Drone Strikes Kill 14 People at a Displaced Persons Camp in Ethiopia's Amhara Region

Four consecutive drone strikes hit a camp for displaced people in Ethiopia's Amhara region on Thursday, killing at least 14 people, including children. Three witnesses confirmed the casualties on Friday, noting that the attack happened just as students were returning home from school. Pregnant women were also among the victims, and two more people died later while receiving medical treatment.

Casualties and NGO Data

Witnesses reported that the victims included multiple children, while one witness stated his sister-in-law was killed and her body was dismembered in the blast. The conflict data NGO Acled estimated the death toll was higher, putting the figure between 16 and 23 dead alongside an unknown number of injured people. The camp is located 400 kilometres northeast of the capital city of Addis Ababa.

Background and Response

Federal forces from Addis Ababa have frequently used drone strikes in Amhara, which is Ethiopia's second most populous region with over 20 million residents and nearly half a million displaced persons. The displaced residents at the camp originally hail from the neighbouring Oromia region. The Oromo Liberation Army has fought an armed campaign against federal troops in the area for more than eight years and is classified as a terrorist group by Addis Ababa. The federal army spokesperson has not yet responded to requests for comment from reporters.

Context

Civil conflict and regional tensions in Ethiopia have repeatedly displaced large populations, leaving camps vulnerable to military operations. Conflict monitoring groups often track these incidents to document civilian casualties where official government data is delayed or unavailable.