News Highlights: Offensive against Tigray forces starts, Shooting in Libyan detention centre kills 6, Increasing harassment of refugees in EU

In this week news highlights: Ethiopian government launches offensive against Tigray forces; US ponders sanctions; UN recalls two officials over audio recordings; High ministerial meeting on Ethiopia; Tigray interim government member seeks asylum; Sudan Tribune reports unconfirmed news that Salva Kiir would mediate in Tigray conflict; Eritrea re-elected to UN Human Rights Council – critics cry foul; 6 migrants shot and killed by Libyan detention centre guards following crackdown; 15 migrants bodies found off to shore of Libya; 1,100 migrants and refugees crossed the English Channel during the weekend; Migrants and refugees facing harassment in Northern France; NGO unable to operate in militarized Greece-Turkey border area; Greece and Croatia suspected of illegal pushbacks at the borders using EU funds; UNHCR urges greater access to mental health for refugees.

News Highlights: Mass arrests of refugees in Libya, Ethiopian Airlines smuggled weapons into Eritrea, Warnings of new offensive in Tigray

In this week news highlights: Ethiopian Airlines smuggled weapons to Eritrea – CNN report; CNN report could lead to further US sanctions; New offensive in Tigray imminent as Abiy starts new term; European Parliament warns of sanctions in resolution; Further warnings of famine in Tigray; Whistleblower says Facebook fans the flames of ethnic violence in Ethiopia; Thousands of migrants and refugees arrested and imprisoned by Libyan authorities; Thousands intercepted and returned by Libyan coast guards; EU member state pushbacks under EU funded projects; 57 migrants and refugees drowned crossing the Canarian route; One death in fire in Italian migrant camp; Swiss parliament approved possibility to search asylum seekers’ personal devices ; 140 alleged smugglers arrested by Frontex; 18 people smugglers arrested in Romania; IOM report on missing migrants calls for governments’ support.

News Highlights: Aid in Tigray critically low, Deaths of more aid workers discovered, EU to further outsource refugee hosting

In this week’s highlights: No humanitarian aid entered Tigray since 20 August; Deaths of 11 more aid workers discovered in Tigray; United Nations Security Council closed session on situation in Tigray; Joint UN/EHRC investigation has finalised, report to be published soon; USAID accuses TPLF and all warring parties of looting aid warehouses; Economic sanctions not enough to stop human rights abuses, says WP; Oromo Liberation Army accused by EHRC of killing 150 people; Over 380,000 people displaced in South Sudan due to heavy flooding; Sudan government launches plan to stop human trafficking; EU relying on third parties to host Afghan refugees; Poland in state of emergency due to refugee crossings; Survivors in boat rescue from Libya appear to have been tortured; Refugee assaults continue in Germany; Teen refugee electrocuted near Italy/France border; IOM develops tools for child returnees.