GENEVA — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the 'highly volatile' situation in Ethiopia's Tigray region. Clashes between the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) and the regional Tigray Security Forces (TSF) intensified in late January and early February, particularly in the Tselemti area near the Amhara border. Reports indicate the use of drones and heavy artillery, which has resulted in civilian casualties and further displacement. 'Both sides must step back from the brink and work to resolve their differences through political means,' Türk stated. The UN notes that over one million civilians remain internally displaced from the previous conflict, and current hostilities threaten to worsen an already acute humanitarian crisis. The High Commissioner emphasized that political dialogue and confidence-building measures are the only way to prevent a return to full-scale armed violence, urging independent investigations into alleged human rights abuses occurring during the recent skirmishes.