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Ethiopia: Still no responsibility for murder of three Doctors Without Borders staff

Six months after the murder of three members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the full circumstances of, and responsibility for, their killing remains unclear, reports the agency in a statement.

On 24 June 2021, 35-year-old emergency coordinator María Hernandez; 32-year-old Yohannes Halefom Reda, assistant coordinator; and driver Tedros Gebremariam (31), were travelling in the Tigray region of Ethiopia when all contact with them was lost. On 25 June, their bodies and their vehicle was recovered.

Paula Gil, president for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Spain, explains what is known so far about the circumstances of their killings and what MSF has done to gain a better understanding of events.

“Over the past six months, we have made every possible effort to understand the circumstances of their deaths by continuously engaging with the parties to the conflict. We have met multiple times with various ministries of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) to ensure that the killings are investigated and the findings shared with us. We have made the same requests to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

“Also, as part of our internal standard practice after critical security incidents, we have gathered and analysed information that has enabled us to reconstruct a detailed picture of the route taken by the MSF vehicle, as well as the location and time of the incident and some of the material circumstances of the killing.

“What we know so far based on the preliminary results of this internal review is that on 24 June, María, Tedros and Yohannes were heading south of Abi Adi to search for and collect people injured in areas affected by intense fighting between the FDRE, its allies, and the TPLF. The MSF team based in Abi Adi had received information that there was a large number of wounded people in Shoate Egum, a village near where the incident took place.

“Just over an hour into the journey their car stopped. Their bodies were later found 100m-400m away from the car: each had multiple close-range gunshot wounds.

"This information confirms that the attack was not consistent with crossfire injuries, but instead was an intentional killing of three humanitarian aid workers, as each was clearly recogniseable as civilians and humanitarians at the time of the incident. The car, also well identified with the MSF logo and two flags, was shot multiple times and extensively burnt.

“Our discussions are still ongoing but based on our meetings in August, November and December 2021, the representatives of the FDRE have confirmed that an investigation into the attack is ongoing. MSF has also asked TPLF to carry out an investigation and to share the findings. No final outcomes of these investigations have yet been received.

“The preliminary results of our internal review were also shared at ministerial levels with the FDRE. In return, we asked for clarifications about the presence and engagement of their armed forces at the time and in the precise location of the incident. These clarifications are part of our duty towards the families of those who were killed and to our staff, to provide them with answers about what happened to their loved ones. We have made the same request to the TPLF.

“We requested a direct communication channel between MSF and the Ethiopian armed forces and their allies on both federal and regional levels. This would allow us to share details of medical-humanitarian facilities and movements and to ensure that the lifesaving activities carried out by MSF teams are understood and respected by the armed forces.

“And while we appreciate the constructive dialogue we have had to date with the FDRE, we also relayed our concerns about public statements made against humanitarian organisations that have had a direct impact on their safety and security.

“In Ethiopia, our teams have been regularly subjected to harassment, serious threats and detentions. To meet the significant medical needs faced by the Ethiopian people across the country, we reiterated our call for the FDRE to publicly support the work of humanitarian organisations as a crucial step to building community acceptance and to allow us to continue providing lifesaving medical work throughout the country.”

What is the current status of MSF’s activities in Ethiopia?

After the murders in June 2021, MSF had to take the painful decision to suspend some activities in the Tigray region, in the towns of Abi Adi, Adigrat and Axum. In July, the government of Ethiopia suspended MSF’s activities in Amhara, Gambella, Northwest Tigray (Shire and Sheraro) and in the Somali region for three months. This suspension was lifted in October, though it has not been possible for MSF to restart those medical programmes, mainly due to the security situation and administrative obstacles.

“In November, with a state of emergency declared in Ethiopia, MSF had to suspend further medical activities in other parts of the country where we believe it is no longer possible to work safely and securely.

“At present, MSF continues to provide medical care to patients in Afar and in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and is providing ad-hoc donations of medical supplies in Amhara, Gambella and Somali regions.

"Today, despite the significant extent of humanitarian needs faced by the people in many regions of the country, MSF is not yet able to re-start and expand its response to address those needs. And therefore, we remain committed to engaging with the FDRE and all other parties to the conflict, awaiting the outcomes of our discussions with them so as to reach a common and agreed basis for safely delivering much-needed impartial medical assistance to Ethiopian people affected by conflict or other crises countrywide.”

Issued by Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

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