TW: This article contains information that circles around sexual violence and war crimes including starvation and killing
“The biggest road block to action on genocide and other human rights crimes is ignorance. Most people just don’t know that such things are happening, and often, if they have a vague idea they are happening, there is a feeling that there is nothing that can be done to stop these crimes.”
John Prendergast
Humanitarian Crises
The global surge of humanitarian crises has cast a dark, harrowing shadow of enduring suffering upon innocent people within war-torn regions. The consequences of war on civilians are dehumanizing, as they often leave civilians suffering from physical and mental traumas with a severe lack of medical support. Regardless of the country where these conflicts may occur, there are always lasting effects that cause harm to those involved.
One region that has faced immense devastation as a result of war and is yet to receive the proper acknowledgement from international communities is a region of Ethiopia called Tigray. There have been a multitude of reported war crimes committed in Tigray over the years that have, and continue to be, swept under the rug by authorities, this, accompanied by an immense lack of international advocacy, has created an increasingly difficult situation for the citizens of Tigray. Reports show evidence of war crimes such as civilian massacres, starvation, SGBV (sexual and gender-based violence), and forced displacements, which have left millions to suffer the consequences.
With the severity of these crimes, one has to question what will be done to stop countries from committing these acts against innocent civilians, especially acts that are as destructive as the effects of a 3-year war and the circumstances it continues to foster. The situation has escalated and continues to escalate to the point that it has left an estimated 600,000 people killed (Naranjo). In Tigray, the urgent demand for accountability and international intervention is crucial for reconciliation and trust from the victims. The mediation of humanitarian crises such as those happening in Tigray, is necessary to achieve adherence to human rights within not only Tigray but internationally.
The Tigray Region
The conflict in the Northern Tigray region of Ethiopia started on November 4th, 2020, following tensions between the federal Government of Ethiopia and the regional Government of Tigray. Conflict ensued as the Ethiopian Armed Forces (ENDF), along with allies such as the neighbouring Eritrean armed forces (EDF) and regional Amhara militias (ASF), began mobilizing troops into the northern region (Jazeera). Since the conflict’s onset, Tigrayans have been systematically executed, subjected to gender-based violence, and denied access to fundamental services such as food and water. Transportation in and out of Tigray has also been restricted, making it almost impossible to obtain up-to-date information on the true extent of the war’s damage (“Confronting Ethiopia’s Abusive Siege”).
After two years of what some experts call the deadliest war of the 21st century, a ceasefire agreement was signed on November 2nd, 2022. The terms, which included the removal of Eritrean troops from Tigrayan land and the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs), remain unfulfilled one year later, breaking the promise of lasting peace for the people of Tigray (“Broken Promises: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence before and after the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Tigray, Ethiopia – PHR”).
Targeting Civilians
Mass killings, widespread pillaging, and indiscriminate shelling have been carried out during the war by all sides against civilians, leaving families to endure severe psychological and physical damage. (“Ethiopia: Civilians Again Mired in Intractable and Deadly War, Human Rights Council Hears”). Eritrean (EDF) and Ethiopian armed forces (ENDF), along with Amhara militias (ASF), have committed horrific atrocities, including massacres and extrajudicial executions of ethnic Tigrayans indiscriminately of age and gender.(“THE THREE HORSEMEN of the WAR in TIGRAY: MASS KILLINGS, SEXUAL VIOLENCE and STARVATION” the TIGRAY INQUIRY Inquiry into the Atrocities in Tigray since November 2020 Conducted by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on International Law, Justice and Accountability).
One of the many massacres by the Eritrean forces (EDF) took place in the city of Axum, just weeks after the onset of the conflict: as explained by numerous eyewitnesses and victims, Eritrean soldiers were seen killing thousands of fleeing civilians and conducting house-to-house raids, executing mostly men and boys. A civilian described the aftermath stating that:
“on every corner, there was a body.”
(“Eritrean Troops Massacre Hundreds of Civilians in Axum, Ethiopia”). However, it is crucial to note that the atrocities committed were not purely one-sided. Tigrayan forces were also reported to have committed executions against ethnic Amhara, Afar, and Eritrean civilians (“Ethiopia: Mass Killings Continue, Risk of Further ‘Large-Scale’ Atrocities”).
