Members of an Amhara armed group who fight alongside federal and regional forces against fighters from the northern region of Tigray on November 8, 2020 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access to deliver urgent life-saving assistance, and an inclusive national dialogue to resolve this crisis and create the foundation for peace and stability throughout the country, according to the statement. The stability of Ethiopia and the wider region is at stake, the statement said, adding that Guterres is "extremely concerned" by the escalation in violence and the declaration of a state of emergency.

Earlier the same day, the Ethiopian government imposed a state of emergency and called on residents of Addis Ababa to prepare to defend their homes after several days of reported advances by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) forces.

The conflict broke out in November last year between the Ethiopian federal government army and forces loyal to the TPLF, which controls the region. The UN warned that the conflict could push hundreds of thousands of people into a severe food shortage.