Dozens of civilians were killed last week during airstrikes in the war-torn province of Tigray in northern Ethiopia. The death toll was the heaviest since October, the UN said on Thursday.

From December 19 to 24 the blows caused massive civilian casualties, dozens killed in a series of airstrikes, the deadliest and heaviest since October, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

The bombings took place in the cities of Alamata, Korem, Maitsu, Mekoni and Milazat in southern Tigray, as well as in Mekele, the provincial capital, OCHA said, without specifying where it got its information from.

Adequate verification of victims is difficult due to limited access to and insecurity in the area. OCHA also stressed that the situation remains tense and unpredictable in northern Ethiopia, where aid organizations are finding it difficult to distribute food and other basic necessities to people in desperate need. The conflict in Ethiopia has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and has caused a very serious humanitarian crisis, forcing more than two million people to flee their homes, according to the UN.

Source: AMA MPA

Also read: Ethiopia | At least 50 killed, more than 100 injured in airstrikes