A new report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) claims substantial evidence distinguishes Ethiopian national army involvement in the execution of three aid workers during the Tigray conflict in 2021.
Aid Workers Executed in Tigray Conflict, Claims MSF Report
Aid Workers Executed in Tigray Conflict, Claims MSF Report
Médecins Sans Frontières alleges Ethiopian troops carried out killings of humanitarian staff four years ago.
In a shocking revelation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has shed light on the tragic deaths of three aid workers allegedly executed during a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The report, released four years post the incident, points the finger at the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) as being responsible for these killings which occurred on June 24, 2021.
MSF's general director in Spain, Raquel Ayora, detailed the circumstances of the incident, describing the workers – a Spanish national and two Ethiopian citizens – being shot at close range while identifiable in their MSF uniforms. "They were executed. They were facing their attackers and were shot at very close range… several times," she emphasized.
Despite persistent attempts to obtain a credible account from the Ethiopian government through 20 meetings over four years, MSF reports the lack of response has necessitated the release of their findings, which indicate the presence of Ethiopian troops during the killings. The charity notes that a convoy of Ethiopian soldiers was reportedly retreating from combat in the vicinity of the incident, corroborated by satellite imagery and multiple eyewitness accounts. Some witnesses allege they heard an army commander ordering the attack on the humanitarian aid workers.
The Tigray conflict, which erupted in late 2020 between regional and federal governments, saw the involvement of Eritrean forces. The official conclusion of hostilities came in 2022, underpinned by an African Union-brokered peace deal, after a devastating period leading to an estimated 600,000 fatalities from violence, starvation, and lack of medical care.
Though the conflict may have reached a formal end, the environment for humanitarian workers has remained treacherous, with MSF reporting increasing hostility toward aid efforts. The deaths of Ms. María Hernández Matas, Mr. Yohannes Halefom Reda, and Mr. Tedros Gebremariam were not merely tragic losses but stark reminders of the perils faced by those devoted to providing relief in conflict zones.
MSF's general director in Spain, Raquel Ayora, detailed the circumstances of the incident, describing the workers – a Spanish national and two Ethiopian citizens – being shot at close range while identifiable in their MSF uniforms. "They were executed. They were facing their attackers and were shot at very close range… several times," she emphasized.
Despite persistent attempts to obtain a credible account from the Ethiopian government through 20 meetings over four years, MSF reports the lack of response has necessitated the release of their findings, which indicate the presence of Ethiopian troops during the killings. The charity notes that a convoy of Ethiopian soldiers was reportedly retreating from combat in the vicinity of the incident, corroborated by satellite imagery and multiple eyewitness accounts. Some witnesses allege they heard an army commander ordering the attack on the humanitarian aid workers.
The Tigray conflict, which erupted in late 2020 between regional and federal governments, saw the involvement of Eritrean forces. The official conclusion of hostilities came in 2022, underpinned by an African Union-brokered peace deal, after a devastating period leading to an estimated 600,000 fatalities from violence, starvation, and lack of medical care.
Though the conflict may have reached a formal end, the environment for humanitarian workers has remained treacherous, with MSF reporting increasing hostility toward aid efforts. The deaths of Ms. María Hernández Matas, Mr. Yohannes Halefom Reda, and Mr. Tedros Gebremariam were not merely tragic losses but stark reminders of the perils faced by those devoted to providing relief in conflict zones.
