Two drone strikes in the Medebay Terer area of Tahtay Koraro woreda, northwestern Tigray, have resulted in the deaths of seven civilians and injured six others. The attacks occurred on October 9 and October 21, amid escalating fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces. Residents reported that the first drone strike hit the Medebay Terer clinic on October 9, killing a husband and wife who were with their daughter in labor and wounding four others.
The clinic attack occurred around midday on October 9, with the drone firing three successive rounds. Witnesses stated that the couple fled with their newborn but the drone followed, killing both parents while four individuals, including the newborn's mother, were injured. The four injured from the clinic attack were taken to a hospital in Shire for treatment. The incident has raised concerns about civilian safety and humanitarian access in the region.
A second drone strike occurred on October 21 at about 9 p.m. in the same woreda, hitting a household where a father and his four children, including an eight-year-old girl, were gathered. Residents reported that the mother survived because she was outside preparing food, while the father and all four children inside the house were killed. Two other family members injured in the October 21 strike were also transferred to the Shire hospital for care.
According to resident accounts, the two attacks resulted in seven civilian deaths, including the eight-year-old girl, and six injuries, four from the clinic strike and two from the household strike. The incidents have sparked fears about the increasing use of drones in the Tigray region and the risks to civilians. The region has experienced renewed fighting since the collapse of the 2022 Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
Recent drone attacks have also targeted an IDP shelter in Shiraro and a Catholic Relief Services food convoy, further exacerbating concerns about civilian safety and humanitarian access. The Ethiopian government has not commented on the drone strikes, but the incidents have drawn international attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region.
The use of drones in the Tigray region has increased significantly in recent months, with both Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces deploying drones in the conflict. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian needs, with thousands of civilians displaced and in need of assistance. The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access to the region.
The humanitarian situation in Tigray is dire, with many civilians lacking access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare. The drone strikes have only worsened the situation, leaving many to wonder when the violence will end. The situation remains volatile, with many fearing that the conflict will escalate further if a ceasefire is not negotiated soon.
Key points
- Seven civilians were killed and six injured in two drone strikes in northwestern Tigray.
- The drone strikes occurred amid renewed fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces.
- The incidents have raised concerns about civilian safety and humanitarian access in the region.
