WHO Chief Warns Ethiopia's Health System Near Collapse After Attacks on Civilians
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that drone strikes and violence in Amhara and Tigray have killed children, while hospitals lack staff and medicine.
By Thomas Obasi ·
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on Monday that attacks on civilians in northern Ethiopia are pushing the region’s fragile health system to the brink of collapse. The warning came as renewed fighting shattered the November 2022 peace agreement between the federal government and rebel forces in the Tigray region, raising fears of a wider conflict.
In a post on X, Tedros said reports indicated that children, including a newborn, died in the Jaari 2 displacement camp in the Amhara region. He also noted that several people reportedly died in the town of Rama, located in the neighboring Tigray region, while attempting to secure food. The WHO director did not provide specific death tolls or dates for the incidents, nor did he identify the groups responsible for the attacks.
Tedros described a pattern of frequent drone attacks and civilian casualties across Ethiopia. He reported that hospitals in the north are short on medical personnel, medicines, and equipment. Ambulance services are severely limited, and ongoing insecurity is hindering the delivery of medical supplies. The WHO and other United Nations agencies are currently working to transport additional aid to the affected areas.
"Civilians must be protected. Health workers and humanitarian supplies must be allowed to reach those who need them," Tedros said. The statement follows previous tensions between the WHO chief and the Ethiopian government. In January 2022, officials accused Tedros of using his position to advance political interests due to his Tigrayan ethnicity and former role as health minister. Tedros has maintained that he speaks without bias despite his regional ties.
The federal government faces armed opposition in multiple regions. In Amhara, the Fano militia has fought federal forces since 2023. In the Oromia region, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reported that at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed. United States Ambassador Ervin J. Massinga condemned the reported selective killings in the Arsi zone on Saturday and called for an investigation.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told followers on social media that government leaders are receiving military training in Hurso, in the east of the country. He said the exercises strengthen discipline and readiness. Photos shared online showed Ahmed in khaki attire with participants performing group drills. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian People's Survival Forces Alliance, a coalition of seven opposition groups formed in September, released a video statement announcing plans to coordinate domestic and diaspora campaigns. The alliance accused the ruling Prosperity Party of fueling conflict and poverty, calling for an inclusive political transition to remove Ahmed's government.
The government has not yet issued a public response addressing the specific attacks reported by the WHO. The seven-member alliance includes the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Amhara National Movement Fano, the Oromo Liberation Army, and four other regional groups seeking to coordinate their efforts against the federal government.
