The U.N. has warned that Ethiopia's northern Tigray region is on the brink of famine. In addition to facing starvation, people in Tigray have to suffer additional hardships because of a military conflict. In November, the Tigray People's Liberation Front started fighting Ethiopia's army to overthrow the government. This escalated into the Tigray War. It has caused instability in the region and has increased people's suffering.

The U.N. warned the situation would worsen unless funding is increased and humanitarian access is improved. It said hundreds of thousands of people could die. It added that businesses, the economy, crops and farms have been destroyed. A farmer said: "We are eating small remains of crops...but now we don't have anything. Nobody has given us any aid. Almost everyone is on the verge of death.…Death is knocking on our door."