A five-month truce stands broken and peace efforts hampered as fighting broke out on Wednesday in northern Ethiopia between government forces and Tigrayan rebels.

The fresh offensive as per AFP comes after the Ethiopian Air force's announcement that it has downed a plane carrying weapons for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed his "deep shock" at the recent renewal of hostilities and urged for an "immediate cessation of hostilities and for the resumption of peace talks".

Watch |&nbsp;Ethiopia's peace proposal for Tigray rebels

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Moussa Faki Mahamat, the president of the African Union Commission, also urged a "de-escalation" and the restart of "talks to seek a peaceful solution."

As per a US State Department spokesperson, the US too has urged both parties to "redouble efforts to advance talks to achieve a durable ceasefire."

In order to prevent "a return to full-blown war," William Davison, senior Ethiopia analyst for the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank, pleaded with all parties to end hostilities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-tigray-starves-women-and-girls-resort-to-prostitution-for-survival-report-508750">Battling hunger, Tigray women, girls turn to prostitution for survival: Report</a>

"This serious breach of the truce agreed earlier this year demonstrates the need for the two parties to arrange unconditional face-to-face negotiations as soon as these hostilities cease," he said.

Both the rebels and the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have traded accusations of hindering efforts to end the deadly 21-month war in Africa's second-most populous country. They also have traded accusations over who was to blame for the rebels' decision to re-enter battle.

The TPLF said that government forces and their allies had begun a "large scale" onslaught against southern Tigray early on Wednesday.&nbsp;The government, on the other hand, has accused the TPLF of striking first and breaking the ceasefire.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-community-is-ignoring-tigray-because-of-colour-of-the-skin-of-the-people-who-chief-507894">International community is ignoring Tigray because of 'colour of the skin of the people': WHO chief</a>

In Tigray, the war has led to the death of thousands of people and millions of people require humanitarian aid.&nbsp;There have been numerous accounts of atrocities like mass murder and sexual assault.

The World Food Programme of the UN said last week that rates of malnutrition have "skyrocketed" and that over half of the population of Tigray is suffering from a serious scarcity of food.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A five-month truce stands broken and peace efforts hampered as fighting broke out on Wednesday in northern Ethiopia between government forces and Tigrayan rebels.

A five-month truce stands broken and peace efforts hampered as fighting broke out on Wednesday in northern Ethiopia between government forces and Tigrayan rebels. The fresh offensive as per AFP comes after the Ethiopian Air force's announcement that it has downed a plane carrying weapons for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed his "deep shock" at the recent renewal of hostilities and urged for an "immediate cessation of hostilities and for the resumption of peace talks". Watch | Ethiopia's peace proposal for Tigray rebels Moussa Faki Mahamat, the president of the African Union Commission, also urged a "de-escalation" and the restart of "talks to seek a peaceful solution." As per a US State Department spokesperson, the US too has urged both parties to "redouble efforts to advance talks to achieve a durable ceasefire." In order to prevent "a return to full-blown war," William Davison, senior Ethiopia analyst for the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank, pleaded with all parties to end hostilities. Also read | Battling hunger, Tigray women, girls turn to prostitution for survival: Report "This serious breach of the truce agreed earlier this year demonstrates the need for the two parties to arrange unconditional face-to-face negotiations as soon as these hostilities cease," he said. Both the rebels and the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have traded accusations of hindering efforts to end the deadly 21-month war in Africa's second-most populous country. They also have traded accusations over who was to blame for the rebels' decision to re-enter battle. The TPLF said that government forces and their allies had begun a "large scale" onslaught against southern Tigray early on Wednesday. The government, on the other hand, has accused the TPLF of striking first and breaking the ceasefire. Also read | International community is ignoring Tigray because of 'colour of the skin of the people': WHO chief In Tigray, the war has led to the death of thousands of people and millions of people require humanitarian aid. There have been numerous accounts of atrocities like mass murder and sexual assault. The World Food Programme of the UN said last week that rates of malnutrition have "skyrocketed" and that over half of the population of Tigray is suffering from a serious scarcity of food. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tigray crisis: Government and rebels exchange blame for the latest round of hostilities

As the UN's World Food Programme warned Friday that nearly half of the population in Tigray, a war-torn region of Ethiopia, is suffering from a chronic lack of food and conditions "are set to worsen as people enter peak hunger season," reports have revealed the heights of the desperation people face.

