
The United Nations is sounding the alarm on a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. Over 50,000 people have been displaced from their homes in just days, fleeing renewed conflict in the region bordering Amhara and Tigray. This figure marks a staggering increase from the initial estimate of 15,000 displaced just days prior.
The surge in internally displaced persons (IDPs) follows clashes that erupted last Saturday. Many have fled their homes in Alamata and surrounding areas, seeking refuge in the nearby town of Kobo. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlights the plight of vulnerable women and children caught in the crossfire, urgently requiring comprehensive humanitarian assistance.
Despite efforts by the government and aid organizations to provide food and medical services, resources are stretched thin in the face of this rapidly escalating crisis. The renewed fighting comes after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched a military offensive, seizing control of areas near Alamata. The TPLF claims these areas belong to Tigray based on “constitutional grounds,” reigniting tensions following the Pretoria Agreement, which aimed to end the two-year war between the federal government and the TPLF.
The clashes have resulted in at least three casualties and showcase a worrying escalation. Local authorities in Kobo report that displaced people are struggling to find shelter and basic necessities. While the federal government has provided aid to regional authorities, local officials in Alamata claim they were left unprepared to receive the displaced population.
The situation is further complicated by accusations. The opposition party, Amhara National Movement, accuses the TPLF of aggression, while the TPLF views this as an attempt to sabotage the Pretoria Agreement. Local reports express fear of further conflict spreading to surrounding areas, disrupting the fragile normalcy that had begun to return.
The international community is calling for an immediate halt to the fighting and urging all parties involved to prioritize a peaceful resolution. With thousands forced to flee their homes and essential resources dwindling, immediate and coordinated humanitarian action is critical to prevent a full-blown catastrophe.