Ethiopia could descend into sectarian violence and experience an exodus similar to Kabul's if battles spread to the capital Addis Ababa, UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths warned Thursday.

Griffiths expressed deep concern for the stability of the nation who is home to over 115 million people composed of more than 80 ethnic groups.

His words came in an interview with AFP, addressing what he called "the world's most worrying humanitarian crisis."

"The worst, I think, from a humanitarian perspective, (would be) if there is a battle for Addis or turmoil around there, leading to increased communal violence across the country," Griffiths said.

The UN estimates that the conflict in the north of the country took the lives of thousands and displaced two million people, not to mention driving hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions since it erupted in November 2020.

"If that were to happen, we're facing something I don't think we have faced before for many, many years: We're facing a fracture... of the fabric of Ethiopia."

According to Griffiths, the chaos that would flow from that situation would be far worse than all the catastrophes that have ravaged the country over the past 13 months.

The conflict erupted when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into the northmost Tigray region in a bid to overthrow the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which he claimed was in response to "rebel attacks on army camps."

The conflict took a pivotal turn last month when the TPLF captured strategic towns on a key highway to the capital.

Griffiths voiced concerns about the same thing that happened in Kabul occurring in the North African country.

The Ethiopian armed forces have retaken Chifra, a town in the Afar region, state media reported Sunday.

Chifra is Addis Ababa's first major victory over the Tigray People's Liberation Front since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took to the frontlines alongside his soldiers, urging them to "destroy" the TPLF.