Ethiopian rebels accused of destroying health facilities

The Ethiopian government says rebels have destroyed thousands of health facilities in the northern part of the country.

Over 1.9 million people in Ethiopia’s Amhara and Afar regions have no access to healthcare after rebels loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) reportedly vandalised health facilities.

The rebels have not yet responded to the latest accusations.

Health Minister Lia Tadesse told journalists on Tuesday that the rebels had destroyed 20 hospitals, 277 health centres and 1,162 health posts in Amhara Region.

She added that one hospital, 10 health centres and 38 health posts had been destroyed in Afar Region.

On 30 August, Education Minister Getahun Mekuria said rebels had destroyed over 7,000 schools in northern Ethiopia, including 445 in Afar Region and over 140 in Amhara Region.

Fighting between Tigray rebel forces and Ethiopian federal troops broke out in Tigray region in November 2020, but has since spread to neighbouring Amhara and Afar.

This article originally appeared in BBC News.

Photo: AFP