On July 21, 2026, a destructive hailstorm accompanied by heavy rains struck the Central Zone of Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old child and forcing over 10,000 people from their homes. The disaster has compounded an already severe humanitarian crisis driven by climate shocks linked to El Niño, ongoing conflict, and food insecurity.

Impact of the Hailstorm

  • The storm devastated five kebeles in the Keyih Tekli District, damaging farmland, livestock, and homes.
  • Authorities reported 201 livestock deaths, including goats, cattle, and chickens.
  • Approximately 12 houses were destroyed outright, with an additional 625 sustaining damage.
  • Over 2,100 households, totaling 10,556 individuals, were displaced and now seek shelter with relatives or in temporary accommodations.
  • Crops on 1,059 hectares, including sorghum, maize, and niger seed, were destroyed, along with nearly total loss of 115 hectares of irrigated perennial crops.

The child who died was tending cattle when flash floods and hail struck, according to Keyih Tekli District’s Vice Administrator, Haftom Zenebe. The incident followed 46 consecutive dry days, with farmers having planted crops after light rains in April only to see them destroyed before maturity.

Calls for Urgent Assistance

The local administration has urgently appealed for support from government agencies and humanitarian partners. Needed assistance includes improved seeds for staple crops such as teff, wheat, barley, and chickpea, as well as fertilisers, corrugated iron sheets, and construction materials to rebuild homes.

Despite visits from officials at various levels, no aid has yet reached the affected communities, leaving farmers and displaced families vulnerable as the region faces deteriorating food security.

Broader Crisis Context

Tigray continues to endure the combined effects of prolonged conflict and climate-related disruptions. El Niño conditions have altered rainfall patterns across the Horn of Africa, leading to failed harvests, livestock losses, and increased food insecurity. The situation is aggravated by insecurity, restricted humanitarian access, fuel shortages, and rising costs of agricultural inputs.

Humanitarian assessments have identified multiple districts in Tigray at extreme risk of famine, with an estimated 2.45 million people requiring immediate food aid. Over 900,000 internally displaced persons live in overcrowded camps with limited access to basic services, heightening risks of disease outbreaks.

Meteorological forecasts warn that El Niño may cause further erratic weather, including droughts and intense storms, complicating recovery efforts in the region.