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Home , Adigrat, Adwa, Atsbi, Axum, Debre Damo, Humera

SPECIAL REPORT M E K E L E S I T U A T I O N R E P O R T N O . 1

4/5/2021 MAIN SOURCE: MEKELE TIMES, A MONTHLY PUBLICATION STARTED BY “THOSE OF US WHO LIVED THE DAYS TO TELL THE STORIES.”

FIRST EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER WAS PUBLISHED IN MEKELE ON DECEMBER 28, 2020.

o m n a t i g r a y . o r g @ o m n a t i g r a y A M P L I F Y I N G T H E V O I C E S O F T E G A R U P A G E 2

KEY FACTS AND NUMBERS

Conflict broke out on November 3rd, 2020 when the Ethiopian government declared war against the Tigray Defense Force (TDF). The region was attacked and invaded by Ethiopian joint forces, which include Amhara militia, as well as by Eritrean forces supported by the UAE, with the goal of apprehending the democratically elected political leaders of Tigray. The conflict, in the previously most stable and peaceful region in , led to an immediate humanitarian crisis that has seen an influx of thousands of refugees into and millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as fighting intensified. This conflict has been characterized by indiscriminate killing of civilians, weaponized sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), looting, destruction of essential infrastructure (health facilities, water, power, telecommunication) and cutting off the region's civilian population from much needed resources, which all amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

70K 60K 4.5M 2.5M I N N O C E N T C I V I L I A N S R E F U G E E S I N S U D A N I N D I R E N E E D I N T E R N A L L Y D I S P L A C E D I N D I S C R I M I N A T E L Y O F F O O D A S S I S T A N C E P E O P L E ( I D P S ) K I L L E D ( ~ 7 5 % O F T I G R A Y ) 75% 80% 99% O F S T A T E A N D P R I V A T E O F H E A L T H F A C I L I T I E S O F A M B U L A N C E S U N I V E R S I T I E S L O O T E D A N D L O O T E D , V A N D A L I Z E D O R S T O L E N , T A K E N T O E R I T R E A D A M A G E D B E Y O N D R E P A I R D E S T R O Y E D O R D E S T R O Y E D A M P L I F Y I N G T H E V O I C E S O F T E G A R U P A G E 3

KEY ACTORS

"This war will haunt Ethiopia and will go down in history [... as ] the only country in the world that invited its former foe and archenemy () to invade its northern territory.”

E T H I O P I A N E R I T R E A N U A E S O M A L I E t h i o p i a n A r m e d E r i t r e a n A r m y h a s U A E d r o n e s u s e d S o m a l i s o l d i e r s F o r c e s e n c i r c l e d b e e n t o r e p o r t e d l y T i g r a y , g o i n g o n d e p l o y e d i n b o m b T i g r a y f r o m d e p l o y e d t h e o f f e n s i v e i n T i g r a y . T h e y t h e E r i t r e a n t o T i g r a y t h e W e s t , S o u t h , i n v a d e d f r o m t h e c o a s t a l — — — — — — — — — a n d N o r t h o f N o r t h a n d W e s t o f p o r t o f A s a b D i r e c t & i n d i r e c t T i g r a y . T i g r a y . ( * * l o c a t i o n s w h i c h s u p p o r t f r o m h a v e n o w b e e n W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s c l e a r e d o f a n y e v i d e n c e * * )

Amhara militia came through western and southern Tigray. Other militias and special police, including the Oromo, Afar, Somali have been reported to be involved

WAR CRIMES & CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY Hundreds of civilians have been randomly and indiscriminately killed in , Maikadra, , Shire, , , Edga Hamus, , , , Dugum, Abreha Atsebeha, Sancta, ’E, Mesebo, Harena, Hagereselam, Abi Adi and Mekele. Destruction of crops and livestock, and livelihoods Destruction and looting of health centers and hospitals, which are essential for those wounded, survivors of sexual violence, and those with chronic illnesses The region was completely cut off from the rest of the world until early February, and still remains incredibly inaccessible (80%). Such isolation has meant: Weaponized starvation as there is an acute shortage of basic food items and banks are mostly closed and people do not have access to their own money. Acute shortage of medication in most parts of Tigray. Diabetic patients are unable to get their medication. People are dying from preventable diseases. A M P L I F Y I N G T H E V O I C E S O F T E G A R U P A G E 4

DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Religious sites including mosques and churches have been destroyed, pillaged and looted. Such sites include the Al-Nejashi Mosque, a UNECSO heritage site, Axum T’sion (where the Arc of the Covenant is believed to be), and monastery.

