The Tigray People’s Liberation Front rejected claims by the National Disaster Risk Management Commission Commissioner, Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam, that the people of Tigray are being “politically exploited and punished with hunger,” asserting that “genocide continues in silence” in the region even after the Pretoria Peace Agreement.

In an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency, Dr. Shiferaw said the TPLF has long leveraged basic needs and humanitarian crises for political purposes, adding that aid intended for displaced populations has been used to generate “dramatic propaganda” and draw international attention.

Responding to the allegations, the TPLF described the claims as “white lies” and stressed that the protection of civilians remains a priority, both before and after the Pretoria Agreement.

“Our people have been displaced from their homes and scattered in different areas due to the war; they are still suffering,” the TPLF office said. “In particular, people in 146 refugee camps are facing hunger, disease, and psychological trauma.”