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The Tigray war, its impacts on women, children, and the challenges ahead BY: W.Yilma February 11/2022 The war in Tigray was ignited without a cause, but with great consequences both socially, economically, politically, religiously, and most importantly created a major shift in traditional societal ties between different ethnic groups. Unjust war is an enemy of peace and democracy. It impaired economic growth as well as human development and consumes human life, and create unproductive social groups, dependent on foreign aids. As we know, the reason why Ali government has started the war against the people of Tigray is not about to restore “law and order” but to completely wiped-out the people of Tigray from existence through destroying their social fabrics; illegally reclaiming Tigray land and rich history (currently some of the artifacts and old age religious items stolen by the invading armies are displayed in eBay for auction) to handover to Eritrea, Afar and Amhara’s; to create unemployment by destroying their infrastructures and limited manufacturing industries; to create man made poverty, and starvation by denying budget and banking services; to create illiterate population submissive to oppression by denying access to education; to create vulnerable population to diseases, by denying life sustaining supplies, including vaccines and medical supplies to enter Tigray (please, watch the below interview gave by one of the Ethiopian general regarding the war in Tigray and the main reason behind it, and also the hate speeches made by Daniel Kibret to promote genocide in Tigray). It is now almost one year and 5 months since Ali started all-out war against the people of Tigray. As the world communities knows, other than the desire to consolidate his power under the control of one-man, in this case Ali, there is not a cause to start this devastating war against the people of Tigray. I do think after the second world war the Tigray war is the first in its kind in terms of the damage it causes both to human life, infrastructure, finance, material and socio-political uncertainties it poses to the country, and to the world at large. It is also the first in the history of mankind, to see a prime minster and a receiver of the Nobel Prize invited not less than 8 foreign countries to join him to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide against its own people. Some of these foreign countries which are directly and indirectly involved in Tigray ethnic cleansing and genocide are Eritrea, United Arab Emirate, Saudi Arabia, Turki, Russia Federation, China, Iran and Somalia. The entire Eritrean and Ethiopian defense forces estimated more than half a million plus special forces and militias from 8 Ethiopian reginal states estimated to be in hundreds of thousands are attempted to invade Tigray at the initial stage of the war and then badly crushed and driven out of Tigray by the gallant Tigray Defense Force (TDF). This military bravery and strategies are rarely seen in the history of mankind! It is also a miracle to see that the population of not more than 7 million people has managed to survive in protecting themselves from extinctions by those Axis of Evils mentioned above. On the other hand, it is also a strange and sad, unusual to see that the world communities are terribly failed the people of Tigray, while ethnic cleansing and genocide is committed against them by Ali and his associates.
Daniel Kibret one of the closest advisers of the incompetent prime minister Ali and advocates and supporter of genocide in Tigray openly speaks multiple times that the people of Tigray should be erased from people’s mind and history. For your reference, please watch the below 3 videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgUCsu-hE3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNir2fRmk8 In Tigray all war crimes are committed by the invading armies against the people of Tigray, but not many of the crimes committed are revealed to the world communities. Because the government shutting down all communication means, and it is extremely difficult to record, compile, and to let out information to media outlets. Ali and his associates not only arbitrary killed, tortured, arrested and use rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war, but also deprived the people of Tigray from living in peace, enjoy life and happiness. Lies, deception, and creating of conflicts here and there are a modus operandi for Ali government. To kill silently the people of Tigray, Ali deliberately denied pregnant and breast-feeding women’s and children’s from getting necessary vaccines. By doing so, he is not only harming the people of Tigray but also negatively affected the overall health system performance of Ethiopia in particular and the world in general. The United Nations Millennium Declaration signed in September 2000, commits world leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women and children. Ali and his government committed all these crimes against the people of Tigray by ignoring these global promises or commitments. During any kinds of conflicts women’s and children’s are the most vulnerable social groups to be impacted by the war. Mentioning all kinds of crimes committed by warring groups at this time is very difficult due to the fact that it needs scientific approaches and well designed and planned studies for each place where war wages. However, based on the limited information coming out of Tigray (video, photograph, written