MSF asserts the aid workers were deliberately targeted amid escalating violence in the Tigray region, prompting calls for accountability from the Ethiopian government.
**Ethiopian Army Accused of Executing Humanitarian Workers in Tigray Conflict**
**Ethiopian Army Accused of Executing Humanitarian Workers in Tigray Conflict**
A Médecins Sans Frontières report reveals troubling evidence implicating Ethiopian troops in the killings of three aid workers.
The investigation by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has revealed alarming findings regarding the deaths of three humanitarian aid workers in Ethiopia's Tigray region, which has been embroiled in conflict since 2020. According to the report, significant evidence points to the involvement of the Ethiopian army in the killings that occurred four years ago. The three victims were identified as María Hernández Matas from Spain and two Ethiopian nationals, Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam, who were conducting a humanitarian mission in the war-torn area.
Raquel Ayora, general director of MSF Spain, stated, "They were executed." She detailed that the aid workers were shot at very close range, highlighting their vulnerable position before their attackers. Despite numerous attempts to engage with the Ethiopian government over four years for a reliable narrative regarding the incident, MSF has reported a lack of credible explanation from the authorities.
The incident unfolded on June 24, 2021, as the workers traveled in a clearly marked MSF vehicle, adorned with charity logos and flags, to evaluate medical needs in central Tigray. Ayora emphasized their identification, asserting that the attackers were fully aware they were targeting humanitarian personnel. The emotional impact of these deaths has resonated deeply within the MSF community, notably for Matas’s mother, who lost her only child, and for Gebremariam’s widow, who named their newborn daughter Maria in honor of Matas.
Research indicates that the Tigray conflict resulted in around 600,000 deaths due to combat, famine, and healthcare shortages, following a fallout between Tigray's regional government and the federal government of Ethiopia, intensified by Eritrean intervention. MSF's report indicated that the challenge faced by aid workers in Tigray escalated as Ethiopian and Eritrean military antagonism towards humanitarian missions grew.
The accountability aspect of these workers' deaths is crucial. MSF claims to have evidence confirming that a convoy of Ethiopian army soldiers was present during the attack, supported by eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery. While testimonies from both military and civilian witnesses implicated Ethiopian troops, the specific nature and extent of their involvement in the attack on the aid workers remain ambiguous.
As the international community watches closely, calls for a thorough investigation and accountability for these tragic events grow louder, highlighting the urgent need for the protection of humanitarian workers in conflict zones. The Ethiopian government has been asked for a response, yet the inquiry remains unresolved.
Raquel Ayora, general director of MSF Spain, stated, "They were executed." She detailed that the aid workers were shot at very close range, highlighting their vulnerable position before their attackers. Despite numerous attempts to engage with the Ethiopian government over four years for a reliable narrative regarding the incident, MSF has reported a lack of credible explanation from the authorities.
The incident unfolded on June 24, 2021, as the workers traveled in a clearly marked MSF vehicle, adorned with charity logos and flags, to evaluate medical needs in central Tigray. Ayora emphasized their identification, asserting that the attackers were fully aware they were targeting humanitarian personnel. The emotional impact of these deaths has resonated deeply within the MSF community, notably for Matas’s mother, who lost her only child, and for Gebremariam’s widow, who named their newborn daughter Maria in honor of Matas.
Research indicates that the Tigray conflict resulted in around 600,000 deaths due to combat, famine, and healthcare shortages, following a fallout between Tigray's regional government and the federal government of Ethiopia, intensified by Eritrean intervention. MSF's report indicated that the challenge faced by aid workers in Tigray escalated as Ethiopian and Eritrean military antagonism towards humanitarian missions grew.
The accountability aspect of these workers' deaths is crucial. MSF claims to have evidence confirming that a convoy of Ethiopian army soldiers was present during the attack, supported by eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery. While testimonies from both military and civilian witnesses implicated Ethiopian troops, the specific nature and extent of their involvement in the attack on the aid workers remain ambiguous.
As the international community watches closely, calls for a thorough investigation and accountability for these tragic events grow louder, highlighting the urgent need for the protection of humanitarian workers in conflict zones. The Ethiopian government has been asked for a response, yet the inquiry remains unresolved.
