Tigray Health Bureau Issues Civilian Safety Advisory Hours After Regional Government Announces “Defensive War”

September 23, 2026

The Tigray Bureau of Health has issued a detailed civilian safety advisory outlining what residents should do before, during and after aerial or other military attacks.

The advisory was posted on the Bureau’s Facebook page roughly two hours after the Tigray regional government announced that its forces had entered what it described as a “defensive war” against Ethiopian federal troops.

The timing gives the public-health guidance added significance as fighting and military tensions intensify in and around Tigray. The regional government said its military response followed air, drone, artillery and ground attacks, while the federal side and its allies have presented a sharply different account of the escalation.

The Health Bureau advises residents to prepare emergency supplies, including water, food, medicines, first-aid materials, flashlights, batteries, radios, cash and important documents. Families are also encouraged to identify safer areas inside their homes, including basements or interior spaces away from windows and exterior walls.

During attacks, residents are advised to remain away from windows and exposed areas, seek shelter, keep low if caught outside and avoid travelling to locations that have been struck.

The Bureau also warns civilians not to approach or touch unexploded ordnance or suspicious objects, which can remain lethal after an attack.

Its guidance includes basic first-aid measures for assisting wounded people and urges families to establish emergency plans, meeting locations and alternative means of communication in case normal services are disrupted.

The advisory further tells residents not to publish photographs or information that could reveal details about attack locations, to avoid unnecessary telephone calls and to conserve mobile-phone batteries.

Coming shortly after the regional government’s declaration of a “defensive war,” the Health Bureau’s message represents an effort to prepare civilians for the possibility of further military escalation.