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TRTWORLD: US urges Eritrean troops to withdraw from Ethiopia’s Tigray region

Posted on by Eyasu Berhe

“This is a grave development,” said a US State Department Spokesman, describing what it said were “credible reports” of Eritrean troops fighting alongside the Ethiopian army in the northern Tigray state against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). 

“We urge that any such troops be withdrawn immediately,” the spokesperson continued.

The TPLF accused the Ethiopian government of allowing the Eritreans to enter the conflict on ”several fronts”. Debtresion Gebremichael, ousted head of the Tigray state and TPLF chief also said his forces had captured Eritrean soldiers near Wikro, a town roughly 50km north of the Tigray capital Mekelle, though no evidence was shown.

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News Break: Foreign aid convoy reaches capital of Ethiopia’s scarred Tigray

Posted on by Sami Mulaw

The International Committee of the Red Cross said seven trucks brought medicines and medical equipment for 400 wounded as well as relief supplies to Mekele, a city of half a million that had been all-but cut off to foreign aid since the conflict began on November 4.

The convoy arrived as the United Nations expressed growing alarm over the plight of nearly 100,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray and appealed for urgent access to assist them and 600,000 others dependent on food rations.

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theafricareport: Eritreans caught in dilemma over Tigray conflict

Posted on by Eyasu Berhe

Many Eritreans, including those that oppose President Isaias Afwerki’s rule, are in a dilemma regarding the conflict in Tigray. Most Eritreans agree that he is the mastermind of it and stand against any involvement by their country. There are also a die-hard few that believe he is doing this in the interests of Eritrea. 

At the start of the conflict, most Eritreans appeared opposed to any involvement in the conflict between TPLF and the Ethiopian federal government. Many of them had openly expressed their stand against the war and petitioned world leaders to intervene.

“Humera, only a few kilometres from the border to western Eritrea was heavily shelled by artillery in Eritrea forcing residents to fleeing into Sudan and facilitating control of western Tigray by Amhara militia, the regional force, and the federal army.”

Tigray leader Debretsion Gebremichael had vowed that Tigrayans would fight ‘the enemy’ anywhere and by all means, suggesting a tactical shift towards an insurgency-type engagement.

FILE – In this Saturday, July 14, 2018 file photo, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, center left, is welcomed by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, center right, upon his arrival at Addis Ababa International Airport, Ethiopia. Once official rivals, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea have embraced warmly to the roar of a crowd of thousands at a concert celebrating the end of a long state of war. The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize was given to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday Oct. 11, 2019. (AP Photo Mulugeta Ayene, File)/LON108/19284299557937/SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2018 FILE PHOTO/1910111107
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Bloomberg: U.S. Urges Withdrawal of Eritrean Troops From Ethiopia

Posted on by Eyasu Berhe
  • The U.S. called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops from neighboring Ethiopia’s Tigray region, following “credible” reports of their involvement in a civil conflict.
  • The U.S. said it’s also aware of reports of human rights violations in the region, and called for an independent investigation of the matter.
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AP: Alarm as Ethiopia returns refugees who fled Tigray fighting

Posted on by Eyasu Berhe
  • The news came as the United States said it believes Eritrean troops are active in Ethiopia, a “grave development.” A State Department spokesperson in an email cited credible reports and said “we urge that any such troops be withdrawn immediately.”
  • The International Organization for Migration said it was “extremely concerned” about the refugees’ “forced” return and denied it was involved, saying Ethiopia took over one of its transit centers in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Dec. 3.
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ALJazeera: ‘Overwhelming’ reports of killings of Eritreans in Tigray: UN

Posted on by Eyasu Berhe
  • UNHCR said “overwhelming” number of reports about Eritrean refugees in Tigray being killed, abducted or forcibly returned to Eritrea.
  • “It is vital that Eritrean refugees be able to move to safe locations, and receive protection and assistance wherever possible, including outside of Tigray, given the traumatic events they report to have witnessed or survived,” UNHCR head Filippo Grandi.
  • Eritreans often leave to escape mandatory, indefinite military service and repression or search for better opportunities out of what has long been one of the world’s most isolated countries.
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Exclusive: U.S. Says Reports of Eritrean Troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray Are ‘Credible’

Posted on by Eyasu Berhe

We are aware of credible reports of Eritrean military involvement in Tigray and view this as a grave development. We urge that any such troops be withdrawn immediately,” the spokesperson said.

U.S.News: U.S. Says Reports of Eritrean Troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray Are ‘Credible’ | World News | US News

The United States believes reports of Eritrean military involvement in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region are “credible,” a State Department spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday, despite denials by both nations.

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The Hill: US believes reports of Eritrean forces in Ethiopia Tigray region are ‘credible’: report

U.S. officials believe reports of Eritrean military forces in the Tigray region of Ethiopia to be “credible,” a State Department spokesperson told Reuters.

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Reuters: U.S. says reports of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray are ‘credible’

The United States believes reports of Eritrean military involvement in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region are “credible,” a State Department spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday, despite denials by both nations.

“We are aware of credible reports of Eritrean military involvement in Tigray and view this as a grave development. We urge that any such troops be withdrawn immediately,” the spokesperson said.

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UN: Ethiopia’s conflict has ‘appalling impact on civilians’

Posted on by Tech Support

“We have corroborated information of gross human rights violations and abuses including indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects, looting, abductions and sexual violence against women and girls,” Bachelet told reporters. “There are reports of forced recruitment of Tigrayan youth to fight against their own communities.”

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Ethiopia says U.N. team shot at in Tigray after defying checkpoints

Posted on by Tech Support

“In Mekelle, a doctor reached by Reuters said the hospital where he works was “totally non-functional” due to lack of electricity, fuel for generators, oxygen and medical supplies. Medics were unable to perform emergency surgery or effectively treat patients for problems such as childbirth complications and diabetes.

“Patients are dying outside and inside the hospital,” he wrote in a message, saying that he was aware of three women who died after delivering babies at home and an infant on a ventilator who died because there was no oxygen.”

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