Washington, DC - Today, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights, were joined by Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Steve Chabot (D-OH), Ted Deutch (D-FL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Ami Bera (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Dina Titus (D-NV), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Colin Allred (D-TX), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Andy Levin (D-MI), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Greg Steube (R-FL), Susan Wild (D-PA), Darrel Issa (R-CA), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Peter Meijer (R-MI), and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) in issuing the following statement regarding the Government of Ethiopia’s June 22 airstrike against a civilian target in the town of Togoga in Tigray region:
“We are deeply disturbed by reports emerging from Togoga in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) conducted an airstrike that killed more than 60 civilians on June 22. In the strongest terms, we condemn this escalation of violence and the abhorrent military blockade that delayed the evacuation of the wounded. The Government of Ethiopia is responsible for protecting civilians, but these unjustifiable actions only exacerbate the man-made disaster in Tigray that has claimed thousands of lives.
“We again call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and provide unfettered access to humanitarian and medical workers who need to operate throughout Tigray. The Government of Ethiopia must work with international partners to facilitate an independent and thorough investigation into this airstrike. We urge our partners to use their voices and votes through the UN and other international organizations to bring an end to the conflict and suffering in Tigray.”
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