UNFPA Ethiopia Response to the Northern Ethiopia crisis – Situation report (15-31 October 2021)

Background

After almost one year of conflict, the political dynamics across Northern Ethiopia changed dramatically on June 28 following the unilateral declaration of ceasefire by the Federal Government with the subsequent withdrawal of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and the control of most areas of Tigray region by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). In July, the conflict spiraled into the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara prompting mass displacement and a dire humanitarian situation leaving an estimated 7 million people in need across the three regions (5.2 million in Tigray and the rest from Amhara and Afar regions). Approximately 3 million people are estimated to be displaced as a result of the conflict across Northern Ethiopia: 2.1 million people in Tigray, 789,035 in Amhara (North Gondar, Central Gondar, South Wollo, South Gondar, and Awi zones) and 323,000 in Afar (zones 2 and 4), according to recent assessments by regional authorities and humanitarian partners.

During the reporting period, the conflict continues to escalate with active fighting – including airstrikes in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle – and expanding across areas of the Afar and Amhara regions.
Humanitarian partners have significantly reduced or even suspended response programs due to the lack of fuel, cash and supplies. The delivery of humanitarian cargo to Tigray via Afar – the only route available – remains severely restricted with partners unable to replenish stock and sustain operations on the ground. In Afar and Amhara regions, humanitarian partners are scaling up the response and strengthening coordination mechanisms on the ground in support of regional authority-led responses while humanitarian access remains challenging in some conflict-affected areas.

Source: United Nations Population Fund