All sides in the deepening conflict in Ethiopia’s northern region are committing “severe human rights violations”, the United Nations said on Friday, calling for them to pull back from war.

An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people are detained, including 9 UN staff, under the state of emergency and its “excessively broad provision”, declared by the government last month, said Nada al-Nashif, U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“I also deplore increasing hate speech and incitement to violence by federal and regional authorities, as well as other public figures, particularly targeted against Tigrayans and members of the Oromo community,” she told a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Source: National News Agency