Tigray Fighting Raises Humanitarian Alarm in Northern Ethiopia
By News

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia has raised serious concerns among humanitarian agencies about access to Tigray and neighbouring regions. On 23 September 2026, Tigrayan forces took control of Mekelle airport, according to local sources cited by Reuters, and Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Shire and Axum. The escalation comes almost four years after the Pretoria agreement ended the 2020 to 2022 war, and it threatens aid operations in an area where more than a million people remain displaced from that conflict.

What has happened

Reporting by CNBC Africa, drawing on Reuters, said the airport seizure followed months of deteriorating relations between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). In May 2026, the TPLF took control of Tigray’s regional government from the interim administration set up under the Pretoria agreement. Days before the airport takeover, the TPLF joined other armed groups in an anti-government alliance. Billene Seyoum, spokesperson for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, alleged the groups were receiving financial support from Eritrea; Eritrea has consistently denied such accusations.

The New Humanitarian reported that Tigrayan fighters also clashed with federal troops in Afar and Amhara regions, and that the federal government responded with drone strikes. Fides News Agency, republished by AllAfrica on 30 September, reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had evacuated around 160 people from Tigray, including federal police officers, Ethiopian Airlines employees and African Union observers.

Humanitarian operations under pressure

Aid work has already been directly affected. A Catholic Relief Services (CRS) convoy carrying 41 metric tonnes of food for displaced people in Tigray was hit by a drone on 22 September, injuring the driver and a young girl, according to Catholic World News reporting carried by EWTN News. The US State Department condemned the attack and called for a full investigation.

Separately, Human Rights Watch published findings on 25 September about an airstrike on 20 August in the Daero neighbourhood of Mekelle, which it said wounded 13 civilians, including seven children. A medical worker interviewed by the organisation said their facility had received no supplies from the federal government for four to five months. Laetitia Bader, Deputy Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, said the resumption of hostilities “heightens concerns about unlawful attacks and the grave threat posed to civilians.”

The New Humanitarian also reported restrictions on fuel, medical supplies and salary transfers into Tigray, and cited a government report from 17 September describing “complete crop failure” in many households due to drought. Fides reported that residents were stockpiling food and cash amid fears of further disruption to electricity and communications.

International response

According to Somali Guardian, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties to show “maximum restraint, protect civilians and allow unhindered humanitarian access”. The African Union Commission described the airport seizures as “inconsistent with Pretoria obligations”, while the United States warned of further sanctions and urged dialogue. Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF have each blamed the other for the deterioration, and the situation remains fluid.

What this means for NGO job seekers

Ethiopia hosts one of the largest humanitarian and development workforces in Africa, and Addis Ababa is a regional hub for the UN, the African Union and international NGOs. A deteriorating situation in the north is likely to shift priorities and recruitment in several ways:

  • Access and security roles, humanitarian access advisers, security managers and civil-military coordination officers are typically needed when movement and flights are restricted.
  • Protection and emergency response, protection monitors, GBV specialists, child protection officers and emergency coordinators for displacement in Tigray, Afar and Amhara.
  • Logistics and supply chain, with flights suspended and fuel restricted, staff who can manage road convoys, warehousing and contingency stocks are valuable.
  • Food security and nutrition, given reported crop failure, needs assessment, cash and voucher assistance, and nutrition roles may grow.
  • Health, clinicians and health programme managers, particularly where facilities report shortages of supplies.

Some longer-term development programmes in affected areas may be paused or reprogrammed, so candidates should read vacancy notices carefully for duty station, contract length and security level. National staff with local language skills (Tigrinya, Amharic, Afar) and established community networks are often central to continuity of operations. Whatever the role, completing recognised security and first-aid training, and being clear about your own risk tolerance, is sensible preparation.

Explore current vacancies on our browse jobs page, view NGO jobs in Ethiopia, or compare openings across the Horn of Africa via NGO jobs by country. Our career resources include guidance on CVs and interviews for humanitarian roles.

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