Forcible Displacement
The ramifications of the war, such as forcible displacement, are incredibly shocking. Since the war started, over two million ethnic Tigrayans displaced from their homes, pushing over 50,000 refugees into Sudan (Reuters). This has separated families and created a constant state of uncertainty within civilians as they worry about the well-being and whereabouts of loved ones. In western Tigray, evidence of “ethnic cleansing” is documented in a 2021 joint report from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The report indicates that hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans have been forcibly expelled from the western territory by Ethiopian and Amhara forces through threats, forcible removal, and a campaign of violence (“‘We Will Erase You from This Land’”).
Ethnic cleansing continues to be a concern internationally, this is echoed in the devastating conflict in Palestine, in which Israeli armed forces forced over 1.7 million civilians (“‘This Must Stop,’ UN Chief Says as Deaths, Displacement Ripple across Gaza”) to relocate toward southern Gaza after providing only a 24-hour warning before initial military attacks on the area (“Israel Must Rescind Evacuation Order for Northern Gaza and Comply with International Law: UN Expert”). Regardless of forewarning, forcible displacement is recognized as a war crime, and as such, demands urgent cessation and condemnation from international governing bodies, actions that have not been taken for Tigray or Palestine.
Loss of Infrastructure
The destruction of infrastructure and the use of schools as military bases highlight the challenges of escaping conflict, as forces from all sides have caused mass destruction of homes, schools, and religious sites that civilians would normally use to seek refuge in conflicts such as this (“Ethiopia: Tigray’s Cities Fill with Displaced People in Need of Aid | MSF”). Due to education facilities suffered significant damage, with schools, furniture, textbooks, and laboratory equipment destroyed, “over 1.4 million school children” were forced out of school for four years (Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs). The intersection of the pandemic and ongoing conflict has only served to prolong these challenges as 2, 492 schools have closed since March 2020 (UNICEF), rendering children incapable of receiving formal education. While some of the schools are slowly reopening, the profound impacts of the conflict on education are clear and long-lasting.
Man-made Famine
The blocking of humanitarian aid and systematic destruction of agriculture have left an estimated 86% (4.6 million people) facing food insecurity in Tigray, in contrast to pre-conflict numbers, where an estimated 93% of people said they had no or little experience of hunger (“Tigray: Emergency Food Security Assessment | World Food Programme”). Once a region capable of sustaining itself, Tigray now faces severe food insecurity as Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Amhara forces, along with their allies, have pillaged shops, hospitals, banks, cattle, and crops, leaving the region dependent on aid. Accessing regions ravaged by war, however, poses a formidable challenge for aid organizations, as a siege obstructing the flow of aid stands in the way (“Confronting Ethiopia’s Abusive Siege”). This has led to famine-like conditions for millions of Tigrayans, with effects extending to surrounding regions in Ethiopia, where an estimated 9 million people across Ethiopia’s Amhara, Afar and Tigray regions lack access to adequate food (“Ethiopia Refugee Crisis: Aid, Statistics and News | USA for UNHCR”).
4 months following the establishment of a “ceasefire” agreement, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Tigray was halted as Ethiopian and allied forces engaged in looting the aid meant for suffering civilians. Humanitarian groups suspended their operations, asserting that the scarcity of food in Tigray was a direct consequence of the Ethiopian Government’s obstruction of humanitarian aid and manpower, including land convoys and air access. (Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: US accuses Abiy’s government of blocking aid). Tragically, this ultimately led to starvation, as about 1,400 deaths have been due to hunger since late 2022. (Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: Deaths from starvation after aid halted – official).
