EHuman Rights Watch has accused the Ethiopian military of indiscriminately shelling urban centers during the conflict in the northern region of Tigray last November.
The US-based group said the attacks violated the “laws of war” and pressed the government to investigate. Eighty-three civilians, including children, were killed and more than 300 others were wounded, Human Rights Watch alleges.
This contradicts Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who had earlier said that no civilian was killed by federal troops during the conflict.
There are growing calls for greater humanitarian access as well as an independent probe into the conflict.
The government has not reacted to the accusations but has previously defended the conduct of its forces.
According to the report, homes, schools, hospitals and marketplaces were not spared when artillery was fired indiscriminately towards Tigray’s towns and cities.
While the government is gradually allowing aid to enter, access remains blocked to international observers.
The conflict began following an attack on an army base by fighters belonging to the region’s former ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Many of the TPLF’s leaders have been killed or captured, but the head of the TPLF group is beyond reach.
