Over Half a Million Displaced in Amhara Face Dire Conditions as Shelters Crumble; IDPs in Tigray Struggle with Overcrowding

The humanitarian situation in the crisis-hit Amhara region remains a serious concern, with more than half a million displaced people in urgent need of shelter and essential non-food items. According to the Global Shelter Cluster (GSC), the living conditions of over 560,000 individuals residing in 33 internally displaced persons (IDP) sites and collective centers across the region—including those in the North and South Wollo zones—remain “severe due to prolonged use, overcrowding, and structural damage,” rendering many shelters uninhabitable. In its latest report, the GSC, an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) coordination mechanism supporting populations affected by disasters and conflict-induced displacement, highlighted that overcrowding and maintenance deficiencies persist…The GSC report also highlighted the dire conditions of the more than 900,000 displaced individuals in the Tigray region, with 18% of IDPs across 90 collective centers experiencing “severe overcrowding and a lack of privacy,” which, according to the organization, “pose serious health and protection risks.” (Addis Standard)