OHCHR / ETHIOPIA TIGRAY

STORY: OHCHR / ETHIOPIA TIGRAY
TRT: 1:30
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 18 OCTOBER 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The UN High Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has warned of the devastating impact of continued hostilities on civilians in Ethiopia. “
4. Med shot, camera operator, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The latest alarming airstrikes on the Tigray region risk seriously exacerbating the already devastating impact of hostilities on civilians.”
6. Med shot, journalists, panelists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Since 31 August, we have received numerous reports of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian objects due to airstrikes and artillery strikes in Tigray – disruptions to communication make it particularly difficult to verify reports, but it is clear that the toll on civilians is utterly staggering.”
8. Close up, camera
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“In the midst of a grim humanitarian situation, this is completely unacceptable.”
10. Med shot, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The High Commissioner is also deeply troubled by the significant risk of escalation in light of continued mass mobilization of soldiers and fighters by various parties to the conflict.”
12. Close up, camera
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Under international law, indiscriminate attacks or attacks deliberately targeting civilians or civilian objects amount to war crimes.”
14. Wide shot, press conference

STORYLINE:
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned today (18 Oct) that the latest alarming airstrikes on the Tigray region risk seriously exacerbating the already devastating impact of hostilities on civilians.

At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following statement on Tigray.

“Since 31 August, we have received numerous reports of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian objects due to airstrikes and artillery strikes in Tigray – disruptions to communication make it particularly difficult to verify reports, but it is clear that the toll on civilians is utterly staggering,” Shamdasani said.

Among those killed in recent incidents was a staff member of the NGO International Rescue Committee, who was part of a team delivering humanitarian assistance to women and children.

“In the midst of a grim humanitarian situation, this is completely unacceptable,” she said.

She added that the High Commissioner is also deeply troubled by the significant risk of escalation in light of the continued mass mobilization of soldiers and fighters by various parties to the conflict.

The High Commissioner appealed to all parties to the conflict to immediately cease all hostilities and work towards a peaceful and lasting solution.

Parties to the conflict must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law by, among other actions, taking all feasible measures to protect civilians and civilian objects and allowing humanitarian assistance to reach all those in need.

“Under international law, indiscriminate attacks or attacks deliberately targeting civilians or civilian objects amount to war crimes,” Shamdasani added.

The High Commissioner stressed the need to support all efforts towards ensuring accountability for gross violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed during the conflict.