The United Nations says escalating security threats are putting civilians, critical infrastructure and humanitarian operations at growing risk across northern Ethiopia.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The United Nations warned Thursday, October 1, that increasing drone activity and airstrikes in northern Ethiopia are creating growing risks for civilians, critical infrastructure and humanitarian operations, as aid organizations struggle to maintain access to communities affected by insecurity.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the deteriorating security environment was continuing to complicate humanitarian efforts in several parts of the country. While there have been limited improvements in some areas, humanitarian organizations remain concerned about the safety of both civilians and aid workers.
Dujarric said security conditions in parts of the Amhara region had improved enough to allow humanitarian organizations to assess whether some operations could gradually resume.
The assessment is focused on parts of the Wag Hamra and North Wello zones, where aid agencies are examining whether conditions are sufficiently stable to expand humanitarian activities. The potential resumption of operations could provide additional assistance to communities that have faced difficulties accessing essential services and humanitarian support.
However, the United Nations stressed that any expansion of humanitarian operations would depend on security conditions and the ability of aid workers to move safely and reach people in need.
In the neighboring Afar region, humanitarian organizations were mobilizing emergency assistance in priority areas where access was permitted, Dujarric said.
The situation, however, remains significantly more difficult in Tigray, where continued insecurity and severe restrictions on access have brought humanitarian operations close to a standstill.
Aid organizations require reliable access to affected communities to deliver food, medical assistance and other essential services. Continued restrictions can make it difficult for humanitarian workers to assess needs, transport supplies and provide assistance to vulnerable populations.
The United Nations has repeatedly stressed that humanitarian personnel and operations must be protected during periods of conflict and insecurity.
“Humanitarians must be protected in Ethiopia as they need to be protected everywhere,” Dujarric said, emphasizing the need for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.
His comments came as the UN sought to provide an assessment of the wider humanitarian response in northern Ethiopia. When asked about the broader situation, Dujarric described it as “extremely worrying and murky,” highlighting the uncertainty facing aid organizations attempting to operate in areas affected by insecurity.
According to Dujarric, humanitarian organizations are negotiating access on a case-by-case basis. This means that the ability of aid workers to reach communities can vary depending on local security conditions and other restrictions.
The situation creates additional challenges for organizations attempting to plan humanitarian operations. Aid agencies need predictable access to determine where assistance is most urgently required and to organize personnel and supplies. When access changes rapidly, operations can be delayed or suspended.
The increased use of drones and airstrikes has added another layer of concern. Beyond the immediate risk to civilians, damage to critical infrastructure could further complicate humanitarian work and make it more difficult for affected communities to receive essential assistance.
The UN's warning underscores the continuing challenges facing humanitarian organizations in northern Ethiopia. Although limited improvements in security have created opportunities for assessments in parts of Amhara and emergency mobilization has begun in accessible areas of Afar, the situation remains highly uneven across the region.
Tigray presents one of the most difficult environments for humanitarian organizations, with insecurity and access restrictions preventing aid operations from functioning normally.
The United Nations has called for conditions that would allow humanitarian organizations to reach people in need safely and without unnecessary obstruction. Such access is considered essential for assessing humanitarian needs and delivering assistance to affected populations.
For aid organizations, the immediate priority remains maintaining operations wherever conditions allow while ensuring the safety of humanitarian personnel. In areas where access is currently impossible or severely restricted, agencies must continue monitoring developments and seek opportunities to resume assistance when conditions permit.
The UN's latest assessment also highlights the uncertainty surrounding the humanitarian response in northern Ethiopia. While some areas have seen limited improvements that could allow humanitarian work to restart gradually, other parts of the region remain inaccessible or extremely difficult for aid organizations to reach.
Dujarric's remarks indicate that the humanitarian situation will continue to depend heavily on developments in security and access. Without safe and predictable conditions, humanitarian organizations may struggle to maintain sustained operations across affected areas.
The United Nations is therefore continuing to call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel, as well as safe, timely and unimpeded access to communities requiring assistance.
With security concerns continuing across parts of Amhara, Afar and Tigray, humanitarian organizations face the challenge of balancing the urgent need to deliver assistance with the risks posed by the deteriorating security environment.