LIFE UNDER COMMAND POST IN MEKELE

“In general, life under the command post is hell to most people.”

Tigray is under command post for the coming 6 months (Nov. 2020 - April 2021) Under a state of emergency for four months (**would expire this month, Feb. 2021**), but will likely be extended Constitution has been suspended | Most government institutions were looted and vandalized Police station filled with armed forces | No one to report attacks to No warrant needed to search properties | Random house searches and alleged theft of property | Anyone can be arrested at will at any time Curfew of 6 pm (**moved to 4 pm in Feb 2021 as response to protests**), infringement punishable by death (point-blank shootings) | such shootings can also occur without such an excuse Weaponized rape in Mekele is widespread A M P L I F Y I N G T H E V O I C E S O F T E G A R U P A G E 5

"Law enforcement operation” not only hunted and arrested political leaders and former political leaders, but also extended to several notable business leaders, people whose parents have served the country as top political leaders, and community leaders with no ties to politics No power, internet and telecom in Mekele & most parts of Tigray No gasoline in the city, most people travel by foot Limited mobility between one city to another Businesses are still closed | government services have been completely stopped as has schooling No independent media and no internet access to report the plight of the residents to the media (**any time there is intermittent connectivity, videos of atrocities emerge from social media**) No humanitarian or press corridor for independent media to investigate the level of damage

“A recent viral video has been circulating and showed on TV about an Ethiopian Army general asking why there is a repeated rape in the city of Mekele. This is what you hear on government controlled media. You can use your imagination to the many rapes, thefts, carjackings and killings that were not reported by the government controlled media. There are many more rapes that were not reported.” Nov.-Dec. 2020 Timeline Phone service very sporadically worked in certain Dec. 13: phone lines restored w/ Dec. 28:Gov. Nov. 5: Power, areas of Mekele. All other services still cut off. limited network; power & water also owned bank Detailed Internet, phones, restored in Mekele. Banks & opens select timeline: banks & water businesses still closed. No Internet. branches w/ Annex 2 limits services cut off by Dec. 10: “Some people traveled on foot from Adigrat bringing with Ethiopian gov. Nov. 27: Nov. 30: “The curfew in them news of family members who had been killed by Eritrean Two fighter Mekele was set to 6pm soldiers. Those people who traveled on foot from Adigrat jets over confirmed that Eritrean soldiers were at large from Zalanbesa to th th and hearing sporadic Nov. 7 – 26 � bombed most parts of Tigray Mekele, gun fire every night and in Adigrat, Howzen, Sinkata, Edge Hamus etc).” firing became the norm for Nov. 1: • Fighter jets • Drones • Tanks • Artillery Dec. 11:UN Dec. 24: several residents. Every time William convoy Ethiopian Davidson of bombs people heard a gunshot, Forced displacement from homes. Leave or be killed by �� forces attacked by airlines started ICG inquires landing they feared that someone occupying one city to the next. �� forces 1 flight a day about �� outside of could have been shot.” the city military build By November 26, Humera, Shire, Axum, Adigrat, Howzen, Wukro, , up Fear of going out | Executions in broad daylight | Looting | Weaponized Rape | Harassment Mychew, were occupied. Unwarranted house searches | No or sporadic public transport | Very limited fuel

