In brief
Three days of fierce clashes around Alamata in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have left at least 52 civilians dead, according to hospital sources. Government forces reportedly seized the town and are moving north toward Mekelle, as tanks and armoured vehicles were seen on its streets. The outbreak follows months of tension after a 2022 ceasefire collapse, and it now threatens neighbouring areas such as the UNESCO site Lalibela, where dozens of foreign tourists are stranded. Medical aid organisations have logged more than 700 wounded, including children, while residents report blocked banking, electricity and communication services. The situation underscores a resurgent conflict that could pull in regional actors and further isolate Tigraye into a humanitarian crisis.
Three days of heavy fighting around Alamata in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region have killed at least 52 civilians, hospital staff say.
Government troops appear to have taken control of the town from regional fighters and are pushing north toward Mekelle, the region’s main city. Social‑media footage shows army tanks driving along Alamata’s streets.
The clash follows months of tension after a 2022 ceasefire ended a two‑year civil war. Both sides blame each other for violating that agreement.
The fighting has spilled into neighbouring areas. A British tourist trapped in the UNESCO site Lalibela reported gunfire, artillery shelling, and a large military presence. Tourists were cut off after the airport closed to commercial flights, though 14 Israeli visitors were air‑lifted out on Monday.
The conflict has also led to a cutting of banking services and internet access in Tigray, leaving residents without power, money‑transfer or communication. The affected population includes migrants who have relocated to Addis Ababa or Adama, who report frozen accounts and failed mobile transfers.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières said more than 700 wounded people were admitted to hospitals it supports in Tigray. An anonymous doctor at Alamata General Hospital said artillery and explosives hit households, killing children as young as three days old and adults, with a single strike on a marketplace killing twelve.
The Tigray Broadcasting Service has begun a satellite‑TV initiative to reconnect families separated by the telecom blackout, though only short video messages can be aired. The conflict’s escalation raises concerns that neighbouring Eritrea could be drawn in, as the government accuses it of supporting armed groups.
