Beyond Bullets: Ethiopia’s War on Tigray Through Hunger
The sun hangs low over Tigray, casting an oppressive heat that mirrors the weight of the ongoing crisis. But beneath the scorching sky, a different battle unfolds – of hunger wielded as a weapon, a deliberate attempt to erase a people through starvation. The Tigray region of Ethiopia has been ravaged by a devastating food crisis, largely fueled by actions of the Ethiopian government and its allies. This crisis is not merely a natural disaster, but the result of deliberate policies aimed at harming the Tigrayan people.
Evidence points to a clear pattern of weaponization of starvation. A Tufts University report [1] lays bare the grim truth: the Ethiopian and Eritrean forces have waged a vicious war, not just on Tigray's soil, but on its very lifeblood. Their weapon? Hunger. With cold calculation, they choked off the region's economy and food system, strangling Tigray's sustenance like a vine. Further, a June 2023 study by the Yale Law School's Lowenstein Clinic [2] based on extensive evidence, concluded that Ethiopia and its allies, including Amhara regional authorities and Eritrea, used starvation as a weapon of war against the Tigrayan people. This conclusion was drawn from an analysis of various sources, including UN reports, human rights reports, and journalistic accounts. This is no mere consequence of war; it is a calculated atrocity, a deliberate infliction of mass starvation and death. The Ethiopian government and its allies stand accused, not just of negligence, but of wielding hunger as a weapon, their fingerprints etched in the emaciated faces and hollowed eyes of Tigray's people.
Evidences of weaponized starvation
Imagine losing your future harvest in an instant. This was the reality for Tesfay Getachew, whose 1.5-ton crop, his family's lifeline for ten months, went up in flames [3]. Birhane Haleform, a day laborer, witnessed soldiers not only setting fields ablaze but also desecrating grain stores, ensuring hunger would linger long after the flames of war died down. [4]
In Axum, the echoes of the massacre are compounded by testimonies of Eritrean soldiers pilfering from shops and factories, stripping communities bare of vital supplies. [6] Sheep, camels, donkeys, and oxen – the backbone of rural Tigrayan life – have also fallen prey to rampant theft by ENDF, Eritrean, and Amhara forces [7].
The Ethiopian government has further failed to intervene halting essential funding to Tigray, and suspending vital safety net programs. These actions have severely hampered the region's ability to cope with the food shortage. As recently as March 2022, reports like those in The Guardian documented the ongoing blockade imposed by the Ethiopian government and its allies. This blockade restricted access to food, medicine, and other critical supplies, pushing millions into famine-like conditions [8]. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Ethiopian government arrested artists who were fundraising for the famine. It is also at loggerheads with the regional government accusing it of politicizing the famine only because it called for regional emergency because of the famine. Literally, the Ethiopian government is threatening anyone who calls the crisis famine.
Consequences
These acts of commission and omission are not mere collateral damage; they are a deliberate strategy to break the spirit of a people and starve them into submission. The consequences are dire: children going hungry, families forced to flee their homes, and a humanitarian crisis. Millions suffer and lives are lost due to the weaponized starvation in Tigray, a horrific chapter in the region's history.
Immediate and dire consequences:
Over 860 people have died of hunger since September 2023 alone, with countless more uncounted. This constitutes the worst famine in modern Tigrayan history, with a staggering 91% of citizens at risk of starvation [9]. Hunger claims over 68% of lives in Tigray, making it the leading cause of death. Studies paint a grim picture, with one revealing 1,329 hunger-related deaths since the November ceasefire. [10] It also leaves survivors vulnerable to long-term health complications. More than 2 million residents suffer from acute malnutrition, as reported by the Regional Humanitarian Action Office [11].
The relationship between weaponized starvation, displacement and migration, economic decline, and social unrest is not well documented in Tigray. However, these factors are also highly interrelated. People desperately flee hunger-stricken areas, seeking food and safety elsewhere. Weaponized starvation disrupts agriculture and trade, crippling the regional economy. And, Starvation can exacerbate existing tensions and fuel violence, destabilizing communities.
Long term effects of weaponized starvation
Weaponized starvation leaves not just empty stomachs, but scars that etch themselves onto individuals, communities, and entire nations for generations. The immediate horrors of emaciated bodies and hollow eyes are devastating, but the true tragedy of weaponized starvation lies in its insidious long-term effects, reaching far beyond the initial act of deprivation.
First, children who experience extreme malnutrition in their early years face irreparable physical and cognitive damage. Stunting, impaired brain development, and weakened immune systems leave them vulnerable to disease, limiting their future potential and perpetuating a cycle of poverty. This stunted growth also affects economic development, as a malnourished workforce struggles to participate productively in society.
Secondly, food insecurity destabilizes communities, fueling mistrust and conflict. Hunger often exacerbates existing social tensions, making populations more susceptible to radicalization and exploitation. The desperation born from starvation can drive internal displacement and mass migration, further destabilizing entire regions.