November 2020 December 2020

Nov. 4: v Refugees in Sudan report massacres along ethnic lines, as violent Nov. 30: Unelected PM Abiy Dec. 7: “Two youngsters ETH gov. were killed last night. Dec. 24: “It is Christmas Nov. 3: deaths befell on innocent Tigrayan civilians. Ahmed declared the end of eve in most parts of the declares the “law enforcement Neighbors could hear the Dec. 25: W/ Tigray v Hundreds were killed at , a location controlled by the Ethiopian world. Several countries war on operation.” moaning and pleas for banks closed regional forces. Reported to Amnesty that TDFs committed these heinous crimes are dealing with COVID- Tigray’s help all night. No one & no gov. against ethnic Amhara w/ out an independent investigation | TDF Gun fire in Mekele thru regional dared to go out as they 19. In Tigray, people are humanitarian confirms rejected these claims and called for independent investigation. Dec. 3 not wearing face masks gov. Nov. 27: too could get shot. The corridor for threat anymore. It was very Other parts military shot them near a assistance Dec. 3: Mekele dangerous, but it of Tigray major intersection (22 people are residents spotted civilian showed how dire the bombed Mazoria) and they left starving. clothed � who went to situation in Tigray was, repeatedly loot a hospital & them lying on the street. No one could go out to as people are dismantle telecom help them. In the morning, preoccupied with the servers à residents the Red cross ambulance daily news of war, barricading roads destruction and death.” Nov. 28: Mekele rocked took the bodies.” 49 shots @ by tanks and heavy residentials areas, artillery businesses, “Mekele captured” Continuous fighting schools & a clinic across Tigray A M P L I F Y I N G T H E V O I C E S O F T E G A R U P A G E 7

EXTERNAL SOURCES 1.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-02/ethiopian-oppositionclaims-52- 000-dead-in-northern-conflict 2.https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/uae-dismantles-eritrea-base-as- itpulls-back-after--war/2021/02/18/ e159199e-71a9-11eb-8651- 6d3091eac63f_story.html 3.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/10/red-cross-80-percent-of-ethiopias-tigraycut- off-from-aid 4.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world//ethiopia-ark-of-the-covenantchurch- attack-b1805549.html 5.https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/monastery-bombed-and-looted-in-ethiopian- warrzg2crrc3

PICTURE SOURCES 1.https://www.countryflags.com/somalia-flag-image/ 2.https://www.countryflags.com/ethiopia-flag-image/ 3.https://www.countryflags.com/eritrea-flag-image/ 4.https://www.countryflags.com/united-arab-emirates-flag-icon/ 5.https://images.app.goo.gl/tdUeRPLmyaBGRm6D6 6.https://images.app.goo.gl/HkiuGEqfPQHwqvrDA 7.https://images.app.goo.gl/GxkY8C1Fj8JGXvqP7 8.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55530355

TIMELINE PICTURE SOURCES

1.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-conflictexplained.html 2.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-sudan.html 3.https://images.app.goo.gl/gV26gF1wGGHKgtwd7 4.https://images.app.goo.gl/RwMexVriepHj8xpT9 5.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/11/ethiopia-says-it-killed-15-members-oftigray- forces-captured-8 6.https://images.app.goo.gl/ZRdh2nwRL486RSjR7 7.https://images.app.goo.gl/Sm4Sj7SuZc4MPgMT6 8.https://images.app.goo.gl/c9LxyGfuCSb78zX3A 9.https://images.app.goo.gl/AqDdA7Xun1PoNepV6 10.https://images.app.goo.gl/gaF9aXksXzRHnVAU9 11.https://images.app.goo.gl/XGwMmXVoDVH745hcA 12.https://images.app.goo.gl/wSr6VVMziVMdp74Z6 A M P L I F Y I N G T H E V O I C E S O F T E G A R U P A G E 8

ANNEX 1: MAP OF CONFLICT IN TIGRAY IN NOVEMBER 2020

Source: https://www.polgeonow.com/2020/11/ethiopia-conflict-map-tigray-control.html

ANNEX 2: DETAILED TIMELINE FROM MEKELE TIMES Annex 2: Detailed Timeline from Mekele Times Date Event

