The tragic incident occurred on June 24, 2021, when María Hernández Matas, 35, Yohannes Halefom Reda, 32, and Tedros Gebremariam, 31, were engaged in assessments of medical needs in the embattled region. Ms. Ayora emphasized that the victims were wearing recognizable MSF gear, and their vehicle bore the charity's insignia, making them identifiable as humanitarian workers. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the armed forces were alerted to their presence and received explicit instructions to attack.
The Tigray conflict erupted in 2020 between federal and regional forces, exacerbated by the involvement of Eritrea. Although a peace agreement was reached two years later, the lingering consequences of violence have left a toll of approximately 600,000 lives lost, largely due to combat, starvation, and inadequate healthcare.
The investigation into the killings found that Ethiopian military units were present at the scene, contradicting previous government claims of non-involvement. Despite repeated requests for a credible explanation from the Ethiopian government, MSF has faced silence, which they perceive as impunity.
The deaths of the aid workers have devastated their families, with Ms. Matas being the sole child of her mother, and Mr. Tedros's widow naming their newborn daughter after his deceased colleague. As MSF continues to call for accountability, the treatment of humanitarian workers in conflict zones remains a pressing concern.
With the ongoing scrutiny of military actions in Tigray, aid organizations stress the importance of safeguarding those who risk their lives to provide assistance in war-torn regions.
The Tigray conflict erupted in 2020 between federal and regional forces, exacerbated by the involvement of Eritrea. Although a peace agreement was reached two years later, the lingering consequences of violence have left a toll of approximately 600,000 lives lost, largely due to combat, starvation, and inadequate healthcare.
The investigation into the killings found that Ethiopian military units were present at the scene, contradicting previous government claims of non-involvement. Despite repeated requests for a credible explanation from the Ethiopian government, MSF has faced silence, which they perceive as impunity.
The deaths of the aid workers have devastated their families, with Ms. Matas being the sole child of her mother, and Mr. Tedros's widow naming their newborn daughter after his deceased colleague. As MSF continues to call for accountability, the treatment of humanitarian workers in conflict zones remains a pressing concern.
With the ongoing scrutiny of military actions in Tigray, aid organizations stress the importance of safeguarding those who risk their lives to provide assistance in war-torn regions.
