At least 14 people, including children, pregnant women, and students, were killed in multiple drone strikes on an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Ethiopia's Amhara region. The attack occurred on Thursday at the Hayiq Jari 2 Turk displacement camp near Hayiq, in the South Wollo zone of the region. Residents reported that repeated strikes hit the facility, setting more than 20 shelters ablaze and forcing displaced families to flee.
The casualties were confirmed by residents who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, with witnesses describing scenes of devastation after the bombardment of the camp. One of the residents, identified as Yasin, said four drone strikes hit the facility in quick succession, killing at least 14 people. He said two other victims subsequently died while receiving medical attention, suggesting that the overall death toll could have risen to 16.
The attack occurred amid the protracted conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and Fano armed groups, which has caused widespread displacement and civilian casualties in the region. The Hayiq Jari 2 Turk camp reportedly accommodates more than 1,800 displaced people, many of whom fled violence in Ethiopia's Oromia region. Located in the South Wollo zone, the camp is approximately 430 kilometres northeast of Addis Ababa, the country's capital.
Children, pregnant women, and students were among the victims, according to residents. Those killed had sought refuge at the camp after fleeing violence in their communities. One resident told AFP that the victims were among people who had already been forced from their homes by insecurity and had taken shelter at the facility. Local media and conflict monitors also reported that the camp came under repeated attacks, with one account indicating that five strikes occurred at intervals of approximately 15 minutes.
The injured were reportedly taken to Hayiq Hospital, while victims requiring specialised medical attention were transferred to Dessie Hospital. The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of civilians living in displacement camps in Ethiopia's conflict-affected Amhara region. According to residents, the repeated bombardment triggered panic among displaced families, many of whom fled their shelters in an attempt to escape the explosions.
The incident occurred amid continuing hostilities between Ethiopian federal government forces and Fano armed groups in the Amhara region. The conflict intensified in 2023 following disagreements over the federal government's plan to reorganise regional security structures and integrate regional special forces into the national security architecture. Fano, an armed movement with roots in Amhara's local militia networks, opposed the restructuring, leading to an escalation of hostilities with federal forces.
As of Friday, the Ethiopian federal government had not issued an official statement on the reported bombardment or provided details of the circumstances surrounding the attack. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), an organisation that monitors political violence worldwide, also reported casualties from the incident, although figures published by different sources have varied. The attack adds to concerns over civilian casualties arising from the use of aerial weapons in populated areas.
Key points
- At least 14 people, including children, pregnant women, and students, were killed in the drone strikes.
- The attack occurred amid the protracted conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and Fano armed groups in the Amhara region.
- The incident raises concerns over the safety of civilians living in displacement camps in Ethiopia's conflict-affected Amhara region.