November 01 William Davison of ICG sent a text message to a friend to inquire about heavy military buildup (of Ethiopian and Eritrean forces) November 03 The Tigray Regional Government confrmed there was an eminent threat of a preemptive strike. November 04 Military confrontation between the Tigray defense forces and the Ethiopian forces supported by the Amhara militia started. November 05 Banks, telephone, Internet, power, water services were cut of by the Ethiopian government. November 07 - 26 The Ethiopian government bombed most parts of Tigray using fghter jets, drones, tanks, and artillery. Following the bombings, residents left their respective cities as the Ethiopian/Eritrean Armies occupied one city after the other. Those who did not leave the city during the siege were killed when the armies occupied their cities. By November 26, Humera, Shire, Axum, Adigrat, Howzen, Wukro, Alamata, Mychew, Korem were occupied. November 07 - 26 Hundreds of civilians were massacred in Maikadra. The area was controlled by the Ethiopian military and without an independent investigation this was reported to Amnesty International as an act of genocide committed on ethnic Amhara. The Ethiopian government claimed Tigray defense forces committed this heinous crime on civilians of ethnic Amhara. Tigray government denied the allegations and requested for an independent investigation. The Ethiopian government declined the request saying they don't need a babysitter. November 27 Two fghter jets few over the skies of Mekele, creating havoc in the city and terrorizing residents. The jets fred several bombs, but luckily they landed on the outskirt of Mekele near the Mesebo Cement factory. Several parts of Tigray were repeatedly bombed by air. Mekele alone was bombed at least 5 times. November 27 Tigray defense force fred three rockets to Bahardar or in response to the air attack. November 28 Rumors about capture of an Ethiopian Military General Bacha Debele circulated. Several people celebrated in the city only to learn few hours later the city was being ravaged: Mekele was rocked by tanks and heavy artilleries. There were a total of 49 shots. Most landed in residential areas, some in business areas and some on schools and on a clinic. A total of 27 people died and 50 people were wounded. November 28 The local Tigray television stations were taken of the air (only showing music and previously recorded programs). November 28 The Ethiopian chief of staf came on television to announce the capture of Mekele. November 29 On this Sunday morning, residents stayed indoors. They could not go to church as the Ethiopian military controlled key government buildings, including the police headquarters, TPLF head ofce, Martyrs monument, Tigray Television, Presidential Palace. November 29 Local Tigray TV stations (Tigray TV and DW) continued to transmit reruns of previous programs and mostly music, disheartening the locals that would tune into these stations for possible news. November 29 Breaking news on DW that Tigray defense forces downed an MIG-23 Ethiopian fghter jet, reviving the moral of the residents. Date Event

November 29 Business and government ofces in Mekele were completely looted. The level of vandalism was so bad that the ofces were destroyed beyond recognition. November 30 PM came on National TV to give a report to the “Parliament” and did a Q and A. He declared the end of war or in his word the “Law enforcement operation.” November 30 Meanwhile random profling and harassment by soldiers continued. Most women decided to stay at home due to widespread rape. November 30 The curfew in Mekele was set to 6pm and hearing sporadic gun fre every night became the norm for residents. Every time people heard a gunshot, they feared that someone could have been shot. November 30 News on Al-Jazeera reported that Mekele Hospital was flled with a great number of post traumatic disorder (PTSD) patients. November 30 Hospitals reported an increase in premature birth and an increase in trauma patients. November 30 There is still no power in the city. The phone lines in Mekele (only Mekele) still worked in some areas. December 1 Several houses were randomly searched without a court warrant. Some people said that they were told to leave their houses when their houses were being searched and said that upon returning, valuables and cash was missing. December 1 Heavy artillery gun fre went on all day and night. Sometimes shots were fred every 30 seconds, terrifying and traumatizing some children. December 1 The soldiers were only stationed in few ofces or posts and could not safeguard the city, especially its businesses. Some businesses secured their products while others took their chances. Most business were looted. December 1 Heavy movement of soldiers. Several people mentioned they had seen numerous trucks flled with corpses and wounded Ethiopian soldiers. December 1 Rumors few in the city that the former speaker of the house Mrs. Keria Ibrahim had been arrested. December 1 There was no gasoline in town. Some taxis owners charge 5 times more to transport people. The city was totally devoid of cars as people either took taxis or choose to walk. December 1 Local residents that had left their homes to the outskirts of the city when Mekele was bombarded on November 29 returned to their homes. December 2 The heavy artillery gun fre continued for a second time. Gun fre continued throughout the day and night. They were fred towards Tembien and Gijet where the government thought the Tigray defense forces were barricading. December 2 There was still no power. People would sometimes go to their neighbors with generators to watch TV. But the Tigray TV stations were still only transmitting music. December 3 The heavy artillery gun fre continued for a third day in a row.

