'Gross Human Rights Abuses By Both Sides' In Ethiopia Disturb UN Rights Chief

The UN human rights chief said Monday she is disturbed by "gross human rights abuses" against civilians from all sides in Ethiopia's Tigray region conflict.

UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet cited extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and sexual violence against children and adults.

She gave an oral update at the opening of the 47th session of the Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva and online from June 21 to July 13.

Bachelet spoke on the same day Ethiopians were voting in federal and regional elections, but with some polls not taking place in conflict areas.

"In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, I am deeply disturbed by continued reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross human rights violations and abuses against civilians by all parties to the conflict," said Bachelet.

She said the transgressions included "extrajudicial executions; arbitrary arrests and detentions; sexual violence against children as well as adults; and forced displacement."

'Eritrean soldiers operating in Tigray'

The rights chief said her office has credible reports indicating that Eritrean soldiers are still operating in Tigray and continue to perpetrate violations of human rights and humanitarian law.

"The humanitarian situation is dire, with reports of denial of humanitarian access in some localities and looting of aid supplies by soldiers. An estimated 350,000 people are threatened by famine," said Bachelet.

She said her office has been conducting a joint investigation with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in Tigray, with the work expected to finish in August.

"In many other parts of Ethiopia, alarming incidents of deadly ethnic and inter-communal violence and displacement are linked to increasing polarization about longstanding grievances," said Bachelet.

"The ongoing deployment of military forces is not a durable solution, and I encourage comprehensive and multidimensional dialogue throughout the country to address the real grievances held."

Ravena Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN rights office, also spoke of the arrest and detention by Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers of hundreds of internally displaced people in the town of Shire on May 24.

There are also allegations that Eritrean soldiers killed 19 civilians in a village in Eastern Tigray on May 8.

"As of mid-May, more than 1,150 cases of sexual and gender-based violence were reported, said Shamdasani.

"And it is important to recall that cases of sexual violence are usually very much underreported due to fear of stigmatization and retaliation," she said.

The Tigray region came under the international spotlight after Nov. 4, when Ethiopia launched a massive law enforcement operation against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

On Nov. 3, the TPLF forces attacked the northern command of the Ethiopian defense forces stationed in Tigray state, including in the capital Mekele, killing soldiers and looting military hardware.

On Nov. 28, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ended the military operation, but sporadic fighting continued in the state. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced while tens of thousands of others fled the fighting to neighboring Sudan. -