Up to 210 people killed in attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, human rights group says

According to a human rights group, 210 people were killed in attacks in the Ethiopian region of Oromia.

The Ethiopian Commission on Human Rights said it had received reports that around 150 people were killed by suspected members of the Oromo Liberation Army in the East Wollega area of ​​Oromia on August 18.

A day later, another 60 people were killed in retaliatory attacks.

“The attack occurred the day after the security forces were moved to other areas,” the statement said.

Civilians fled to neighboring areas for fear of further attacks.

“The attack was carried out along ethnic lines,” it said.

Local reports and sources said the first attack was aimed at ethnic Amharas, who have often faced similar attacks in the past.

The OLA, classified by the government as a terrorist organization, is believed to be active in the area where the last attack took place.

Odaa Tarbii, spokesman for the rebel group, said in a tweet on Thursday that such reports were “a gross distortion of the facts on the ground”.

He said it was “driving out violent militias” and not the massacre of innocent militias.

I am very concerned about the situation in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian people have suffered too much.

It is time to realize that there is no such thing as a military solution.

It is time to put an end to suffering.

– António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 19, 2021

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council on Thursday that a conflict in Ethiopia had spread beyond the Tigray region and that “a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding before our very eyes”.

“Inflammatory rhetoric and ethnic profiling are tearing up the social fabric of the country,” he told the 15-member council.

“All parties must end the hostilities immediately and unconditionally and take this opportunity to negotiate a permanent ceasefire.”