documents and eyewitnesses) and based on scientific theoretical assumptions, and experiences gained from other countries, where similar war has occurred, it will not be hard to understand the suffering of women and children in Tigray. Ali knows exactly (because he came from very poor family) the consequences of hunger, starvation and malnutrition both to women and to children. As one informant told me in one of the Prosperity Party meeting, Ali has told them that he is silently killing the people of Tigray, in particular the coming generation by man-made starvation, by imposing blockage and by denying sending vaccine and medication to the people in need. He knew each day how many Tigray children and women are suffering both in short term and long term as a result of not getting fairly balanced food and vaccination. The process of death due to starvation is an excruciated phenomenon no human being should be experienced. Unfortunately, for Ali the death of each Tigray child and woman gives him satisfactions and pleasure, which I believe enjoying every day watching on TV screens together with his wife and children while sitting in his renovated luxurious public palace! Regardless of age or gender, at this time the people of Tigray are experienced either to mild, moderate or acute starvation and malnutrition in which both of these causes serious consequences both to physically and mentally in all age groups. In particular in children beyond the age of 2-3 years the effects of chronic malnutrition and lack of vaccinations are irreversible. Currently, all clinical syndromes of different stages of malnutrition and starvation in all age groups are not uncommon to seen in Tigray. In particular these syndromes are more vivid in children’s and pregnant and breastfeeding women. If 40% of Tigray population are in critical stages of starvation, then we have to expect that Children’s of those starved were presumably dead. Marasmus, and Kwashiorkor which are a sign of serious outcomes of starvation and malnutrition, similar to Auschwitz concentration camp under Nazi Germany are common to see in Tigray children at this time. What is sad to mention here is that this is happening under the watch of the world communities. Not taking prompt and appropriate actions for such very cruel and unlawful actions on human life in particular on women and children indicated that the world communities are accepted the heinous crimes what Ali and his associates are committing against the people of Tigray. If the world communities continue to overlook this crime it will become a norm for dictators to commit similar crimes against their own people. To me where the international communities are standing currently with regard to Tigray war is a double standard. Contrary to this is the reaction and the active and the direct involvements of the western countries, including United States of America in Russia- Ukraine conflicts, where the former endangered Ukraine sovereignty. In Ukraine people are not starved and Russia does not block Ukraine 360 degrees from the rest of the world as it has happened in Tigray. The simple reason why the people of Tigray has ignored by the west is because the value of one Tigrawai life have less value than one Ukrainian. If this not the case, then what? Poverty, skin of color or geo-political importance? In January 28/2022 Tigray TV interview with Dr. Hagos indicated that in Tigray before the war potential health coverage was reached 95% with actual coverage of 13 million people annually; there were around 1000 fully functional health facilities; 741 health posts; 142 health centers; 39 hospitals of various standards, and 326 ambulances. These health facilities were established mainly by the contribution of the local communities, government, and Non-Governmental Organizations. Regarding health service deliveries, Tigray has been an example not only for Ethiopia but also for the many Africans countries. Maternal mortality accounted before the war reached 186/1000, and under 5 years old child mortality accounted 30/1000. The reason why the health services was effective in Tigray before the war was that Community health insurance was practiced, taking into consideration the purchasing power of the societies. Unfortunately, currently the damaged done by the invading armies are reached to 75%, and some completely destroyed, and some not existed at all (please listen Dr. Hagos interview for further information). If the actions taken by the invading armies to damage or destroy these health facilities is not considered as part of genocide what other types of actions are considered to be called a genocide? Please listen Dr. Hagos interview below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cbzLcFr5lw After the war started in Tigray, all aspects of production and supply chains are deliberately cut off and disrupted. With regards to health, all services are severely affected and all cold chain systems that are important to keep the safety and efficacy of vaccines and other fragile medications are totally not in place. It is believed that vaccination services to pregnant women and newborn children are completely halted in Tigray at this time. This gap has a global implication, by creating a conducive atmosphere for reemerging of contagious diseases that are eradicated worldwide. In Tigray because of the invasion and complete destructions of the health facilities by Ali, Isayas of Eritrea and the Amhara Hutu militias, some of the eradicated and or under controlled human diseases have the