Africa-Press – Ethiopia. October 10, 2025 3 minutes read Addis Abeba – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it has recorded a large number of casualties following renewed clashes between government forces and the Amhara Fano armed group in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, particularly in the North Wollo zone.
The ICRC said the humanitarian situation deteriorated sharply at the end of September after “a sudden escalation of hostilities” in the area, resulting in “large numbers of casualties, captured fighters and other severe humanitarian consequences.”
“Many people have been killed or wounded in North Wollo in recent days,” said Martin Thalmann, ICRC’s team leader in Lalibela, after returning from the hard-hit areas of Kulmesk and Muja. “Staff at local health centers cared for wounded combatants and civilians with limited resources. Sixteen critically injured detainees needed urgent evacuation for surgical treatment, and for five of them it was a matter of hours to save their lives.”
In response to the fighting, the ICRC said it deployed two emergency teams in and around Lalibela and Woldiya over the past week to deliver medicines and supplies to six health facilities. The organization said the supplies included enough surgical material to treat 250 severely wounded people.
On 8 October, the ICRC evacuated 16 critically injured people handed over by the Amhara Fano armed group “across the front line” and transferred them to Woldiya town, where they were received by government forces for further treatment. The following day, ICRC staff also visited detainees held by Amhara Fano in North Wollo to assess their condition and treatment.
The ICRC said it provided initial medical assistance to health centers in Kulmesk and Muja and plans to bring in additional supplies “in the coming days” amid acute shortages. It also donated surgical and medical materials to hospitals and health facilities in Woldiya, Kobo, Tekulashe, and plans a similar donation to Lalibela hospital.
“Communities in the most affected areas shouldn’t be forgotten,” Thalmann added. “Due to the lack of safety, there is little access to health care, education or transport for people in more remote areas. In the areas most affected by the recent clashes, people are unable to go to markets and harvest their fields. Some have fled to other villages.”
The ICRC said its teams carried out detention visits in accordance with the organization’s long-standing global practices — “to assess conditions of detention, treatment of detainees and to reestablish contact with their families.”
The organization called on all parties to the conflict in Amhara to respect international humanitarian law (IHL), which protects civilians and those no longer participating in hostilities, including wounded or captured combatants.
The ICRC said it will continue its emergency response in North Wollo and other affected parts of Amhara, including plans to support physical rehabilitation for severely wounded patients at Woldiya hospital. It also reaffirmed its readiness to act as a neutral intermediary in any future detainee releases or operations across frontlines.
Reports indicated that on 27 September 2025, a drone strike on a health post in North Wollo killed four civilians, including a pregnant woman.
Two eyewitnesses confirmed that three people died instantly: a mother and father caring for their children, and the father of a patient who had been treated at the health post for two months. The healthcare professional confirmed the fourth victim was a pregnant woman who had come to deliver.
Residents said there were no clashes between government forces and Fano fighters inside Sanka town at the time of the strike. However, heavy fighting was reported in areas surrounding Woldia, particularly near Tikur Wuha. Addis Standard previously reported on 26 September that movement in areas around Woldia city administration had been disrupted by exchanges of heavy weapon fire.
Residents speaking to Addis Standard on condition of anonymity said gunfire and heavy artillery were heard between 6:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Friday in surrounding kebeles of Woldia town, including Jeneto Ber, Mechare, and Tikur Wuha, the entrance to Woldia from Bahir Dar. They said movement resumed after the fighting subsided in the afternoon, allowing residents to celebrate the Meskel holiday. AS
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