Violent clashes in Northern Ethiopia displace more than 50,000, UN says

More than 50,000 people have been displaced by clashes in a disputed area in northern Ethiopia, with the UN expressing concern about the violence involving fighters from rival regions.

According to a UN statement on Monday, the humanitarian situation in the region is dire, with thousands of women and children in need of broad support to survive.

Amhara forces occupied Raya Alamata in southern Tigray during a two-year war, and under a peace deal, they were supposed to withdraw from the area but have not honored the agreement to date.

The international community has called for dialogue and the protection of civilians, as reports of the fighting have sparked alarm.

Amhara, Ethiopia’s second most populous region, has been devastated by clashes since April 2023 triggered by the federal government’s decision to dismantle regional forces.