ንክትድግፉ ክታምኩም እዩ ዝድለ ንሕና ንሓቶ ገንዝብ የለን 

An Appeal to stop the raging war in Ethiopia and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Eritrea and Ethiopia

We, Eritrean Women in the Diaspora, appeal to African governments, the government of the United States, the European Union, the African Union, the United Nations, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), United Nation Human Right Council (UNHRC), United Nations Council for Refugees (UNHCR), and all other local, regional, and international humanitarian organizations to take immediate and appropriate action to stop the disastrous war in Ethiopia and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Eritrea and Ethiopia as a matter of urgency to spare the lives of the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia from the effects of the unprecedented man-made humanitarian crisis.  

We are deeply troubled by the raging war in Ethiopia, the human and the humanitarian catastrophe that has ensued in both Eritrea and Ethiopia, and the atrocious crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Tigray by Ethiopian forces, Amhara Militia and Eritrean forces. We are equally deeply disappointed by the international community's mute reaction and the lack of political will to stop the war and the lack of unwavering swift action that the situation warrants. This indifference has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands in Tigray alone, the deaths of unknown number of people in Eritrea and Ethiopia which has triggered, massive displacement, starvation, and famine in Tigray, Eritrea, and the rest of Ethiopia.

Eritreans aspired for an independent, democratic, equitable and prosperous country which they believed they had secured in 1991 through 30 years of struggle. Instead, this dream was stolen by an absolute dictator and replaced with a life of poverty, destitution, persecution, extra-judicial killings, a lifelong enslavement veiled as national service, constant wars, and regression. Today, the Eritrean regime is involved in an interventional war in Ethiopia and is making a sweeping campaign of mobilization regardless of age or medical condition. Eritrean youth as young as 15 and 16 and elders in their 60s and 70s are being subjected to forced conscription into the military and are thrown into the war in Ethiopia. The victimization does not stop there. It also extends to the families of the conscripts especially if there is non-compliance to the call to report for conscription. This include elderly parents and grandparents, wives and young children who are held responsible for the absence of husbands, adult sons, or daughters from the roll call of conscription. All means of livelihoods such as cattle are confiscated, and they are locked out of their homes with strict instruction to the communities to not provide any assistance to the victims of the regime.

Likewise, the Ethiopian people including the Tigrayans aspired for a transition into a more democratic and prosperous Ethiopia, based on the messaging of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in the early days of his ascendancy to power. However, that hope was quickly dashed as an all-out war, disguised as a law enforcement operation was launched which included the involvement of Eritrean forces and Amhara militia on the 4th of November 2020.

One year and eleven months later, a war which can be described as a carnage is raging including the targeting of civilians with air raids and artillery shelling. All this with the total blockade of Tigray, with shutting off all basic services such as banking (people cannot even access their hard-earned savings), telecommunications, electricity, medical services, food aid and education. It is a well-planned war of a genocide of the people of Tigray. Similarly, a silent genocide of the people Eritrea, in the dark and under a complete blockade was implemented over thirty years.

This has to stop with immediate effect through cessation of hostilities and with a negotiated resolution of the conflict. We believe this is achievable with the tools at the hands of the international community, such as the speedy action that was employed on all aspects of the situation in the Ukraine crises. We are appealing to the international community to act now before the situation deteriorates even further and results in the dissolution of Ethiopia and a regional chaos ensues. Not acting is not an option!

Therefore, we call for:

●      The immediate cessation of hostilities and the formation of instruments of enforcement.

●      The withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara militia from the Tigray Region and for the international community to establish a timeline for the withdrawal of these forces

●       Arms embargo to be imposed on the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments 

●      Targeted sanctions on Eritrean and Ethiopian officials who are involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity

●      The international community to pressure Ethiopia to agree to a negotiated political settlement of the conflict in Ethiopia

●      Eritrean and Ethiopian leaders be made accountable for all the atrocities being committed in Tigray Region; in addition, Eritrean leaders, be made accountable for all crimes committed in Eritrea

Eritrean Women in the Diaspora

October 3, 2022