The Ethiopian government army is engaged in intense fighting with Tigray forces in the north, resulting in 52 civilian deaths and hundreds of injured people being sent to hospitals for treatment.
Heavy fighting over three days in Alamata city in northern Tigray, Ethiopia, has caused at least 52 civilian deaths. The Ethiopian government army has recaptured control of the city from local fighters and is preparing to advance northward toward Mekelle, the regional capital.
The clashes erupted after tensions between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) escalated over recent months, with both sides accusing each other of violating the 2022 peace agreement intended to end the two-year civil war.
The fighting has spread to the Amhara and Afar regions, with Tigray forces allying with other armed groups aiming to overthrow the federal government.
According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), civilian deaths include a three-day-old infant, and 12 people died from a bombing of the city’s central market. Additionally, over 700 injured individuals have been hospitalized in various facilities.
The government has suspended financial services and frozen bank accounts opened in the Tigray region, along with cutting internet and telephone signals, causing a cash shortage crisis and preventing people from contacting their families.
Meanwhile, 33 foreign tourists, including British, American, and South Korean nationals, are stranded in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage tourist site, due to airport closures following clashes around the city.
Earlier, some tourists were evacuated, such as 14 Israelis who were rescued by military helicopter.
Currently, the situation remains critical with many residents fleeing on foot into the city for safety. The international community is concerned that neighboring Eritrea might become involved in the conflict because of its shared border with Tigray.
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Source:bbc