Ethiopia: UNICEF spokesperson highlights the dire condition of children in Tigray

On 20 April, the UNICEF spokesperson said more than one million have been displaced since the conflict in Tigray began in November 2020. He raised concerns about the impact the conflict will have on children.

Further, he spoke of the combined effects of the conflict and the pandemic; since March 2020, more than 1.4 million children in Tigray have been out of school. He highlighted the horrors of gender violence.

Citing that there were at least three cases of gender violence being reported, he said: “this is probably the tip of the iceberg because reporting is very, very difficult both for…security and cultural elements of shame, and so on. I heard traumatic stories of children as young as 14, I heard reports of gang-rapes.”

This is a summary of the UNICEF spokesperson address to the media:

“The crisis in Tigray has entered its sixth month with no clear end in sight.

“More than one million people have been displaced, and fighting continues. Access and security remain serious issues.

“We have been very concerned from the onset about the harm this crisis will cause to children. Such fears are now being realized.

“This is a protection crisis. What is emerging is a disturbing picture of severe and ongoing child rights violations.

“This is also an education and nutrition emergency, and I saw extensive destruction to the systems and essential services on which children rely.

Education

“Children in Tigray have been hit by COVID-19 then conflict. That means 1.4 million children have been out of school for more than a full year (since March 2020). Yes, not a day of school in 13 months.

Water

“A recent assessment in 13 towns by UNICEF and partners revealed that more than half of the boreholes are non-functional.  These were advanced systems – with generators and electrical circuitry – and most have been damaged and looted.

Protection and gender-based violence

“The personal statements I received from children who had been raped or testimonies of women who were victims of sexual violence were harrowing.

SamvadaWorld Staff