By Hannatu Sadiq
Dozens of bodies have been found on a river that marks the border between Ethiopia and Sudan, residents on the Sudanese side reported.
Witnesses reported to news agencies that some of the bodies had gunshot wounds and others had their hands bound.
The Setit River, which in Ethiopia is known as the Tekeze, flows through the conflict-hit northern Tigray region where Ethiopian forces and allied fighters have been battling with Tigray rebels.
A health worker who fled to Sudan to escape the fighting told the Reuters news agency that he had buried 10 bodies over the past week. He said another 28 bodies had been recovered, including seven on Monday.
The AP news agency cited a Sudanese official saying that local authorities in Kassala province had found about 50 bodies who seem to be people fleeing the war.
The Ethiopian government has not officially commented on the story however a government-run Twitter account on Monday said a “propagandist” campaign about a “fake massacre” in Humera – through which the Tekeze runs – “has been revived again using false images and showing graphic images”.
The fighting between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and the federal government which began in November has caused a massive humanitarian crisis with millions forced from their homes and hundreds of thousands facing famine conditions.
