UNHCR Ethiopia Operation: Tigray Situation Update, 3 June 2021

Background and key developments

On 4 November 2020, military confrontations between federal and regional forces in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which borders both Sudan and Eritrea, led the Government to declare a State of Emergency. Since then, and despite the announcement of an official end to the law enforcement operation in late November, large areas of Ethiopia’s Tigray regions are still affected by armed clashes and insecurity, leading to further forced displacement of the population – particularly in Western Tigray.

OCHA reports that while there are some improvements on humanitarian access in Tigray, the situation remains fluid and unpredictable. Blockades by military forces have in late May severely impeded access in rural areas, where humanitarian needs are most severe. In addition, armed hostilities continue in North-Western, Central, Eastern, South-Eastern and Southern Zones, while the humanitarian needs are soaring.

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees