Gerchich (Mehal Genat), a city in the South Mecha district of Ethiopia’s North Gojam Zone, has become a focal point of intense conflict and devastation since early October 2024. Eyewitnesses and residents, speaking with the BBC, have reported that a series of drone strikes allegedly carried out by government forces have resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. These attacks, targeting civilians, have left families grieving and communities shattered.

According to locals, the drone strikes began on October 1 and continued until October 4, with widespread reports of indiscriminate attacks that took the lives of the elderly, women, children, and men, including those sheltering in their homes. On October 1, one of the most tragic incidents unfolded at the city’s Mehal Genet Health Center, where eight people were killed, among them a nine-year-old child. “When the drone came, it sounded like a vulture,” described an eyewitness. “It dropped something explosive, and we found seven bodies together.”

Residents who spoke with the BBC anonymously out of fear for their safety, recounted scenes of widespread carnage. Homes were damaged, civilians were killed or injured, and families were torn apart by the violence. One resident said, “We heard the gunfire and screams, and no one dared leave their houses. When the Fano forces left, we saw death everywhere.”

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Investigates Amid Rising Casualty Numbers

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is now investigating the series of drone attacks in Gerchich and other parts of the Amhara region. Initial reports suggest that the Ethiopian Defense Forces were attempting to drive out Fano forces, a local militia group that has clashed with government forces for control over the region. However, residents insist that no Fano militants were present during some of the drone strikes, suggesting that civilians were the primary victims.

The Ethiopian Defense Army confirmed that they had launched operations in the area, stating they had killed 53 “extremists” as part of a broader campaign to retake areas controlled by Fano. However, eyewitnesses and human rights groups have raised alarm over the disproportionate impact on civilians, with many of the strikes hitting homes, schools, and health centers.

One eyewitness interviewed by the BBC stated that some of the victims of the drone strikes were returning home from tending their crops, unaware that they would be caught in the violence. “They attacked without distinction. They accused everyone of being Fano supporters,” said one resident. Another resident described how his relative, a businessman in his 30s, was killed alongside a pregnant woman and a 17-year-old boy.

Widespread Civilian Impact and Mass Graves

Religious leaders and local officials are overwhelmed by the task of burying the dead. The BBC reported that at least 72 people were buried across different churches, with 27 laid to rest in a single parish. A local priest said that in some cases, it took days to retrieve bodies and conduct burials. “There was no one left to mourn them. We couldn’t even weep for the dead,” said one religious leader. Eyewitnesses described the heartbreaking process of loading bodies onto carts for mass burial, while priests were left to perform last rites for dozens of victims at a time.

“There were so many dead, more than we could count. Even in the Sefer Maryam Church, we buried more than 50 people,” said one resident.

New Data Confirms the Growing Human Toll of Drone Strikes

The scale of the violence is further highlighted by new data from the Amhara Association of America (AAA), which has been documenting drone strikes in the Amhara region. Between September 25 and October 16, 2024, AAA recorded 24 drone and airstrikes across 17 separate incidents. The strikes resulted in 124 casualties, with 87 people killed and 37 injured. The majority of those affected were civilians, including young children, women, and the elderly.

A particularly deadly strike occurred on October 2 in Ayimba town, where 30 people lost their lives. In another strike on October 12 in Gerchich (Mehal Genat), four people were killed, including two school security guards and an ICT professional. The attacks have also damaged key infrastructure, with schools, health centers, and homes destroyed in the process.

Human Rights Concerns and Calls for Accountability

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has emphasized that these attacks must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible for civilian deaths must be held accountable. However, the Ethiopian Defense Forces maintain that their actions are part of a necessary law enforcement operation aimed at eliminating Fano forces from the region.

Colonel Getnet Adan, spokesperson for the Defense Forces, reiterated in mid-September that the government was committed to “law enforcement” in the area, stating that the goal was to communicate “in the language of power” to bring the conflict under control. Despite these claims, the high civilian death toll raises serious concerns about the tactics being used in the region, particularly the use of drones, which have been widely condemned for causing indiscriminate harm.

AAA’s documentation indicates that these attacks have been part of a broader pattern of drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in the Amhara region. Over the past year, 77 drone strikes have been recorded, resulting in 675 civilian casualties, including 520 killed and 155 injured.

Impact on Public Services and Displacement of Residents

The drone strikes have not only taken lives but have also crippled local infrastructure. In Gerchich, the city’s main health center, which serves more than 25,000 patients annually, has been forced to close after medical staff fled due to the violence. This has left the community without access to essential healthcare services at a time when it is most needed. Schools and homes have also been destroyed, leaving residents with nowhere to turn.

Faced with the ongoing violence, many residents have fled Gerchich for rural areas, hoping to find safety away from the conflict. Those who remain live in constant fear, unsure of when the next drone strike will occur. “We are living in a nightmare,” said one resident. “We have nowhere to go, and no one to protect us.”

International Calls for an End to the Violence

As the conflict in the Amhara region escalates, international human rights organizations are calling for an immediate ceasefire and for the Ethiopian government to halt its use of drone strikes. The Amhara Association of America has been vocal in urging international bodies to investigate the situation and hold those responsible for civilian deaths accountable.

The BBC continues to gather information on the situation, but independent verification of the full extent of the violence has been difficult to obtain. Meanwhile, the people of Gerchich, like many across the Amhara region, are left to mourn their dead and pray for an end to the violence that has turned their homes into battlefields.