World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that fighting in northern Ethiopia is threatening to bring the region’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse, amid worsening security conditions and shortages of medical supplies.
In a post on the social media platform X on Monday, Ghebreyesus said violence in northern Ethiopia was pushing an already fragile healthcare system toward collapse.
He explained that hospitals were facing shortages of medical personnel, medicines and equipment, adding that their ability to provide healthcare had become severely limited. Insecurity has also disrupted the delivery of essential medical supplies to some areas.
Concerns Over Attacks on Civilians in Amhara and Tigray
The WHO chief expressed concern over reports of attacks on civilians in the Amhara and Tigray regions.
He said the organization, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies, was working to deliver additional medical assistance to affected areas. He warned that continued fighting could leave more people without access to healthcare services and medical aid.
Ghebreyesus called for the protection of civilians, unhindered access for medical workers to reach those in need, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
Armed Conflict Resumes in Tigray
Armed conflict between Ethiopian government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) resumed last September, following a ceasefire agreement brokered by the African Union in November 2022.
