Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the situation along the border between the Tigray and Afar regions of Ethiopia since 20 January 2022.

We are aware of reports of attacks by Tigrayan forces on Abala, a town in Afar region near to the border with Tigray. The town of Abala is crucial to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Tigray.

400,000 people in Tigray are experiencing famine conditions, and no aid has reached the region by road since 14 December 2021 due to a de facto humanitarian blockade. This attack makes the delivery of humanitarian aid even more difficult.

On my visit to Addis Ababa on 20 January 2022 I discussed the clear need for a ceasefire and humanitarian access with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. On 25 January I called for the TPLF to stop fighting in Afar and prioritise civilians. We repeat our call for a ceasefire and we implore all parties to prioritise the delivery of humanitarian aid.