According to a Guardian story citing "reports from inside Tigray", as a result of the government's systematic blockage and seizure of remittances that millions of people depend on, starvation in the besieged province of Tigray is driving people to ever-more desperate methods.

Watch |&nbsp;Ethiopia's peace proposal for Tigray rebels

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The report further claims that many women and girls are being forced to engage in sex work to survive.

A 16-year-old girl revealed in a conversation with the Guardian how the suffering of her parents and siblings drove her to sell her body on the streets.

“Relatives abroad had been sending us money through smugglers. But it is tough to find remittance smugglers these days. Those we knew are no longer operating. We sold every property we had. There is nothing to eat at home. So, I went to the street to sell my body. What option do I have?”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-community-is-ignoring-tigray-because-of-colour-of-the-skin-of-the-people-who-chief-507894">International community is ignoring Tigray because of 'colour of the skin of the people': WHO chief</a>

This seems to be the story of many women and girls, some underage, others who once had promising careers.&nbsp;They are engaging in "survival sex".

Another interviewee, this one a 27-year-old woman with a master's degree, who before the war had a solid career, salary, and a plan to pursue a PhD, described how she was compelled to sell her body when the hunger claimed the life of her father.

This may come as a surprise, but she has money in her bank account. But since having been disconnected from the central federal system, banks in Tigray are now completely devoid of cash and have stopped issuing money.

“I watched my father die from malnourishment. He died in my hands. My mother is all bones. The warehouses are full of aid enough to feed the city. Fuel is not required to distribute aid within Mekelle. But people are dying unable to receive the aid they are entitled to. After I lost my father to starvation, I needed to do something to save my own life and my mother’s. Hunger does not give you time. I tried begging. But it does not work as there are many beggars. I became a prostitute.”&nbsp;

According to the WFP's most recent assessment, which covered the period from November 2021 to June 2022, 89 per cent of Tigray's six million inhabitants are facing&nbsp;food insecurity or inconsistent access to food.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As the UN's World Food Programme warned Friday that nearly half of the population in Tigray, a war-torn region of Ethiopia, is suffering from a chronic lack of food and conditions "are set to worsen as people enter peak hunger season," reports have revealed the heights of the desperation people face.

As the UN's World Food Programme warned Friday that nearly half of the population in Tigray, a war-torn region of Ethiopia, is suffering from a chronic lack of food and conditions "are set to worsen as people enter peak hunger season," reports have revealed the heights of the desperation people face. According to a Guardian story citing "reports from inside Tigray", as a result of the government's systematic blockage and seizure of remittances that millions of people depend on, starvation in the besieged province of Tigray is driving people to ever-more desperate methods. Watch | Ethiopia's peace proposal for Tigray rebels The report further claims that many women and girls are being forced to engage in sex work to survive. A 16-year-old girl revealed in a conversation with the Guardian how the suffering of her parents and siblings drove her to sell her body on the streets. “Relatives abroad had been sending us money through smugglers. But it is tough to find remittance smugglers these days. Those we knew are no longer operating. We sold every property we had. There is nothing to eat at home. So, I went to the street to sell my body. What option do I have?” Also read | International community is ignoring Tigray because of 'colour of the skin of the people': WHO chief This seems to be the story of many women and girls, some underage, others who once had promising careers. They are engaging in "survival sex". Another interviewee, this one a 27-year-old woman with a master's degree, who before the war had a solid career, salary, and a plan to pursue a PhD, described how she was compelled to sell her body when the hunger claimed the life of her father. This may come as a surprise, but she has money in her bank account. But since having been disconnected from the central federal system, banks in Tigray are now completely devoid of cash and have stopped issuing money. “I watched my father die from malnourishment. He died in my hands. My mother is all bones. The warehouses are full of aid enough to feed the city. Fuel is not required to distribute aid within Mekelle. But people are dying unable to receive the aid they are entitled to. After I lost my father to starvation, I needed to do something to save my own life and my mother’s. Hunger does not give you time. I tried begging. But it does not work as there are many beggars. I became a prostitute.” According to the WFP's most recent assessment, which covered the period from November 2021 to June 2022, 89 per cent of Tigray's six million inhabitants are facing food insecurity or inconsistent access to food. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Battling hunger, Tigray women, girls turn to prostitution for survival: Report

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Tigray crisis: Government and rebels exchange blame for the latest round of hostilities

Battling hunger, Tigray women, girls turn to prostitution for survival: Report