NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – New satellite images of a refugee camp in the Tigray region of Ethiopia show that more than 400 structures have been badly damaged, according to a research group the latest ‘intentional attack’ by fighters.
The report by the non-profit organization DX Open Network in the UK, shared with The Associated Press, states: ‘It is likely that the January 16 fire event is another episode in a series of military raids on the camp. as reported by (United Nations refugee agency). ”
The Shimelba camp is one of four that housed 96,000 refugees from nearby Eritrea when fighting broke out between Ethiopian forces and those of the challenging Tigray region in early November. The fighting swept through the camps and two of them, including Shimelba, remained inaccessible to aid workers. Many refugees fled.
On Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi cited recent satellite images of fires and other destruction at the two inaccessible camps as ‘concrete indications of major violations of international law’.
The UN refugee agency on Sunday urgently demanded that it gain access to the camps.
“By November, 8,700 refugees had been registered in Shimelba. “We have no information on how many refugees were still in the camp last week,” UN refugee agency spokesman Chris Melzer said in an email. ‘We do not yet have access to the two northern camps, Shimelba and Hitsats (25,248 refugees registered in November). We are demanding access because the refugees have been out of stock for two and a half months now and we are very worried. We also saw satellite photos and heard scary reports. But because we do not have access, we can not confirm it. ”
The new report states that the satellite images show ‘smoldering ruins, the weakening of collapsed structures and roofs’. The structures are said to correspond to the profile of mudstone houses built by the refugees themselves. The attackers probably divided into several groups going from door to door to make fires in buildings, ‘in line with previous attacks on the Hitsats camp, which is also inaccessible.
Neither the UN nor the DX Open Network blamed anyone for the attacks, but the presence of troops from Eritrea, a bitter enemy of the Tigray region’s leaders who are now fleeing, has sounded the alarm. Grandi notes “very reliable reports and first-hand reports” of abuse, including the forced return of refugees to Eritrea.
The day after Grandi’s statement, Information Services Minister Yemane Gebremeskel tweeted: “It looks like the UNHCR is once again giving in to another free and irresponsible smear campaign against Eritrea.” He said Eritrea rejected the “forced repatriation of” refugees “.
Eritrea is described by human rights groups as one of the world’s most oppressive countries. Thousands of people have fled the country over the years to avoid a military service system.
Fighting continues in parts of the Tigray region. Thousands of people were killed and more than 2 million displaced.