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Ethiopia (MNN) – Ethiopian Army has claimed no civilian deaths since hostilities began in the Tigray region last month. However, Ethiopian doctors say BBC news a different story. Two medics who escaped the war zone report multiple civilian casualties.
Tensions between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) came to a head in early November. Several weeks of armed conflict followed, sending thousands of refugees to neighboring countries. According to the latest UN update, the clashes continue despite the claim of the Ethiopian government in late November.
Officials reestablished some communication services in Tigray earlier this week, blaming a cyber attack because of the blackout. The European Union postponed a $ 109 million aid payment to Ethiopia due to the lack of humanitarian access in the conflict zone.
“One of the challenges right now is understanding what is happening,” Voice of the Martyrs USA says spokesman Todd Nettleton.
“Getting information from that area is very, very difficult, even for my co-workers here at Voice of the Martyrs.”
Eritrea’s participation in the Tigray conflict it raises another problem.
Why is Eritrea problematic?
As described hereFollowing Christ in Eritrea is extremely difficult. In 2002, the government banned all religions except Islam, Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism, and the Lutheran Church. Evangelical churches are heavily persecuted and must meet in secret.
Some Eritrean Christians fled across the border into Ethiopia’s Tigray region. “They came to Ethiopia, where they were welcomed and protected,” says Nettleton.
Now, with “Eritrean soldiers crossing the border and coming directly to the region where these refugee camps are, that presents a great challenge and potentially a great threat to these Eritrean Christians.”
(Photo courtesy of VOM USA)
The future remains uncertain, but we know the God who sustains tomorrow.
“Pray for the Eritrean Christians who are in this region and are at risk as Eritrean soldiers are allowed to cross that border and conduct operations,” Nettleton requests.
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“I think it’s a ‘watch and wait’ situation,” says Nettleton, referring to the Tigray conflict.
“The Ethiopian government said they had won this, it’s over, [but] the people of Tigray say no, it’s not over. “
The header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Gift Habeshaw via Unsplash.
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