Click here for the PDF version of the letter
TO :
Embassy of Ethiopia Embassy of Ethiopia
Rue de Vermont 9 Birger Jarlsgatan 39
1202 Geneva 11 45 Stockholm
Switzerland Sweden
CC :
UNHCR International Committee of the Red Cross
Rue de Montbrillant 94 Avenue de la paix 19
1201 Genève 1202 Geneva
Switzerland Switzerland
Geneva, November 28, 2020
On Saturday, November 28, 2020, Ethiopian federal forces announced the end of the conflict in the Tigray region.
This conflict, which began in early November 2020, has caused the displacement of several thousand Ethiopian citizens to Sudan.
However, the 100,000 Eritrean refugees live in the four camps are twice more vulnerable, given the precarious nature of their status. In recent weeks, Eritrean families in the diaspora as well as in the country have lost contact with their relatives who visited the region or who live in the camps.
Eritreans were reportedly collateral victims of the military conflict. Some were injured and lives were reportedly lost. There were also reports of enforced disappearances in the camps by Eritrean agents.
The disruption of communications and the lack of independent bodies on site made it difficult to obtain reliable information.
In accordance with Article 3 of the Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949), IFE calls on the Ethiopian authorities to (1) strengthen security and protection around and within the refugee camps, despite the potential end of the military conflict, (2) to deploy all necessary efforts to restore the flow of food and medical care to the camps, and (3) together with independent bodies, to conduct impartial investigations into allegations of enforced disappearances of Eritreans on Ethiopian territory.
Mussie Calmerfalk Ephrem Veronica Almedom
President Co-director