Widespread sexual and gender-based violence
During the conflict in Tigray, widespread sexual and gender-based violence inflicted physical and psychological trauma on survivors. Numerous reports detail horrific instances of sexual and gender-based violence, predominately targeting Tigrayan women and girls, perpetrated by Eritrean forces, Ethiopian national forces, and Amhara militias, with one survivor expressing:
“I don’t know if they realized I was a person.“
(“Ethiopia: ‘I Don’t Know If They Realized I Was a Person’: Rape and Sexual Violence in the Conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia – Amnesty International”). The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), in its most recent report, highlighted the widespread and systematic perpetration of sexual violence across all zones and phases of the war in Tigray (Human Rights Council Fifty-Fourth Session Comprehensive Investigative Findings and Legal Determinations International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia). According to a study on war-related sexual and gender-based violence within the northern region, within the first eight months of the war, 43.3% of women experienced at least one type of gender-based violence. Sexual violence accounted for 9.7%, with 82% of those cases involving rape. (Fisseha et al., 2023). Moreover, the survivors face immense challenges in seeking medical support due to the war, with 70% of hospitals and medical centres either destroyed or non-functional, access to medicine to treat sexually transmitted diseases and the delivery of essential aid for survivors becomes difficult (Gesesew et al., 2021).
Communication blackouts
The communication blackouts obscure much of the devastation brought by conflict, leaving critical information uncovered. The use of collective punishment, a strategy employed in conflicts to punish a group of people through the actions of one or more individuals, is evident through the utilization of methods like communication blackouts and information flow restrictions. These measures not only prevent reporting of human rights violations but also silence the victims who endure the suffering.
Recently, communication blackouts have been used in Palestine by the Israeli Government by restricting fuel to the region, affecting emergency responses, humanitarian efforts, and contact with loved ones inside and outside Gaza (“Gaza: Communications Blackout Imminent due to Fuel Shortage”). Similarly, in the Tigray conflict, such tactics have been employed by the Ethiopian federal Government leading to the world’s longest uninterrupted shutdown. (‘No timeline’ for restoring internet to Tigray: Ethiopia minister) As connectivity has not fully been restored to Tigray and Palestine, reliance on local news agencies, journalists, and the international community is crucial to ensure the stories of victims are heard.
The importance of addressing these issues
Addressing the impact of war on civilians is essential for protecting and upholding human rights and holding those who violate them accountable. Even though formal fighting in Tigray has ceased, independent investigations and international awareness are essential to bringing justice to the victims who are suffering from the destructive effects of the war. The Tigray conflict serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating toll of conflict on innocent lives, amplifying the importance of global action to prevent further atrocities not only in Tigray but around the world. This urgency calls for the need to end the cycle of violence against civilians and ensure human rights are not just acknowledged, but respected.
While there are countless reports and evidence of horrific atrocities against the people of Tigray, this article is only the tip of the iceberg. Tigray needs your help to bring action and attention to the victims of these abuses.
Resources:
Donate to Refugees (Ethiopia): https://give.unhcr.ca/page/71470/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=SEM23_ETHP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CA_PS_EN_EE&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwkMCdhwHR3hNFxUGw_4_LCmdOwfOIQwiU_3myaLFwtvBfnohk1RsPcaAllAEALw_wcB
Urgent Relief Donation (Gaza): https://secure.unicef.ca/page/137694/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=23DIEM08GSE&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwlhyD_AQ7KFi-Np9xZ4-TLbwekaxmKo7jfbtuP6Ua7HJM9qKsmvMIEaAm2tEALw_wcB
Petition To the UN for Tigray: https://omnatigray.org/category/omna-campaings/petitions/
Further Information:
Sexual Violence as a weapon of war: https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/devastating-use-sexual-violence-weapon-war
War Crimes: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/war-crimes.shtml
References:
Jazeera, Al. “‘No Timeline’ for Restoring Internet to Tigray: Ethiopia Minister.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 30 Nov. 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/30/no-timeline-for-restoring-internet-to-tigray-ethiopia-minister.
“Gaza: Communications Blackout Imminent due to Fuel Shortage.” Human Rights Watch, 16 Nov. 2023, http://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/15/gaza-communications-blackout-imminent-due-fuel-shortage.
Human Rights Council Fifty-Fourth Session Comprehensive Investigative Findings and Legal Determinations International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. http://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/chreetiopia/a-hrc-54-crp-3.pdf.
“Ethiopia: ‘I Don’t Know If They Realized I Was a Person’: Rape and Sexual Violence in the Conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia – Amnesty International.” Amnesty International, 25 Aug. 2021, http://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/4569/2021/en/.
