Western Ethiopia 'massacre' death toll rises to 222, says Red Cross
December 26, 2020 The death toll from a Wednesday attack in the western Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia has risen to 222 people, a volunteer from the country's Red Cross told Reuters on Friday. "Yesterday we buried 207 people who are the victims and 15 more from the attackers," said Melese Mesfin. The attack occurred in the village of Bekoji in Bulen county in the Metekel zone, and the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission initially estimated more than 100 people had been killed. More than 40,000 people fled their homes due to the fighting, Bulen county spokesman Kassahun Addisu said. He reported the county had buried 207 people. Wednesday's attack by unidentified gunmen was the latest deadly assault in an area beset by ethnic violence. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called the attack a "massacre&