CIVIC decries ‘indiscriminate harm’ to civilians in war-torn Tigray | Tellwell Newspaper
Tellwell Newspaper, Abuja – Nigeria:
As war between Ethiopia and rebel-controlled Tigray region of the east African nation rages, Washington-based
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) has expressed deep concern over indiscriminate harm to civilians, calling for restraint from the warring sides and asking them to avoid targeting civilians and civilians infrastructure.
This was contained in a statement CIVIC issued and obtained by Tellwell Newspapers.
Since November 2020 Ethiopia in alliance with neighbouring Eritrea has been locked in a bloody civil war with
separatist Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) seeking an independent nation.
The conflict has wrought unimaginable destruction and huge humanitarian crisis with reports of widespread abuse of civilians, including deliberate killings, rape and plunder.
The true scale of civilian catastrophe remains grossly underreported as the conflict-wracked region remains largely inaccessible, with limited or lack of contact with the outside world.
“All armed actors must take all feasible precautions to avoid further civilian harm,” Zlatko Gegic, CIVIC’s Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa said.
“While it’s hard to gauge the exact toll on civilians given the difficult access to the region, there is no doubt that too many civilians have already died directly and indirectly from the armed conflict in the Tigray region,” Gegic further said.
As the conflict is about to enter its third year, it has proven particularly destructive and devastating for civilians, said Gegic, reminding all parties to the conflict of their obligation to prevent harm to civilians arising from their operations, including artillery and air strikes.
He called on actors in the conflict to exhibit true leadership and immediately agree to a ceasefire to prevent further harm to civilians, while calling for the immediately restoration of humanitarian access “to ensure the health, lives and livelihoods of civilians are prioritized.”
The war in Tigray has intensified in recent days, after three weeks of renewed fighting ended a fragile truce, despite TPLF’s call for a ceasefire and willingness to join an African Union-led peace process.
On Tuesday Ethiopia announced its forces had taken control of three towns from TPLF in its heightened push to subdue the rebellion.