Mekelle, in. “Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis: Deaths from Starvation after Aid Halted – Official.” Bbc.com, BBC News, 18 Aug. 2023, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66540039.
News, BBC. “Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis: US Accuses Abiy’s Government of Blocking Aid.” Bbc.com, BBC News, 20 Aug. 2021, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58279442.
“Ethiopia Refugee Crisis: Aid, Statistics and News | USA for UNHCR.” Unrefugees.org, 2023, http://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ethiopia/.
“Confronting Ethiopia’s Abusive Siege.” Human Rights Watch, 31 Aug. 2022, http://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/31/confronting-ethiopias-abusive-siege.
“Tigray: Emergency Food Security Assessment | World Food Programme.” Wfp.org, 21 Mar. 2022, http://www.wfp.org/publications/tigray-emergency-food-security-assessment.
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs. http://www.unicef.org/ethiopia/media/4111/file/UNICEF%20Ethiopia%20Tigray%20Humanitarian%20Situation%20Report%20No.%203.pdf.
“Ethiopia: Tigray’s Cities Fill with Displaced People in Need of Aid | MSF.” Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) International, 2021, http://www.msf.org/ethiopia-tigray%E2%80%99s-cities-fill-displaced-people-need-aid.
“Israel Must Rescind Evacuation Order for Northern Gaza and Comply with International Law: UN Expert.” OHCHR, 2023, http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/israel-must-rescind-evacuation-order-northern-gaza-and-comply-international.
“‘This Must Stop,’ UN Chief Says as Deaths, Displacement Ripple across Gaza.” UN News, 19 Nov. 2023, news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1143762.
“‘We Will Erase You from This Land.’” Human Rights Watch, 6 Apr. 2022, http://www.hrw.org/report/2022/04/06/we-will-erase-you-land/crimes-against-humanity-and-ethnic-cleansing-ethiopias#7024.
Reuters. “Over 2 Million People Displaced by Conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region – Local Official.” Reuters, 6 Jan. 2021, http://www.reuters.com/world/over-2-million-people-displaced-by-conflict-ethiopias-tigray-region-local-2021-01-06/.
“Ethiopia: Mass Killings Continue, Risk of Further ‘Large-Scale’ Atrocities.” UN News, 18 Sept. 2023, news.un.org/en/story/2023/09/1140872#:~:text=The%20latest%20report%20from%20the%20International%20Commission%20of,and%20medical%20facilities%2C%20forced%20displacement%20and%20arbitrary%20detention.
“Eritrean Troops Massacre Hundreds of Civilians in Axum, Ethiopia.” Amnesty International, 26 Feb. 2021, http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/02/ethiopia-eritrean-troops-massacre-of-hundreds-of-axum-civilians-may-amount-to-crime-against-humanity/.
“THE THREE HORSEMEN of the WAR in TIGRAY: MASS KILLINGS, SEXUAL VIOLENCE and STARVATION” the TIGRAY INQUIRY Inquiry into the Atrocities in Tigray since November 2020 Conducted by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on International Law, Justice and Accountability. 2023, genocideresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tigray-Report_29-September-2023.pdf.
“Ethiopia: Civilians Again Mired in Intractable and Deadly War, Human Rights Council Hears.” UN News, 22 Sept. 2022, news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127481.
“Broken Promises: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence before and after the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Tigray, Ethiopia – PHR.” PHR, 27 Nov. 2023, phr.org/our-work/resources/medical-records-sexual-violence-tigray-ethiopia/.
“Confronting Ethiopia’s Abusive Siege.” Human Rights Watch, 31 Aug. 2022, http://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/31/confronting-ethiopias-abusive-siege.
Jazeera, Al. “Two Years of Ethiopia’s Tigray Conflict: A Timeline.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 10 Nov. 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/10/two-years-of-ethiopias-tigray-conflict-a-timeline. Naranjo, José. “Ethiopia’s Forgotten War Is the Deadliest of the 21st Century, with around 600,000 Civilian Deaths.” EL PAÍS English, 27 Jan. 2023, english.elpais.com/international/2023-01-27/ethiopias-forgotten-war-is-the-deadliest-of-the-21st-century-with-around-600000-civilian-deaths.html.
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