Catalan tourists stuck in Ethiopia following outbreak of violence may be able to return soon

The Catalan tourists that have been unable to leave Ethiopia for the past week due to the outbreak of fighting in the Amhara region may be able to return soon after noting changes on the ground that could suggest the violence is abating.

Kananga, the Barcelona-based travel agency that organized their trip, released a statement on Thursday explaining that their tour guide had informed them that the Ethiopian military "had been able to reclaim" the territory that had been taken over by militias "without any gunshots."

"We cannot state with absolute certainty what will happen in the immediate future, but this morning the guide informed us that the authorities say there is a good chance that they will leave today," the statement reads, adding that Kananga has stepped up efforts to get them on a flight back.

Local authorities are now said to be checking whether the highways to the cities of Gondar and Bhar Dar are safe enough for travel.

Catalan government sources, meanwhile, noted that "the situation is changing" and that the rescue "could be quick."

President Pere Aragonès also said in a tweet that Catalan authorities were "following the situation with other governments and offering support to those affected and their families."

Trapped in Ethiopia

The group of 19 Spanish nationals, of which most are Catalan, was surprised by fighting between the Ethiopian army and militias in the northern region of Amhara last week, and while they have not yet been able to leave the country, they were able to leave the area most affected by the violence. 

Sources from Spain's foreign affairs ministry said they had been aware of the situation "from the very beginning" and were in "permanent and daily" contact with the citizens, who have found refuge in a hotel. 

"They are well and have food and water provided by the hotel," Spanish diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

The foreign affairs ministry issued a travel advisory for Ethiopia last Friday warning of "the extremely insecure situation in the Amhara region." It advises against travel to the area and calls on citizens to contact the Spanish embassy in Addis Ababa.