A drought in the Kola Tenben district of central Tigray has claimed the lives of 22 people and killed more than 27,000 livestock, local officials say.

The high death toll is an indication of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, and the lack of aid is said to have exacerbated the problem.

"People are dying; we can't do anything without urgent support," Goytom Gebrehawariya, the administrator of Yaker Kebele, told Addis Standard about the situation. He added that the situation is getting worse and worse, with people running out of food and water.

The Interim Administration of the Tigray Region held an emergency meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025, to discuss the ongoing crisis in the region and agree on the need for urgent assistance.

However, local authorities said that despite repeated calls to the relevant authorities, no emergency aid has yet reached Kola Tenben.