Three MSF staff members ‘brutally murdered’ in Tigray | | Ethiopia | Conflicting Issues
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Three international medical practitioners of Unlimited Doctors (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) have been “brutally murdered” in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the agency said.
The group said in their statement that emergency supervisor Maria Hernandez, assistant director Yohannes Halefom Reda and driver Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael were on their way on Thursday afternoon when they could no longer be contacted. On Friday morning, their bodies were found a few meters away from the vehicle they were using, MSF said, with no specific details.
“We are protesting against the aggression of our colleagues and we will not stop understanding what happened,” added MSF.
We are saddened and saddened to confirm that 3 MSF workers were killed in Tigray, Ethiopia.
Our greatest pity goes to their families. We strongly oppose this and will not stop learning from what happened.
Statement is coming soon.
– Doctors w / o Malire (@MSF_USA) June 25, 2021
“No words can express our grief, frustration and anger at this tragedy, nor can it comfort the loss and suffering of their families and loved ones to whom we express great sorrow.”
The deaths of Spanish nationals Hernandez as well as Ethiopian nationals Reda and Gebremichael were “extremely traumatic for all of us who are members of the movement in Ethiopia and in other countries where MSF is operating worldwide”, he said.
Not much was immediately available.
Thousands of people were killed
On November 4, 2020, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a massive plane and plane crash in Tigray, after criticizing the then ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) over a military coup. The TPLF, which ruled politically for several years until Abiy came to power in 2018, said the military and its former enemy Eritrea had launched a “revolt” protest.
Abiy announced victory in late November and seized the Mekelle regional capital. Fighting, however, continues unabated for fear that the conflict will be temporary with devastating consequences.
The exact number of casualties in the war is unknown, but thousands of people believe they were killed, while at least two million people have fled their homes. Citizens of Tigray, with a population of about 6 million, have reported widespread killings, sexual assaults, and involuntary manslaughter.
Earlier this month, the United Nations reported that about 350,000 people are facing starvation due to “severe” food shortages, while another two million “just a little”.
The news of the killing of employees at MSF caused a stir on social media.
“We are shocked, saddened and saddened by the tragic news of the killing of three MSF colleagues in #Ethiopia,” sent Robert Mardini, director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross. “This is unacceptable.”
I was shocked, saddened and saddened by the tragic story of the killing of the three @Zittokabwe friends in #Ethiopia.
This is not acceptable.
Our thoughts @Chimonac has families, co-workers and friends of Maria, Tedros and Yohannes. https://t.co/pzTR12UDxT
– Robert Mardini (@RMardiniICRC) June 25, 2021
Ida Sawyer, Africa’s deputy director for Human Rights Watch, also apologized for the human rights group.
“We were horrified to hear of the brutal killing of three MSF staff members, who were doing a very brave + job in helping the war-torn areas of Tigray,” Sawyer wrote on Twitter.
I was horrified to hear of the brutal killings of three @Zittokabwe workers, who were doing a very brave job + helping the war-affected areas to #Tigray #Ethiopia. We sincerely apologize to their families, friends + colleagues, from @yamautisyouten https://t.co/TThzffQQR
– Ida Sawyer (@ida_sawyer) June 25, 2021
In March, MSF workers are traveling from Mekelle to Adigrat, about 120km (75 miles) north, saw Ethiopian troops kill “At least four” ordinary people.
At the time, MSF emergency services program officer Karline Kleijer described how Ethiopian troops had stopped MSF’s car and two minibus backpacks forcing passengers to leave.
“The men were separated from the women, who were allowed to travel. “Soon after, the people were shot,” the statement said.
“The MSF team was allowed to leave the scene but found the bodies of those killed on the side of the road.”
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