Mekelle shelling

The Mekelle shelling was a mass extrajudicial killing that took place in Mekelle (also transliterated as Maqallè; Tigrinya: መቐለ) in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia during the Tigray War, on 28 November 2020.[2] Mekelle is the regional capital of Tigray.

Mekelle before the Tigray War
Mekelle shelling
Part of Tigray War
Mekelle is located in Tigray Region
Mekelle
Mekelle
Mekelle is located in Ethiopia
Mekelle
Mekelle
Location of Mekelle in Tigray (Ethiopia)
LocationMekelle (Tigrinya: መቐለ), Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Date28 November 2020
TargetTigrayans
Attack type
Deaths27[1] or 28 civilians[2]
PerpetratorsEthiopia Ethiopian National Defence Force

Massacre

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) killed dozens of civilians during the assault on Mekelle on 28 November 2020.[2] Tigray regional president Debretsion claimed that they were bombarding the city with artillery.[3] Ambulances rushed through the streets picking up dead and wounded after Ethiopian government artillery strikes.[1] Doctors in Mekelle sent text messages on the condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals from the government by using a rare internet connection in the city. They stated that indiscriminate artillery shelling targeted not only military areas, but also civilian neighborhoods, ended up killing 27 civilians (including a 4 year old child) and wounded around 100. The hospital staff provided pictures of their patients (including infants) having many shrapnel wounds.[1]

Victims

The “Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation” mentions 28 victims,[2] of which one has been formally identified.[4]

Reactions

The Ethiopian government denied bombarding the city with artillery.[3]

The [Joint Investigation Team] found that, following the shelling that was launched in the early hours, continuing into the evening of 28 November 2020, more than 15 civilian facilities, including public institutions located in Mekelle, were struck by artillery shells, resulting in at least 29 civilian deaths, including three (3) children. At least 34 civilians were injured. Witnesses mentioned that the attacks appeared to come from the direction of Mesebo mountains, which they claimed at the time were under the control of the ENDF.
— Report of the EHRC/OHCHR Joint Investigation into Alleged Violations of International Human Rights, Humanitarian and Refugee Law Committed by all Parties to the Conflict in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, EHRC, OHCHR[5]

References
  1. Marks, Simon; Walsh, Declan (2020-12-03). "From Shelled Ethiopian City, Doctors Tally Deaths and Plead for Help". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  2. Annys, S., Vanden Bempt, T., Negash, E., De Sloover, L., Nyssen, J., 2021. Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation
  3. "Ethiopian forces begin offensive on Tigray capital, say a diplomat and Tigrayan forces leader". Daily Sabah. Reuters. 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  4. TGHAT, A compilation of the verified list of civilian victims from different sources
  5. Tibebu, Israel (2021-11-03). "Report of the EHRC/OHCHR Joint Investigation into Alleged Violations of International Human Rights, Humanitarian and Refugee Law Committed by all Parties to the Conflict in the Tigray Region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia" (PDF). EHRC, OHCHR. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2021-11-21.

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