The conflict in Ethiopia: a forgotten tragedy
Amidst the countless news stories flooding the media, it is sometimes easy to forget the conflicts taking place in certain parts of the world. One such conflict, which has received little media attention, has been unfolding in Ethiopia for almost two years.
The conflict erupted in November 2020 between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a politico-military party active in the Tigray region, located in the north of the country. What began as a political dispute quickly escalated into a ferocious war, marked by massacres, rape, forced displacement and mass destruction.
Yet despite the scale of the suffering caused by the conflict, it remains largely ignored by the international community. The media and governments seem to prefer to focus on other crises, leaving the Ethiopian people in distress.
The humanitarian consequences of the war are devastating. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety in overcrowded displacement camps. Humanitarian aid agencies are overburdened, trying to provide lifesaving assistance to a population in distress, often with limited resources. Famine also threatens the region, as fighting has disrupted agriculture and food distribution.
Yet despite these dire circumstances, there appears to be little concerted effort to end this conflict and help the victims. Peace negotiations have repeatedly failed and regional and international actors seem preoccupied with other, more pressing issues.
As human beings, it is our duty not to forget the sufferings of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. We must educate ourselves about the situation, support the humanitarian organizations working on the ground, and demand that our governments take action to end this conflict.
The Ethiopian people deserve to be heard and supported. Let’s not forget them.