Fighting has intensified in northern Ethiopia as federal forces advance further into the Tigray region following the reported recapture of the strategic town of Alamata.
Hospital sources told the BBC that at least 52 civilians were killed during three days of fighting around Alamata, with heavy artillery reportedly hitting residential areas and a market.
More than 700 wounded people have also reportedly received treatment at hospitals supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) across Tigray.
Federal government forces appear to have consolidated control of Alamata and are moving north towards Korem, located about 100 kilometres south of Mekelle, the regional capital.
Fighting spreads beyond Tigray
The renewed violence follows months of rising tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Both sides have accused each other of violating the 2022 peace agreement that brought an end to the previous devastating conflict in Tigray.
Reports indicate that clashes have also spread into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.
Communications disruptions in the affected areas have made it difficult to independently verify claims about military movements and battlefield developments.
The renewed conflict has raised concerns that Ethiopia could face another prolonged war in the north.
The previous Tigray conflict, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, resulted in mass displacement and a death toll estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
The latest fighting has therefore heightened fears among civilians and humanitarian organisations about a possible return to large-scale violence.
Humanitarian concerns grow
The reported deaths and injuries around Alamata come as humanitarian organisations continue to operate in a difficult security environment.
The reported treatment of more than 700 wounded people highlights the pressure on medical facilities as fighting continues.
Further escalation could also affect access to food, healthcare and other essential services across communities already affected by the previous war.
