Death toll from attack in Ethiopia reaches 222

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 the volunteer, 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 ethnic fighting, Bulen county spokesman Kassahun Addisu said. The military also killed 42 armed men accused of attacking the village.

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