The United Nations refugee agency's head Filippo Grandi said on Friday he is "deeply alarmed" by reports of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia's conflict-hit Tigray region being killed, abducted and forcibly repatriated."
"I am deeply alarmed about the safety and well-being of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, who have been caught in the conflict in the Tigray region," Grandi said in a statement.
"Over the last month we have received an overwhelming number of disturbing reports of Eritrean refugees in Tigray being killed, abducted and forcibly returned to Eritrea.
"If confirmed, these actions would constitute a major violation of international law."
UNHCR and humanitarian partners have had no access to the four Eritrean refugee camps inside Tigray for over a month, a situation that is putting the safety and survival of the refugees at "great risk", according to Grandi.
Grandi urged Ethiopia's government to implement an agreement to guarantee humanitarian access to the Tigray region for the UN and its partners.
"Such access is urgently needed so we can provide desperately needed assistance to refugees and other vulnerable populations," the statement underlined.
Ethiopia has a long-standing tradition of welcoming and hosting refugees who were forced to flee, Grandi noted.
"I am strongly urging the government of Ethiopia to continue to uphold their responsibility towards refugees under international law, and to ensure the protection and safety of all refugees in the country," he said.
The United Nations has said there is a "full-scale humanitarian crisis" in Tigray, where 45,000 refugees have crossed into Sudan since the fighting between the Tigray Peoples Liberation Forces and Ethiopia's government began in November.
The UN expects a further 100,000 people to flee the fighting in the next six months.
"It is vital that Eritrean refugees be able to move to safe locations, and receive protection and assistance wherever possible, including outside of Tigray, given the traumatic events they report to have witnessed or survived," said Grandi.
"We remain committed to supporting and working with the Ethiopian government in this regard."