potential either to reemerge again or exponentially spread and due to hunger will increase their severity and pathogenicity. Such diseases like polio, DPT, measles, smallpox, mums, tuberculosis, HIV, typhoid dramatically will increase their incidence and prevalence. It is also true that quite a number of the invading armies and militias have HIV and other Sexually Transmissible Diseases (STD), and harboring typhoid and TB, and the high potential they (deliberately) transmitted these diseases to those sexually raped and abused women is very likely (it is not secret that some of the higher officers in Ali and Isayas militaries are a victim of HIV and other STD, and some of them are under medications). As we know it is not only rape but also deliberately transmitting HIV and other STD are also part of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Combating these diseases and providing therapy and consultations will be a challenge for the people of Tigray in the future. It is not the right decision for the international communities to give deaf ears for the crimes committed against the people of Tigray, in particular women’s and children’s to safe the throne and well beings of one dictator, in this case ALI! The world communities should take lessons from Jewish, Rwanda and former Yugoslavia ethnic cleansing and genocide. Many international organizations and individuals are trying their best to show the rest of the world the seriousness of Tigray war and its direct negative effects to the people of Tigray. I have a great respect for them. Please, read below the two opinions recently published by one newsletter and one by renown genuine supporter of the people of Tigray, Alex de Waal. According to the EastAfrican news published, November 17, 2021 data collected from 14 poorly equipped hospitals in Tigray nearly 200 children died due to acute malnutrition (Starvation kills scores of children in Tigray hospitals: Survey - The East African). Taking into consideration the level of malnutrition and starvation imposed by Ali government, more than 60% of children in Tigray are exposed for acute malnutrition. Similarly, Viewpoint: Why Ethiopia's Tigray region is starving, but no famine declared - BBC News by Alex de Waal clearly depicted the extents of suffering of the people of Tigray due to starvation. Why the most rich and powerful nations, in terms of wealth and military power hopelessly looking idly when the people of Tigray are mercilessly killed and using starvation as a weapon by one of poorest, ruthless dictators of our time, like Isayas of Eritrea and Ali of Ethiopia? What are the principles of universal human right, and the US constitution “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”? These two rugged dictators are the heads of the very poor countries, unable to feed their people without the help of rich countries. Half of Ethiopia annual budget comes from foreign aid assistances from rich countries. What is shame is that this poor country which does not feed its own people have money to purchase weapons and mercenaries to kill its own starved people. Ethiopia paid the Eritrean regime more than three billion US dollars for its participation in killing of the people of Tigray and Oromia. This is not secret for the western countries, who paid leap services while helpless Tegarus are mercilessly arrested, killed, tortured, confiscated their properties illegally, make them poor, and starved to death. This should be stopped by interference or by taking punitive actions. Ali pretends to agree to sit down for negotiation with TPLF, and other opposition political parties. But behind the curtain, he reached an agreement with Isayas, Amhara and Afar regions to continue the war against the people of Tigray. This should be clear to the international communities to take proper actions against the government of Ethiopia. Because it is Abiy who ignited the war, and he is the only person to take the responsibility to stop it. Last, the sacrifices the people of Tigray are paying in all aspects of their life since the start of the war is incalculable and beyond comprehension. However, the sacrifices the people of Tigray will pay post war period (if it happen by active engagement of the international communities) will be much higher than the costs of the war period, both in terms of human development, economy, social, institutionalizing and revitalization of the health services, and education, rebuilding of the lost and damaged infrastructures and manufacturing industries, and most importantly how to taking care of and rehabilitate of those injured, disabled and mentally traumatized peoples, supporting families of a diseased is a challenge that need vigorous and endless actions. Recuperation of land fields and clearance of land mines and other fallout weaponries residues deliberately contaminated by chemicals and planted by the invading armies; rehabilitation and afforestation of burned and deforested habitats and regaining of killed or forcefully evacuated wildlife animals’ population from Tigray to Amhara, Afar and Eritrea need extra efforts in terms of trained manpower and finances. Without the support of the international communities the efforts made by the people of Tigray alone will not solve these multifaceted man-made catastrophes. And I do not think either the poor economy of the country called “Ethiopia” and the accomplice of this multifaceted war crime will solve this problem. The Righteous, Tigray and its people Shall Prevail!
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