Ethiopia’s Civil War: A Personal Account of Struggle and Survival

In a shocking portrayal of the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, individuals recount their experiences during the civil war, highlighting how ordinary life has shattered amid ongoing conflict.

In late 2020, the landscape of life in Ethiopia shifted dramatically as civil war erupted, and many civilians found themselves grappling with unforeseen realities. Mehari, a 25-year-old doctor working in Axum, faced the devastation of war firsthand. Once able to commute from work with ease, Mehari's life transformed when public transportation ceased due to escalating violence.

Fleeing violence, patients began flooding into her hospital, and the chaos of war became her new reality. “The day the war broke out, it was shocking. Patients arrived amidst a blackout, and I saw my first gunshot wound,” she shared. With every patient that came through the door, their tales of loss and escape from violence in their villages weighed heavily on her conscience.

Ethiopia, home to numerous ethnic groups, has long battled for autonomy amidst political tensions. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, elected in 2018, attempted to dismantle the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) dominance, which had been in charge for decades. His tenure was marred by ethnic strife, leading to the TPLF's attack on a federal military camp, igniting full-fledged war.

After the brutal conflict escalated, Mehari took a decisive step by leaving her medical position to serve as a medic with the Tigray Defense Forces, immersing herself further into the violence. Still, even after the official end of the hostilities in 2022, she expressed doubts about her safety outside of Tigray, demonstrating the lingering effects of the conflict on the psyche of its survivors.

As tensions persist in the nation, the voices of those directly affected tell a story of resilience and the harrowing toll of a civil war that reshaped their lives forever.