The malaria cases in the Amhara region have seen a dramatic increase due to the current security situation. The Amhara Public Health Institute attributes this surge to multiple factors including a shortage of healthcare workers, disruptions in vector control efforts, constraints in the movement of medical personnel, and gaps in the medication supply chain, VOA Amharic reported.

During the past week, there has been a 26 percent increase in the number of cases, Damte Lanker, the malaria program coordinator at the institute, told VOA. This surge surpasses the prevalence observed during the same period last year,” he was quoted as saying.

Since July of last year, there have been 455,000 registered cases of malaria, resulting in 11 fatalities, according to the Coordinator. There is a shortage of medicines, and the closure of roads has made it difficult to distribute even the available medicine, Damte said.

The current situation in Amhara continues to be volatile, characterized by ongoing conflicts across various areas, including East and West Gojam, North and South Wello, North Shewa, as well as Central and South Gondar zones.