News Highlights: Fighting escalates in Ethiopia, Eritreans call for UNSC sanctions, EU asylum roadmap agreed

In this week’s news highlights: Fighting escalates in Ethiopia; US condemns Eritrea’s involvement in conflict in Tigray; Eritreans urgently call for UNSC sanctions on Eritrea; UN warns of famine in Somalia; Sudan orders evacuation of border reception centre due to fighting; Flash floods in Sudan; Clashes in South Sudan cause severe violations of human rights; Video illustrates abuse of refugees and migrants in Libya; EU asylum roadmap signed by European Parliament; Czech Presidency seeks extension of protection of Ukraine refugees; NGOs warn concept of migration ‘instrumentalisation’ could be detrimental to EU law and rights; Report on COVID-19 impact on asylum in EU; Norwegian Eritreans hopeful that Eritrean government influence is reducing; Italian high court rules permanent contract no longer needed for humanitarian stay; Climate summit pledges funds for Africa’s adaptation; Second year of halt to human development, says UN; and Volker Türk new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

News Highlights: Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia call for submissions, Eritrean refugees mistreated, Humanitarians question IOM voluntary return programme

In this week’s News Highlights: UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia call for submissions on human rights violations; New footage of the situation in Tigray; Eritrean refugees mistreated by Ethiopia authorities lose hope in the UNHCR; Several ‘terrorist attacks’ stopped, Ethiopian police forces claim; Al-Shabab attacks at border were reportedly a diversion to enter Ethiopia; Battle of influence between Europe and Russia on Ethiopia; Somalia’s application to EAC gets fast-tracked; No political stability in sight in Libya; Over 1,100 people saved at sea off Libya; Aid workers question IOM-assisted voluntary return programme; Two reports firmly criticise the UK Home Office migration policy; Scholars warn about “resource-constrained immobility”; A UNICEF guideline on vulnerability of children on the move for climate-related reasons.

Dutch court rules that Eritreans in the military are at risk of torture and inhuman treatment

The Dutch Council of State’s Administrative Jurisdiction Division, the country’s highest general administrative court, ruled on 20 July that Eritreans in the military sector of the national service are at risk of inhuman treatment. This ruling impacts how future Eritrean asylum claims will be treated. The case was started by an Eritrean man whose initial claim was rejected. The man feared he would have to enter the military part of the national service, if he would be returned.