MSF teams scale up medical response as renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia sees increased casualties

The current situation in northern Ethiopia is very worrying, as conflict between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and their allies, and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces has resumed. The conflict resumes following a period of increased tensions, large-scale fighting, and drone strikes, which has shattered a fragile 2022 peace agreement. Since 22 September, teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have increased activities to respond to the increase in the number of patients as a result of the current hostilities. The number of war-wounded patients received in Korem and Alamata hospitals rose over a 48-hour period from around 180 to more than 420 between 22 and 25 September. In northwestern Tigray, MSF teams supported the influx of patients at Suhul hospital in Shire, as more than 300 war-wounded patients arrived up to 25 September. Our teams continue to support healthcare activities in hospitals in Shire, Sheraro, and Korem, including providing maternal and child health care. Due to the current situation, activities at Alamata hospital have now been suspended. Outreach activities have also been suspended due to the security situation, and staff were redirected to provide additional support to hospitals, where we are seeing a sharp increase in war-wounded patients. We are monitoring community displacement as people flee the conflict, and are preparing to respond to the needs of displaced people in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions. MSF remains concerned for the safety and access to health care for civilians during this period of increased fighting. Across Ethiopia, MSF supports health facilities in Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Tigray, Afar, Gambella and Southwest Ethiopia regions, providing basic, advanced, and emergency medical care.