The Ethiopian government declared an immediate unilateral cease-fire in the nation's Tigray region on Monday.

The region has been put into chaos after local ethnic Tigray fighters took over the regional capital and government which forced the government soldiers to retreat from the region.

The deadly conflict in the region for eight months pushed thousands of people in the region into a famine.

Ethiopia's statement was carried by state media shortly after the Tigray interim administration, appointed by the federal government, fled the regional capital, Mekele, and called for a cease-fire on humanitarian grounds so that desperately needed aid can be delivered.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he had spoken with the prime minister and "I am hopeful that an effective cessation of hostilities will take place