Please see the below statement from Refugees International Senior Fellow Sarah Miller:

“The humanitarian situation in Tigray is rapidly deteriorating, and the international community must urgently intervene. Some 2.2 million people have been displaced since the fighting erupted last November, and humanitarian access remains largely cut off. Hunger is setting in amidst Tigrayans and the Eritrean refugee population in Tigray—many of whom have faced kidnapping, human rights abuses, and other attacks as they try to flee.

Refugees International is concerned about reports of sexual and gender-based violence. Women and separated children are particularly vulnerable to such attacks, and with rising ethnic tensions , there is concern that these abuses will worsen.

Refugees International calls on all parties to the conflict to cease fighting and pursue peaceful dialogue. Humanitarian actors must have complete access to all of Tigray and be viewed as neutral to the conflict.

The United States and its allies must continue to engage more fully to prevent further crisis in Tigray and a rapid escalation in the region more broadly.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Refugees International Director of Communications Sarah Sheffer at +1 202 540 7029 or ssheffer@refugeesinternational.org.