Ethiopia, Amhara region: Renewed air raids and drone
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: 4
- Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): 1
September 26, 2024
Re: Renewed air raids and drone strikes
At the peak of our relentless campaign against inconsiderate and indiscriminate shelling and attacks as well as well documented reports of collective punishment, indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians, deliberate destruction of homes and properties by air strikes and drone attacks, the Ethiopian regime’s forces paused air strikes in June 2024. We were cautious about the pause as it could have been due to the start of the rainy season.
Now that the rainy season has finished, reports are emerging yet again that the regime has started its air raids and drone attacks in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
The regime has demonstrated that it has no regards to any international laws or respect to international norms and standards. Just like it has done in the war against Tigray region of Ethiopia, it is repeating the same genocidal tactics this time in the Amhara region. It’s more than a year long campaign of indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, destruction of properties and infrastructure, a complete blockade of the region, unrelenting air raids and drone attacks, mobilising military personnel of millions in number that destroys everything on its path and giving the military campaign an ethnic dimension continues with impunity.
We bring these acts of aggression to your attention in the hope that you would press the Ethiopian regime to stop these acts of violence and terror unleashed against its own people and obey its obligations of protecting innocent civilians and their properties.
Yours sincerely,
Federation of Amhara Association in Europe
Dashboard of Drone Attacks in Ethiopia : from august 2023 to december 2023
Urgent Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance for Prisoners of War in Amhara Region, Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS)
- United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF)
- Save the Children
- Oxfam
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- African Union Human Rights Commission
- Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
September 18, 2024
Re: Urgent Appeal for Improved Detention Conditions and Humanitarian Assistance in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Dear Sir or Madam,
We members of the Federation of Amhara Associations in Europe, are writing to express our profound concern regarding the dire humanitarian situation in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
For over a year, the Amhara region has been devastated by a civil war declared by the Abiy Ahmed regime, which has turned against its own people. The region has been under blockade restricting freedom of movement of people, goods and services. Civilian infrastructure and public services have been totally destroyed or severely damaged, plunging millions into dire humanitarian crises.
In this armed conflict, the Amhara Fano forces have captured a significant number of government combatants. We commend their publicly known and well reported commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and treating prisoners of war with dignity and respect, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions unlike the government forces that practice collective punishment of innocent civilians including public executions, destruction of homes and properties.
In a letter addressed on September 13, 2024 to your organization, the Amhara Fano forces have earnestly requested your assistance in addressing urgent humanitarian needs to provide the care needed for prisoners of war. We wholeheartedly uphold this appeal and we would like to stress the urgency of effective assistance needed.
We urge you to:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the humanitarian situation in the Amhara region, with a particular focus on the needs of prisoners of war and the civilian populations.
Facilitate the distribution of neutral and impartial humanitarian aid to prisoners of war, displaced populations, and communities affected by the conflict.
Strengthen the capacity of local actors to respond to humanitarian emergencies.
By providing humanitarian assistance in the Amhara region, the ICRC can not only ameliorate the living conditions of the affected populations but also contribute to fostering peace and stability in the region.
We are confident that the ICRC, with its proven expertise and unwavering neutrality, can play a pivotal role in alleviating this humanitarian crisis. We remain at your disposal to provide any further information and to assist you in your endeavors.
We look forward to a positive response.
Yours sincerely,
Federation of Amhara Association in Europe