Ethiopian Families Rebuild Lives Amid Post-Conflict Recovery

Idi Amara in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – Two years after the Pretoria Agreement ended conflict in Northern Ethiopia, families are beginning to rebuild their lives with significant support for food security and livelihood restoration in a region ravaged by war.

Displacement and Hardship
Among the millions affected is 27-year-old Hiwot Negasi, who has spent the past three years in Sabacare camp on the outskirts of Mekelle, Tigray’s capital. Before the conflict erupted, Hiwot lived a stable life, working as a school secretary in Western Tigray. But in late 2020, violence forced her family from their home, leaving them to seek refuge in the overcrowded camp.

Hiwot now cares for her daughter Tigist, born in the camp last year. Like many others, she has faced significant challenges, including limited food, disease, and harsh conditions. Food assistance, while vital, has often been insufficient due to funding shortages. “Twelve kilos per person is not enough, but I am thankful it is regular and close to my shelter,” Hiwot says.

The rainy season compounds her struggles, as cold and damp conditions increase the risk of illness.

Efforts to digitize food distribution systems have improved efficiency, ensuring those most in need receive assistance. Vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, have benefited from nutritionally fortified supplies to prevent malnutrition.

Returnees’ Challenges
With improved stability, families have started returning to their homes in Southern and Northwestern Tigray, but the journey is fraught with difficulties.

Many returnees have found their homes and farmlands destroyed, forcing them to rebuild from scratch.

The escalating conflict in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has also created significant obstacles for displaced families. Returnees traveling through Amhara encounter security risks, including kidnappings, truck hijackings, and armed robberies. Aid routes face disruption due to illegal checkpoints and attacks, slowing food and resource delivery.

These challenges have left many returnees vulnerable, with emergency food supplies reaching fewer families than anticipated in recent months.

Restoring Livelihoods
Efforts to rebuild communities include targeted support for smallholder farmers, who play a vital role in Ethiopia’s agricultural economy. Since April, over 2,000 farmers in Tigray have received seeds, training, and equipment to restore farming activities halted during the conflict.

Lemlem Gebrekidan, a farmer and single mother in Raya Azebo district, saw her once-thriving sorghum plantation destroyed during the war. For three years, she and her children survived on limited food aid while sheltering in caves. “The war stopped everything—farming, markets, education for the children. We lived in fear and hunger,” she recalls.

Now, with access to seeds for crops like sweet potatoes, papayas, and cowpeas, Lemlem has resumed farming. Tractor support and training on irrigation and post-harvest management have further empowered her. October’s harvest was her first in years, providing both food and income. “My children now enjoy a nutritious diet, and I feel optimistic about the future,” she says.

Restoration of irrigation systems has enabled farmers like Lemlem to grow crops more reliably. Community cooperatives have also been formed to share resources, boosting productivity and fostering resilience.

A Hopeful Future
In Tigray and beyond, the journey to recovery remains challenging. Many families still grapple with the psychological and physical scars of the war.

However, the resilience of communities shines through as they adapt to improved agricultural practices, diversify their income sources, and rebuild essential infrastructure.

In regions like Raya Azebo, projects to restore irrigation networks ensure water access for decades to come, enabling farmers to sustain their livelihoods. These measures address both immediate food security needs and long-term stability, laying the foundation for recovery in a region marked by years of instability.

For families like Hiwot’s and Lemlem’s, the road to recovery is slow but steady. Support for vulnerable populations has brought not only food but also the tools and knowledge needed to create a brighter future, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in resilience and development.