UN Urges De-escalation as Fighting Intensifies in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

The United Nations has called on all parties involved in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region to de-escalate hostilities, warning of a worsening human rights and humanitarian crisis.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the situation remains highly volatile and could further deteriorate the region’s already fragile humanitarian conditions.

According to the UN human rights office, recent clashes between the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) and regional forces have heightened humanitarian risks, with civilians once again caught amid escalating tensions.

Türk said both the Tigray Security Forces (TSF) and the ENDF are reportedly carrying out arrests based on perceived affiliation with opposing sides, stressing that such actions “must stop.”

Fighting has also been reported in southern and south-eastern parts of Tigray near the Afar border, involving Tigray forces and a rival faction.

More than one million civilians remain internally displaced following the 2020-2022 conflict, which killed tens of thousands and forced over two million people from their homes.

Türk urged sustained and coordinated efforts by all parties, with support from the international community, to de-escalate tensions and prevent further deterioration of the situation.