Dozens of Civilians Killed and Injured in Drone Strikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara Regions
Dozens of civilians have been killed and others injured in two drone strikes targeting civilian areas in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions, One strike hit civilians in the town of Rama, in central Tigray, as they gathered to collect grain scattered from a truck that had been attacked the previous night. The other targeted an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Amhara, killing 16 civilians and injuring 22 others, including pregnant women, children and students.
12 Civilians Killed in Drone Strike on Town of Rama in Tigray
At least 12 civilians were killed and several others injured in the latest drone strike targeting civilians who had gathered to collect grain scattered from a truck that was hit by a drone the previous evening in Rama town, Central Tigray, according to local sources.
The attack occurred on the morning of Friday, October 30, when a drone struck civilians who had gathered to collect sorghum from a private truck carrying grain belonging to local traders. The truck had been hit by a drone strike at around 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, in the center of Rama town.
A local source who contacted Addis Standard by email said 12 civilians were killed instantly, while several others sustained injuries, including serious ones.
In a separate account, a resident who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP) by phone said people had gathered to collect the scattered grain when the second strike hit, reporting that 13 people had been killed. However, a medical source at a nearby hospital confirmed 11 deaths, adding that they had heard of two additional victims.
The source who contacted Addis Standard said the situation remained critical, with some of the seriously injured requiring urgent medical attention, but no transportation available to take them to hospitals.
The source appealed to humanitarian organizations, aid agencies and other concerned parties to intervene and provide assistance to the victims and injured.
A resident who spoke to AFP described the attack as “heartbreaking”, saying that although an earlier drone strike targeting armed fighters had not come as a surprise, Friday’s attack was particularly distressing because it struck civilians, including young people.
16 Civilians Killed and 22 Injured in Drone Strike on IDP Camp in Amhara
In a separate incident, 16 civilians were killed and 22 others injured in a drone strike targeting the Hayiq Jari 2 Turk internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the South Wollo Zone of Ethiopia’s Amhara region, at around 11 a.m., according to camp residents who spoke to Addis Standard.
The victims included three pregnant women, an eight-year-old girl and students who were returning from school.
A witness said the camp had been struck at least five times, with intervals of approximately 15 minutes between each attack, while displaced people were inside their shelters.
The witness told Addis Standard: “The drone struck the camp five times, at least, at intervals of 15 minutes, while IDPs were inside their shelters. We never expected a drone to attack the camp.”
The witness added that the strikes killed civilians, including children, women and elderly people, while 22 others sustained injuries. The injured were taken to Hayiq Hospital, with those in serious condition referred to Dessie Hospital for further treatment.
A camp resident who witnessed the attack said at least 15 of the victims were buried together in a single grave due to a lack of sufficient burial space.
“At least 15 of them were buried together in one grave because we had no place to bury them individually,” the resident said.
The strike triggered panic among camp residents, scattering families as people fled in different directions to save their lives. Some family members became separated, and residents said they still did not know the whereabouts of some of their relatives.
“Everything happened suddenly. People ran in every direction to save their lives, and families were scattered. Some people still do not know where their family members are,” the resident said.
According to details reported by the outlet, the camp was struck at least five times, with intervals of approximately 15 minutes between attacks, while displaced people were inside their shelters. The strikes left civilians dead and injured and triggered widespread panic among residents.
Civilian Casualties from Drone Strikes Continue to Rise Across Ethiopia in October
The attacks come amid a growing number of civilian casualties resulting from drone strikes carried out by the Ethiopian federal army during October across the Tigray, Amhara and Oromia regions, as federal forces continue military operations against armed groups in these areas.
In Tigray, drone attacks throughout October have caused civilian casualties in several locations. In the Medebay Terer area, drone strikes at two separate locations killed seven civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, and injured six others.
Those killed included a couple who were attempting to flee a local clinic, as well as a father and his four children. An earlier drone strike in Hintalo District also caused multiple fatalities, including a two-year-old child.
In the Amhara region, the Hayiq Jari 2 Turk IDP camp in South Wollo Zone was struck by a drone on October 29, killing 16 civilians and injuring 22 others. Reports said the camp was hit at least five times, at intervals of approximately 15 minutes, while residents were inside their shelters.
The victims included three pregnant women, an eight-year-old girl and students returning from school. Reports also indicated that 15 of those killed were buried together in a single grave due to a shortage of individual burial spaces.
Meanwhile, in western Oromia, a drone strike on October 23 in Ababo Guduru Woreda, in the Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, killed two local government employees, Bashana Lammesa and Addisu Tamasgen, and injured a third person.
According to accounts given to Addis Standard by local residents and a relative of the victims, the attack took place in the area, killing the two government employees and injuring another person.
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