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 Ethiopia, led to an immediate humanitarian crisis that has seen an influx of thousands of refugees into Sudan 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 (Eritrea) 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 Humera, Maikadra, Sheraro, Shire, Axum, Adwa, Edga Hamus, Adigrat, Negash, Wukro, Dugum, Abreha Atsebeha, Sancta, Agula’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 Debre Damo 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.