By Deutsche Welle (World News) | Created at 2025-01-20 14:31:01 | Updated at 2025-01-23 03:53:34
2 days ago
There was relief in Tigray when the war ended with a peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. But despite the cessation of hostilities, hundreds of thousands of individuals uprooted from their homes during the conflict continue to live in dire conditions. The war in Tigray was fought between Ethiopia's National Defense Forces, backed by troops from Eritrea, against fighters of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
Birhane Tafere, 62, fled from his home in Humera, a city in northwestern Ethiopia, in November 2020. Since then, Birhane has spent over four years in an IDP camp. He now resides in a temporary shelter in Abiye Adi, located 100 km (62 miles) from Mekelle capital of Tigray, along with thousands of other displaced people, and describes his life as miserable.
"All displaced people are in despair. We are worried about what will happen next," Birhane told DW.
"The authorities who should be returning us to our villages have abandoned our agenda and are busy struggling for power."
Life in the IDP shelters in Tigray is a daily struggleImage: Million Haileselassie Brhane/DWOne million living as refugees
According to the Tigray region interim administration, nearly one million displaced people in the region have not been able to return to their homes.
The administration cites significant social and economic hardship caused by this displacement, as militants continue to control western Tigray and Eritrean forces control border areas, hindering safe returns. For many, the situation in Tigray is life-threatening.
Negasi Marek, a displaced father of four from western Tigray, has been living in Tsehaye Primary School, which now serves as a temporary IDP camp in Shire city. Negasi says the conditions are so severe that people are dying.
Counting the cost of the Tigray war in Amhara region
Dire conditions in the IDP shelters
"Four people have died [in the IDP camp] alone in the last two weeks, just because of the dire situation," Negasi told DW.
"We are not living; we are suffering. Especially the elderly, diabetics, and people with hypertension do not get medicine and food. All you can expect here is death," Negasi added.
Opposition party Salsay Weyane Tigray accuses both the regional and federal governments of causing the suffering of the displaced people. Alula Hailu, chairman of the opposition party, told DW that the Eritrean army has not yet withdrawn from the border areas of Irob, Badme, and other districts of Tigray.
He also complained that neither the Tigray regional administration nor the Ethiopian federal government had fulfilled their responsibilities. As a result, many displaced people continue to live in tents.
"About 600 of the 10,625 displaced people from Badme alone have died due to a lack of food and other support," Alula said, adding that his party has repeatedly called attention to the plight of the IDPs.
"Similarly, displaced people in Shire are suffering immensely. The problem is widespread," he added.
Alula Hailu, chairman of opposition party Salsay Weyane Tigray, blames authorities for not doing enough to help the IDPsImage: Million Haileselassie Brhane/DWBillions of dollars needed to return IDPs
The Tigray regional interim administration has announced plans to facilitate the return of displaced people. However, the plan is estimated to require $2.1 billion (€2 billion) and the political will to return those displaced.
The administration has reportedly engaged the United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to secure funding and support for the process.
However, despite repeated government promises to return the internally displaced people, there has been no change so far.
Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
