News Highlights: Famine and sexual violence “weapons of war” in Tigray, Tigray hospital raided in retribution, EU criticised over ‘chain pushbacks’

In this week’s news highlights: Alex de Waal says Tigray famine is systematic and used as weapon of war by Eritrean and Ethiopian troops; Famine in Tigray surges to highest emergency levels; Ethiopian soldiers stormed Aksum hospital in retaliation to CNN report; Rape used as an act of genocide in Tigray – Webinar; People in Tigray rural areas still cut off from essentials, says MSF; A religious humanitarian worker confirms atrocities in Tigray; NYT reporter expelled from Ethiopia; Eritrea diasporic communities have complex interaction with Eritrean politics – journal; Refugees die off Tunisian coast; Report heavily condemns “inhumane” prosed EU migration pact; Thousands illegally pushed back by EU states, including chain pushbacks, says DRC; Thousands of migrants and refugees enter in Spanish enclave of Ceuta; EU seeks a migration deal with Tunisia and Libya; New EU migration pact “inhumane” and Italian former Interior Minister will not stand to trial in Gregoretti inquiry; UNHCR warns against “externalisation” of refugees; The UNHCR High Commissioner asks not to abandon LGBTIQ+ refugees.

News Highlights: International response to Tigray “woefully insufficient”, Eritrea documentary, 2,000 refugees died due to illegal EU pushbacks

In this week’s news highlights: Amnesty International says international community response to human rights violation in Tigray “has been woefully insufficient”; Report by International Rescue Committee shows gender based violence increasing in Tigray refugee and IDP camps; At least 5,000 children separated from parents by Tigray conflict are in danger, says Save the Children; Documentary film on Eritrea’s regime shows footage smuggled from inside; IOM warns of lack of medical assistance for South Sudan IDPs; UNHCR and Kenya will implement roadmap to close two refugee camps; IOM needs funds for health assistance in East and Horn of Africa; Migrants and refugees beaten by Libyan Coast Guard, video by Sea Watch 4; The Guardian says at least 2,000 refugee deaths have been caused due to illegal pushbacks supported by EU; 450 migrants disembarked in Sicily, at least 11 die off Libya coasts; People feel unsafe as Greece shut down refugee camp; New British refugee policy heavily criticised as a “sham” by over 200 organisations; “Serious and systematic violations of the rights of unaccompanied minors” denounced by French NGOs; IOM World Migration Report now available online.

News Highlights: “No proof of Eritrean withdrawal,” states UN, Alleged trafficker Bija freed, Italian prosecutors wiretapped journalists

In this week’s news highlights: UN states there is “no proof of Eritrean withdrawal” from Tigray in UNSC meeting; Doctors report rapes of women in Tigray committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean armies; Reporters Without Borders seeks higher review in case of Dawit Isaak; Alex de Waal argues that the World Bank should stop funding Ethiopia; World Food Program halves South Sudan refugee food rations due to funding issues; Kenya’s High Court temporarily suspends the shutting down of refugee camps; Rising violence in Sudan leaves thousands of refugees displaced; Over 40 refugees drowned near Djibouti; Libya releases alleged human trafficker from prison; One dead and two injured in Libyan migrant facility centre shooting; CEAR warns of new ‘containment policy for migrants’ in Canary Islands; Four deaths recorded off Canary Islands; Italian prosecutors wiretapped journalists and human rights organisations in migration-related investigation; Spanish rights activist accuses Spain and Morocco of harassment; International Organization for Migration calls for international support for the families of missing migrants.