The United Nations on Friday decried Ethiopia's announcement that it was expelling seven senior UN officials, and voiced concern for 5.2 million people in the Tigray region who are in need of urgent assistance as malnutrition rises further.
"It is critically important that the humanitarian operation continues - and it does," Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told a Geneva briefing.
"Until now there is no indication that it (Ethiopia's decision) stops the operation."
UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said the plan to expel the head of its reporting team in Ethiopia was a "really grave step", adding: "We are pretty much united across the UN that this is not an acceptable situation."
The expulsions are the Ethiopian government's most dramatic move yet to restrict humanitarian access to the region after nearly a year of war. The UN has become increasingly outspoken as the flow of medical supplies, food and fuel has been brought to a near-halt.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “shocked” by the announcement and expressed “full confidence” in UN staff, saying they are guided by impartiality and neutrality.
In a statement, he said the UN is engaging with Ethiopia's government “in the expectation that the concerned UN staff will be allowed to continue their important work.”
