Devastating Aerial Attack: At Least 15 Killed in Ethiopian Camp for Displaced Families

HAYIQ, Ethiopia — At least 15 civilians, including young children and students, have been killed and dozens more wounded after multiple drones strikes repeatedly hit a camp housing displaced family in northern Ethiopia’s Amhara region.

The air assault targeted the HayiqJari 2 Turk camp near the town of Hayiq, located roughly 430 kilometers northeast of the capital, Addis Ababa. The facility shelters hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were already forced from their original homes due to ongoing regional conflict.

According to local witnesses and humanitarian volunteers, an unmanned aerial vehicle was seen circling the area before unleashing a series of targeted strikes in rapid succession.

Eyewitnesses reported that the drone struck the camp shelters repeatedly at intervals of about 15 minutes, leaving victims with no chance to flee to safety.

"The drone struck the camp five times while people were inside their shelters. We never expected an attack like this here. Body parts were scattered everywhere—we had to collect what we could just to perform burials."— Witness and Rescue Volunteer

Rescue workers and residents confirmed that the dead included at least five children, three pregnant women, and students returning home from school. Over 20 additional survivors were transported to regional healthcare facilities, many with severe, life-threatening injuries.

In the immediate aftermath, surviving families fled the devastated makeshift shelters and sought refuge in nearby school buildings and community centers. Local aid volunteers reported that no military engagements or active combat were taking place in the immediate vicinity when the drone strikes occurred.

Humanitarian organizations have raised urgent concerns regarding the escalation of aerial bombardments and heavy artillery in populated civilian zones across northern Ethiopia. Aid agencies warn that continued targeting of civilian infrastructure and displacement centers risks severely hindering access to critical medical assistance, clean water, and emergency food relief.

The tragic attack comes amid heightened military tension and renewed clashes across parts of northern Ethiopia, where federal forces have been engaged in persistent security operations.

Human rights monitor and international observers continue to call for an immediate cessation of strikes on civilian populations, demanding an independent investigation into the incident to hold responsible parties accountable.