Millions of children in Ethiopia’s Tigray without access to aid

About 2.3 million children in Ethiopia's Tigray region have no access to humanitarian assistance since a conflict started early November, according to the United Nations Children's Fund.

In a statement released on Tuesday, UNICEF said the situation will worsen if access to the children is delayed.

"Protecting these children, many of whom are refugees and internally displaced, and providing them with humanitarian aid must be a priority," it said.

UNICEF also called for "urgent, sustained, unconditional and impartial humanitarian access to all families in need wherever they are".

READ MORE: First foreign aid arrives in Ethiopia's Tigray region

Humanitarian agreement

Early December, the UN announced that an agreement has been reached with Ethiopia to allow "unimpeded, sustained and secure access" for humanitarian supplies to reach those in need across areas under its control in Tigray.

Ethiopia launched on November 4 a "law enforcement operation" against the Tigray People's Liberation Front whose forces stormed an army camp, looted military hardware and killed soldiers.

READ MORE: Ethiopia launches operation to disarm civilians in restive Tigray region

Refugees flee

Up to 50,000 Ethiopian refugees who have crossed into eastern Sudan, with some reporting having to evade armed groups to reach safety, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

Early this month, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High commissioner for human rights, said the situation in Ethiopia is "exceedingly worrying, volatile, and distressing" with an urgent need for independent monitoring of the human rights situation in the conflict-stricken Tigray region.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared the end of military operations in the region on November 28 after the fall of the regional capital Mekelle.

READ MORE: Ethiopian PM visits Tigray as Sudan confirms urgent talks to resolve crisis