December 3 Limited public transportation services started to Qiha and Adigudom (12km and 40km away from Mekele). Date Event

December 3 Two ugly yellow buses that had Eritrean Plate number full of civilian clothed passengers (Eritreans) were noticed in the city fanked by Ethiopian Military patrol trucks. One of the buses went to Ayder Referal hospital and the other went to the Ethiopian telecom to dismantle Telecom servers and to either vandalize or remove the CT scan and MRI machines from the hospital respectively. December 3 Residents of Mekele heard this news and responded by barricading each and every neighborhood of the city (the two buses and their passengers left the areas again accompanied by Ethiopian military patrol.) December 3 The military killed 5 people when the city’s residents barricaded the streets. However, most of those who got killed were just passers by. One of them was coming home and he was killed right in front of his family. This angered the residents of Mekele. For a moment it looked like a strong resistance started, but it was crushed by force from the get go. December 4 Road blockage continues in most parts of the cities.

December 4 A military warehouse near Midre-Genet (aka Awash Camp) was looted. People took whatever they could from the store. This was done in front of the military in what looked like a deliberate act to encourage people to steal. Others justifed the looting as people did not have anything to eat. December 5 Heavy fghting was reported at Gereb Segen some 25 km away from Mekele. December 6 The Interim government ofcials called Mekele residents for a community meeting. Interim governor (Dr. Mulu Nega fanked by General Yohannes) held a meeting with local resident representatives. The residents requested immediate restoration of basic services. December 7 Two youngsters were killed last night. Neighbors could hear the moaning and pleas for help all night. No one dared to go out as they too could get shot. The military shot them near a major intersection (22 Mazoria) and they left them lying on the street. No one could go out to help them. In the morning, the Red cross ambulance took the bodies. December 7 News of several Ethiopian military causalities near Al-Assa and the military killing innocent civilians in the area in retaliation was reported. December 7 Power was restored in southern region of Tigray. Alamata and were now occupied by the Amhara forces as property repossessed by the state. December 7 Transportation services resumed to Quhia (a city some 12 km from Mekele). December 7 Tigray defense forces announced they had downed a fghter jet near Medebay Zana (a Week after PM declared the end of law enforcement). December 8 The city of WorkAmba was bombed by air and heavy artillery.

December 8 Transportation services to Alamata resumed (Dare devil passengers and drivers). December 8 Power, Telecom, Internet, water and basic services were still not available (Everything was closed for business). Local TV still aired patriotic songs and no news coming from the Tigray government made the residents a little weary. Date Event

December 9 Banks in Alamata reopened and some people traveled from Mekele (paying 800 birr one way compared to the old fare of 60 birr) to withdraw cash from their banks, risking their lives on the way to Alamata as the roads were still considered in a war zone. December 9 Several ambulances belonging to Enderta Woreda were taken by Eritrean soldiers from Quiha. December 9 Military patrol had been searching for notable local businessmen in in local cofee shops.

December 10 As it is the beginning of the month (ታሕሳስ ፩ ) (aka ባሕቲ), several people focked to church, the only open institution, to get solace. Meanwhile, banks, the airport, government ofces, businesses still remained closed. Power, telecom, internet and water services were still not available in the city. December 10 Meanwhile, the interim government had requested a meeting with local residents, but only a few people showed up and most expressed their grievances and requested the restoration of basic services. December 10 Local FM station was restored and they started transmitting Ethiopian TV news feeds. December 10 Meanwhile there was news of renewed fghting in southern and western parts of Tigray. December 10 Ethiopian military forces were still committing random killings (Kebede a butcher near Ayder was shot in a broad daylight).