Third, the trauma of watching loved ones starve, the gnawing hunger that consumes every thought, and the despair that threatens to break the spirit – these experiences leave deep psychological wounds. Survivors grapple with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, often for years to come. Children witness unimaginable horrors, affecting their ability to form healthy relationships and trust others.
Fourth, the trauma of starvation can be passed down through generations, affecting the mental and physical health of children born to malnourished mothers. Epigenetic changes, where environmental factors modify gene expression, are thought to play a role in this phenomenon, ensuring the legacy of suffering persists even with improved food security.
Ultimately, weaponized starvation is an egregious violation of human rights. It is a crime that demands not only immediate action to alleviate suffering, but also long-term investment in healing and rebuilding. By understanding the lasting scars it inflicts, we can strengthen our resolve to prevent its use and work towards a future where food is a tool for peace, not a weapon of war.
Call for Action:
In conclusion, the food crisis in Tigray is not just a matter of food scarcity, but a direct result of deliberate policies aimed at harming the Tigrayan people. And it has dire consequences. This battle against tyranny cannot be fought alone. The world cannot remain an indifferent bystander to weaponized hunger. The international community must act with urgency and purpose. Increased humanitarian aid deliveries, unimpeded access for humanitarian actors, and pressure on the Ethiopian government to recognize the crisis are crucial steps. And, beyond immediate relief, the world must support Tigray's long-term recovery, helping us rebuild our shattered lives and communities.
References:
[1] https://sites.tufts.edu/wpf/starving-tigray/
[2] https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/lowenstein-clinic-finds-ethiopia-and-allies-responsible-mass-starvation-tigray
[3] Starvation Report, May 2021, Omna Tigray
[4] https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-19/ethiopia-tigray-war-massacre-bora
[5] World Peace Foundation. (2021, April). Starving Tigray: How Armed Conflict and Mass Atrocities Have Destroyed an Ethiopian Region’s Economy and Food System and Are Threatening Famine. https://sites.tufts.edu/wpf/starving-tigray/
[6] The Massacre in Axum, Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AFR2537302021ENGLISH.pdf
[7] Starvation Report, May 2021, Omna Tigray
[8] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/mar/23/trying-to-survive-millions-in-tigray-face-hunger-as-they-wait-in-vain-for-aid
[9] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/over-860-people-died-of-hunger-in-ethiopia-s-war-torn-tigray-region-in-4-months/3101370
[10] https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-tigray-hunger-deaths-aid-6d5a15fa7cda213b86f41c87b1a185e7
[10] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/researchers-have-verified-1329-hunger-deaths-in-ethiopias-tigray-region-since-the-cease-fire
[11] https://martinplaut.com/2024/01/03/famine-returns-to-ethiopia-the-life-of-the-people-of-tigray-is-indescribable/
Evidence points to a clear pattern of weaponization of starvation. A Tufts University report [1] lays bare the grim truth: the Ethiopian and Eritrean forces have waged a vicious war, not just on Tigray's soil, but on its very lifeblood. Their weapon? Hunger. With cold calculation, they choked off the region's economy and food system, strangling Tigray's sustenance like a vine. Further, a June 2023 study by the Yale Law School's Lowenstein Clinic [2] based on extensive evidence, concluded that Ethiopia and its allies, including Amhara regional authorities and Eritrea, used starvation as a weapon of war against the Tigrayan people. This conclusion was drawn from an analysis of various sources, including UN reports, human rights reports, and journalistic accounts. This is no mere consequence of war; it is a calculated atrocity, a deliberate infliction of mass starvation and death. The Ethiopian government and its allies stand accused, not just of negligence, but of wielding hunger as a weapon, their fingerprints etched in the emaciated faces and hollowed eyes of Tigray's people.
Evidences of weaponized starvation
Imagine losing your future harvest in an instant. This was the reality for Tesfay Getachew, whose 1.5-ton crop, his family's lifeline for ten months, went up in flames [3]. Birhane Haleform, a day laborer, witnessed soldiers not only setting fields ablaze but also desecrating grain stores, ensuring hunger would linger long after the flames of war died down. [4]
Satellite imagery confirms the widespread devastation. From charred farmland in Gijet, where over 500 structures, including grain stores, were purposefully destroyed, to the smoldering fields of Dansheha and Maychew, captured by Maxar Technologies, the evidence is undeniable. [5]
In Axum, the echoes of the massacre are compounded by testimonies of Eritrean soldiers pilfering from shops and factories, stripping communities bare of vital supplies. [6] Sheep, camels, donkeys, and oxen – the backbone of rural Tigrayan life – have also fallen prey to rampant theft by ENDF, Eritrean, and Amhara forces [7].
The Ethiopian government has further failed to intervene halting essential funding to Tigray, and suspending vital safety net programs. These actions have severely hampered the region's ability to cope with the food shortage. As recently as March 2022, reports like those in The Guardian documented the ongoing blockade imposed by the Ethiopian government and its allies. This blockade restricted access to food, medicine, and other critical supplies, pushing millions into famine-like conditions [8]. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Ethiopian government arrested artists who were fundraising for the famine. It is also at loggerheads with the regional government accusing it of politicizing the famine only because it called for regional emergency because of the famine. Literally, the Ethiopian government is threatening anyone who calls the crisis famine.
