Fifty-Two Civilians Dead as Tigray Fighting Spreads Across Northern Ethiopia
New rounds of fighting in northern Ethiopia have claimed the lives of 52 civilians in the Afar region, according to a local medic. The renewed offensive, which pits Ethiopian federal forces against fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), marks a significant escalation since the humanitarian truce declared in March.
The conflict, previously concentrated in Tigray, has now expanded into the neighbouring Amhara region, where the historic town of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has reportedly been taken by Tigrayan forces. This expansion has stranded tourists in the area, cutting off access and disrupting local life.
Government statements from Addis Ababa attribute the renewed violence to TPLF aggression, while the TPLF maintains its actions are defensive responses to federal incursions and blockades. These conflicting narratives obscure the devastating impact on civilian populations, who bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities and severe restrictions on essential aid.
International observers have consistently highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Tigray, where an estimated five million people remain in urgent need of assistance, and medical supplies are critically scarce. The latest surge in fighting further compounds the challenges for aid delivery, threatening to exacerbate an already acute crisis in the region.
