<p>The UN human rights office is citing reports that authorities in Ethiopia have detained at least 1,000 people, most of them of Tigrayan origin, under a state of emergency the government declared earlier this month after a brutal year-long war with rival Tigray forces.</p>.<p>The arrests occurred in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, the northern cities of Gondar and Bahir Dar, and other places, according to Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.</p>.<p>She told reporters Tuesday that Ethiopian authorities have often detained people on suspicion of “being affiliated to or supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front."</p>.<p>Ethiopia's war has killed thousands of people and created one of the world's worst crises.</p>.<p>Hundreds of thousands face famine conditions in the Tigray region under what the United Nations has called a “de facto humanitarian blockade.”</p>.<p>“The state of emergency in force in Ethiopia risks compounding already very serious human rights and humanitarian situation in the country,” Throssell said, referring to the Nov. 2 government decree.</p>.<p>“Its provisions are extremely broad, with vague prohibitions going as far as encompassing 'indirect moral' support for what the government has labelled terrorist groups.'”</p>.<p>Ten local UN staff members and some 34 drivers working under UN contracts remain in custody in Ethiopia, Throssell said.</p>.<p>She expressed concerns about detention conditions, including in overcrowded police stations, and said detainees are entitled to know any charges against them and have a right to a fair trial.</p>.<p>Months of political tensions in northern Ethiopia between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and the Tigray leaders who once dominated Ethiopia's government exploded into a war in November 2020.</p>.<p>Following some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict, Ethiopian soldiers fled the Tigray capital, Mekele, in June.</p>.<p>Tigray forces launched a recent offensive and are approaching the capital Addis Ababa to press Abiy to step aside and lift a deadly months-long blockade that has cut off food, medicine and other aid from the region of around 6 million people.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>The UN human rights office is citing reports that authorities in Ethiopia have detained at least 1,000 people, most of them of Tigrayan origin, under a state of emergency the government declared earlier this month after a brutal year-long war with rival Tigray forces.</p>.<p>The arrests occurred in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, the northern cities of Gondar and Bahir Dar, and other places, according to Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.</p>.<p>She told reporters Tuesday that Ethiopian authorities have often detained people on suspicion of “being affiliated to or supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front."</p>.<p>Ethiopia's war has killed thousands of people and created one of the world's worst crises.</p>.<p>Hundreds of thousands face famine conditions in the Tigray region under what the United Nations has called a “de facto humanitarian blockade.”</p>.<p>“The state of emergency in force in Ethiopia risks compounding already very serious human rights and humanitarian situation in the country,” Throssell said, referring to the Nov. 2 government decree.</p>.<p>“Its provisions are extremely broad, with vague prohibitions going as far as encompassing 'indirect moral' support for what the government has labelled terrorist groups.'”</p>.<p>Ten local UN staff members and some 34 drivers working under UN contracts remain in custody in Ethiopia, Throssell said.</p>.<p>She expressed concerns about detention conditions, including in overcrowded police stations, and said detainees are entitled to know any charges against them and have a right to a fair trial.</p>.<p>Months of political tensions in northern Ethiopia between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and the Tigray leaders who once dominated Ethiopia's government exploded into a war in November 2020.</p>.<p>Following some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict, Ethiopian soldiers fled the Tigray capital, Mekele, in June.</p>.<p>Tigray forces launched a recent offensive and are approaching the capital Addis Ababa to press Abiy to step aside and lift a deadly months-long blockade that has cut off food, medicine and other aid from the region of around 6 million people.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>