GENEVA (Reuters) – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern on Friday about “multiple and deeply worrying reports” of air attacks against the Tigray region, saying that at least 108 civilians have been killed in these strikes since the beginning of the month.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, an OHCHR spokeswoman cited multiple airstrikes in the northern region of Ethiopia, including against a bus, an airport and a camp for displaced people.
“At least 108 civilians have been killed and 75 others injured since the beginning of the year as a result of airstrikes allegedly carried out by the Ethiopian air force,” said Liz Throssell, calling on the Ethiopian authorities to guarantee the protection of civilians in accordance with international law.
Spokesmen for the Ethiopian military and government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In the past, the government has not targeted civilians in its more than year-long conflict with the Tigr rebels. They would not have sufficient air resources to carry out raids.
(Report Emma Farge, with Dawit Endeshaw, George Obulutsa and Michelle Nichols; French version Jean Terzian)