A tragic incident unfolded in the North Shewa Zone of the Amhara region, where 30 civilians lost their lives and 18 others sustained injuries in a devastating drone attack.
According to local residents, the attack targeted an Isuzu vehicle carrying passengers in the Moja and Wedera districts of Sasit.
Five days before, a drone attack occurred, killed 30 and leaving 18 individuals wounded when the vehicle came to a halt to disembark pa ssengers.
Notably, witnesses reported that there was no ongoing conflict between defense forces and Fano militants in the vicinity at the time of the drone strikes.
Despite the assault, drones continued to hover in the area, adding to the distress and fear among the population.
Reports from Reuters indicate that the drone attack transpired approximately 24 kilometers away from the region where clashes between Defense Forces and Fano militants persist.
Witnesses recounted the harrowing experience of hearing a deafening explosion followed by a shroud of smoke and dust engulfing the area. One anonymous priest lamented the gruesome task of gathering the dismembered bodies of the deceased, highlighting the horrific aftermath of the attack.
Another resident of Sasit shared the heart-wrenching loss of 10 family members and attested to witnessing a small drone before the devastating explosion rocked the vicinity.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission recently disclosed that the Ethiopian Defense Army extensively employs drones in the Amhara region conflict, attributing at least 81 innocent casualties to drone attacks and extrajudicial killings by government security forces.
In response to inquiries regarding drone attacks, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, denied targeting civilians but affirmed the use of drones for military operations, pledging precision in target selection to minimize collateral damage.
However, skepticism persists as the government faces mounting criticism over alleged human rights violations and refusal to authorize independent investigations into civilian deaths, including the Merawi city massacre where over 80 people perished at the hands of the army.
The international community, including the United States, Britain, and Human Rights Watch, has called for impartial inquiries into the killings, yet the Ethiopian government has rebuffed such requests.
Tensions in the Amhara region have escalated since April 2023, prompting the imposition of a state of emergency and extending proclamations to maintain order, accompanied by internet blackouts in the region.
The unfolding tragedy underscores the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and measures to safeguard civilian lives amidst escalating conflict and humanitarian crises in the Amhara region.
