NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday, March 31, 1999

ERITREA ABDUCTS 4,000 ETHIOPIANS

The Eritrean Government has abducted over 4,000 Ethiopians and has taken them away to an unknown place, according to Ethiopians who have been expelled from Eritrea through Humera recently.

The Ethiopians, who were deported through Humera after a harrowing journey without the knowledge of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or any other body, said the 4,000 Ethiopians were separated from their groups and taken away.

One of the deportees, an 80 year-old lady, said that the first group which included children, old people and pregnant women were sent by foot because the Eritrean authorities claimed that there was a problem with transportation. The remaining Ethiopians were transported elsewhere.

Another deportee said she was expelled by the Eritreans along with her one and a half-year old child whilst her husband and two of his friends were abducted by Eritrean soldiers. She added that her father had also been abducted by Eritrean soldiers and that she had failed to trace him, even with the help of the mass media. The Eritrean soldiers robbed her of all her money and confiscated her shop.

The deportees reported that out of the 2,815 Ethiopians deported by Eritrea without the knowledge of the ICRC 1,835 are elderly, religious leaders, children and pregnant women.

The Eritrean government dumped 2,500 Ethiopians on the border last week without first notifying the ICRC in violation of international law.