Addis Ababa, Jan 5 (TIWN) Conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray regional state has displaced 2.2 million people, a government official said.

"There are 2.2 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Tigray, half of them are whose houses were burnt and lost all their properties, the other half fled by foot to regional cities including Axum, Shire, Adigrat and Mekelle," Gebremeskel Kassa, head of the region's Interim Administration Office, told the media on Monday.  "The IDPs are under great risk, and we're undertaking widespread mobilisation in collaboration with the federal government to provide aid to them," he said.  At least 4.5 million people need emergency aid, Kassa said, warning the final figure is likely to be much greater as his office has been unable to make a comprehensive study across the region, Xinhua news agency reported.