Ethiopia: Allegations of deliberate destruction and looting of hospitals in Tigray

Health infrastructure in Tigray County has been “systematically and universally destroyed” and some have been taken over by soldiers, MSF said today.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abi Ahmed, who was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, launched a military operation in the region in early November to overthrow the ruling local party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). that he attacked bases of the federal army.

“The health infrastructure in the province of Tigray Ethiopia they were looted, vandalized and destroyed deliberately and in a general way, according to the MSF teams in the area “, the NGO complained in a statement.

He clarified that he visited 106 health centers “from mid-December to early March”, of which 70% “had been looted”. Only 13% “operated normally”.

“A health center in five of the MSF teams visited was occupied by soldiers. “In some cases the occupation was temporary, but in others it continued at the time of the visit,” the statement said.

In Abi Adi, the hospital was occupied by the Ethiopian army until the beginning of March in order to treat soldiers there, according to MSF, but in Mugulat “Eritrean soldiers” are the ones “using” the local health center.

The presence of Eritrean soldiers in Tigray, which is reported by many in the field, is refuted by both Addis Ababa and Asmara.

“The looting is continuing,” the MSF said.

According to the NGO, the situation affects the local population, which is affected by insecurity and the lack of medical staff and is forced to go to poorly equipped centers, often on foot, due to the confiscation of ambulances by the army.

“The health infrastructure needs to be restored, more equipment and ambulances need to be provided and staff need to be paid and given the opportunity to work in a safe environment,” said MSF Director-General Olivier Ben, calling for the protection of healthcare. staff.