Blinken: acts of ‘ethnic cleansing’ committed in Western Tigray

Blinken: acts of ‘ethnic cleansing’ committed in Western Tigray

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“The challenge in Ethiopia is very significant. And it is a challenge that we are very, very focused on, particularly the situation in Tigray, where we are seeing very credible reports of ongoing human rights abuses and atrocities,” he said during an interview. Chamber. Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Asked by Democratic MP Karen Bass whether he foresees peacekeeping troops to be sent to the region, Blinken said that the first forces of Eritrea and Amhara should leave and be replaced by “a force that does not abuse the human rights of the people of Tigray nor join.” compromise acts of ethnic cleansing, which we saw in Western Tigray. “

The top US diplomat called for unrestricted humanitarian access to the region and an independent investigation into reported human rights abuses, which a State Department spokesman noted earlier, including reports of “murders, sexual assault, looting, intentional displacement of civilians” and forced return of refugees from Eritrea. “

A CNN report documented a November massacre at a religious festival last November, where a group of Eritrean soldiers opened fire on the Maryam Dengelat church as hundreds of worshipers celebrated Mass, according to eyewitnesses. This report, based on interviews with 12 eyewitnesses, more than 20 relatives of the survivors and photographic evidence, detailed a three-day violence campaign, with soldiers massacring local residents, displaced people and pilgrims.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet also called for an independent investigation into human rights violations that could constitute war crimes in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, days after the CNN report.

On Wednesday, Blinken said that there needs to be “some kind of process, a reconciliation process, so that the country can move forward politically”.

Blinken spoke to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed several times about the crisis. On Wednesday, the top US diplomat told lawmakers that “Abiy was an inspiring leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize. And now he needs to work hard and ensure that his own people in Tigray receive the protections they need and deserve. . “

“I understand very well the concerns, for example, that the prime minister had about the (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) and his actions, but the situation in Tigray today is unacceptable and must change,” he said. “And it means a few things. It means making sure that we are entering the region, humanitarian workers from Tigray and others from humanitarian assistance to ensure that people are cared for, sustained and protected. And it is very important that the government keeps its commitments. assumed. “

The United States Agency for International Development announced in early March that it was deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team “to respond to the growing humanitarian needs stemming from the conflict in the Tigray region, Ethiopia”.

“After almost four months of fighting between armed groups, hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes and more than four million people are in need of food assistance,” said a statement from the agency. “USAID’s DART will lead the United States government’s humanitarian response. The team includes disaster experts who are assessing the situation, identifying priority needs to increase assistance and working with partners to provide urgently needed assistance to communities affected by the conflict. “

The US Embassy in Addis Ababa said Wednesday that the US ambassador to Ethiopia Geeta Pasi and members of the embassy staff would travel to Tigray that day.

“This is his first official trip and underscores America’s partnership with the people of Ethiopia,” the embassy said in a tweet. “The United States is committed to providing life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations in Ethiopia.”

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