Lectori salutem,
A brief report of my short visit to Tigray and Ethiopia. Hard work is being done, to rehabilitate Tigray wherever possible. But the future is, for Tigray and the whole of Ethiopia not bright.
The night before our departure for Mekelle at the reception and drinks at the Italian embassy, the ambassador was at a loss for words and dared not take responsibility. But he let us go anyway. On condition “Mekelle only”.
In Mekelle, they were happy with our arrival, finally contact again with doctors and researchers from elsewhere (there were eight of us. What was striking was that life in Mekelle was seemingly normal. All roads had been resurfaced and nightlife was almost as usual. In conversations, people indicated that it was difficult though and many had relatives from West Tigray, which has been taken over by the Amhara, in their homes. All Tigrayens from that area had been killed, or fled.
Most of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) live in a camp in North Tigray, about one million people. Here I visited camps with Eritrean refugees in the past. Here the situation is the worst there is still food for 2 weeks. Around Mekelle, there are several camps. I visited the same camp as last year, from which I came “in tears” then. It is now a neat tented camp. Actually an ordinary village with 25000 inhabitants. It is “run” by the Tigrayens. There are cleaners and primary schools and childcare. There is also trauma treatment and “occupational therapy” by local volunteers and camp residents. There is a “street” of shops, mainly food and private pharmacies. There is resignation. But a lot of hatred. Everyone has lost family and acquaintances and seen, experienced or heard about rapes and beatings.
Several factions exist within the TPLF (Tigray People Liberation Front). The most powerful consists of the old politicians whose corruption and greed at the time in Addis led to the murder of Tigrayens all over Ethiopia. Then there are young people who want to come to an agreement and peace with the other Ethiopian peoples. They long for a future. Finally, there is a small group made up of old freedom fighters who are trying to rebuild Tigray within Ethiopia but without Abiy Ahmed. They are the ones who from the mountains, like when they defeated Mengistu, turned the tide against the Eritrean and Ethiopian forces. That is where I have my friends among them.
The central govt promises to help rebuild, but has in fact delivered nothing. In contrast they along with the old corrupt politicians loot the wealth of Tigray “gold” , this with the help of Dubai and American, Canadian and Armenian mining companies. Not a penny of the gold stays in Tigray but goes into the pockets of Western companies, Abiy and his, politicians in Tigray, and the gold disappears to Dubai that Abiy pockets.
The companies treat their workers as slaves and drive people off their land who then end up in IDP camps, mainly in the North near Shire. They pollute the area with mercury and cyanide. Water is highly polluted and people get burns from the mercury and die from cyanide. The Tigray Health Bureau and the interim administration addressed them on this. But this was not heard, worse laughed off. (It should be noted that the same is happening in Oromo area. Birth defects have already been demonstrated here. There is currently heavy fighting around Lalibela between government forces and Oromo freedom fighters)
Finally, Ayder Hospital. Since very recently, without money it is not possible to be helped there, let alone admitted. Everything from a gauze to oncological medication and food has to be paid for. This is due to the exodus of qualified staff and the establishment of private hospitals around Ayder, with these staff and money-hungry doctors coming from everywhere. The “real doctors” have fled to surrounding countries and if possible to the West and especially the US. Unfathomable!
I got my information mainly from the Health Bureau, the old freedom fighters and a close friend who is struggling to help his family through the difficult period and feels committed to his fellow Tigrayens. In addition, I have spoken to several people.
A large number of people are doing their best. But there lack of everything. The land with the exception of Mekelle was as devastated as Gaza, I witnessed that last year. Unfortunately, a new war between Abiy and the Eritreans is looming. People all over the country are rebelling. In Tigray, it is still quiet for the time being.
I expect the entire horn of Africa to be on fire within a short time. Just like Sudan.
Ben
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