logo
#

Latest news with #YohannesHalefomReda

MSF says 3 of its workers were ‘intentionally' killed in Ethiopia's Tigray
MSF says 3 of its workers were ‘intentionally' killed in Ethiopia's Tigray

Al Jazeera

time15-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Al Jazeera

MSF says 3 of its workers were ‘intentionally' killed in Ethiopia's Tigray

Doctors Without Borders says three of its staff were 'intentionally' killed in 2021 during the fierce fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The organisation, known by its French initials MSF, on Tuesday published the findings of its internal review into the killings of Maria Hernandez, a Spanish national, and Ethiopians Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael. The northern region of Tigray erupted in a brutal civil war against the federal government from 2020 and 2022 that killed some 600,000 people. The conflict prompted a humanitarian disaster, leaving a million displaced, and a fragile peace deal has caused simmering resentment. MSF accused the Ethiopian government of failing to 'fulfil its moral obligations' to conclude investigations. 'The review confirmed that the attack was an intentional and targeted killing of three clearly identified aid workers,' says its statement. Hernandez was one of MSF's emergency coordinators in Tigray, while Reda and Gebremichael were a coordination assistant and driver for the NGO. All three employees of MSF-Spain were shot dead on June 24, 2021, in southern Tigray. The NGO said they and their vehicle were all clearly identified. According to the medical charity, a convoy of Ethiopian soldiers was present at the time of the attack. MSF said despite numerous follow-ups with the federal authorities in Addis Ababa, they had not received 'any credible answers' and the government had 'failed to fulfil its moral obligations to conclude an investigation into the attack'. 'This was not the result of crossfire, nor was it a tragic mistake. Our colleagues were killed in what can only be described as a deliberate attack,' said Paula Gil, president of MSF-Spain. The report follows from an international investigation in 2022 when the NGO said the three aid workers had been killed 'intentionally,' without providing further details. The New York Times newspaper claimed in a 2022 investigation that an Ethiopian army officer had given the order to kill the three aid workers. But Raquel Ayora, director-general of MSF-Spain, said on Tuesday, 'We cannot confirm that or go that far.' The report's findings were presented to authorities, who did not respond, the NGO said. Ethiopian authorities refused to meet the president of MSF-Spain to discuss the MSF investigation into the killings. The 2020-2022 war pitted federal forces, supported by local militias and the Eritrean army, against Tigrayan rebels. All of the warring parties have been accused of war crimes. However, an NGO called The Sentry said in June that, while all sides perpetrated war crimes, the nature of the atrocities committed by the Eritrean army was 'unmatched in scale and premeditation'. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous country with nearly 130 million inhabitants, has been led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2018.

Three MSF aid workers intentionally killed in Tigray war
Three MSF aid workers intentionally killed in Tigray war

The Sun

time15-07-2025

  • The Sun

Three MSF aid workers intentionally killed in Tigray war

NAIROBI: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) revealed on Tuesday that three of its staff members were 'intentionally' killed during the 2021 conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The medical charity accused the Ethiopian government of failing to conduct a proper investigation, stating authorities had not fulfilled their 'moral obligations.' The Tigray war, which raged from 2020 to 2022, resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths and displaced over a million people. Despite a fragile peace agreement, tensions remain high. The victims included Spanish national Maria Hernandez, 35, an emergency coordinator, along with Ethiopian staff Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, both 31, who served as a coordination assistant and driver. All three were shot dead on June 24, 2021, in southern Tigray while traveling in a clearly marked MSF vehicle. MSF stated that an internal review confirmed the attack was deliberate, targeting aid workers who were easily identifiable. A convoy of Ethiopian soldiers was reportedly present at the time. Despite repeated requests for transparency, the NGO said Ethiopian authorities provided no credible answers. A 2022 investigation by The New York Times suggested an Ethiopian colonel ordered the killings, but MSF-Spain's director general, Raquel Ayora, clarified that the organization could not independently verify this claim. Ethiopian officials have not responded to MSF's findings or requests for dialogue. The federal government and military also ignored inquiries from AFP. The Tigray conflict involved Ethiopian federal forces, Eritrean troops, and local militias fighting Tigrayan rebels. All parties have faced allegations of war crimes, with reports highlighting particularly severe atrocities by Eritrean forces. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, continues to grapple with unrest in regions like Amhara and Oromia, where federal forces are accused of further abuses.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store