Ethiopia’s Amhara region faces a dire healthcare crisis. Conflict has severely impacted medical services there. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported critical medicine shortages Wednesday.
Amhara, home to 23 million, is Ethiopia’s second-largest region. It has endured persistent conflict since April 2023. Despite a 2023 state of emergency, army and militia clashes continue.
The ongoing fighting further strains a fragile healthcare system. Insecurity and movement restrictions hinder patient access. Affordable transportation remains critically scarce for many.
Patients with life-threatening conditions struggle for care. MSF highlighted cases of kala-azar and snakebite victims. These individuals cannot access timely medical attention.
Numerous regional health facilities are overwhelmed. They face severe shortages of essential medicines. This volatile environment forced MSF to halt crucial ambulance referrals.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, grapples with multiple conflicts. Both Amhara and Oromia regions experience armed strife. A prior devastating war in Tigray claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.