Armed Conflict Casualties Statistics: A Devastating Reality in Ethiopia's Civil War

The ongoing civil war in Ethiopia's northernmost region of Tigray has resulted in staggering casualties, with estimates suggesting that over 600,000 civilians have lost their lives. The conflict began in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali declared war on the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which had challenged the government's authority.

The Ethiopian government's efforts to shield the conflict from international public opinion have been unsuccessful, as experts and international organizations have been able to estimate the devastating mortality rate. According to Professor Jan Nyssen, a geography expert at the University of Ghent in Belgium, the death toll is likely much higher than initially thought.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda-Thomas Greenfield reported that over 500,000 people had died during the two-year conflict, which has seen bloody battles, bombardments, and massacres documented by the United Nations. The conflict has also resulted in a blockade of Tigray, preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the region and information and residents from leaving.

The violence quickly spread as Amhara militias and Eritrean troops joined the side of the Ethiopian government. The conflict has been marked by reports of hunger being used as a weapon of war, with many civilians forced to live without access to basic necessities like food and water.

The European Union, international organizations, and experts have all concurred on the devastating mortality rate in the war, which has resulted in some 600,000 civilian deaths. This staggering estimate is a sobering reminder of the human cost of conflict and the need for peaceful resolution.

Armed conflict casualties statistics