Over 50,000 displaced amid clashes in Northern Ethiopia, says UN
The United Nations has sounded the alarm as clashes in a disputed area in northern Ethiopia have forced over 50,000 individuals from their homes, marking a dire humanitarian crisis. The conflict involves fighters from rival regions, intensifying concerns from the international community about escalating violence in the region.
According to the UN, citing local authorities, the situation in the disputed area, claimed by both Tigray and neighboring Amhara, has reached critical levels. Thousands of women and children are in urgent need of humanitarian aid to survive the crisis.
The displacement has primarily occurred in Alamata Town and Raya Alamata, Zata, and Ofla since the weekend, with the number of affected individuals surpassing the 50,000 mark, the United Nations noted.
The roots of the conflict trace back to the two-year war between Ethiopia’s government and regional Tigrayan authorities, during which Amhara forces seized control of Raya Alamata in southern Tigray.
Despite a peace deal signed in Pretoria in November 2022 between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and Tigrayan authorities, tensions remain high as Amhara forces were expected to withdraw from Raya Alamata.
Requests for information from both the federal government and Tigrayan authorities went unanswered, leaving the identity of the fighters involved unclear.
Media access to northern Ethiopia remains heavily restricted, impeding independent verification of the situation on the ground.
The escalating violence has prompted concerns from the international community, with several nations, including the United States, Japan, Britain, and France, calling for dialogue and urging de-escalation efforts to protect civilians.
Amhara regional administration, in a statement last week, accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of “invading” Raya Alamata and other disputed areas. The administration emphasized adherence to the Pretoria agreement and warned of potential actions to protect its people if the situation persists.
In response, Getachew Reda, a senior TPLF member, denounced the recent developments as the work of “diehard enemies” seeking to disrupt the peace deal, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the agreement.
