INTENSE FIGHTING IN AMHARA AS ETHIOPIA’S WAR RAGES

ADDIS ABABA – Intense fighting is being reported in Ethiopia’s Amhara region – the latest sign that the war in Tigray is spreading to neighbouring regions. Officials in Amhara said federal soldiers as well as Amhara regional troops had been involved in the fighting against rebels of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). It comes as regions continue to mobilise forces to fight against the TPLF. Despite this, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokesperson said a unilateral ceasefire declared last month had not been suspended. Both the government and the TPLF have accused each other of escalating the conflict. In a separate development the authorities in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region say security forces have killed more than 100 fighters from an armed group that’s been behind numerous ethnic-based attacks. This comes in the aftermath of deadly violence in the eastern part of the country in which a large number of civilians were killed in areas bordering Afar and Somali regions. Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, is visiting Ethiopia amid concerns of a worsening humanitarian crisis as fighting in the northern Tigray region escalates. During the six-day trip, he is expected to meet government officials and travel to the Tigray region to hear from civilians affected by the war. Ahead of the visit, Griffiths said that the humanitarian needs in the country had increased this year as a result of the armed conflicts in Tigray and other regions. The UN World Food Programme has said its supplies are running out as trucks can’t get into the northern region because of the fighting. – BBC.