In a statement read by United Nations (UN) spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay on Thursday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was “shocked” by the news that Ethiopia had expelled seven senior UN officials.

Ethiopia declared the UN officials “persona non grata” two days after United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths warned that hundreds of thousands of people in the northern region of Tigray were likely experiencing famine due to a government blockade of aid.

The move also comes amid increasing international criticism over conditions in Tigray, and as all parties in the fighting in northern Ethiopia face the possibility of sanctions from the United States government.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki condemned the expulsion “in the strongest possible terms” on Thursday, and said the government "will not hesitate” to introduce financial sanctions against those who obstruct humanitarian operations.

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