Refugees from Eritrea need protection

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) demands effective protection for the approximately 100,000 Eritrean refugees who are currently living in Ethiopia. Thus, the human rights organization called for investigations into the systematic destruction of two camps with 26,000 refugees in the north of the state of Tigray. Also, the camps should be rebuilt. "Refugees from Eritrea must not get caught in the middle of the war in Tigray. They fled from crimes against humanity in Eritrea and need protection," stated Ulrich Delius, the STP's Director, in Göttingen on Thursday. If the camps were deliberately destroyed, as satellite images suggest, this would be a violation of international law – and those who are responsible must be held accountable.

Analysts of the British research team DX Open Network had evaluated satellite images of both camps, taken between the end of November 2020 and the end of January 2021. According to them, the photos suggest a systematic destruction of both camps by fire and shelling. For example, fires broke out simultaneously at different locations in Shimelba camp, destroying 721 buildings or other dwellings. Facilities belonging to aid organizations such as the United Nations World Food Program and a hospital had been burned down as well.   

The analysts recorded 531 destroyed buildings in Hitsats camp, including those of the aid organizations, and they identified craters from artillery fire as well as military vehicles. "It is still unclear who committed these alleged war crimes," Delius said. Ethiopian or allied Eritrean soldiers as well as militias could be responsible. The fate of the 26,000 people who used to live in the camps is also unclear. After a visit to Ethiopia last week, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed deep concern about their fate as well. Grandi was not allowed to inspect the remains of either camp, but could only visit two other camps in southern Tigray.