Medical Teams International confirms death of staff member in Ethiopia

Medical Teams International, the Tigard-headquartered faith-based nonprofit that provides life-saving medical care for those in crisis, recently confirmed the death of a staff member in Ethiopia.

“This tragedy occurred in the insecure Amhara region of Ethiopia where our convoy team was traveling and was fired upon by armed men on May 24, 2024. We are closely reviewing and addressing the circumstances surrounding this tragic loss and determining next steps as an organization,” according to a Medical Teams International website post, first reported by the Associated Press.

Medical Teams International said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss as well as injuries suffered by other staff members and was “determining next steps as an organization.” AP reported that Mustefa Alkisim was a Medical Teams International driver traveling in the insecure Amhara region of Ethiopia when he was killed.

A Medical Teams International news release added: “At this time, we do not believe this was an intentional, targeted attack on our staff or on the organization. Medical Teams strongly adheres to the humanitarian principle of neutrality, never taking side of any political, religions, racial, or other type of conflicts or controversies, in Ethiopia and in each of the countries where we serve.”

The humanitarian group noted that armed groups have increasingly failed to adhere to international humanitarian law as found in the Geneva Conventions, pointing out that in 2023, 260 aid workers were killed worldwide. That’s a 120% increase over the previous year, they said.

“This disturbing trend has continued into 2024,” the post said.

Medical Teams began life-saving medical services in Ethiopia in April 2021, “and is currently serving refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected communities in five regions of Ethiopia (Amhara, Tigray, Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Somali regions).”

Founded in 1979 under the name of Northwest Medical Teams, Medical Teams International has aided those in Ukraine , Haiti and numerous other regions of the world suffering from war or natural disasters.

It was founded by Ron Post who was moved to start the organization after seeing news coverage of the atrocities committed in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge.