Ethiopian aliyah activist fears for family's life as armed activities increase across Amhara region
Ababa, 39, a Lod resident and longtime aliyah activist in the Ethiopian Israeli community, has struggled to reach relatives who remain in the Gondar area of Amhara.
Aselachao Ababa, a 39-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli aliyah activist living in Lod, fears for his family's safety as violence escalates in Ethiopia's Amhara region. Ababa has relatives in Gondar and a village within the region, both of which have been affected by clashes between the Ethiopian military and various militias since 2023.
He described constant fear, restricted movement, damaged homes, and a sense that those left behind are suffering the consequences of the conflict. Ababa's relatives have previously experienced kidnappings and were forced to pay ransoms for their release. He stated that the security situation has worsened, with armed groups including the Fano movement and the Tigray People's Liberation Front declaring an alliance against the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The family of Estaol Agen, another relative of Ababa, has been left alone for over 25 years due to fears of kidnappings. Ababa and his supporters have been unable to advance the aliyah of additional relatives due to prolonged difficulties. Many families in Israel remain deeply concerned about the well-being of relatives still in affected areas.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
