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Togoga airstrike

Coordinates: 13°33′46″N 39°17′42″E / 13.5627°N 39.2949°E / 13.5627; 39.2949
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Togoga airstrike
ተጎጓ ደብድብ ኣየር
Part of Tigray War
A victim of the airstrike[1]
Togoga is located in Tigray Region
Togoga
Togoga
Togoga is located in Ethiopia
Togoga
Togoga
Location of Togoga in Tigray (Ethiopia)
LocationTogoga or Togogwa (Tigrinya: ቶጎጓ), Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Date22 June 2021
Attack type
Deaths64+
Injured184
PerpetratorsEthiopia Ethiopian Air Force[2]

The Togoga airstrike was an airstrike by the Ethiopian Air Force on the town of Togoga in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, on a market day, during the Tigray War, on 22 June 2021.[3] 64 people were killed and 180 others were injured.[4][5]

Attack

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At 1 PM on 22 June 2021, the marketplace of Togoga, a village in northern Ethiopia's Tigray Region, was hit by an airstrike killing 64, wounding 184.[2][5][6]

Tuesday is market day in Togogwa. There were many people in the market, between 3000-5000 people from the wider surroundings (up to 15-20 km away, all people are on foot); the market is a weekly market, but in June there are always many people in the market because it is sowing time, and people come to exchange or buy seed.[7][verification needed]

Ambulances attempting to reach Togoga were blocked by soldiers near Tukhul, but another convoy of ambulances managed to reach via a different route. One convoy of ambulances were even shot at by Ethiopian troops two separate times. Ambulances managed to bring 25 of the wounded (including toddlers) to Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekelle a day later.[4][1]

The Ethiopian Government says they targeted the market because a group of TDF fighters were wearing civilian clothes commemorating the 33 anniversary Hawzen massacre locally known as Martyrs’ Day.[8][9]

Victims

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Most victims were not from Togogwa itself, they were visitors of the market. After the attack, relatives and friends collected the dead bodies, prepared makeshift stretchers, and carried them to their home village. This creates delays for the elaboration of the list of victims. According to local witnesses 33 victims have been identified.[citation needed]

Reactions

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  • Hailu Kebede, foreign affairs head for the Salsay Woyane Tigray opposition party originates from Togogwa and was interviewed by the Associated Press.[4]
  • The UN stated that they are "deeply disturbed" about reported of aid being blocked to the bomb site. Ramesh Rajasingham the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator stated "attacks directed against civilians and indiscriminate attacks are prohibited."[10]
  • The EU stated that "if confirmed, the blocking of ambulances could amount to a violation of international law.". The EU also stated that (this bombing) "adds to the appalling series of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights" and that they “strongly condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians”.[4]
  • The U.S. State Department stated it is "concerned by reports of civilian deaths in the market attack and urged Ethiopian authorities to ensure full medical access for all the victims." and that "We also call for an urgent and independent investigation, as well as remedial action, to hold those responsible for this attack accountable".[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b Voice of America – Tigrinya, 24 June 2021: ኣብ ቶጎጋ ትግራይ ብዝተፈጸመ መጥቓዕቲ ዝቆሰሉ ናብ ዓይደር ሆስፒታል ምእታው ምጅማሮም ተገሊጹ
  2. ^ a b "Ethiopia says it targeted rebels, not civilians in Tigray attack". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Ethiopia: Dozens reportedly killed and injured after airstrike on Tigray village". Sky News.
  4. ^ a b c d "Witnesses: Airstrike in Ethiopia's Tigray kills more than 50". AP NEWS. 23 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Scores killed in Ethiopian airstrike on Tigray market". TheGuardian.com. 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Who are the Tigray fighters, and why is Ethiopia at war with them?". DW. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  7. ^ Mediapart, 24 June 2021: Éthiopie : le double jeu de la France
  8. ^ "EPO WEEKLY: 19-25 JUNE 2021". Ethiopian peace Observatory. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Ethiopian Airstrike Hits Market, Killing 64 People". The Organization for world peace. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Calls for inquiry as dozens killed, injured, in Ethiopia market airstrike". France 24. 23 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Medical official: air strike kills at least 43 in Ethiopia's Tigray". Reuters. 23 June 2021.
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13°33′46″N 39°17′42″E / 13.5627°N 39.2949°E / 13.5627; 39.2949