Tigray: Arson

(asked on 1st March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that deliberately set fires destroyed over 500 structures in Gijet, Tigray; whether they have received any reports about the alleged use of white phosphorus in those attacks; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such reports.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 12th March 2021

We are concerned by repeated reports from Tigray of attacks and damage to civilian infrastructure. We are aware of unconfirmed reports of the use of white phosphorus. We continue to urge all parties to allow unfettered humanitarian access, and independent investigations into human rights abuses to ensure that the perpetrators can be held to account. We assess that hundreds of structures near Gujet in Tigray have been destroyed by fire (22 - 23 February) and it looks likely that this was as a result of a deliberate act. An ongoing lack of access means that it remains difficult to confirm the cause.

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