Ethiopians struggle amid drought and conflict

A full-scale humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Ethiopia. In the Tigray region of the country, tens of thousands of people have fled to neighboring Sudan and even more remain internally displaced. This conflict falls upon a country already struggling to meet the needs of the large number of refugees it hosts while grappling with the effects of one of the worst droughts in over 40 years.

The drought, which has exacerbated already challenging conditions, is currently affecting over 20 million people in the Horn of Africa. With water sources drying up, livelihoods decimated and prices of food and commodities rising, more people are now being forced to flee due to a mix of conflict and climate shocks.

The vast majority of those who have fled so far are women and children who have undertaken dangerous journeys to reach safety.

Behind these staggering numbers and breaking news updates are millions of individuals whose lives have been turned upside down. Meet five people who have embarked on dangerous journeys to reach safety and continue to face harsh conditions in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

Alemtsehay

Twenty-five-year-old Alemtsehay and her now 2-year-old son fled violence in northern Ethiopia last year, seeking safety in South Sudan. She was pregnant when she embarked on the dangerous journey, and her now 2-month-old daughter was born in Doro refugee camp.

Despite having a safe place to live and deliver her daughter, Alemtsehay struggles to support her family on the small income and food rations she receives in South Sudan. “I have a small shop here where I sell soap and coffee beans, but it’s not enough to survive,” she says.

“All I want is peace so that I can go home.” 

Ardo

Ardo, a farmer and mother of four from the Eastern Somali region of Ethiopia, did not want to leave her village but she was forced to because of the drought. It had barely rained in months, her cattle were dying and her children were hungry. She walked over 160 miles to reach a small town near Kebribeyah, Ethiopia’s regional capital, where she and others from her village desperately searched for water and pasture to feed their cattle—but there was nothing.

“I can’t count the number of people that were displaced with us. Nearly everyone in the village left,” she shares.

Ardo and her family now live at the makeshift Mara-gaajo site in Kebribeyah with around 500 other internally displaced families. There she has shelter and receives aid deliveries such as water to help keep her family and her livestock alive.

Alganesh

Twenty-three-year-old Alganesh was forced to flee her home in Kafta Humera, in the Tigray region, while pregnant. She found shelter for herself, her son and her mother-in-law at an IDP site in Abi Adi.

UNHCR recently distributed basic relief items to 250 households in the IDP site where she lives. "The items we received today will help me maintain the hygiene of my child, bring water to my family and wash our clothes," Alganesh explains.

Salam and Tesfay

Salam was forced to leave her hometown in northern Ethiopia when clashes reached the area. She fled with her family to her father-in-law’s house in Tanqa Milash, Ethiopia, where they now live in a single room with just a mattress.

"I have no other relatives. They are the ones keeping me safe," Salam explains.

Tesfay, her 53-year-old father-in-law, opened his doors to the young family, despite already struggling himself. He lost his animals and tools during the first months of war, putting him out of business as a farmer and depleting his savings.

"We are sharing what we have. Sometimes we only eat injera with spices. The situation is very difficult, let alone to help others. They are my blood. I cannot leave them alone," Tesfay explains. 

Abraht

Twenty-three-year-old Abraht fled her home in Maichew in the Tigray region of Ethiopia when conflict reached the area. She was two months pregnant at the time.

"We walked for five days. I thought I had lost the baby, but thanks to God now I have a healthy girl," she explains, as she recalls the treacherous journey during which she only ate bread and had to drink water from the rivers. On this journey, Abraht’s husband was captured by armed men.

Though she is now safe, Abraht continues to struggle. She was unable to access any support during her pregnancy and was forced to deliver her baby alone. Now, the young mother struggles to produce milk, as she only eats wheat, often causing her baby girl to be hungry and cry.

How you can help…

You can help refugees and IDPs in Ethiopia and neighboring countries by becoming USA for UNHCR’s newest monthly donor. Your support will help increase humanitarian aid and improve the lives of the millions of individuals who are struggling to survive in the conflict-ridden region.