UN rights chief voices alarm as Tigray conflict 'risks spiraling out of control'

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - The latest airstrikes on Ethiopia's northern Tigray region risk aggravating the devastating impact of hostilities on civilians, the UN human rights chief said on Tuesday.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk issued the warning a day after assuming office, Ravana Shamdasani, a spokesperson for his office, said at a UN press conference.

"Since 31 August, we have received numerous reports of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian objects due to airstrikes and artillery strikes in Tigray -- disruptions to communication make it particularly difficult to verify reports, but it is clear that the toll on civilians is utterly staggering," Turk said.

Among those killed in recent incidents was a staff member of the aid group International Rescue Committee, who was part of a team delivering humanitarian assistance to women and children.

"In the midst of a grim humanitarian situation, this is completely unacceptable," Turk asserted.

Shamdasani said the Human Rights Office had documented at least 31 civilians, including children, killed since Aug. 31, with 73 others wounded in 14 separate airstrikes launched by the Ethiopian Air Force in Tigray.

"But, of course, this is very likely to be extremely underestimated," she added.

In his statement, Turk noted that he was "deeply troubled by the significant risk of escalation in light of continued mass mobilization of soldiers and fighters by various parties to the conflict."

He appealed to all parties in the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and work towards a peaceful and lasting solution.

"Under international law, indiscriminate attacks or attacks deliberately targeting civilians or civilian objects amount to war crimes," Turk underlined.

The high commissioner also stressed the need to support all efforts towards ensuring accountability for gross violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed during the conflict.

The war between the Ethiopian government forces and Tigray rebels erupted in November 2020 after the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front attacked federal army bases stationed across the region, including in the local capital Mekele.