Ethiopian government accusations that aid workers in the war-torn Tigray region are helping rebels are dangerous, a top UN official has said, the AFP news agency reports.
Martin Griffiths, who heads the UN’s humanitarian agency, has just wrapped up a six-day visit to the country.
More than five million people in Tigray need humanitarian assistance and more than 400,000 are living in famine conditions, according to the UN.
Some aid workers have been accused of siding with the rebel Tigray Defence Forces and aid convoys have been held up.
“Blanket accusations of humanitarian aid workers need to stop,” Mr Griffiths is quoted as telling journalists.
“They are unfair, they are unconstructive, they need to be backed up by evidence if there is any and, frankly, it’s dangerous.”
The US’ top aid official, Samantha Power, has also been in the region.
In a Twitter thread she wrote about her meeting with Ethiopians who have fled to Sudan.
She called for dialogue and said: “The conflict has brought harrowing attacks against civilians, it is impacting millions, and it has to end.”
