In Tigray, Food Has Become a Weapon of War
2021-06-17
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1In the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, more than 350,000 people are facing starvation.
2It is not just that people are starving; it is that many are being starved.
3Farmers, aid workers and local officials confirmed to The Associated Press that food has become a weapon of war.
4The AP found Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in the war-torn area blocking food aid and even stealing it.
5Reporters saw Ethiopian military officials turn away food and medical aid as fighting continued in the town of Hawzen.
6The soldiers are also accused of preventing farmers from harvesting and stealing seeds for planting.
7Tigray people say soldiers have killed farm animals and stolen equipment.
8More than two million of Tigray's six million people have already fled, unable to harvest their crops.
9Those who stayed often cannot plant new crops because they fear for their lives.
10The war in Tigray started in early November, shortly before the harvest season.
11On one side of the war are troops loyal to the expelled leaders of Tigray.
12On the other are Ethiopian government troops, and allied troops from neighboring Eritrea.
13Militias from Ethiopia's Amhara ethnic group who see themselves as rivals to the Tigrayan militias, and are also involved.
14Trapped in the middle are civilians.
15The war has produced mass killings, gang rapes and the widespread expulsion of civilians from their homes.
16The United States has declared the events in western Tigray an "ethnic cleansing."
17Ethiopia's government strongly disputes that starvation is being used as a weapon.
18Mitiku Kassa is an official with the National Disaster Risk Management Commission.
19He claimed Wednesday that, "We don't have any food shortage."
20But that is not what the AP found in Tigray.
21Teklemariam Gebremichael said he and his neighbors were no longer allowed to farm.
22He said Eritrean soldiers came to him while he was looking after his cows and harvesting crops.
23They shot both him and his cows.
24He survived, but the animals did not. With food in limited supply, his wound is healing slowly.
25The "world has to take immediate action to help Tigray, because we can't live on our own land anymore," he said.
26Witnesses say soldiers have taken other measures to destroy food.
27An aid group official said Eritrean soldiers mix grain with sand and soil, making it impossible to eat.
28Farmers said soldiers have also taken their farming equipment.
29"All our farm tools, including plows, were looted and taken away on trucks," said Birhanu Tsegay, a 24-year-old farmer.
30"They left nothing there."
31Sometimes food aid is still delivered, but there is never enough.
32Early in May, a large crowd came to Agula to receive 15 kilograms of wheat, half a kilogram of peas and some cooking oil - per person.
33It was supposed to last a month. The food was only for the most vulnerable.
34Sixty-year-old Letebrhan Belay walked for four hours to get there.
35She said she has a family of 10 but received food for just five.
36She still said she was doing better than others.
37"There will be people dying of hunger," she said.
38I'm Dan Novak.
1In the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, more than 350,000 people are facing starvation. 2It is not just that people are starving; it is that many are being starved. Farmers, aid workers and local officials confirmed to The Associated Press that food has become a weapon of war. 3The AP found Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in the war-torn area blocking food aid and even stealing it. Reporters saw Ethiopian military officials turn away food and medical aid as fighting continued in the town of Hawzen. 4The soldiers are also accused of preventing farmers from harvesting and stealing seeds for planting. Tigray people say soldiers have killed farm animals and stolen equipment. 5More than two million of Tigray's six million people have already fled, unable to harvest their crops. Those who stayed often cannot plant new crops because they fear for their lives. 6The war in Tigray started in early November, shortly before the harvest season. On one side of the war are troops loyal to the expelled leaders of Tigray. On the other are Ethiopian government troops, and allied troops from neighboring Eritrea. Militias from Ethiopia's Amhara ethnic group who see themselves as rivals to the Tigrayan militias, and are also involved. Trapped in the middle are civilians. 7The war has produced mass killings, gang rapes and the widespread expulsion of civilians from their homes. The United States has declared the events in western Tigray an "ethnic cleansing." 8Ethiopia's government strongly disputes that starvation is being used as a weapon. Mitiku Kassa is an official with the National Disaster Risk Management Commission. He claimed Wednesday that, "We don't have any food shortage." 9But that is not what the AP found in Tigray. 10Teklemariam Gebremichael said he and his neighbors were no longer allowed to farm. He said Eritrean soldiers came to him while he was looking after his cows and harvesting crops. They shot both him and his cows. 11He survived, but the animals did not. With food in limited supply, his wound is healing slowly. 12The "world has to take immediate action to help Tigray, because we can't live on our own land anymore," he said. 13Witnesses say soldiers have taken other measures to destroy food. An aid group official said Eritrean soldiers mix grain with sand and soil, making it impossible to eat. Farmers said soldiers have also taken their farming equipment. 14"All our farm tools, including plows, were looted and taken away on trucks," said Birhanu Tsegay, a 24-year-old farmer. "They left nothing there." 15Sometimes food aid is still delivered, but there is never enough. Early in May, a large crowd came to Agula to receive 15 kilograms of wheat, half a kilogram of peas and some cooking oil - per person. It was supposed to last a month. The food was only for the most vulnerable. 16Sixty-year-old Letebrhan Belay walked for four hours to get there. 17She said she has a family of 10 but received food for just five. She still said she was doing better than others. 18"There will be people dying of hunger," she said. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Rodney Muhumuza reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 21___________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23rival- n. a person or thing that tries to defeat or be more successful than another 24loot - v. to steal things from (a place, such as a store or house) during a war or after destruction has been caused by fire, rioting, etc. 25vulnerable - adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally