Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has made serious allegations against Ethiopian government forces, claiming they executed three of its aid workers during a humanitarian mission in the war-affected Tigray region four years ago. Raquel Ayora, MSF Spain’s director, revealed these findings in an interview with the BBC, describing the killings as "intentional and targeted." The victims included a Spanish citizen, María Hernández Matas, and two Ethiopian nationals, Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam, who were reportedly shot at close range while identifiable in their charity vests.
MSF's investigation emerged after the Ethiopian government failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the aid workers’ deaths, even after extensive dialogue over the past four years. The three were killed on June 24, 2021, while assessing medical needs in central Tigray. Ayora emphasized that their presence was well known, as their vehicle bore MSF logos and flags, indicating they were on a humanitarian mission.
The Tigray conflict, which began in 2020 due to escalating tensions between regional and federal governments, saw the involvement of Eritrean forces on behalf of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF). A peace deal brokered by the African Union ended the conflict two years later, with reports indicating that as many as 600,000 people may have died as a result of the fighting, starvation, and inadequate healthcare.
The murders occurred amid increasing hostility towards aid workers, as pointed out by MSF in its report. Ayora recounted the impact of these deaths, particularly noting the profound sorrow felt by Matas’ mother, as she was her only child, and the emotional toll on Tedros’ widow after the birth of their daughter just before his death.
Witness accounts and satellite images formed the basis of MSF’s findings, linking Ethiopian troops to the site of the killings. Reports indicate an Ethiopian military officer had ordered the attack on the aid workers after receiving information about the MSF vehicle's movements. Correspondence from Ethiopia's Ministry of Justice hinted at a lack of responsibility from government forces regarding the incidents, complicating the situation for aid organizations operating in conflict zones. MSF continues to seek accountability and an end to the growing number of attacks on humanitarian workers globally.
