# Doctors in Ethiopia’s war-hit Tigray region say patients are needlessly dying of treatable conditions. This is happening because a de facto blockade is preventing medicines and other life-saving supplies from reaching stricken hospitals. AFP reports a dire shortage of oxygen, intravenous fluids and other critical equipment had made surgery and essential procedures almost impossible over the past six months. Thousands of people have died in Ethiopia’s 14-month-long conflict and parts of Tigray are experiencing famine conditions.