Addis Abeba – At least eight civilians, including an aid worker with the International Organization for Migration, were killed and several others injured following a drone strike in Kumruk town, Kumruk Woreda of Assosa Zone in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, near the border with Sudan, according to residents and local health officials.
The attack, which residents say occurred on 29 April 2026 at around 11:00 a.m., reportedly struck a busy civilian area in Kumruk town, located about 94 kilometers from Assosa town. Witnesses alleged that the drone originated from the direction of Sudan’s Blue Nile State and accused the Sudan Armed Forces of carrying out the strike amid the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Residents said the attack targeted civilians in an area where people had gathered at local coffee shops and trading spots.
“Sudan has struck civilians with drones,” one resident told Addis Standard. “At least 13 or more lives have been lost.” The resident alleged that the Sudanese military believed RSF fighters had entered the border area, leading to the strike.
Another resident said the conflict in Sudan, now entering its third year, was increasingly spilling into Ethiopian border communities. “This Al-Burhan government is conducting war against the RSF, and that conflict is now affecting us,” the resident said, adding that homes and businesses were damaged in the attack.
A health official at the Horazab Health Center, where victims were first taken for emergency treatment, described scenes of mass casualties following the explosion, which occurred about seven kilometers from the facility.
“The first person who arrived was a young girl whose leg had been severed,” the official said. “She needed surgery immediately and was in critical condition.” Soon afterward, more victims arrived in waves, including severely wounded civilians who were later referred to Dessie Hospital with the help of ambulances and a vehicle from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
According to the health center official, one female medical professional died shortly after arriving at the facility, while another woman survived after undergoing leg amputation. The official also confirmed that several victims had suffered severe burns, making identification difficult.
“Five bodies were brought here,” the official said. “Two were identified by their families and buried here. Three others could not be identified and were buried as unidentified persons.”
Residents said one of the deceased was a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) worker employed by the International Organization for Migration. Another IOM worker sustained injuries leading to the amputation of one leg and is currently receiving treatment in Assosa, according to testimonies gathered from the area. However, as of the publishing, IOM has not issued public statement.
