Ethiopia: UN Voices Grave Concern As Fighting Spreads Across Northern Ethiopia

What the report says

The United Nations says it is deeply concerned that fighting is widening across northern Ethiopia and is disrupting humanitarian operations. According to UN News, the warning came on Friday, when UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefed reporters in New York and said the situation is deteriorating across multiple fronts.

The UN said it is troubled by reports of drone use and harm to civilians, and it urged all sides to show restraint and return to dialogue. Secretary-General António Guterres is monitoring developments and has been engaging with leaders as part of efforts to ease tensions. The UN’s special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Guang Cong, is also working with national and regional partners, including the African Union and IGAD, to support talks under the 2022 peace agreement.

The report places the new escalation in the context of Ethiopia’s 2020-2022 war in Tigray, which involved federal forces, Tigrayan fighters and Eritrean troops. It notes that the latest unrest risks undoing fragile gains from the 2022 deal and could worsen already serious humanitarian needs in Tigray, Amhara and Afar, especially where displacement, poor rainfall and insecurity are already straining communities.

UN officials said aid deliveries are being hindered by road closures and insecurity, and that some operations face severe constraints. The reporting also cited claims of recent strikes affecting civilians and humanitarian transport, underscoring concerns that the fighting could further limit access to food, medical help and other essential assistance.