Ethiopian forces shoot at, detain U. N. staffers in Tigray

NAIROBI, Kenya — Ethiopia’s security forces shot at and detained U. N. staffers as they tried to reach part of the embattled Tigray region, a senior official said Tuesday, and he blamed the U. N. staffers for trying to reach areas where “they were not supposed to go.”

The shooting occurred amid soaring frustration among humanitarian officials as desperately needed aid is still not freely reaching the Tigray region more than a week after the United Nations and Ethiopia’s government signed a deal for access.

The senior government official, Redwan Hussein, said the U. N. employees “broke” two checkpoints and were trying to go through a third when they were fired upon. He said the staffers have since been released.

U. N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the four staffers had been trying to assess roads, a key step before larger aid convoys can go in.

Ethiopia’s government is making it clear it intends to manage the flow of humanitarian aid, but the United Nations has openly sought unfettered and neutral access according to international principles. Food, medicines and other aid for some 6 million people are in the balance.

Ethiopia’s government last month declared victory in the conflict in the Tigray region against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.