Five years ago, on November 4, 2020, the Federal Government of Ethiopia, together with allied Eritrean forces, launched a devastating military campaign in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. What followed was a deliberate campaign marked by widespread atrocities, including mass killings, weaponized sexual violence, the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, and ethnic cleansing with the intent to destroy. Many survivors and experts have described these patterns of violence as genocidal in intent and scale. The conflict created one of the gravest humanitarian crises in recent history, the effects of which continue to impede recovery and peace building efforts today.
The human toll has been staggering. More than half a million lives were lost, and millions were displaced. Tigray’s once-strong health system—among the most resilient in Ethiopia—was deliberately dismantled, with over 73 percent of health facilities looted and destroyed. Women and girls endured heinous acts of conflict-related sexual violence, while civilians were starved through siege and blockade, creating a man-made famine whose impact persists to this day.
Although a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) was signed between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022, the promise of peace remains fragile. Large areas of Tigray are still under the control of external forces, and survivors continue to live without adequate support or redress. Millions of internally displaced people are stranded in overcrowded and under-resourced camps, while many others remain refugees in neighboring countries—unable to return home safely and with dignity. At the same time, rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea threaten to reignite violence and destabilize the region once again.
These ongoing challenges reveal a deeper truth: peace cannot take root where justice has not been served. Despite persistent appeals from survivors and advocates, meaningful accountability remains elusive. The international community’s limited engagement has prolonged suffering and reinforced a sense of impunity. Without justice, the wounds of war cannot heal, and the cycle of violence risks being repeated.
It is within this context that Harambee Collective reaffirms its commitment to the people of Tigray. We believe that silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality—it is neglect. Our work is grounded in the conviction that justice, health, and dignity are inseparable; that sexual and reproductive rights must be protected in both war and peacetime; and that healing begins when survivors are heard, believed, and empowered to lead their own recovery.
To turn these convictions into meaningful change, we call on all relevant actors, including governments, regional bodies, donors, and institutions of power, to take urgent and coordinated action and:
