At least 52 civilians have been killed during three days of heavy fighting around Alamata in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, according to hospital sources who spoke to the BBC. Government troops reportedly control Alamata and intend to advance north towards Mekelle, the region's main city.
The fighting has also affected neighbouring regions, leaving 33 tourists stranded for the past week in Lalibela, a Unesco World Heritage site. A British tourist in Lalibela told the BBC that visitors have been unable to leave since the airport closed to commercial flights last Wednesday, though 14 Israeli tourists were evacuated by military helicopter on Monday.
Banking services in Tigray have been suspended by the government since the fighting erupted, and internet access has also been cut. A separate source in Alamata reported a worsening humanitarian crisis as people flee fighting into the town, facing a lack of banking services, money transfers, power, and internet.
The British tourist in Lalibela noted that while online banking was working, there was a shortage of physical cash. He also stated that the situation around Lalibela had reportedly calmed in the last two days, with indications that the airport might reopen on Thursday.