afrol News, 11 July - Ethiopia's Ogadeni National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebel group has accused government today of calculatingly jamming international aid to its war-torn and drought-stricken region.

Earlier this week, Swiss branch of Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) announced it was withdrawing from Ethiopia's Somali region, due to intimidation by Ethiopian government.

"Ethiopian regime continues to pursue a policy of collective punishment against civilian population of Ogaden," ONLF charged.

It noted that Ethiopian troops have purposely stopped delivery of humanitarian aid by MSF solely for political reasons affecting thousands of innocent men, women and children.

The body said the aid group's withdrawal from Ogaden was a direct result of efforts by Ethiopian authorities to block humanitarian access.

"Deliberate starvation, denial of medical aid, extra judicial killings and arrests and torching of village huts have all now become commonplace in Ogaden," ONLF said.

It added that government's attitude towards humanitarian agencies had translated into recurrent arrests of MSF Switzerland staff, without charge or explanation.

In a report released in June, New York-based organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Ethiopian army of executing, torturing and raping civilians in Ogaden.

Military reportedly launched an offensive against ONLF rebels after they attacked a Chinese-run oil venture in Ogaden in April 2007, killing 74 people.

Formed in 1984, ONLF is fighting for independence of ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia's oil-rich region, who it says has been marginalised by Ethiopian authorities.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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