Ethiopia's health system strained: Civilian attacks force aid agencies to act

Residents in northern Ethiopia face a growing shortage of medical care as renewed fighting disrupts hospital services. The World Health Organization stated on Monday that the health system is nearing collapse due to frequent civilian casualties. This development affects families seeking treatment for injuries and illness in the conflict zones.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, identified specific locations where attacks have caused deaths. Reports indicate that children, including a newborn, died in the Jaari 2 displacement camp in Amhara. In the nearby Tigray region, residents attempting to secure food in Rama also suffered fatalities. The agency noted that hospitals in these areas are lacking healthcare personnel, essential medications, and basic equipment.

Logistical barriers further complicate relief efforts. Ambulance services remain limited, and ongoing insecurity prevents medical supplies from reaching their destinations. Tedros did not provide specific casualty figures or dates for the recent attacks, nor did he identify the responsible parties. He described drone strikes and civilian casualties as a recurring pattern across the country. The WHO and other United Nations agencies are currently working to deliver additional supplies to the affected areas.

The resumption of combat has undermined a peace agreement reached in November 2022 between the federal government and rebel forces in Tigray. This shift has increased concerns about a wider conflict. The government has not yet issued a public response to the reported attacks. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, posted on social media that government leaders are undergoing military training in Hurso, in the east of the country. He described the exercises as a way to strengthen discipline and leadership.

Political tensions accompany the humanitarian crisis. Tedros, who is of Tigrayan ethnicity and formerly served as Ethiopia's health and foreign minister, has faced accusations of bias from government authorities. In January 2022, officials claimed he used his position to advance political interests. He acknowledged his regional ties but maintained that his comments were impartial. The government also faces armed opposition in the Amhara and Oromia regions. Fano, a network of Amhara militias, has fought federal forces in Amhara since 2023.

In Oromia, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reported that at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in separate attacks. Ervin J. Massinga, the United States ambassador, condemned the selective killings in the Arsi zone on Saturday and called for an investigation. He stated that such attacks against any group must stop. A coalition of seven opposition groups, the Ethiopian People's Forces Alliance for Survival, released a video statement approving plans to coordinate campaigns and diplomatic outreach. The alliance, formed in September, aims to remove the current government and accused the Prosperity Party of fueling the conflict.

The alliance includes the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Amhara National Movement Fano, the Oromo Liberation Army, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Peoples Liberation Movement, and the Gumuz Peoples Democratic Movement. These groups represent various ethnic and regional interests in the ongoing struggle for political transition.