UPDATE - For 4th day, Ethiopian army wages aerial campaign on Tigray

UPDATES WITH NEW STATEMENTS BY GOVERNMENT, HUMANITAIRIAN AID GROUPS, UN; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Andrew Wasike and Addis Getachew

NAIROBI, Kenya/ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Ethiopia said on Friday that its air force destroyed a military training center in rebel-held Mekele -- the capital of the troubled Tigray regional state -- while the UN and aid workers reported civilian casualties and damages.

"Another of the TPLF terrorist group's training centers was the target of air strikes today," the government's communication service told Anadolu Agency. TPLF is the acronym for the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

"This site used to be the ENDF’s (Ethiopian National Defense Forces) training center before being appropriated by the TPLF to undertake military training for its illegal recruits. It is also serving as a battle network hub by the terrorist organization," it added.

An aid worker who spoke to Anadolu agency said the latest strike had hit a civilian-populated area. "The area's residents say there are reports of civilian casualties and a lot of damage to civilian-owned infrastructure. The airstrike hit Mekele University and damage to the institution has also been recorded."

"First responders were civilians but emergency services have gone to the place," as well, added the relief worker.

Locals have denied that the Ethiopian jets targeted a military training center, saying that they hit an area with the building of an educational institution and was populated by civilians.

- Humanitarian crisis due to lack of fuel

The UN has said fuel shortages in the conflict-hit Tigray region hampered efforts for the organization and other aid groups to deliver humanitarian aid to affected people.

In a report, the UN lamented that the humanitarian situation in Tigray "continues to deteriorate due to the continued restrictions imposed on the delivery of humanitarian supplies into the region" via the route to Mekele through the northeastern city of Semera and northern town of Abala in the Afar region.

It noted that between Oct. 13 and Oct. 19, 215 humanitarian supply trucks arrived in Tigray -- a slight increase from the previous week for a total of 1,111 trucks since July 12, adding that this was a mere 15% of the number needed.

According to the UN, an estimated 100 trucks with non-food items and fuel "must" enter Tigray every day to meet critical humanitarian needs.

"Fuel, however, has still not been allowed into Tigray. Fourteen fuel tankers (45,000 liters/each) remain in Semera. On 14 October, fuel trucks received approval by the Government to proceed, but they were denied transit to Tigray at a checkpoint, requiring a letter of authorization from the Federal Police Commissioner in Addis Ababa," it said.

"Consequently, the trucks returned to Semera. Partners estimate they need more than 272,000 liters of fuel every month to carry out their humanitarian operations," added the report.

Due to the severe fuel shortages, several humanitarian partners have been forced to significantly reduce or suspend their activities.

Food distribution is among those humanitarian activities that have ground to a halt -- or are near doing so within the next week, according to the UN, with at least three of seven main active food partners having already been forced to cease their activities. Water trucking and dislodging by some partners have almost ceased, as well have the distribution of water, sanitation, and hygiene items.

"One-stop centers, providing services to survivors of gender-based violence, halted their activities, including field movements, outreach and assistance," it said, adding that nutrition partners were currently at less than 20% capacity, which has resulted in "reducing malnutrition screening and treatment activities for children and pregnant and lactating women."

Food continues to be urgently needed in Tigray, with at least 5.2 million people in need of emergency food assistance, including over 400,000 in famine-like conditions.

Getachew Reda, a senior member of the TPLF, accused the government of targeting civilians in a bid to gain territory in the neighboring regional states of Amhara and Afar which were taken by the rebels.

He said the Air Force had made "three attempts to strike targets" in Mekele on Thursday afternoon.

"Our air defense forces have so far managed to protect our people," said Reda, a former communication minister, adding that the army was "suffering heavy losses everywhere."

The TPLF accused the government of attacking a civilian neighborhood near the Lachi area of Mekele.

Residents took to social media, posting videos and images of the attack showing a large fire and billowing smoke from the area in which they said injuries had been sustained.

"We are having a humanitarian crisis here. People are suffering and living in fear of bombs that might rain from the sky at any time," a teacher from Mekele told Anadolu Agency.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said innocent civilians had been harmed in aerial attacks by Ethiopian forces this week.

"Initial information from the ground indicates that civilians, including women and children, were injured, we are trying to gather more information. More than 5.2 mln people in Tigray need life-saving assistance," he said.

The TPLF said on Monday that airstrikes had targeted a market and killed three civilians, while the government has rejected these claims.

TPLF fighters still occupy many areas in the eastern Amhara region, with millions reportedly displaced due to the fighting between the two sides.