Inventing hell: how the Ethiopian and Eritrean regimes produced famine in Tigray

Abstract

It has been a year since a devastating war broke out in the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia, where hundreds of thousands of Tigrayan civilians are killed, millions internally displaced and tens of thousands have fled to seek refuge in neighboring Sudan. An alarming development linked to this war is the manmade famine in Tigray that now threatens the lives of the millions of civilians who survived the horrific atrocities during the war. This piece is an attempt to explain why millions of Tigrayans from all walks of life face famine and concludes that famine was from the start an end goal of the Ethiopian and Eritrean regimes and they employed different tactics to ensure that it unfolds the way it does now. Among others, the tactics include (1) the systematic looting and destruction of Tigray’s basic economic infrastructures, (2) implementation of different financial measures to deprive people in the region of access to cash, and imposition of a complete siege that hindered access to supplies including lifesaving humanitarian assistance.

The impact of war on the health system of the Tigray region in Ethiopia: a response to complaints

“…Overall, the effort to support destroyed health system during the time the Ethiopian Federal Government controlled most of Tigray region was limited in coverage and scope. The current state of healthcare service in the region is reflective of the magnitude of devastation and leaves millions in desperate need which is compounded by the ongoing active conflict as well as the complete siege and blockade of Tigray 7…”

“…The current state of healthcare service in the region is reflective of the magnitude of devastation and leaves millions in desperate need which is compounded by the ongoing active conflict as well as the complete siege and blockade of Tigray. 7 …”

The Siege of Ayder Hospital: A Cri de Coeur From Tigray, Ethiopia

“…Communication with outlying clinics was forbidden, although those clinics desperately needed administrative support. The referral and transportation network broke down 24,26,27 . Humanitarian aid workers were harassed and prevented from distributing supplies 41,42 .…”

“…38 Hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans are threatened by starvation as the result of a deliberate, man-made famine promulgated by the invaders. 24 Millions more are now internal refugees, flooding into Mekelle and facing acute food insecurity. The genocidal plan is working.…”

“…The referral and transportation network broke down. 24 , 26 , 27 Humanitarian aid workers were harassed and prevented from distributing supplies. 41 , 42 Three employees of Doctors Without Borders were murdered to further disrupt the distribution of supplies in outlying areas.…”