“It was not enough for them to steal all of our clients’ assets, they even destroyed everything they could not transport when they fled from federal forces,” said the company’s deputy general director, Mihireteab Teklu.

Medical supplies, industrial products, different types of machinery and many foods were some of the items stolen from the terminal. Facilities, offices, structures and garages were also ruined, the official added.

The dry port of Kombolcha is an important means of export and import for Ethiopia, a landlocked country, and is also a direct source of employment for thousands of citizens, and these damages were very harmful, Teklu said.

As announced, “an investigation will be carried out to gather complete information on the damage caused by the TPLF during its occupation.”

At least 36 large industries in the regional states of Afar and Amhara were razed by members of the organization, which has been accused of subverting order, violating human rights and other crimes, according to official complaints.

An armed conflict broke out in Tigray between the federal authorities and the Front in November 2020 and later spread to those two regions. The already enormous numbers of deaths, displaced persons and material damages has grown every day ever since.

pgh/llp/msm/raj