Drone strike reportedly kills nuns at monastery in Ethiopia’s West Wollo - DNE AFRICA

 

Drone strike reportedly kills nuns at monastery in Ethiopia’s West Wollo

A reported drone strike on a monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has killed several nuns and caused significant casualties, according to local reports, adding to growing concerns over civilian deaths amid the ongoing conflict between government forces and armed groups in the region.

The strike reportedly hit the St. Arsema Unity Monastery, located in the Mekane Selam area of West Wollo Zone near the Abay River. The monastery, also known locally as Abay Gedam Asqetes, is home to a community of female religious devotees and is considered a significant religious site in the area.

According to reports circulating locally, the drone attack resulted in a high number of casualties among the nuns residing at the monastery. The extent of the damage to the religious compound and the exact number of people killed or injured remain unclear.

The reports allege that the strike was conducted based on intelligence indicating that Fano fighters were present in the area. However, accounts from the area claim that no Fano combatants were stationed at the monastery at the time of the attack, and that the strike instead struck the religious compound and the nuns living there.

The reported incident has renewed concerns over the use of drone strikes in conflict-affected parts of Ethiopia, particularly in areas where civilians and armed groups are believed to be operating in close proximity. The Amhara region has experienced sustained fighting between federal forces and Fano armed groups for several years, with the conflict causing widespread displacement and repeated reports of civilian casualties.

Religious institutions and civilian communities have previously been caught up in the violence, with competing sides frequently accusing one another of attacks and abuses. The latest reported strike is likely to fuel further calls for greater protection of civilians and independent investigations into attacks that result in civilian deaths.

The circumstances surrounding the strike, including who ordered it and whether the intended target was a military position, remain unclear. The reports have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate official statement confirming the attack, the reported deaths or the alleged presence of Fano fighters in the area.

Further details are expected to emerge as information becomes available from local authorities, religious institutions and other sources.

Source:- DNE AFRICA