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| Some of the Amhara militia at a village, northeast of Gondar, Ethiopia, on July 14, 2021. Photo: foreignpolicy.com |
The UN Human Rights Office says at least 183 people have been killed in the conflict plaguing the Amhara region in Ethiopia since July, as militiamen clash with the military.
The update, which was made in a statement on Tuesday, is the most comprehensive independent death toll to date on the conflict.
More than 1,000 people were arrested nationwide following the state of emergency imposed by the government to curtail the situation. A majority of those arrested are reportedly youths of ethnic Amhara origin, the UN noted in a statement.
“Since early August, mass house-to-house searches have reportedly been taking place, and at least three Ethiopian journalists covering the situation in the Amhara region have been detained,” the document reads.
The Amhara people who are Ethiopia’s second most populous region, have accused the government of trying to undermine its security; hence the fuelling of the conflict – an accusation the government denies.
“With federal forces reasserting their presence in certain towns and Fano militias reportedly retreating into rural areas, we call on all actors to stop killings, other violations and abuses,” the document said.
One of the deadliest incidents, as a health official told The Associated Press, was earlier this month after an airstrike on a crowded town square in the Finote Selam community killed at least 26 people. The federal government has not yet commented on this as well.
