Following the withdrawal of TPLF forces from Mekelle on 2 October 2026, armed individuals entered Awash Military Referral Hospital and removed medical supplies, equipment, mattresses, wheelchairs, stretchers and kitchen materials.

Local elder and humanitarian coordinator Keshi Abadi Mebrahtu said the looting began on Friday, 2 October, and continued around the clock until at least Monday.

TPF forces provided security on Sunday but left the site later that day, after which the looting resumed, leaving unarmed former fighters unable to intervene.

During a security patrol on Monday night, former fighter Ashenafi Hadish was shot in the leg by armed men attempting to steal electrical cables from the compound.

Abadi estimated that 300‑350 former fighters were staying at the hospital when he visited, a figure that has risen as patients from other facilities arrive seeking care.

The Red Cross responded to a request from local elders, delivering limited medical assistance to some patients on Saturday and Sunday, but the aid did not address broader needs such as food or clothing.

Residents of Mekelle have been providing food to the patients, yet they warn that their own supplies are dwindling and cannot sustain the growing number of former fighters.

The looting left the hospital without electricity, water and a functional kitchen, creating critical gaps in care for patients in severe condition who cannot go without food or treatment for minutes.

Abadi appealed for urgent support from the diaspora and humanitarian actors, emphasizing that food is the most immediate need for patients and staff at the facility.

Broader security and humanitarian situation in Tigray

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, which escalated after the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement, has spread to Tigray, Amhara and Afar, causing damage to civilian property and public institutions.

Residents report that looting has become routine, targeting government offices, NGOs, private businesses and other public institutions, with some stolen items moved by vehicle.

The United Nations noted that on 5 October 2026, warehouses belonging to local and international NGOs in Tigray were looted, resulting in loss of food, seeds, fertilizer and water pumps.

The UN also reported that telecommunications and electronic banking services have largely resumed across Tigray, a development expected to aid humanitarian operations.

Calls for expanded humanitarian response

Local elders urged the diaspora and aid organisations to provide urgent food assistance and to press authorities for stronger security to protect residents and patients from armed thieves.

The United Nations indicated that plans are under way to resume humanitarian deliveries, including food and health assistance, to Tigray and the Afar region.