Washington, D.C.—House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Lead Republican Michael McCaul, along with Representatives Karen Bass and Chris Smith, released the following statement on the lack of security and access for humanitarian partners in Tigray, after alarming reports that a UN convoy came under fire.

“While we recognize the announcement of a humanitarian access agreement in Tigray, the situation on the ground is getting worse. Lack of security protections and opaque approval processes are blocking critical humanitarian assessment teams and preventing desperately needed food and supplies from reaching displaced populations. We call on the Government of Ethiopia to ensure safe and unfettered humanitarian access without delay. Humanitarian aid cannot be politicized. Thousands of lives are at stake.”

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