Addis Abeba, February 5, 2024 — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised alarm over the increasing dangers faced by humanitarian personnel in Ethiopia, reporting the deaths of four aid workers in just the first month of 2024. This brings the total number of aid workers killed in the country since 2019 to 46—36 of whom perished in the context of the northern Ethiopia conflict.
The latest fatalities occurred in the Amhara, Afar, and Gambela regions, underscoring the growing risks for aid workers operating across the country. The UN agency noted that while there is no evidence aid workers are being deliberately targeted, the country’s volatile security landscape—including armed groups, local militias, and criminal elements—continues to endanger humanitarian operations.
This tragedy follows the recent killing of Weldu Aregawi, an ambulance driver with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), who was shot while on duty in Tigray’s Central Zone, a case that drew widespread condemnation from humanitarian agencies.
Amhara remains a particularly volatile hotspot. Armed clashes between government forces and non-state armed groups have persisted since April 2023, contributing to a surge in crime and the theft of humanitarian supplies. On February 2, the Ethiopian Parliament voted to extend the state of emergency in Amhara, originally declared in August 2023, citing the need to maintain “peace and security” amid ongoing violence.
Oromia has also witnessed increasing instability. According to OCHA, temporary arrests and abductions of aid workers have risen, compounding the challenges for humanitarian access in a region already grappling with years of armed confrontation.
In Tigray and Afar, OCHA reports a surge in looting incidents targeting humanitarian convoys and supplies, a trend that intensified throughout 2023. The escalation of such activities is undermining relief efforts in a country already buckling under the weight of multiple crises.
Compounding the security threats is a deepening humanitarian emergency driven by severe drought. Over 6.6 million Ethiopians are currently in urgent need of food assistance. Recent reports from Tigray reveal the grim toll of the crisis, with nearly 400 starvation-related deaths, including 25 children, recorded in just one month.
To address this, the Ethiopian government has appealed for 9.2 billion birr to provide emergency food relief to drought-affected populations. In the last six months, over 11 billion birr has been spent on food aid, 36% of which came from external sources, while the remainder was covered by federal funds.
As aid workers continue to risk their lives amid conflict and environmental hardship, humanitarian organizations and observers are urging the international community to step up support and protection efforts. With security deteriorating and humanitarian needs surging, the resilience of Ethiopia’s aid response is being tested like never before.
