Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has unveiled troubling findings regarding the "execution" of three aid workers during a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, indicating that the national army may have been responsible. The incident, which occurred four years ago, involved the deaths of a Spanish national and two Ethiopian workers, who were explicitly identifiable as aid workers due to their uniforms and marked vehicle.
The organization claims that on June 24, 2021, their team, which included 35-year-old María Hernández Matas, was ambushed by Ethiopian soldiers. As MSF Spain’s General Director stated, “They were executed,” underscoring the close-range shooting. Despite numerous attempts to engage the Ethiopian government about the incident, MSF reports that an adequate response has not been received.
Hernández Matas was notably dedicated to her role, having served in Tigray before the outbreak of war. Her tragic loss has deeply affected her family, particularly her mother, as she was an only child. The report also highlighted that one of the Ethiopian workers, Tedros Gebremariam, was killed shortly after the birth of his daughter, who was named Maria in memory of Hernández Matas.
This finding sheds light on the dangerous conditions faced by aid workers amid the ongoing conflict, which has seen around 600,000 fatalities since its inception in 2020 due to warfare, starvation, and lack of medical services. With the Tigray conflict resulting in increased hostility towards aid personnel, the report raises critical questions about the protection of humanitarian workers in volatile regions.
