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A few months ago, farmer Belete Melke was sheltering from a heavy downpour in a remote village in Ethiopia's Amhara region when suddenly gunfire erupted around him."We were caught in the crossfire," he said, after being struck by a stray bullet.Northern Amhara is Ethiopia's second most populated region with roughly 23mn inhabitants, and has endured nearly three years of conflict between the federal army and the "Fano," Amhara's self-defence militias.There is scant public information about the conflict, which sprawls across an area that foreign embassies advise their citizens to avoid thanks to the fighting and risks of kidnapping. And no death toll, which is nonetheless high, has ever been made public.After Belete was wounded, he travelled to capital Addis Ababa for treatment."In Addis, they told me that my vein had been cut and (my leg) would no longer function," he said."I cried in anguish, and then they amputated my leg."The present conflict stems from the 2020-2022 Tigray War, which killed more than 600,000 people, according to the African Union.The Fano, like many in Amhara, felt betrayed by the November 2022 peace deal after their support to the government against the neighbouring Tigrayan forces.**media[395956]**It came to a head in April 2023, when an attempt by the federal government to disarm the Fano and Amhara forces ignited the conflict.And a year-long regional state of emergency imposed by the government has failed to stop the fighting."I can't understand this war," said Belete, who does not know which side wounded him."When you meet the Fanos, they say they are fighting for our country, Ethiopia."And when you meet the National Defence Forces, they say they are fighting for our country, Ethiopia."Whoever is fighting, civilians are the ones on the front lines.Unicef estimates roughly 4.5mn children are out of school in Amhara, and UN's OCHA puts the number of displaced at over 600,000 people."Federal forces roughly control the cities while Fano controls the countryside," a security source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.Both sides are regularly accused of abuses against civilians.The Fano are alleged to carry out kidnappings for ransom, while federal forces have been accused of conducting drone strikes.At a federal medical centre in Amhara's capital Bahir Dar, Yoseph Debasu sways as he grips parallel bars, re-learning how to walk with his prosthesis.Despite his frustration, the 19-year-old is grateful for his care at the institution, which is supported by International Committee for the Red Cross.After leaving school because of the war, Yoseph's family in Merawi, a town roughly 30 kilometres from Bahir Dar, bought him a tuk-tuk so he was able to begin earning.But as the conflict spread, he ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) in a contested area. It destroyed both his vehicle and his leg.While doctors attempted to save it, the swelling grew too much, he told AFP, and "it had to be amputated".Still, he said that having the prosthesis was amazing, "like I am born again".UNCERTAIN FUTUREIn another room at the rehabilitation centre, orthopaedic technician Bashawgize Getie, 33, gently polishes a prosthesis.Bashawgize has worked at the centre for almost a decade, and said the Tigrayan conflict had already heaped pressure on their facilities."Now with this new conflict added on top of it, the number of patients is increasing," he said.**media[395957]**"We are struggling to accommodate them," he said.There are also worries that many of the wounded cannot reach the facility as roadblocks prevent access.And Red Cross officials worry the situation could deteriorate."We can see that the forces are building on their capacity," said ICRC's Sabrina Denuncq in Bahir Dar, a reference to both the Fano and other armed groups.While the conflict has subsided enough in Merawi town for Yoseph to return to school, he remains fearful."When one side comes and tells us to go to school, we go. Then the other side comes and tells us to stop, and fighting starts again," he explained."That is our situation." 

The Nigerian army announced that 19 militants and two soldiers were killed during a gunfire exchange between the armed forces and militants in northwest Nigeria. The Nigerian army explained in a statement that its forces exchanged fire with an armed group in Kano State, resulting in the death of 19 militants. Two soldiers and a local guard were also killed during the operation.The statement added that the operation came as part of a major military campaign to reduce the escalating insecurity in northern Nigeria, explaining that a number of soldiers and members of the Joint Task Force sustained minor injuries and were immediately evacuated for treatment.The northeastern states of Nigeria are subject to occasional attacks by armed groups that began an insurgency in 2009 that has killed about 40,000 people and forced about two million Nigerians to flee their homes.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa survived a gunfire attack targeting his motorcade as he was traveling in a convoy to Canar province, where he was scheduled to announce a series of infrastructure projects. The attack occurred after his convoy was confronted by hundreds of people protesting against rising fuel prices. Ecuador's Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano said that about 500 people suddenly appeared and began throwing stones at the president's motorcade, causing bullet holes in his vehicle, but Noboa was unharmed in the attack. The Minister added that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the assassination attempt. Authorities announced that the detainees will face charges of terrorism and attempted murder. Ecuador has been experiencing violent demonstrations for several days, protesting against the government's decision to raise diesel prices.

Twenty-four Palestinians were martyred in the Israeli occupation's gunfire and shelling since dawn on Thursday. The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) cited medical sources as saying that seven bodies were transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, 13 to Al-Aqsa Hospital, two to Al-Awda Hospital, and two to Baptist Hospital. The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, has resulted in the martyrdom of 65,419 people, the majority of whom are children and women, and the injury of 167,160 others, according to a preliminary toll. A number of victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, unable to be reached by ambulance and rescue crews.

A young Palestinian man was martyred by Israeli gunfire on Wednesday in the village of Anza, south of Jenin, according to local sources. They said the victim was struck by a bullet in the back and rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition before succumbing to his wounds.Israeli troops raided the village as students were on their way to school. Classes were disrupted and confrontations broke out between residents and the occupying forces. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained three children from the village of Deir Abu Mash'al, northwest of Ramallah, at dawn on Wednesday.Security sources told WAFA that the IOF detained the three children after raiding their homes and ransacking their contents. The same sources added that the IOF stormed the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, and drove their military vehicles through the streets, raiding several homes, and seizing several vehicles.The Israeli occupation forces continued their incursions, raiding Palestinian homes in the Qarawat Bani Hassan and al-Zawiya, west of Salfit, and assaulting Palestinian youths.

At least 18 Palestinians were killed early Tuesday by Israeli occupation gunfire and shelling across the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials. Medical sources said 12 bodies were transported to Al-Shifa Hospital, while six others were taken to the Baptist Hospital. The death toll from Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 65,344, with 166,795 people wounded. The majority of casualties were women and children. These figures remain incomplete, as many victims are still trapped under rubble or lying in the streets, where emergency crews have been unable to reach them.

A Palestinian worker was martyred by gunfire from Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) near the separation wall in the town of Al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem. Palestinian news agency (WAFA) quoted the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) as saying that its crew received the body of a martyr from the Dahiya area of ​​Jerusalem, who was shot by the occupation forces after attempting to cross the separation wall. These violations come within the context of a systematic escalation campaign carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities in the cities and towns of the occupied West Bank for months, including night raids, arrests, and arbitrary house searches targeting various segments of the population, including women and children.

Three Palestinians, including a child and an infant, were martyred Thursday in Israeli occupation forces' gunfire and shelling of various areas in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported that a child was martyred as a result of the indiscriminate Israeli occupation forces' firing at Palestinian homes in Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. WAFA added that two Palestinians, including an infant, were martyred and several others were injured as a result of the occupation forces' shelling of the tents of displaced persons near Yarmouk Street in Gaza City. The death toll from the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 64,656, with injuries rising to 163,503 since Oct.7, 2023.