At least 16 civilians killed in drone attack on displacement camp in Ethiopia

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - At least 16 civilians were killed and 22 others injured Thursday when a drone strike hit a camp for people displaced by conflict in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region, local media and conflict monitors reported.

The attack targeted the Hayiq Jari 2 Turk camp near the town of Hayiq, approximately 430 kilometers (267 miles) northeast of the capital Addis Ababa, killing three pregnant women, an 8-year-old girl and students among others, according to residents.

"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," a witness told Ethiopian news outlet Addis Standard.

Conflict tracker Frontlines Ethiopia also documented the Oct. 29 attack, while other local accounts reported both drone and artillery fire in the area.

Residents said more than 20 shelters caught fire, forcing families to flee and separating children from their relatives.

The wounded were taken to Hayiq Hospital, with those in serious condition transferred to Dessie Hospital for specialized treatment.

The camp houses more than 1,800 internally displaced people, many of whom fled violence in the Oromia region, including the Wollega area.

The attack has further strained humanitarian conditions for families already facing shortages of food, medicine and shelter following reductions in aid.

Amhara has experienced prolonged fighting between federal security forces and Fano militias since 2023, with military operations, including drone strikes, affecting civilian communities.

The violence comes amid broader instability in Ethiopia, including renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region and escalating tensions with neighboring Eritrea.

Andrew Wasike