Written by Lisa Murimi
Four years after the brutal deaths of three Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff, the humanitarian world is gripped by heartbreak and fury.
Today, MSF revealed chilling findings: Spanish aid worker María Hernández Matas, along with Ethiopian colleagues Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam, were executed by Ethiopian government forces while delivering aid in war-ravaged Tigray.
“They were shot at close range, multiple times,” said Raquel Ayora, MSF Spain’s general director.
“They were facing their attackers.” Their vehicle bore MSF’s unmistakable flag. Their mission was peaceful. Their route had been pre-cleared. Yet, they were hunted down and killed.
María, 35, had worked in Tigray even before war erupted in 2020. Her devotion to the region’s people earned her their love. She was her mother’s only child.
Tedros, 31, had just welcomed a baby girl. His widow named the baby Maria, in memory of his slain colleague. Yohannes, 32, was known for his tireless commitment to healing others amidst chaos.
MSF’s report, grounded in satellite evidence and witness accounts, places Ethiopian troops at the exact site. It quotes an officer allegedly ordering soldiers to “catch them” and “remove them.”
Yet, despite 20 meetings, the Ethiopian government has offered no written explanation. Only silence.
The charred wreckage of the MSF vehicle still marks the road between Abi Adi and Yech’illa — a haunting reminder of a world where even compassion is a target.
“So, they [Ethiopian troops] knew that they were killing humanitarian aid workers,”
As the world grows increasingly hostile toward aid workers, MSF delivers a clear message: impunity must end. The lives of María, Yohannes, and Tedros cry out for justice — and the world cannot turn away.
