Omna Tigray: On Ethiopia’s Targeted Airstrikes in Mekelle and Agbe, Tigray Resulting in Civilian Casualties

Omna Tigray condemns in the strongest possible terms the Ethiopian government’s airstrikes conducted today, October 20th, and Monday, October 18th, on civilians in the densely populated Tigrayan capital of Mekelle, and Agbe, Tembien. 

These targeted airstrikes by Ethiopian forces have resulted in significant civilian casualties, among which included three children that were killed Monday and a pregnant mother that was injured today.

Ethiopian government spokesperson Legesse Tulu initially denied the government’s involvement in the attacks, stating “terrorists are the ones who attack cities with innocent civilians in them, not governments.” Yet, after numerous casualties were reported, Ethiopian state media stated that Monday’s airstrikes (which occurred on Mekelle’s market day) “was carried out with utmost precision to prevent civilian casualties.” The airstrikes on civilians in Tigray come months after a cease of military combat in the regional capital and directly follow military losses by Ethiopian forces. The attacks are reminiscent of the airstrike that retreating federal forces conducted on market day in the Tigray village of Togoga on June 22nd that killed 64 and injured 184 civilians. Despite the harm inflicted on civilians, credible reports state federal forces will continue their airstrikes on Tigray.

Ethiopia’s continued airstrikes on Tigray, a region in the midst of famine and “where doctors and others have described running out of medicines,” continue to have a devastating impact on civilians’ lives and livelihoods. According to the United Nations, many aid organizations are operating at extremely reduced capacities. In August, USAID stated only 10 percent of the aid required was reaching the region and clarified “this shortage is not because food is unavailable, but because the Ethiopian government is obstructing humanitarian aid and personnel, including land convoys and air access.” A UN Spokesperson further stated that at least two important aid organizations have already run out of food in Tigray. Since the end of June, only 320 trucks have managed to reach the region versus the 100 trucks of aid that are needed to arrive in Tigray each day. 

In September, seven senior UN officials were expelled by the Ethiopian government, and despite the UN alerting of famine conditions and restriction of aid, the Ethiopian Government has stated that it is “absurd to expect unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid to the Tigray region,” and has repeatedly displayed its disregard for international human rights laws. 

While the current actions of the Ethiopian government aren’t surprising given their history of atrocities committed against Tigrayans throughout all parts of Ethiopia, the relative inaction by the international community indicates complicity in and enablement of the genocide in Tigray. To protect the lives of millions of Tigrayans and prevent further atrocities committed against them, we at Omna Tigray are calling on the international community to take or support the following immediate actions: 

• Implementation of economic sanctions on Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials and an arms embargo;
• A no-fly zone that does not hinder humanitarian aid delivery;
• Increased and immediate humanitarian access into all of Tigray via the opening of a humanitarian corridor by way of Sudan and a consistent humanitarian air bridge to airdrop food;
• Immediate, internationally monitored, and verifiable, withdrawal of the Eritrean, Ethiopian, and Amhara forces from all of Tigray;
• Full restoration of communications, including internet, electricity, water, banking, transportation, and telecommunications throughout Tigray;
• An EU, US, or UN-mediated national dialogue for Ethiopia;
• UN-led, independent and impartial investigations into all atrocities in Tigray and to Tigrayans across Ethiopia; and
• Official recognition of the Tigray Genocide committed by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean Defense Forces, Amhara Special Forces, and Amhara Fano Militia against the Tigrayan people.

Signed,

OMNA Tigray