DW Amharic – 97 civilians killed from Kobo to Kukufto in northern Ethiopia war say residents
Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic – 97 civilians killed from Kobo to Kukufto in northern Ethiopia war say residents
Esayas Gelaw
October 1, 2026 (Meskerem 21, 2019 EC)
Residents told Deutsche Welle that 97 people were killed amid intense fighting from Kobo to Kukuftu on the Alamata front. 52 people were killed in Alamata City alone. Over five children lost their lives after being taken to by a river named Afagnte while attempting to evade heavy artillery.
It is reported that 96 civilians have been killed in areas from Kobo to Kukufto over the past eight days of the northern Ethiopia war. The primary cause for the loss of life has been heavy artillery shelling towards residential areas which has struck civilians. Residents said over 52 people lost their lives in just Alamata City where the majority of casualties have been recorded.
Heavy artillery shelling resulted in further loss of life in the Selenoha, Waja, Timuga, Ayer Marefiya, Addis Alem and Kukufto areas where artillery landed on residential homes or markets per locals.
“It has surpassed 47 and 50, in Alamata alone that is Alamata city alone, this does not include those in rural areas. It encompassed all ages. There were children, youths, women, men, seniors, it included everyone. The majority by heavy artillery...”
On another side residents which tried to escape the heavy artillery on residential homes by escaping towards the desert faced other dangers. In Raya Bala District, victims which tried to escape heavy artillery shelling of their homes by hiding by the river yesterday were swept away by flash floods said residents.
“They left Bisober expecting there would be war there and travelled to a desert called Afagnte. They had taken refuge there in hopes of waiting out the war, but they were swept away from there. They were children, five of them were children, in Welaga Kebele. They were taken in Afagnte. They went to the desert area to escape the war, but while there the five children were swept away. It was an area called Afagnte in Welaga Kebele. They escaped war and encountered another war, war from nature.”
Over the past four days from last Saturday, September 26 to September 29, 2026 (Meskerem 16 to 19, 2019 EC) the situation in Alamata City and surroundings has been extremely distressing said another source adding “we buried 11 people in just one day.”
“11 people were buried in one day in just one day. The people of Raya have never faced crisis like this in their history. They are in deep mourning. In just one house...in one house a mother died with her child, in one neighborhood a mother, her child and her brother, in another house a mother and child were killed, and the father and surviving three children are now lying in Woldia Hospital.”
Starting from last Sunday there has been intense fighting in Alamata City and efforts to bury people struck and killed by heavy artillery has been difficult as per a resident named Ato Mengesha Saye.
“It was difficult to bury people at the time, because of the shelling. The people stayed in their homes out of fear of being struck by artillery.”
“They were buried in Kidane Mihret. And there wasn’t any service, because there were fears. The mentality was for people to remain dispersed, you don’t gather around the same area. The situation in the city was very difficult...”
More than 36,000 people which previously fled Alamata City to escape the war have remained displaced in Kobo City. The former interim administrator of Alamata Ato Seyoum Arbesie said it has been very difficult to console those who witnessed civilians being killed in Alamata City as they cope with psychological anguish. Ato Seyoum said urgent humanitarian relief is needed to help support those who lost property to drought and war.
“There has been intense war, the last war had also been in the Raya territory. Under current circumstances the people have nothing. This was the severity of the war that transpired. It is surprising to me how the people came together and persevered until now. Now authorities should at least find a means of supporting those who were detached from their communities and suffer, otherwise this is a difficult time. It is difficult for the people to help themselves, when you think about the sorrow, it is very bitter.”
According to Ato Seyoum Arbesie, humanitarian organizations should quickly resume their activities to help Alamata City come out of this atmosphere of sorrow, this coming Saturday, October 3, 2026 (Meskerem 23, 2019 EC) a working committee is set to begin work to facilitate the repatriation of more than 36,000 displaced persons to their original homes.
“School must begin, healthcare must begin, even electricity was restored only today. There was severe distress there, it was not possible for people to even open their hourses. Since the area was vacated there have been preparations to help repatriate the people to their homes and reconnect them with their communities. They established their own committee which has been working, and we predict they will return Saturday.”
Efforts to obtain comment from authorities regarding killed civilians in Alamata City and other areas were unsuccessful.
Esayas Gelaw
Eshete Bekele
Tamrat Dinsa
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