International Medical Corps

The compound effects of the Tigray war that began in November 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia, and a locust outbreak all contributed to an emergency food insecurity situation in the Tigray region, and the situation was particularly bad in Shire. Shire became a main center for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and humanitarian aid distribution, beginning in June 2021, following the Tigray war. Due to the conflict in northern Ethiopia, more than 1,500 health facilities were left non-functional in the Tigray region. Shire has one general hospital and two health centers, which are partially functional, and one health center, which is not functional. Most of the health facilities in Shire town were ruined and looted during the war, and the number of health professionals who were working there significantly decreased. Before the war, there was health insurance and a proper referral system, but now, the health system structure is compromised....