Consequences
These acts of commission and omission are not mere collateral damage; they are a deliberate strategy to break the spirit of a people and starve them into submission. The consequences are dire: children going hungry, families forced to flee their homes, and a humanitarian crisis. Millions suffer and lives are lost due to the weaponized starvation in Tigray, a horrific chapter in the region's history.
Immediate and dire consequences:
Over 860 people have died of hunger since September 2023 alone, with countless more uncounted. This constitutes the worst famine in modern Tigrayan history, with a staggering 91% of citizens at risk of starvation [9]. Hunger claims over 68% of lives in Tigray, making it the leading cause of death. Studies paint a grim picture, with one revealing 1,329 hunger-related deaths since the November ceasefire. [10] It also leaves survivors vulnerable to long-term health complications. More than 2 million residents suffer from acute malnutrition, as reported by the Regional Humanitarian Action Office [11].
The relationship between weaponized starvation, displacement and migration, economic decline, and social unrest is not well documented in Tigray. However, these factors are also highly interrelated. People desperately flee hunger-stricken areas, seeking food and safety elsewhere. Weaponized starvation disrupts agriculture and trade, crippling the regional economy. And, Starvation can exacerbate existing tensions and fuel violence, destabilizing communities.
Long term effects of weaponized starvation
Weaponized starvation leaves not just empty stomachs, but scars that etch themselves onto individuals, communities, and entire nations for generations. The immediate horrors of emaciated bodies and hollow eyes are devastating, but the true tragedy of weaponized starvation lies in its insidious long-term effects, reaching far beyond the initial act of deprivation.
First, children who experience extreme malnutrition in their early years face irreparable physical and cognitive damage. Stunting, impaired brain development, and weakened immune systems leave them vulnerable to disease, limiting their future potential and perpetuating a cycle of poverty. This stunted growth also affects economic development, as a malnourished workforce struggles to participate productively in society.
Secondly, food insecurity destabilizes communities, fueling mistrust and conflict. Hunger often exacerbates existing social tensions, making populations more susceptible to radicalization and exploitation. The desperation born from starvation can drive internal displacement and mass migration, further destabilizing entire regions.
Third, the trauma of watching loved ones starve, the gnawing hunger that consumes every thought, and the despair that threatens to break the spirit – these experiences leave deep psychological wounds. Survivors grapple with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, often for years to come. Children witness unimaginable horrors, affecting their ability to form healthy relationships and trust others.
Fourth, the trauma of starvation can be passed down through generations, affecting the mental and physical health of children born to malnourished mothers. Epigenetic changes, where environmental factors modify gene expression, are thought to play a role in this phenomenon, ensuring the legacy of suffering persists even with improved food security.
Ultimately, weaponized starvation is an egregious violation of human rights. It is a crime that demands not only immediate action to alleviate suffering, but also long-term investment in healing and rebuilding. By understanding the lasting scars it inflicts, we can strengthen our resolve to prevent its use and work towards a future where food is a tool for peace, not a weapon of war.
Call for Action:
In conclusion, the food crisis in Tigray is not just a matter of food scarcity, but a direct result of deliberate policies aimed at harming the Tigrayan people. And it has dire consequences. This battle against tyranny cannot be fought alone. The world cannot remain an indifferent bystander to weaponized hunger. The international community must act with urgency and purpose. Increased humanitarian aid deliveries, unimpeded access for humanitarian actors, and pressure on the Ethiopian government to recognize the crisis are crucial steps. And, beyond immediate relief, the world must support Tigray's long-term recovery, helping us rebuild our shattered lives and communities.
References:
[1] https://sites.tufts.edu/wpf/starving-tigray/
[2] https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/lowenstein-clinic-finds-ethiopia-and-allies-responsible-mass-starvation-tigray
[3] Starvation Report, May 2021, Omna Tigray
[4] https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-19/ethiopia-tigray-war-massacre-bora
[5] World Peace Foundation. (2021, April). Starving Tigray: How Armed Conflict and Mass Atrocities Have Destroyed an Ethiopian Region’s Economy and Food System and Are Threatening Famine. https://sites.tufts.edu/wpf/starving-tigray/
[6] The Massacre in Axum, Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AFR2537302021ENGLISH.pdf
[7] Starvation Report, May 2021, Omna Tigray
[8] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/mar/23/trying-to-survive-millions-in-tigray-face-hunger-as-they-wait-in-vain-for-aid
[9] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/over-860-people-died-of-hunger-in-ethiopia-s-war-torn-tigray-region-in-4-months/3101370
[10] https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-tigray-hunger-deaths-aid-6d5a15fa7cda213b86f41c87b1a185e7
[10] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/researchers-have-verified-1329-hunger-deaths-in-ethiopias-tigray-region-since-the-cease-fire
[11] https://martinplaut.com/2024/01/03/famine-returns-to-ethiopia-the-life-of-the-people-of-tigray-is-indescribable/
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