Today, the UN urged Ethiopia to ensure the protection of civilians, a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave Tigrayans 72 hours to surrender before launching a military attack on Mekele, the provincial capital.
Thousands of people died in the fighting that broke out on November 4 between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayans, forcing more than 30,000 refugees to flee to neighboring Sudan.
Catherine Suzy, the United Nations humanitarian affairs coordinator in Ethiopia, told Reuters that she hopes to ensure the safety and security of aid workers and "protect the more than 525,000 civilians living in Mekele."
Suzy also called for "protecting all civilian infrastructure, such as health facilities, schools, and water networks."
The government's Emergency Committee tweeted that "Our women and men have shown great interest in protecting civilians from any possible harm during their law enforcement operation in Tigray."
On Sunday, Abiy Ahmed gave the Tigrayan forces 72 hours to surrender before the army's attack on Mekele, tweeting that "We call on you to surrender peacefully within 72 hours, you are at the point of no return."
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