By Staff Writer
Nairobi, Kenya — A drone strike targeting the Abbay Giyorgis St. Arsema Unity Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has left civilians dead and facilities completely flattened. The attack occurred while local women were gathered to cook grain for worshippers commemorating St. Qirqos.
According to reports from Meseret Media, federal government forces executed the strike, which directly hit the monastery compound and demolished the “House of God” section where food preparations were underway.
Thirteen women present at the facility were caught in the blast. One person died instantly at the scene, while a second succumbed to severe injuries at a regional hospital. Seven others sustained varying degrees of injury. A local health professional noted that one victim remains in critical condition, while three others receive emergency hospital treatment.
A priest at the monastery explained the context of the gathering: “These mothers were here to offer spiritual service and prepare food for the remembrance of St. Qirqos. They were gathering to cook grain when the drone strike happened.”
Witnesses and local residents emphasized that there was no active military operation or conflict in the area at the time. Locals stated that Fano militia fighters had not been present in the vicinity for over a year, and the only nearby security presence was a small government post at Adma Betena.
Human rights advocates noted that deploying high-powered aerial weapons in areas populated exclusively by non-combatants breaches international humanitarian law.
The strike fits into a broader pattern of air attacks across the Amhara region. Since fighting escalated between federal forces and regional Fano groups in April 2023, government forces have increasingly deployed armed drones. Similar strikes have previously caused civilian casualties in towns such as Finote Selam and Denbecha while damaging historical churches, schools, and marketplaces.
International rights bodies, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and the World Council of Churches (WCC) continue to urge an immediate end to attacks on religious facilities and non-combatants. The “House of God” structure at the monastery remains completely destroyed.
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