Okail: Maat calls on the Ethiopian government to take responsibility of the targeting of civilians and aid workers in Tigray

Agwa: “Fighting terrorism” is not a justification for impunity under any circumstances

Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights condemns the blatant airstrike that resulted in the killing of an aid worker and two others in Shire, Tigray.

The aid worker, who worked for IRC’s health and nutrition team, was killed as a result of an uncalculated airstrike that hit the town of Shire on October 15th 2022. The airstrike also killed two civilians and left 4 wounded including another IRC staff member.

In this context, the international human rights expert, Ayman Okail called on the Ethiopian government to take responsibility of this heinous act which violates the laws and principles of International Humanitarian Law and Article 71 of the Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions which prohibits any attack on personnel participating in relief actions. Okail also called on the international human rights mechanisms to condemn this brutal act, and to open urgent investigation to put a stop to the perpetrators and hold them accountable.

Additionally, Farida Agwa, a junior researcher, highlighted the importance of applying the rules of military engagement in accordance with international humanitarian law, including the implementation of maximum caution, by all units to avoid the direct or indirect targeting of aid workers and civilians. The human rights researcher added that “fighting terrorism” is not a justification for impunity under any circumstances.

It is worth noting that Maat made a number of urgent appeals to the special procedures concerned with the ongoing humanitarian crisis, namely; the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism as well as the International Committee of Human Rights Experts in Ethiopia of the Human Rights Council.