An adviser to the former ruling administration in Tigray has told the BBC the Ethiopian army has suffered a devastating defeat in the regional capital Mekelle.

There have been victory celebrations in Mekelle - after rebel forces recaptured it in a rapid offensive on Monday.

The Ethiopian government has not confirmed the loss of the city, but has declared a unilateral ceasefire in the region.

Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) adviser Fesseha Tessema told the BBC that the changed situation meant international agencies could now bring urgently needed aid into Tigray:

Quote Message: The vast majority of people are now under the government of Tigray. Therefore, the international community has no excuse now to say Addis [Ababa municipal] government has been ignoring them.

Quote Message: They can bring all the international assistance to the greater majority of Tigrayans in their need because the situation on the ground is conducive to deliver aid. They have been subjected to all kinds of atrocities, starvation used as a weapon. Now that has been lifted and the international community should help us feed the people."

Mr Tessema insisted that the ceasefire would be felt by the people of Tigray:

Quote Message: The first thing that the Tigrayans demanded was that they should be able to live at peace. The first thing to do is for Tigrayans to breathe from what they have been going through for the last eight months.

Quote Message: There is no electricity in all parts of Tigray apart from Mekelle. There is no telephone. So the first thing is, people should have some kind of normalcy at least.

Quote Message: For the first time, our regional capital is at peace with itself. So this is a time to mourn and we have to wait to see what happens."