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Death toll rises in Tigray

Tigray conflict has again escalated sharply in northern Ethiopia, following the civil war that ended in 2022. Hospital sources speaking to the BBC said at least 52 civilians were killed and many more injured in heavy fighting around Alamata between Saturday and Monday.

Information from the region indicates that federal government forces have taken control of the town from regional fighters and are preparing to advance toward Mekelle, the main city in the north. Images shared on social media were reported to show army tanks in the streets of Alamata.

How were civilians affected in Alamata?

A doctor who asked not to be named said heavy explosives and artillery fire were used in the fighting, with some shells landing directly in residential areas. Among the dead were three-day-old babies, mothers and civilians tending livestock.

According to the doctor, a single strike that hit the town market killed 12 people. Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said it had received more than 700 injured people at Tigray hospitals it has supported in recent days.

Why has tension flared again?

The latest clashes began last week after months of tension between the government in Addis Ababa and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs Tigray. Both sides accuse each other of violating the 2022 agreement that ended the two-year civil war.

The TPLF says it responded to an operation by federal forces that it says used drones, while the government claims Tigray forces launched the first attack after seizing airports in the region. The fighting is also reported to have spread to the strategic Afar corridor, which connects Ethiopia to Djibouti’s ports.

Why is information from the region so limited?

With communications lines cut in Tigray and surrounding areas, it has been difficult to independently verify developments. In addition, the government’s accusation that Eritrea is backing armed groups has raised fears that the conflict could spill into the neighboring country; Asmara denies the allegation.

Tourists stranded in Lalibela as services collapse

The violence has affected not only Tigray but also neighboring Amhara region. In Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site, 33 tourists have been stranded for the past week, with fighting there reported between the army and an Amhara militia allied with Tigray fighters.

The situation in Lalibela

  • Most visitors were unable to leave the city because the airport was closed to commercial flights.
  • 14 Israeli tourists were evacuated by military helicopter on Monday.
  • A day earlier, five people left the area in an NGO convoy.

A separate source in Alamata said people fleeing the clashes had sought shelter in the town on foot, worsening the humanitarian crisis. According to the source, outages in banking, money transfers, electricity, internet and phone services have paralyzed daily life.

The government’s suspension of banking operations in Tigray has also affected Tigrayans living outside the region. Some customers speaking to the BBC said accounts opened in Tigray had been frozen or their use restricted.

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