Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict: New Report Exposes Execution of Aid Workers

Tue Oct 14 2025 19:56:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

**Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict: New Report Exposes Execution of Aid Workers**

A recent investigation by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reveals that the Ethiopian army was responsible for the execution of three humanitarian workers during the Tigray war, despite the government's refusal to provide a credible account.

An in-depth report from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has unearthed startling evidence implicating the Ethiopian army in the "execution" of three aid workers during a humanitarian mission in the Tigray region during the turbulent period of conflict. The investigation, made public after four years of attempts to seek accountability from the Ethiopian government, alleges that the workers—one Spanish national and two Ethiopian nationals—were targeted on June 24, 2021 while assessing medical needs in the area. MSF's general director in Spain, Raquel Ayora, confirmed the shocking nature of their deaths, stating they were executed at close range, with the intent clearly aimed at killing humanitarian personnel.

The victims, identified as 35-year-old María Hernández Matas, 32-year-old Yohannes Halefom Reda, and 31-year-old Tedros Gebremariam, were attacked while traveling in a vehicle clearly marked with MSF identification. Eyewitness accounts also suggest that Ethiopian soldiers were involved in the incident. As the humanitarian crisis was escalating, the atmosphere surrounding aid workers turned increasingly perilous. The report indicates that both civilian and military witnesses have come forth, including claims of a commander ordering the attack on the vehicle.

The Tigray conflict, sparked by a rift between the regional and federal governments in 2020, has been one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in Africa. With an estimated death toll of 600,000 due to violence, famine, and lack of medical care, these recent revelations shed light on the dangers facing aid workers in conflict zones, where they become targets despite their efforts to provide essential support.