Ethiopia violence kills civilians, strains health system

Attacks in Ethiopia’s northern regions of Amhara and Tigray reportedly killed civilians, including children and a newborn, according to a statement posted on X by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The attacks occurred at the Jaari 2 displacement camp in Amhara and in Rama, in neighboring Tigray, where several people were reportedly killed while attempting to obtain food.

Tedros did not provide casualty figures or dates for the attacks, nor did he identify those responsible. He noted that drone attacks and civilian casualties have become increasingly common in Ethiopia. The violence has further strained an already fragile health system, with hospitals facing shortages of health workers, medicines, and medical equipment.

Ambulance services are also severely limited, and insecurity is preventing the delivery of essential medical supplies to some areas. The WHO and other United Nations agencies are working to deliver additional medical supplies to affected regions. Tedros emphasized the need to protect civilians and ensure access to health workers and humanitarian aid.

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia has effectively undermined the November 2022 peace agreement between the federal government and rebel forces in Tigray, raising concerns about a potential wider conflict.

Amhara has experienced prolonged fighting between federal security forces and Fano, a network of ethnic Amhara militias, since 2023. Military operations, including drone strikes, have impacted civilian communities. Violence has also been reported in the Oromia region, where Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church reported at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in separate attacks.

US Ambassador Ervin J. Massinga condemned reported targeted killings in the Arsi zone of Oromia and called for an investigation. Meanwhile, Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, faces accusations of political bias due to his past roles in the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.