The number of casualties has continued to increase in the prolonged unrest in the troubled Tigray region of Ethiopia due to shortages of life-saving drugs, oxygen, and other humanitarian needs.
Since its outbreak in November 2020, the war, which began in Tigray (northern Ethiopia) and then spread to the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar, has been marked by numerous allegations of abuses on both sides.
The war has led to unprecedented and significant attrition of health workers, reduction in maternal and child health services, and an increase in rates of malnutrition, the burden of infectious and non-infectious illness, and gender-based violence.
One of the doctors at Ayder Hospital in Mekele, Tigray’s capital, told journalists that at least 60 patients with kidney disease have died since July. This is due to the lack of supplies needed for regular dialysis.
Another 81 patients have died “directly because of a lack of oxygen” since the conflict between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, erupted in Nov. 2020, the doctor added.
Last month, the Ethiopian government announced an immediate, unilateral truce in its conflict with rebellious Tigrayan forces to allow aid into the northern province but that has not affected much regarding the accessibility of medical facilities.
The Tigray region is the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia. The Region is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob , and Kunama people. Formerly known as Region 1.
According to U.N. figures, more than 90% of Tigray’s 6 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 115,000 children who are severely malnourished. Some shortages have been alleviated by aid flights operated by the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which have flown in 438 metric tonnes (482 tons) of medical and nutrition supplies since late January.
However, these supplies represent just 4% of what’s required, according to experts.
As a result, staff at Ayder Hospital say they have resorted to washing and reusing surgical gloves and treating patients with expired medicines. They are also recycling plastic breathing tubes and items used for dialysis.
“This is really risky for the patients; they can die of infections and other complications,” said the doctor. “Doctors elsewhere in the world would be shocked to hear we are doing this.”