Ethiopia Drone Strikes Kill 14, Including Children in Amhara Region
At least 14 people, including children, have been killed in several drone strikes on a camp for displaced people in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. The attacks took place on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Witnesses shared their accounts with the news agency AFP on Friday, describing the destruction and loss of life caused by the strikes.
One witness, who requested anonymity, said that four drone strikes hit the area one after another. According to the witness, 14 people were buried at the displacement centre. This number included two people who later died while receiving medical treatment. Pregnant women and children were also among those reported to have been killed.
Another resident said that people had helped bury the victims and estimated that around 15 people had died. The resident also confirmed that several children were among the dead. The different accounts show the serious impact of the attack on families living at the camp.
The strikes reportedly took place near a village around 400 kilometres northeast of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. One witness said that students were returning home from school when the attacks happened. Another woman described losing her sister-in-law in the incident. She said she could not find her relative’s body because it had been badly damaged in the explosion.
According to Acled, an organisation that monitors armed conflicts around the world, between 16 and 23 people may have been killed in the strikes. Many others were also reported to have been injured. However, the organisation did not confirm whether children were among those who died. The final number of victims remains unclear, as different sources have provided different estimates.
Drone attacks have become a growing concern in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where federal forces have carried out several strikes during the ongoing conflict. Amhara has a population of more than 20 million people and is home to nearly half a million displaced residents who have been forced to leave their homes because of violence.
Reports suggest that the victims belonged to the neighbouring Oromia region. The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which the Ethiopian government has declared a terrorist organisation, has been involved in a long-running conflict with federal forces. The fighting has continued for several years and has caused serious difficulties for people living in affected areas.
The Ethiopian army’s spokesperson had not responded to AFP’s questions at the time of reporting. Further details about the attack and the exact number of casualties are still awaited. The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of displaced families, especially women and children, living in areas affected by armed conflict.