How Ethiopian doctors fled militia attacks
Dr Tewedros Tefera fled the agricultural hub of Humera and later the nearby town of Adebay, telling the BBC it became too dangerous to remain in either place.
A second doctor, who preferred to remain anonymous, gave a similar account, saying he gave first aid to a female patient taken on a dangerous journey by motorbike taxi with severe injuries to her stomach but does not know if she survived. They both report seeing numerous civilian deaths.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a ground and air offensive on 4 November to oust the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), after its troops captured federal military bases.
Mr Abiy said the Ethiopian military did not kill a single civilian as it fought its way to the regional capital, Mekelle, taking control of it on 28 November.
The Eritrean government has also denied getting involved in the conflict to help defeat the TPLF, despite the TPLF firing missiles into its territory.
It has been difficult to get accurate information about the conflict because of a communication blackout in the region.
Humera – which has a population of about 30,000 – was one of the first places to be affected by the conflict, with fighting starting there on 8 November.
