food insecurity if conflict continues and disrupts the next planting season.
Despite challenges, humanitarian partners are scaling up the response.
So far, more than 1.5 million people have received double allocations of food rations in 12 targeted districts and nearly 246,000 people have been supplied with emergency shelter and non-food items.
More funding and safer and unimpeded access are urgently needed to scale up the humanitarian response to help all affected people.
An estimated 4.5 million people need life-saving assistance in Tigray. These estimates are according to the Tigray interim administration.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
While La Soufrière volcano continues to erupt, as of Monday, 19 April, explosive activity is sporadic and there are no ash advisories.
However, the volcano remains at red alert level as explosions with accompanying ash fall can occur with little or no warning. People are advised to stay out of the red zone.
Between 16,000 and 20,000 people have been affected. About 6,200 people are in public shelters, while 6,500 vulnerable people are staying with host families. No casualties have been reported to date.
In response to the Government’s request for international assistance, and in coordination with the Resident Coordinator and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, a 13-person joint environment mission from the UN Environment Programme and OCHA is deploying to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The team, which will be deployed for three weeks, comprises six environmental specialists, with expertise in geology, ash management, environmental pollution, ecology and green response. Other team members will assist with liaison, team management and logistics. Plans are under way to dispatch additional experts to Barbados to work closely with the team deployed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The UN presence is growing gradually in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, but access remains difficult, requiring support from military aircraft and/or vessels.
