Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released the findings of an internal review into the brutal killing of three of its staff members—María Hernández Matas, Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, and Yohannes Halefom Reda—who were murdered on June 24, 2021, while working in central Tigray, Ethiopia.
The review, published four years after the incident, concludes unequivocally that the three aid workers were intentionally and deliberately targeted, not killed by crossfire or accident. At the time of their murder, all three were clearly identified as humanitarian workers—wearing white vests with visible MSF logos and traveling in a fully marked MSF vehicle.
A Mission of Care, Met with Violence
On the day of the attack, María, Tedros, and Yohannes were on a mission to refer wounded patients near Abi Adi, a conflict-affected town in Tigray. Their vehicle was intercepted on the road, and all three were taken out and shot at close range. Their bodies were found between 100 and 400 meters from their burned vehicle, which was also riddled with bullets.
MSF’s internal investigation revealed that a convoy of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) was present on the same stretch of road at the time. According to civilian witnesses, including some reportedly traveling with the ENDF, one officer gave a chilling command via radio to “shoot” and “remove them”—a reference believed to be directed at the approaching MSF vehicle.
“This was not the result of crossfire, nor was it a tragic mistake". "Our colleagues were deliberately targeted while performing life-saving work. Their murder cannot be ignored or buried.”
Paula Gil, President of MSF Spain.
Global Implications for Humanitarian Safety
MSF emphasized that releasing the review is not only a moral obligation to its staff and the victims' families but also a broader call to action. The organization warns that the rising trend of attacks on humanitarian personnel worldwide, coupled with the lack of accountability, poses a serious threat to the safety of aid workers globally.
“This case is emblematic" . “If such a brazen, documented attack is ignored, it sets a dangerous precedent—not just in Ethiopia, but for all conflict zones where humanitarian workers operate.”
Gil
MSF has since scaled back operations in parts of Tigray, citing deteriorating security conditions. The loss of María, Tedros, and Yohannes continues to haunt the organization.
“They died helping others,” concluded. “We think of them every day. Their murder must not be forgotten—or met with silence.”
Gil