Breaking News: Over 100 Killed in Alleged Government Drone Attacks in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region

In a recent report by the BBC, more than 100 people have been killed in a series of drone attacks allegedly conducted by Ethiopian government forces in the South Mecha district of North Gojam Zone in the Amhara region. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has confirmed to the BBC that it is investigating these reports and gathering additional information regarding the incident.

Eyewitness accounts, as shared with the BBC, describe a dire situation, with the victims—including children, the elderly, and young adults—caught in drone strikes and indiscriminate violence. According to the BBC, on October 18, 2024, eight people, including a nine-year-old child, were killed in an attack on the Mehalganat Health Center. The strike reportedly caused significant damage to the facility, as well as surrounding homes, raising alarm over the use of drones in civilian areas.

October 18, 2024, eight people, including a nine-year-old child, were killed in an attack on the Mehalganat Health Center. The strike reportedly caused significant damage to the facility, as well as surrounding homes, raising alarm over the use of drones in civilian areas

Residents interviewed by the BBC described the drone as having “a smoky voice” and likened its behavior to that of a vulture, dropping explosive payloads with deadly precision. Seven bodies were reportedly found together at the scene.

The BBC also spoke to local sources who confirmed that one of the victims was a health professional, a pharmacist working at the health center. Others injured in the attack included those seeking treatment at the facility and residents living nearby. The deceased were said to range from a nine-year-old child to a 70-year-old man, and at least seven others, including health workers, were injured.

The area had been tense for days before the attack, although residents assured the BBC that there were no Fano militants—an armed group active in the region—present in the city at the time. According to the BBC, following the withdrawal of Fano forces from the area, many civilians were reportedly found dead, leading residents to believe the killings were retaliatory acts by government forces.

“They destroyed everything in their path. On the road, in the houses—they didn’t ask questions. They accused us of hiding weapons for Fano,” one resident told the BBC. The report indicates that hundreds may have been killed in the days following the initial attacks.

The aftermath, as reported by the BBC, includes scenes of mass burials, with residents hastily interring the bodies of victims across several villages. A religious leader confirmed to the BBC that over 72 people had been buried in local churches within a week. The Mehalganat Health Center, which previously treated over 25,000 patients annually, has now been forced to close as medical staff fled the area, the BBC reported.

The Mehalganat Health Center, which previously treated over 25,000 patients annually, has now been forced to close as medical staff fled the area

The Ethiopian government has not yet commented on the BBC’s report or the accusations of its involvement in the drone attacks. As tensions in the Amhara region continue to rise, many residents are fleeing to rural areas in search of safety.

EAR will continue to monitor this developing story.