Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) has condemned the brutal murder of its colleague, Honelign Fantahun, who was performing humanitarian duties in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara region.
In a statement released yesterday, the ERCS announced that Honelign Fantahun was abducted by an unknown group while on a humanitarian mission in the Chenek area, about 15 kilometers from Debark town, on August 14, 2025. He died on August 15, 2025, due to the beating and inhumane treatment he endured.
The ERCS stated it is deeply saddened by this inhumane act and has offered its condolences to his family, colleagues, and the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The society added in its statement that his colleagues, Dr. Tefera Assefa and Adeladelaw Yigzaw, who were with him at the time, survived the tragic incident.
It called on all ‘parties’ to respect international humanitarian laws and the Geneva Conventions so that its staff and volunteers are protected and supported while they are providing humanitarian aid without fear. It said its personnel are risking their lives daily to save the lives of others.
The society has previously reported similar incidents. On January 1, 2025, the ERCS reported the killings of two ambulance drivers following a “horrific” attack in the Sibu Sire district, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, and the Tach Armachiho district, North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region.
On January 12, 2024, the ERCS also condemned the tragic killing of an ambulance driver, Woldu Aregawi, in the Central Zone of Tigray, who was fatally shot while on duty.
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Unqualified wars have turned Oromia, Amhara and Tigray regions into outlaw/bandits territories where senseless and barbaric acts like this are not rare. Workers like this who are on sacred missions including teachers, health workers and innocent civil servants are fair game for thugs. If a health worker is reluctant or refuses to surrender the medical supplies intended to treat needy citizens to the marauding thugs, he is as good as dead. For all we know the last time the Red Cross was targeted in the old country was by Mussolini’s fascist forces in the 1930’s and demonic commies during the famine of 1984-85. Such acts should be universally condemned.