Multiple drone strikes have hit northern regions of Ethiopia since Thursday, killing at least 25 civilians, including children, witnesses and a medical source told AFP on Friday. The Ethiopian government has been fighting rebels in the states of Amhara and Tigray over the past month, using its large supply of drones to gain a decisive advantage. However, it has been accused of indiscriminate attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties.
In Amhara, a witness reported that four drone strikes were carried out one after another on Thursday at a camp for displaced people. The witness, who requested anonymity, stated that 14 people were buried at the IDP centre, with two more dying while receiving medical treatment. The victims included children and pregnant women. Two other residents of the camp corroborated the death toll, reporting 14 and 15 deaths respectively, including several children.
The strikes at the camp, located 400 kilometres northeast of the capital Addis Ababa, occurred as students were returning home from school. One witness recounted that his sister-in-law was killed, and her body was dismembered, making it impossible to recover. The drone strikes have raised concerns about the government's military tactics and the impact on civilians.
On Friday, another drone attack in Tigray hit a grain lorry that had already been struck the night before, killing at least 11 people. A resident reported that a drone strike hit a private vehicle carrying sorghum in the centre of Rama town around 9:00 pm. When people were collecting the scattered grain the next morning, another strike hit them.
A medical source at a hospital confirmed that they had received 11 dead. The ACLED conflict monitor reported that the drone strike was believed to have been carried out by the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), killing 12 civilians and injuring an unspecified number of people. Local residents described the attack as "heartbreaking" because it targeted young civilians.
The Ethiopian army did not respond to requests for comment. The government has been fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which launched attacks against federal forces last month. The TPLF has allied with other insurgent groups in other parts of the country, including the Fano in Amhara. The conflict has raised fears of an international conflict, with the Ethiopian army advancing to the border with Eritrea, which has sent troops to support the TPLF.
The international community has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, with the conflict resulting in significant displacement and casualties. The Ethiopian government has been urged to exercise restraint and ensure that its military actions are proportionate and targeted. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing fighting and a growing humanitarian crisis.
Key points
- At least 25 civilians, including children, have been killed in drone strikes in northern Ethiopia.
- The Ethiopian government has been accused of indiscriminate attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties.
- The conflict has raised fears of an international conflict, with the Ethiopian army advancing to the border with Eritrea.
