By Hannatu Sadiq
The European Union and the United States have condemned an airstrike said to have been carried out by the Ethiopian air force leaving dozens of civilian casualties at a village market near Tigray’s capital, Mekelle.
The airstrike in Togoga is reported to have left dozens dead or injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it helped evacuate those wounded.
The EU has called the incident ‘”extremely worrying” and civilians were “deliberately” targeted.
The Ethiopian military denies deliberately targeting civilians but confirmed that their renewed military campaign against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), is aided by airstrikes.
Following the incident, the US has called for an independent investigation and unhindered medical access to the victims.
The conflict in Tigray has been marked by accusations of abuses and atrocities.
There are now concerns that the increase in heavy fighting across different parts of Tigray between the rebels and the Ethiopian army, aided by Eritrean forces, will lead to a further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the region, as aid agencies are now facing new obstacles to reach millions impacted by this war.
Hundreds of thousands of people, according to aid agencies, are exposed to severe food shortages as they remain unreachable due to the ongoing conflict.
