Tigray displaced families fear renewed war as hopes of returning home fade | News
Abi Adi, Tigray, Ethiopia – Classrooms once filled with students are now makeshift homes for families displaced by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.
At a former high school in Abi Adi, families who fled from Western Tigray have lived for years in conditions that were meant to be temporary. Mattresses, cooking utensils, and personal belongings have replaced school furniture as families adapt to sharing rooms originally designed for students.
“We thought we would stay here for a few months before returning home, but it has been years now. Our children are growing up in this school, and we still don’t know when we will be able to go back,” said Tewolde, a displaced resident from Setit Humera in Western Tigray.
His hopes for returning home have been dashed by renewed fighting nearly four years after the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed an agreement aimed at ending their devastating war.
The Pretoria agreement, signed in November 2022, officially ended two years of conflict that resulted in an estimated 500,000 deaths due to violence, famine, and healthcare collapse, and displaced millions. However, the deal left significant political and territorial disputes unresolved, notably in Western Tigray, where Amhara forces gained control during the war.
The region remains contentious, and the return of displaced Tigrayans has been a particularly controversial issue. As disputes over the withdrawal of non-federal forces, disarmament, and the region’s political administration intensified, relations between the federal government and Tigray’s authorities soured, while divisions within Tigray deepened.
On September 22, renewed fighting broke out, with TPLF forces launching an offensive that led to the seizure of Mekelle’s airport the following day. Both sides exchanged blame for the escalation, marking the most significant violence since the war ended in 2022. Federal forces managed to retake Mekelle on October 4, but clashes continued elsewhere, highlighting the fragile security situation.
In response to the renewed hostilities, the federal government established a caretaker administration to govern Tigray, aiming to restore public services and prepare for regional elections. However, this leadership change has not quelled the fighting or resolved the underlying political disputes.
On October 8, Human Rights Watch and other organizations alerted the United Nations Human Rights Council to the risks posed by the renewed fighting, warning that these hostilities could nullify the Pretoria agreement. They reported drone strikes, mortar fire, and artillery attacks in populated areas, urging international scrutiny of violations committed by all parties involved.
As the conflict persists, families in Abi Adi face years of uncertainty regarding their future. Many fled their homes when the armed conflict erupted in 2020 and have struggled to rebuild their lives under dire circumstances. Displacement sites are marked by shortages of food, clean water, and essential medicines. Overcrowding has further exacerbated daily life, posing challenges for children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic medical conditions.
Selass, an internally displaced mother of two from Humera, expressed concern about the lack of affordable medicines. “Sometimes, we take our children to the clinic, but the medicines they need are not available. We are told to buy them from private pharmacies, but we have no money,” she said.
For families who have been displaced for years, the renewed fighting has reignited fears that their situation may become permanent.
The crisis has also impacted Tigray’s health facilities, which are struggling with shortages of essential medical supplies. Doctors at Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekelle, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on their ability to speak publicly, reported insufficient supplies of required medications, forcing patients to purchase drugs from private pharmacies that are often prohibitively expensive.
“Patients have to go outside the hospital to buy the medicines they need, but not everyone can afford them, making it difficult for patients to get proper treatment,” one doctor noted.
While humanitarian organizations continue to provide medical assistance, considerable gaps in healthcare remain as years of conflict have damaged infrastructure and depleted resources. Further hostilities threaten to disrupt already limited services.
Amid this turmoil, thousands of former fighters are attempting to transition from military life. On November 5, Ethiopia’s National Rehabilitation Commission announced that approximately 5,500 former Tigrayan fighters were receiving rehabilitation training in Mekelle. The program aims to support their return to civilian life through education, vocational training, and employment opportunities.
Alem, a 28-year-old former fighter from Mekelle, expressed her desire for a peaceful future. “I want to have a future and build a life for myself. I want to get married and have children, like any other woman. I survived the last war, and I do not want to go through the same experience again,” she said.
Atsbeha, another former fighter who joined the military in 2020 after leaving university, echoed these sentiments. “I want to work, earn a living, and rebuild the future I put on hold. I do not want to keep fighting. I want to have a chance to live a normal life,” he said.
However, the resurgence of conflict threatens to undermine programs intended to facilitate these transitions. Concerns remain regarding reports of forced recruitment by the TPLF, including allegations targeting children and previously demobilized fighters. UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned these actions, emphasizing the challenges former combatants face in establishing civilian lives when pressure to join armed groups persists.
For those entering the rehabilitation program, access to education, employment, and security will be crucial in forging a sustainable future.
As displaced families in Abi Adi continue to occupy classrooms, patients struggle to obtain necessary medical supplies, and former fighters seek to escape military life, the specter of renewed conflict looms large over Tigray.
Selass captured the wishes of many when she stated, “We survived one war and lost almost everything. We don’t want our children to experience another one. All we want is to return home and live normally.”
