The United Nations has raised alarm over the deteriorating security situation in northern Ethiopia, where fighting is disrupting roads, flights, telecommunications and humanitarian access.

UN officials warned that clashes in parts of Tigray and Amhara are cutting off communities just as aid agencies were trying to scale up deliveries. Medecins Sans Frontieres reported a sharp rise in wounded patients reaching its facilities, underscoring the human cost of the renewed violence.

Humanitarian agencies say blocked roads and intermittent telecoms are making it difficult to assess needs or move supplies. The UN called on all parties to protect civilians and guarantee safe, unimpeded access for aid workers.

Ethiopia’s northern regions have seen recurring cycles of conflict and fragile truces in recent years. Relief groups warn that without de-escalation, the coming weeks could bring a steep rise in displacement and food insecurity across the affected areas.

Aid agencies estimate that millions in Tigray and Amhara already face acute food insecurity after successive years of conflict and drought. With the harvest season approaching, relief groups warn that interrupted access now could translate into severe hunger later, making a rapid de-escalation urgent.