Drone Attack in Amhara Region Claims Lives of Over 50 Civilians, Including Expectant Mother
The targeted area hit by the drone strike lies within the bounds of Arge in the Durbete district (image courtesy of BBC Amharic).
Toronto – A devastating drone assault has shaken the Amhara region of Ethiopia, leaving a grim toll of over 50 civilian lives. The incident, another in a troubling series, claimed elders, children, and women among its victims. Alarmingly, one expectant mother was among those killed.
The attack did not stop at fatalities; around 21 individuals sustained injuries, many serious and some critically endangered. Those severely hurt were rushed to Durbete’s hospital for urgent medical attention.
Interestingly, just a day before this tragic event, an aerial reconnaissance was reportedly conducted over the region. The strike on Tuesday rocked the small settlement of Arge, positioned roughly 40 kilometers distant from Durbete, the central hub of North Gojjam.
Confirmation of the incident came from residents in the vicinity, according to BBC Amharic.
At approximately 7:10 a.m. local time, the drone unleashed its destruction. Its targets—a bustling open-air market, a primary school, and a nearby health center—were all alarmingly close, within a mere 300-meter radius.
Information obtained by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was also referenced. Innocent lives were snatched, comprising children, elders engaged in mediation, patients in maternity care, and daily laborers.
One heartbreaking account shared by a healthcare worker confirmed the tragic death of a pregnant woman who had been at the health center receiving maternity services.
Distressingly, another expectant mother met a similar fate alongside four family members while they sat down for breakfast in their abode, according to local accounts aired by BBC Amharic.
Within the schoolyard, 13 children who were simply playing soccer met a cruel fate.
“It seemed as if the purpose was to obliterate the entire town,” shared a shaken local with BBC Amharic.
A resident who rushed to the devastating scene after hearing the explosion recounted, “I saw the bodies scattered; it was beyond shocking.”
Another bewildered elder chimed in, “We have never witnessed anything like this in our lifetime.”
Understandably, the Ethiopian government has maintained its silence on the matter, staying consistent since it launched what it dubbed the “law enforcement operation” in August 2023 in the Amhara region.
Efforts by BBC Amharic to secure a response from zone and district officials were futile.
Persistent drone attacks have plagued the Amhara region under the Ethiopian government’s campaign, described as the “final” phase against so-called “extremists,” or as they label them, the Fano forces.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
