Ethiopia conflict escalates as ICRC evacuates 161 people from Tigray

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated 161 people from Ethiopia’s Tigray region to the Afar region following heightened tensions and renewed fighting. The evacuees included Ethiopian Federal Police, Ethiopian Airlines staff, African Union monitors, and members of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.

Fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has intensified, with Tigrayan forces advancing into the Afar and Amhara regions. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting armed groups fighting federal forces. Humanitarian sources estimate that at least 150,000 people have been displaced in Afar due to the clashes.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned of the harm to civilians, noting reports of military airstrikes hitting schools and mortar strikes killing civilians. Additionally, the UN has received reports of forced recruitment of civilians, including children, by the TPLF, alongside reports of arbitrary conscription by government forces. Communication disruptions in Mekelle and parts of Amhara are further complicating aid efforts and civilian safety.