News: Tigray IDPs rally for return to homeland amid mounting hardships; three-day protest demands immediate action

Addis Abeba – A three-day peaceful demonstration commenced today in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, urging the immediate return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homelands.

The demonstration, titled Yak’el (which translates to “Enough is Enough”), is led by the Tsilal Western Tigray Civil Society and aims to raise awareness about the ongoing hardships faced by IDPs. Taking place at Romanat Square in Mekelle, the protest is part of the larger Yak’el international mass movement.

Protesters have been vocal in their demands, chanting slogans such as “Return us to our homes,” “Give attention to IDPs in Sudan,” and “Living in tents is enough.”

Tsegay Tetemke, head of Tsilal Western Tigray Civil Society, highlighted that despite initial hopes for the IDPs’ return following the Pretoria Agreement, their suffering continues.

“The demonstration is to emphasize that this camp life is enough, as people are dying from hunger and the absence of aid,” he said. “Participants are calling for the immediate implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, and we urge leaders to end their political games and implement the agreement.”

In an interview with Addis Standard, Kidan Girmay, an IDP participating in the demonstration, stressed the lack of care for displaced individuals. She shared that her son went missing during the war, leaving her struggling to survive.

“We are dying from hunger and lack of medical treatment,” she stated. “We are asking both the government and the international community to help return us to our homes.”

Kidan also emphasized the critical situation faced by IDPs, stating that they no longer wish to stay in the camps.

“We urge the federal government and the international community to fully implement the Pretoria Agreement and facilitate our return home,” she added. “We are capable of working and supporting ourselves—we do not want to be dependent on anyone else.”

According to Kidan, the primary goal of the demonstration is to pressure both regional and federal governments to take immediate action to facilitate the return of IDPs to their homes.

“Neither the regional nor the federal governments are addressing the needs of these suffering people. We do not receive aid, medical treatment, or other basic necessities,” she told Addis Standard. “The suffering we’ve endured for almost four years must end now. The regional leaders are focused solely on their own power struggles and ignore our voices.”

Masho Gebreegziabeher, another IDP at the rally, echoed similar frustrations, lamenting the lack of attention to their plight despite widespread deaths from hunger and inadequate medical care.

“It’s difficult to find words to describe our suffering,” she said. “This is the worst we have ever endured.”

Masho, who lost her husband during the war, revealed that she and her son have faced severe hardships.

“We haven’t changed the clothes we wore four years ago and have nothing to eat. Many people have died from hunger while staying in the camps,” she added.

Daniel Negash, one of the demonstration’s coordinators, explained that the three-day protest aims to call on the international community, the federal government, and other concerned parties to facilitate the return of IDPs in line with the Pretoria Peace Agreement.

“We urge the international community and the federal government to ensure the proper implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement concerning the IDPs in Tigray,” he stated.

A recent report by Addis Standard highlighted the increasing death toll among IDPs from Western Tigray. Displaced people residing in 99 centers across the region face severe hardships, including critical food shortages, limited access to medical care, and inadequate humanitarian aid.

In an interview with Addis Standard, Wolay Berhe, the coordinator for IDPs in Shire, revealed that nearly 300 displaced individuals at the Hintsad center have died over the past three months, with at least one death reported daily and some days recording two or three deaths. AS