Attacks in northern Ethiopia that reportedly killed children, including a newborn, are pushing the region’s fragile health system closer to collapse, the World Health Organization’s chief said Monday.
uncertain
chief → kill → collapse
Renewed fighting has effectively shattered a November 2022 peace agreement between the federal government and rebel forces in the Tigray region, stoking fears of a wider conflict.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement posted on X, said children were among those reportedly killed at the Jaari 2 displacement camp in Amhara.
uncertain
children → shatter → Amhara
In Rama, in neighboring Tigray, several people were reportedly killed while trying to get food.
uncertain
people → neighbor → food
Tedros gave no casualty totals or dates for either attack and did not identify the perpetrators.
asserted
Tedros → give → perpetrators
He referred more broadly to drone attacks and civilian casualties becoming frequent across Ethiopia.
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attacks → refer → Ethiopia
No government response or public statement addressing the reported attacks was immediately available.
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response → address → attacks
Hospitals in the north lack health workers, medicines and equipment, while ambulance services are severely limited and insecurity is obstructing medical deliveries, Tedros said.
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Tedros → lack → deliveries
WHO and other United Nations agencies were working to deliver additional supplies.
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WHO → work → supplies
“Civilians must be protected.
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Civilians → protect → ?
Health workers and humanitarian supplies must be allowed to reach those in need,” he said.
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he → allow → need
Renewed fighting deepens humanitarian concerns
Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, served as Ethiopia’s foreign minister and health minister when the Tigray People’s Liberation Front dominated the country’s ruling coalition.
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Front → deepen → coalition
His criticism has drawn accusations of political bias from Ethiopian authorities.
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criticism → draw → authorities
In January 2022, the government accused him of using his office to advance political interests.
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government → accuse → interests
Tedros acknowledged his ties to the region but said he was speaking without bias.
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he → acknowledge → bias
The government also faces armed opposition in the regions of Amhara and Oromia.
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government → face → Amhara
Fano, a loose network of ethnic Amhara militias, has battled federal forces in Amhara since 2023.
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Fano → battle → 2023
In separate attacks in Oromia, Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church said at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed.
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Christians → say → Oromia
U.S. Ambassador Ervin J. Massinga on Saturday condemned reported targeted killings in the region’s Arsi zone and called for an investigation.
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Massinga → condemn → investigation
“Such horrific attacks against any group must stop,” he said in a statement posted by the U.S. Embassy on social media.
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he → stop → media
Government trains leaders as opposition groups coordinate
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groups → train → leaders
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, meanwhile, said on social media that government leaders were undergoing military training at Hurso in the east of the country.
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leaders → say → country
He said the training strengthened discipline, leadership and readiness.
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training → say → discipline
Photos posted on social media showed Abiy with participants in khaki outfits.
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Photos → post → outfits
Other images showed group exercises and pushups.
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images → show → exercises
The Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition of seven opposition groups, said in a video statement that it had approved plans to strengthen cooperation among its members, coordinate domestic and diaspora campaigns, and expand diplomatic engagement.
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it → say → engagement
It accused the ruling Prosperity Party of fueling conflict, displacement and poverty, and called for an inclusive political transition.
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It → accuse → transition
The alliance formed in September with the stated aim of removing Abiy’s government.
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alliance → form → government
______
Amir Aman Kiyaro contributed to this report from Hamburg, Germany.
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Kiyaro → contribute → Hamburg
The Aporia
