TIGRAY, Ethiopia: In Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region, displaced people like 78-year-old Wolde Meressa are struggling to survive in grim conditions.
Living in a cramped classroom converted into a shelter in Mekele, Wolde, along with his family, faces daily hardships amidst a jumble of basic necessities. Despite the formal end of conflict nearly two years ago, Wolde and over a million others remain displaced, their lives marked by despair and uncertainty.
The Tigray conflict, one of the deadliest of the 21st century, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 600,000 people and displaced around three million. Although a peace agreement was signed in November 2022, the reality on the ground remains dire. The UN’s humanitarian response agency, OCHA, reports that 1.1 million people are still unable to return home. Aid organizations are scaling back operations, exacerbating the plight of these displaced individuals.
In camps like the one in Shire, Tibe Addise describes the daily struggles of caring for her children amidst cold and hunger. These camps, including the large Seba Care IDP camp in Mekele, were supposed to be temporary solutions, but for many, they have become long-term residences. Displaced individuals from Western Tigray, a contested area, face severe challenges as humanitarian access remains restricted.
Amhara forces and Eritrean troops, in defiance of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), have not fully withdrawn, and accusations of ethnic cleansing and war crimes persist. The peace deal’s promise of restoration and return remains unfulfilled, leaving many in limbo without adequate support.
At another school-turned-camp in Adwa, Genet Mengesha has gone months without receiving essential aid. The gap between promises made by the peace agreement and the reality on the ground underscores a profound humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in Tigray.
