EHRC report on attacks in Amhara and Afar regions

 EHRC report on attacks in Amhara and Afar regions

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said in a statement that at least 403 civilians were killed and 309 were injured in a series of military offensives in Afar and Amhara regions since July 2021. "At least 346 civilians were killed illegally by Tigray forces, mainly in the Afar and Amhara regions," EHRC said in a statement. The Tigrayan forces carried out the killings on the grounds that they were "spies for the government forces, bring your own weapons, defend the property, assist the defense, special forces or artillery or know their whereabouts." In some areas, property belonging to Tigrayans who allegedly collaborated with the Tigrayan forces and fled the towns for security reasons was looted by various government forces and some locals, according to EHRC investigations.

As a result of the investigation, TPLF forces committed killings, mutilation, and destruction of civilians,  and other protected persons. They have also been accused of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.

The same report states that arbitrary arrests, abductions and disappearances, as well as sexual and sexual assaults, have taken place. "Tigray forces have been looting, looting and destroying property in government institutions, public service institutions (especially health facilities and educational institutions), private property and businesses." "They have also been known to carry out systematic robberies in a planned and organized manner." In particular, they reportedly looted and stripped medical equipment, machinery, and technology equipment and loaded it onto trucks.

"A total of 2,409 health facilities in Afar and Amhara regions have been disrupted due to attacks, injuries and robberies," the EHRC said in a statement. A total of 1,090 schools and 3,220 schools in the two regions were partially destroyed and billions of birr were looted and destroyed in 346 branches of 18 commercial banks, the report said.

The report states that the parties involved in the fighting were, on the one hand, the Tigrayan forces and allied militias, (including the Oromo Liberation Army in some areas, or the OLF Shene), and on the other hand, the Ethiopian government security forces (Defense Forces and other security forces, Amhara and Afar). He pointed out that they were forces and allied militias. OLF militants have also targeted government officials and their families in areas under their control, as well as civilians claiming to support the government, according to EHRC. On the other hand, "Defense Forces, Amhara Special Forces, Fano and Militia; Tigray forces and members of the OLF Shane, who are suspected members and supporters, carried out extrajudicial killings and injuries, according to the report.

Although the commission's report on 50 locations in particular focused primarily on the Afar and Amhara regions; He also said that EHRC has been monitoring and investigating some of the airstrikes in Tigray State. According to EHRC, the 14-page test results will be available from September to December 2021. It shows an investigation carried out by a 29-member investigation team for four months.

The report released today states that Tigray forces have committed widespread economic, social and cultural rights violations in the two regions, as well as severe attacks on children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The report concludes by calling for an unconditional ceasefire, an impartial and credible criminal investigation, and a special focus on rehabilitating victims and affected areas and institutions.

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