Media outlets have reported the possible murder of up to 750 people in an assault on an Orthodox Church of St Mary of Zion (Maryam Tsiyon) in Aksum in November, where according to the local tradition the Ark of the Covenant is kept.
A spokesperson for Aid to the Church in Need, Regina Lynch, said they have “not been able to verify the exact details of what would be a real massacre. Travel in the region is not currently possible and communications are very restricted, but we have received confirmation of a series of killings and attacks on innocent people in many parts of the region and also in the Aksum area”.
“The population is terrified,” she added.
According to information received by ACN, there could have been another massacre with over a hundred victims in the church of Maryam Dengelat in December.
Although the conflict has led to the deaths of hundreds of Christians, the sources reiterate that the violence is not motivated by religion but by political conflict.
