from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is outraged by the recent airstrikes on camps for internally displaced people and refugees in northern Ethiopia.
An unspecified number of children are among those killed during the onslaught in Tigray on January 5 and 7.
Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, said refugee camps and settlements, including schools hosting displaced children and families are the essential facilities that provide them with humanitarian services, were civilian objects.
“Failing to respect and protect them from attacks may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law,” she said.
The envoy noted more than a year since the conflict in Tigray broke out, brutal acts of violence, including grave violations against children, continue to be perpetrated across northern Ethiopia by all parties to the conflict.
The region plunged into crisis in October 2020 after a fallout between the federal government and regional administration.
UNICEF has renewed its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
“We urge all parties to the conflict to build on the initial signs of progress of the past several weeks, to adhere to international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, to facilitate humanitarian access and to protect children from harm,” Fore said.
– CAJ News