December 10 Some people traveled on foot from Adigrat bringing with them news of family members who had been killed by Eritrean soldiers. Those people who traveled on foot from Adigrat confrmed that Eritrean soldiers were at large from Zalanbesa to Atsbi and in Adigrat, Howzen, Sinkata, Edge Hamus etc). December 11 A local resident travelled from Addis to Afar on the back of a pick up truck (having paid a lot of money) and then continued on foot for some 26 kms from AbAllla (Afar) to Mekele. Ethiopian forces were in Afar and Tigray forces were close by in Milazat. December 11 A UN convoy was attacked by Ethiopian (Eritrean) forces in western parts of Tigray (near Eritrean refugee camp). An Ethiopian government spokesperson confrmed the attack. UN ofcials pushed for a free humanitarian corridor, which was declined by Ethiopian government. There is also no press corridor as no one is reporting the various atrocities committed in Tigray by Ethiopian/Eritrean military. December 11 Tigray defense forces claimed to have shot another Ethiopian military aircraft in western Tigray. December 12 Transportation services (informal) to Wukro resumed.

December 12 Mekele looked like a ghost city. All businesses were still closed and some of the buildings were destroyed when Mekele was attacked on Nov 28. December 12 All services were still unavailable. All government, private ofces closed. Banks, Airport, Telecom etc not providing services. All schools from KG to universities remained closed. December 13 The phone lines were restored with limited network. Networks were congested as people called their family members in . Later in the evening power and water services were restored. Date Event

December 13 Now that power had been restored, locals were glued to their TV (local TV had been of-air for more than a week). December 13 The evening news on Ethiopian TV aired a video of the Prime Minister with his top generals in Mekele wearing a military uniform. December 14 Despite restoration of power and telephone, banks, all businesses and ofces remained closed, while fights were still suspended. December 15 The local telecom ofce opened and it became the frst ofce to provide billing services. December 15 Meanwhile some concerned citizens requested a humanitarian and press corridor and withdrawal of Eritrean troops from occupied parts of Tigray and of Amhara forces from western and southern parts of Tigray. December 15 In the evening, we saw an Ethiopian Airline Q-400 airplane. The airline opened its reservation application and some passengers who have relatives in Addis bought tickets for them. 40 passengers travelled to Addis. Ethiopian TV announced on TV that fights to Tigray had resumed. December 15 Tigray TV started a test program (Ethiopian government owned).

December 16 Two military airplanes landed in Mekele.

December 16 Ethiopian Airlines stopped its operation pending security clearance from NISS. December 16 Meanwhile Banks, and most businesses and ofce remained closed. Few Hotels (3 star) had started providing services (mostly to the newly appointed interim government ofcials). December 17 Ethiopian Airlines had yet to resumed its operation, but there were several military fights (for at least the preceding four days). The aircrafts were said to be transporting soldiers (mostly to fght with Sudan). December 17 A caravan of military vehicles had been headed towards Tembien. There was news of fghting in Tembien and other parts of Tigray. December 17 Transportation services to Wukro and Mychew were working on and of.

December 17 Mekele University held their graduation before the students completed their fnal semester. The interim government governor presided over the graduation. December 18 Power was restored to Wukro and Adigrat. Electric technicians confrmed they were met by Eritrean soldiers at the check points. December 18 Several people started hearing news of their deceased relatives (killed mostly by Eritrean soldiers. (Notable person Esayas, his son, nephew and sister were killed inside a church compound in Edga Hamus). December 18 Now that the phone lines were working, news reached the Mekele that several people were killed near Mekele by Eritrean forces (7 in Harena, 5 in Motogo and 7 in Mymekden); these villages are located 15-20km away from Mekele, but the news did not arrived until the phone lines were restored. December 18 Two young kids were executed by the Ethiopian military near Fire-Abyot High School in a broad daylight. December 19 There was news of heavy fghting near Korem between the Tigray defence forces and the Ethiopian army. Date Event

December 19 The Interim government cabinet met with UN agency representatives, and the UN ofcials demanded immediate restoration of peace, law enforcement, and tele-communication (internet) and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to all parts of Tigray. December 20 Stories of sporadic fghting in many parts of Tigray.

