Mager News Update – Tuesday, August 23, 2022 (Nehase 17, 2014 EC)
Today’s Mager Media News Updates are as follows:
- At least five Amhara civilians killed by Oromo Liberation Army in Metu town (Darimo Kebele, Illubabor Zone, Oromo Region) on August 20, 2022
- Killing and abductions of Amhara civilians by Oromo Regional Forces intensifies in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone (Oromo Region)
- Oromo Liberation Army killed five civilians who were traveling from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar (Amhara Region) on August 20, 2022
- Tainted food poisons hundreds of Amhara IDPs displaced in Debre Birhan city (Amhara Region) displaced from Wollega
At least five Amhara civilians killed by Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) militants in Metu town (Darimo Kebele, Illubabor Zone, Oromo Region, Ethiopia) on Saturday, August 20, 2022
On Saturday, August 20, 2022 (Nehase 14, 2014 EC), a massacre was perpetrated against ethnic Amhara residents of Darimo Kebele (ward) of Metu town in Illubabor Zone (Oromo Region, Ethiopia) according to survivors who spoke to Mager Media.
On the day of the incident around 10 am, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) went door-to-door targeting Amhara people by ethnicity and perpetrated a massacre killing at least five people according to eyewitnesses.
In addition, many Amharas suffered serious injuries while many others fled into the jungle to escape the attack, however their whereabouts are currently unknown as the OLA members commenced widespread looting.
A week ago, it was said that the OLA entered the town and left after measures were taken by government defense forces however eyewitnesses reported that the OLA perpetrated a massacre against Amharas in the area.
Government defense forces in the area however only looked after government institutions in the area according to eyewitnesses who added when they tried to recover bodies of the dead, the OLA opened fire on them but the defense forces and Oromo Special Forces (OSF) just stood and watched.
Survivors of the massacre and eyewitnesses to the massacre told Mager Media that there were still fears in the area and despite communicating their fears to government forces they have not received any assurances or solutions.
Killing and abductions of Amhara civilians by Oromo Regional Forces intensifies in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone (Oromo Region, Ethiopia)
Killings and abductions of Amharas in kebeles of Amuru Woreda (Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromo Region) has intensified according to residents who spoke to Mager Media.
On Tuesday, August 9, 2022 (Nehase 3, 2014 EC) in Tombe Dinga Kebele, Bolele town, Oromo Special Forces (OSF) and Oromo militias abducted local Amhara elders and brutally murdered them which residents recall however they are now saying that the killings and abductions have intensified.
Residents explained that in the past week, Amharas in four areas were brutally killed by suspected members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) who also abducted a young woman.
They explained that the OLA members have demanded high ransoms from family members of the abductees according to residents and after they receive the money they kill the hostages in a brutal manner.
Residents elaborated though the killing of Amharas is perpetrated by OLA and OSF, the killers are provided cover by the zonal and woreda-level government officials.
Over the past four years, Amharas dwelling in the four zones of Wollega of the Oromo Region have faced horrific massacres, abductions and displacement. In recent months, at least 2,000 Amharas have been singled out by ethnicity and killed, an unknown number have been abducted, and hundreds of thousands have had their property looted and have been displaced from their homes.
Oromo Liberation Army killed five civilians who were traveling from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar (Amhara Region) on Saturday, August 20, 2022
On Saturday, August 20, 2022 (Nehase 14, 2014 EC), the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has opened fire on drivers and patrons killing five people near a town called Tulu Milki (past Fiche Selale) according to eyewitnesses who spoke to Mager Media.
The travelers departed from Addis Ababa going to Debre Markos and Bahir Dar when around 7 pm they passed Fiche Selale (Oromo Region) and reached Tulu Milki where the OLA opened fire on them killing five civilians and seriously injuring others.
Survivors of the attack hid in homes of locals where they spent the night though the OLA had repeatedly opened fire before disappearing into the jungle, according to locals.
Over the past 2 weeks, the road connecting Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar has repeatedly been attacked and has been the site of lootings by the OLA which has killed many truck drivers.
Tainted food poisons hundreds of Amhara IDPs displaced in Debre Birhan city (Amhara Region) displaced from Wollega
For more than six months, Amhara IDPs displaced from various zones of Wollega have suffered in a camp called Weyneshet located in Debre Birhan and recently sustained poisoning from food. As a result a large number of IDPs have been hospitalized and are receiving medical care according to Mager Media’s sources.
The IDPs in the shelter spoke to Mager Media saying for the past month individuals came to distribute food assistance during four consecutive Saturdays for IDPs displaced from the Wollega area, specifically providing food to more than 300 youth in a school located in Tebase Kebele where they would receive the food three times a day.
The food poisoning occurred on the fifth week, on Saturday, August 20, 2022 (Nehase 14, 2014 EC) and after they had finished eating the breakfast that was prepared for them, and of the 400 youth who were present to eat, over half of them sustained food poisoning and received medical care.
In response, the Amhara Youth Association in Shewa issued a statement regarding the food poisoning sustained by the IDPs calling for those involved in this practice to be detained, full investigations to be undertaken and for appropriate lawful measures to be taken.
The group iterated that it was following up with medical care for the IDPs who sustained food poisoning and mentioned that the food was administered with the coordination of the Birana Youth Academy Head, Mr. Dessalegn.
Though those in need received medical assistance at Debre Birhan Hospital some have received referrals to go to Addis Ababa for additional medical care as confirmed by the group in their statement.
The group added that they were trying to identify the source of the issue at Debre Birhan Referral Hospital where an investigation of a sample is underway and that once the tests are complete, the results will be made clear to the public.
Related to this matter is that the individual by the name Mr. Dessalegn is in custody as the matter is investigated.
In Debre Birhan city, there are more than 100,000 Amhara IDPs in camps known as Weyneshet and Chyna who were displaced from the Wollega area of the Oromo Region due to ethnic-based attacks.
