By Andrew Wasike
NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The conflict in Ethiopia’s Amhara region between the government forces and a militia has taken a devastating toll on civilians, with reports emerging of multiple deaths and numerous injuries.
Asfaw Tadesse, a doctor at Felege Medical Center, confirmed that there were fatalities but did not provide specific figures.
Speaking to Anadolu, Tadesse said: "We have witnessed the loss of life among civilians and soldiers from both sides, as well as numerous injuries sustained."
Amid the escalating crisis, humanitarian organizations are raising urgent concerns about the well-being of families and children in the region.
Save the Children, an NGO, on Wednesday issued a call for immediate access to provide essential aid to those in need.
Xavier Joubert, Save the Children's country director for Ethiopia, emphasized the pressing need for humanitarian intervention, saying the escalating conflict in the Amhara region is putting the lives of families and children at grave risk.
As the violence continues to escalate, the situation remains dire for civilians in the Amhara region.
The fighting in the Amhara region involves the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and the Fano militia.
Clashes in the region started in April, triggered by the federal government's decision on April 11 to issue an integration order.
The order aimed to merge security forces from Ethiopia's 11 regions into the federal forces, but it resulted in violent protests in Amhara.
Local communities resisted the move, expressing fears of losing autonomy and voicing distrust toward “outsiders” handling security matters in their region. This resistance led to heightened tensions and clashes in the area.