Drone Attack Kills More Than 50 Civilians in North Wollo Amhara Region
December 7, 2024
Last week a drone attack on a freight truck called a “Sinotruk” killed more than 50 people in North Wollo Zone of Amhara Region according to eyewitnesses and family members of victims who spoke to BBC.
The attack was carried out last Thursday, November 28/2024 (Hedar 19/2017 E.C.) at around 2 pm in Dawunt Woreda of the zone said locals who added victims of the attack were people returning from Kureba town for various matters.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it received information of the attack and told BBC it was gathering information.
Eyewitnesses said the attack was carried out in the Hamusit market area located in a place called Segora, near Shoga.
Residents said it had become normalized to ride aboard freight vehicles due to transportation problems in the area, and last week's attack was carried out on a “Sinotruk” which was carrying passengers and sand.
Persons who had spent time in the market, farmers, youth returning from their search for work from neighboring Wadila Woreda, and residents returning from a baptism in Delanta Woreda were all among victims of the attack.
On the day of the attack, two drones “carried out reconnaissance”, said an eyewitness who works as a merchant who told BBC he came to the area after hearing a sound which resembled lightning.
Another eyewitness said the vehicle was struck as it was traveling uphill when they heard a “loud and scary sound” and arrived in the area a short time later.
Another witness said they were suffering from mental distress after witnessing the bodies of victims of the attack “mutilated” and badly wounded, “it is difficult to describe it in words.”
The witness said due to the continuation of drone surveillance and fear of further attacks, they were forced to hide under a tree and wait until night before retrieving the body, “I despised my humanity” they said describing the circumstance they saw.
Another witness said they saw bodies scattered in the vehicle and outside saying “it was very saddening…it is better to not have been born” they said describing their feelings towards what they saw.
“The bodies were retrieved under the cover of darkness” said the eyewitness who is a government worker, saying it was difficult to pick up and distinguish the bodies.
Another eyewitness said the bodies were being retrieved as late as 3 pm and were loaded onto “FSR” vehicles and transported to a health station, and that bodies were distinguished by their clothing, shows and special indicators.
The witness said “I counted more than 59 bodies” and said more than 10 people including the driver and people in the Gabi and “Portomegala” area were injured.
Another eyewitness who said the number of people killed was 50 also said over 8 people were injured and taken to a health center for medical treatment.
“Local community members all came, mothers looking for their children, fathers looking for their children, saying they were wearing a certain kind of clothing when they left, they were like such, that they had certain distinctive markers on their bodies, so family members were able to identify bodies using remnants” he said.
One local resident told BBC that among the victims was their brother’s 21 year old son who they had raised, and that they were at the site of the attack by around 6 pm but they learned of his passing when the bodies were sorted at the health center.
The killed victim’s relative said he had graduated from university and was returning after visiting Hamusit in search of work, and that his identification had been burned so he was identified through his educational documents.
“There is no person who hasn't lost a child or a brother…the entire woreda is in mourning” said another resident describing how the sorrow had entered every household.
One eyewitness said four of their family members were among the killed victims, including their uncle’s child who had graduated in engineering and had come in search of work, and another relative who made a living with minor merchant work while supporting a family.
The witness said burials had been taking place for four days, “there were none from 14, 15 kebeles which were left” they said, explaining that burials had taken place across all kebeles in the woreda.
One resident who retrieved bodies of killed youth who were in their 20s said they were disturbed by what they saw and that they were unable “to come to their senses” and faced psychological anguish, who said they were taken to various places for blessings.
Residents said there had been no fighting between Fano and government forces in the area where the attack had taken place, and said victims of the attack were civilians and not Fano militants.
However, since the month of October, the woreda has been under the control of Fano forces, residents explained.
After the attack there was unrest even in the market area as local residents became fearful, say residents.
“The community is under severe fear. Last Saturday there was a commotion that the market would be struck. There is fear of sitting in cafes and even sitting in groups in itself” said another resident describing the situation.
Family members of killed victims say locals and relatives are in fear of attending funerals or visiting them.
“It is a very troublesome situation. The situation up until now has not permitted people to go to the market. Other than going to the church in the morning for blessings and leaving, there is no place to go and no one to confide in” he said
Following the attack in Dawunt, on December 3/2024 (Hedar 24/2017 E.C.), a drone attack on Bilbala town in Lasta Woreda killed an 83 year old mother and injured others according to media reports.
BBC’s efforts to obtain comment from the North Wollo Zone administrator on these attacks were unsuccessful.
BBC has previously reported on drone attacks across various places both on people and property in the context of armed conflict between government forces and Fano militants in Amhara Region which has lasted more than one year.
The Ethiopian National Defense Force has not yet provided any comment on drone attacks however last year ENDF Chief of General Staff Field marshal Birhanu Jula in an interview on state media said drone attacks targeted militants.
Source: BBC Amharic.
