THE United Nations signed a deal today allowing “unimpeded” humanitarian access to the parts of Tigray under Ethiopian government control, following warnings that the fighting in the region has created a hunger and refugee crisis.

This will allow the first food, medicines and other aid into the northern region of six million people. 

For weeks, aid-laden lorries have been blocked at Tigray’s borders, and the UN and other humanitarian groups were increasingly anxious to reach the war-torn region as hunger grows and hospitals run out of basic supplies such as gloves and body bags. Damage to infrastructure has affected the supply of treated water.