The UN said it would continue monitoring the situation and supporting humanitarian efforts wherever access and security conditions allow.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the deteriorating security environment was continuing to complicate humanitarian efforts in several parts of the country. While there have been limited improvements in some areas, humanitarian organizations remain concerned about the safety of both civilians and aid workers.
Dujarric said security conditions in parts of the Amhara region had improved enough to allow humanitarian organizations to assess whether some operations could gradually resume.
The assessment is focused on parts of the Wag Hamra and North Wello zones, where aid agencies are examining whether conditions are sufficiently stable to expand humanitarian activities. The potential resumption of operations could provide additional assistance to communities that have faced difficulties accessing essential services and humanitarian support.
However, the United Nations stressed that any expansion of humanitarian operations would depend on security conditions and the ability of aid workers to move safely and reach people in need.
In the neighboring Afar region, humanitarian organizations were mobilizing emergency assistance in priority areas where access was permitted, Dujarric said.
The situation, however, remains significantly more difficult in Tigray, where continued insecurity and severe restrictions on access have brought humanitarian operations close to a standstill.
Aid organizations require reliable access to affected communities to deliver food, medical assistance and other essential services. Continued restrictions can make it difficult for humanitarian workers to assess needs, transport supplies and provide assistance to vulnerable populations.
The United Nations has repeatedly stressed that humanitarian personnel and operations must be protected during periods of conflict and insecurity.
“Humanitarians must be protected in Ethiopia as they need to be protected everywhere,” Dujarric said, emphasizing the need for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.
His comments came as the UN sought to provide an assessment of the wider humanitarian response in northern Ethiopia. When asked about the broader situation, Dujarric described it as “extremely worrying and murky,” highlighting the uncertainty facing aid organizations attempting to operate in areas affected by insecurity.
According to Dujarric, humanitarian organizations are negotiating access on a case-by-case basis. This means that the ability of aid workers to reach communities can vary depending on local security conditions and other restrictions.
The situation creates additional challenges for organizations attempting to plan humanitarian operations. Aid agencies need predictable access to determine where assistance is most urgently required and to organize personnel and supplies. When access changes rapidly, operations can be delayed or suspended.
The increased use of drones and airstrikes has added another layer of concern. Beyond the immediate risk to civilians, damage to critical infrastructure could further complicate humanitarian work and make it more difficult for affected communities to receive essential assistance.
The UN's warning underscores the continuing challenges facing humanitarian organizations in northern Ethiopia. Although limited improvements in security have created opportunities for assessments in parts of Amhara and emergency mobilization has begun in accessible areas of Afar, the situation remains highly uneven across the region.
Tigray presents one of the most difficult environments for humanitarian organizations, with insecurity and access restrictions preventing aid operations from functioning normally.
The United Nations has called for conditions that would allow humanitarian organizations to reach people in need safely and without unnecessary obstruction. Such access is considered essential for assessing humanitarian needs and delivering assistance to affected populations.
For aid organizations, the immediate priority remains maintaining operations wherever conditions allow while ensuring the safety of humanitarian personnel. In areas where access is currently impossible or severely restricted, agencies must continue monitoring developments and seek opportunities to resume assistance when conditions permit.
The UN's latest assessment also highlights the uncertainty surrounding the humanitarian response in northern Ethiopia. While some areas have seen limited improvements that could allow humanitarian work to restart gradually, other parts of the region remain inaccessible or extremely difficult for aid organizations to reach.
Dujarric's remarks indicate that the humanitarian situation will continue to depend heavily on developments in security and access. Without safe and predictable conditions, humanitarian organizations may struggle to maintain sustained operations across affected areas.
The United Nations is therefore continuing to call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel, as well as safe, timely and unimpeded access to communities requiring assistance.
With security concerns continuing across parts of Amhara, Afar and Tigray, humanitarian organizations face the challenge of balancing the urgent need to deliver assistance with the risks posed by the deteriorating security environment.
The UN said it would continue monitoring the situation and supporting humanitarian efforts wherever access and security conditions allow.
