Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic – A drone attack in East Gojjam killed 16 people including children say eyewitnesses and family members
February 21, 2025
Yesterday on Thursday, February 20, 2025 (Yekatit 13, 2017 EC) a drone attack in East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region struck four adjoined homes killing 16 people and wounding 10 according to family members and eyewitnesses who spoke to BBC.
The attack was carried out at around 11 am in the morning in a small town called Inegesh Kebele (Hamus Gebeya) in the zone’s Goncha Siso Enese Woreda and landed on three shops and a tea shop according to residents who spoke to BBC.
One eyewitness said, “the drone was circling us” mentioning they were 100 meters away from where the attack struck, and said the victims of the attack were children playing by the street, marketers, and people who were drinking tea.
The witness said there was a “large explosion” and immediately after the area was enveloped by “dust, ruins of houses and smoke” and shock and unrest followed.
Another eyewitness said the site of the explosion became covered in dust and smoke, and it became difficult to see in the area.
Another eyewitness who reached the houses within minutes of the attack had helped injured people and retrieved bodies said, “children who were playing and people who came to buy tin were severely hurt.”
Among the killed victims was an eight-year-old child named Mulugetta Belete whose mother said he was killed while playing ball by the shop which she told BBC while in grief.
When the attack was carried out, she went in search of Mulugetta who was a first-grade student, and the mother who says she went to the site of the explosion said, “I found my child dead in the middle of the bodies of victims.”
The mother who says Mulugetta was her third child said he was the only child who was living with her, “he was my child who would help me, he would buy me medicine if I was sick, he would brew coffee, he would make tea” she told BBC while her voice was overcome with grief.
One resident said one of the homes targeted in the attack was a tea shop and is being repaired with help from local residents, however among the killed victims of the attack was a 15-year-old boy named Tadesse Getachew who was a child of the shop’s owner, and another six year old child was seriously injured in the attack.
The witness said victims of the attack thought “it wouldn’t attack civilians” and were relaxed as the drone circled the area, and added people were “playing and talking while gathered” when the attack came.
BBC was unable to independently verify received videos and photos which showed homes with broken roofs and walls, scattered tin, and various articles of clothing and shoes.
Another eyewitness who says they were inside their shop a close distance from where the attack took place said the attack took place on shops which provided fuel and sold tin and that the majority of the victims of the attack were people who “came to purchase tin.”
An eyewitness who saw the bodies stacked on top of each other with serious wounds and who helped retrieve bodies said, “people wounded from the attack who we thought were fine and would survive immediately died” explaining the extent of the casualties.
One health professional who opted for anonymity confirmed that 12 injured people were brought to a nearby private clinic, and they told BBC that two children who were brought to the clinic died immediately.
The professional said of the 10 injured victims, four had sustained critical injuries, and since the clinic was small patients were unable to receive treatment while in bed, so they were sent back to their homes.
The medical professional added that as a result of security concerns in the area it was not possible to refer the wounded victims for medical care elsewhere.
A burial was held for victims killed in the attack including the young Mulugetta on Thursday in the nearby Bale Gabriel Church according to family members of victims and residents, and bodies of seven victims whose identities could not be verified were buried together.
Following the attack residents in the area have faced concerns and shock says one resident, and people were confused as to why the attack was carried out as they would ask “what did we do?” as they were “worried”.
“Members of the community are very saddened. We didn’t expect the government would do this. There was a flood of blood. Seeing civilians including children fallen and homes destroyed made us loath our very humanity” they said describing their current situation.
“Homes have been closed. There is severe shock, there is serious sorrow. There is a fear that it may drop on my home today or the next day. On Thursday night there was nobody who spent the night at home.”
Residents said Fano militants had previously operated in Inegesh Kebele and surrounding rural kebeles whereas government forces were in Ginde Weyen, the main town of Goncha Siso Enese Woreda.
The conflict between government forces and Fano militants in Amhara Region has continued approaching two years, and attacks by both parties have targeted civilians according to statements issued at various times by rights organizations.
The ENDF Chief of General Staff had previously stated the ENDF only used drone attacks to hunt and attack combatants.
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