The World Health Organisation (WHO) is alarmed by the violence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
“WHO is concerned about the ongoing violence in Amhara, Ethiopia’s second most populous region,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.
He emphasised that humanitarian access was hampered by barriers and the termination of internet connectivity.
“Conflicts have an immediate impact on people’s health and can have grave, long-term consequences on health systems,” the WHO director-general stated, urging peace and “uninterrupted access and protection of health care in Amhara, so WHO and partners can continue our work.”
According to internet monitoring services, the region’s internet is still down as of Friday due to the increasing unrest in Amhara. Residents in the East African country have also noticed an increase in arrests.
In reaction to the rising violence in Amhara, Ethiopia’s government proclaimed a six-month state of emergency in the country’s second-largest region, implementing immediate measures to restore order and security.