The United Nations is demanding answers from the government of Ethiopia over the detention of 70 of their truck drivers contracted to deliver aid, describing the move as “a de facto humanitarian blockade”.

The ethnicity of the drivers is not clear, but it comes as there is a sharp increase in the detention of ethnic Tigrayans. The authorities have been at war with Tigrayan rebels for over a year now.

Last week Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared a state of emergency as rebel forces move closer to the capital Addis Ababa, where we are.

UN demands answers from Ethiopia over aid blockade as conflict fuels ethnic divisions