UN Report: Clashes in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia Displace 50,000 People

Clashes in southern Tigray, Ethiopia have displaced around 50,000 people, three times the initial estimates, according to a recent UN report. The humanitarian situation in the region is dire, requiring urgent assistance to address the growing crisis.

The report highlights the significant displacement of people, including children and breastfeeding mothers, due to the ongoing conflict in the area. Approximately 29,000 individuals have been forced to evacuate from the Raya Alamata district to Kobo town. Some families are sheltering in open areas in nearby Amhara districts.

The renewed hostilities began on April 13 between armed forces from the Amhara and Tigray regions in the contested territories of the southern Tigray zone. The fighting continued through April 15 until federal forces intervened and controlled Alamata town. Getachew Reda, president of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray, accused "diehard enemies of the Pretoria agreement" of being responsible for the clashes, while the Amhara regional government accused the Tigray People's Liberation Front of invading areas with active identity questions.

Federal authorities have called for all sides to respect the Pretoria agreement and reiterated their commitment to resolve the issues of disputed territories via a referendum. Seven Western countries, including the US and UK, have expressed concern over the reported violence and called for de-escalation and disarmament.

Why this matters: The clashes in southern Tigray threaten the delicate peace achieved through the Pretoria agreement and worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the region. The ongoing conflict and displacement crisis underscore the urgent need for international support and efforts to tackle the root causes of the violence.

The two-year civil war in Ethiopia ended in late 2022, but issues like contested areas, disarmament of ex-combatants, and the fate of displaced Tigrayans remain unresolved. The conflict has had a devastating impact on Tigray, with up to 600,000 people estimated to have died and the region's infrastructure and services severely damaged. The UN has stated that critical humanitarian assistance is urgently required to address the growing displacement and suffering of the affected population in southern Tigray.

Key Takeaways

• Clashes in southern Tigray, Ethiopia have displaced ~50,000 people, 3x initial estimates.
• Conflict between Amhara and Tigray forces in contested territories, federal forces intervened.
• Pretoria agreement threatened, calls for de-escalation and disarmament by 7 Western countries.
• 2-year civil war ended in 2022, but issues like contested areas and displaced Tigrayans remain.
• UN states critical humanitarian assistance is urgently required to address growing displacement.