December 20 Transportation services to cities in Southern Tigray worked intermittently and inconsistently as there are skirmishes in certain parts of southern Tigray. December 21 The interim mayor of Mekele came on TV and announced that banks were to open; however, when people went to the bank they were not serving customers. We heard the banks were conducting an audit and would perhaps start work this week. December 22 The diaspora community, giving up on the American Embassy and various embassies to take them out of Tigray safely, started making unilateral decisions to travel to Addis using local transportation, despite risks of harassment, intimidation, requests for money and putting their lives and the lives of their children at serious risk. December 22 Getachew Reda’s (spokesperson for the Tigray command post) twitter post became the talk of the town. The twitter post said he was alive and well and in Tigray. He also informed of the downing of an Ethiopian Military gunship in BetMara. December 23 Ethiopian Airlines announced it would start three fights per day efective tomorrow, but ultimately two fights were cancelled leaving one fight per day. December 23 All government ofces, courts, schools and businesses were still closed (except for a few cafes, pharmacies and small shops). December 24 It was Christmas eve in most parts of the world. Several countries were dealing with COVID-19. In Tigray, people were not wearing face masks anymore. It was very dangerous, but it showed how dire the situation in Tigray was, as people were preoccupied with the daily news of war, destruction and death. December 24 The news of death of relatives fnally reached the city now that there was limited transportation services. People in every corner of the city were mourning the death of their relatives. December 24 Banks still remained closed. There are no internet services in the city. However, power and water services are available in Mekele and nearby cities. December 24 Ethiopian Airlines was still operating one fight a day. Local transportation services to Adigrat resumed, but this brought news of death of relatives and also confrmed the pretense of Eritrean solders in Adigrat (specially in Kebele 05 & Kebele 06) December 25 It was Christmas day in many parts of the world and the diaspora community in Mekele had started leaving the city now that air transportation had resumed. Some people reported scrutiny and harassment both at Mekele and Addis Ababa Airport. December 25 Banks still remained closed. People were hurting and starving as they were unable to withdraw money from banks and unable to buy basic food items. Several people in the city were starving and need immediate food aid. Date Event

December 25 All business, government ofces, shops remained closed. Landlords that earn their living by renting their property were hurting as most businesses were vacant. December 25 There was news of sexual harassment, rape, carjackings and robberies by members of the military. December 26 Some people started thinking about the end of the golden opportunities that were created in the previous 2.5 years, which saw more investors and elites in Tigray. How such opportunities would never return as as the war and destruction has drastically reversed the course of Tigray’s development. December 27 The banner/sign of the head ofce of the TPLF was replaced by Tigray Prosperity Party. It was a very symbolic move on the part of the new government as they seemed to have deliberately chosen the TPLF ofce as their headquarters. December 27 Heavy movement of soldiers. Looked like musical chair as they kept on rotating the soldiers every few days. December 27 There was again news of continued war in Nebelet, Agula’e, Geejet, Samre and Wore’E December 27 The transportation services to nearby cities (300 Birr to Wukro & 800 Birr to Adigrat) possible. December 27 Presence of local police (former police) in the city. They were not armed and feared for their lives because of robbery and theft in the city (some armed with knives and guns) December 28 Today was the annual Christian holiday of St. Gabriel. Several people focked to church. Inside the church people found numerous colorful papers with writing. December 28 The colorful pieces of papers (supposedly from the TPLF leadership) were scattered inside the church compound (St. Gabriel). The content of the colorful pieces of paper later showed messages from the Tigray government in exile. The papers had the following four points: • Local militia should not disarm • Public servants should not cooperate with the interim government of Tigray • Businesses including public transportation (taxis) should not over charge • Businesses should continue to honor old currencies

People had mixed feelings about the content and the authenticity of the supposedly coded message from TPLF. December 28 Government owned bank started its operations in select branches. The bank could only disburse a maximum amount of 2000 per day (or 25,000 per month). Many people did not have any money so they welcomed the limited amount. But the lines were so long and one could read the anger on people’s faces as they got in line to receive their own money. Stay Involved

@omnatigray omnatigray.org #StopWarOnTigray, #TigrayGenocide, #AllowAccessToTigray