There are reports of abduction of Eritrean refugees from Tigray by Eritrean soldiers who are fighting along the Ethiopian government against the TPLF regional government. We believe that the Eritrean government is capable of doing such action as it has been. The abduction of refugees by the same government accused of “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations … scope and scale seldom witnessed elsewhere" that caused mass migration, will definitely put their lives at high risk for the same experiences caused their migration.

We, Eritrean Global Yakil Mass Movement, on the behalf of Eritreans calling the authorities and Humanitarian organizations to intervene and call the Ethiopian government to continue protecting Eritrean refugees in its jurisdiction and allow UNHCR to carry out it mandate of protection. Ethiopia as a member of UN and AU is signatory to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention (UN 1967 Protocol) and Organization of African Union of the 1969 Refugee Convention. 

Further, the war in the north of Ethiopia has resulted in nearly 100 000 Eritrean refugees being caught in the crossfire and their access to humanitarian aid has been cut-off. We urge also the organizations to facilitate opening of a safe passage where the humanitarian organizations can access for aid.