Omna Tigray: On the Brutal Togoga Massacre and MSF Killings in Tigray

Omna Tigray strongly condemns Ethiopia’s recent attack on civilians in Togoga, Tigray and Ethiopia’s failure to ensure the safety of aid workers throughout the region.

The targeted airstrike by Ethiopian forces (who confirmed responsibility for the attack) in the town of Togoga on Tuesday, June 22nd that resulted in at least 64 people killed and 180 injured, is devastating and morally reprehensible.

The intentional bombardment on a market day, in which thousands of civilians would be present, bears striking resemblance to the Derg regime’s bombardment in the market town of Hawzen that took place on the same date, 33 years prior.

The Ethiopian military’s subsequent blockage of ambulances from reaching and leaving the scene to provide life-saving assistance, and the federal government’s blatant refusal to acknowledge the victims as Tigrayan civilians deserves equal condemnation.

We would also like to acknowledge the brutal killings of three MSF workers (Spaniard Maria Hernandez and Tigrayans Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael) in Abi Adi, Tigray who were in the region to aid the many impacted by the ongoing Tigray genocide.

Humanitarian workers who dedicate their lives to helping civilians in Tigray should not have to pay with their lives, as was also the case for at least seven other humanitarian workers across NGOs, including a USAID worker in May.

The attack on MSF staff follows an incident in March where Ethiopian soldiers dragged at least four Tigrayan men off a public bus in Tigray and executed them in front of an MSF team.

We would also like to note that the Tigray regional government and the Tigray Defense Forces have expressed their readiness and willingness to not only work with international aid agencies, but to provide them protection while operating in Tigray as well.

We are further alarmed by Abiy Ahmed’s televised interview with Fana Television on Wednesday, June 23, where he accuses aid workers of currently and historically trying to provide military strategy and support instead of aid to the people of Tigray. These outrageous lies and demonization of aid workers has contributed to attacks and atrocities by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces against aid workers trying to help the over 900,000 Tigrayans who are experiencing famine and the 33,000+ children facing imminent death presently. 

The Togoga massacre, killing of MSF staff, and other crimes committed in Tigray are unacceptable and must cease, and a full UN-led and UN-only investigation must be initiated for these recent attacks. The international community must impose actions against Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers who continue to commit human rights violations with impunity. 

Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims and the families of the innocent civilians in Tigray and the brave MSF staff. We will continue advocating for the people of Tigray and for the protection of all Tigrayans and humanitarian workers in the region so future tragedies can be prevented.