This archive report was first published on 4 May 2021.
May 4, 2021 - The Tigray war in Ethiopia has left thousands of children without their parents, with many now facing dire and dangerous conditions in displacement camps, according to Save the Children.
Save the Children stated that many of these children were separated from their parents while fleeing for their lives during the conflict, while others have lost parents to the violence.
Some children are not in safe care arrangements, with over 50 people sharing a single room, putting them at risk of physical or sexual violence, the charity warned.
According to the UN's International Organization for Migration, over one million people were displaced in Tigray in March, including 4,056 separated and 917 unaccompanied children.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray in November to detain and disarm leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the regional ruling party that once dominated national politics.
Abiy declared victory after federal forces took the regional capital Mekele, but TPLF leaders remain on the run and fighting continues.
Save the Children is not alone in sounding the alarm about sexual violence, which has been rampant during the conflict. The International Rescue Committee has also reported widespread abuse, including mass rape and exploitation.
Victor Odero, policy and advocacy adviser for the International Rescue Committee, stated that women are having to engage in sexually exploitative relationships to survive and feed their children.
World leaders are calling for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops, who have been implicated in some of the worst attacks on civilians, including brutal gang rapes. Eritrea denies involvement in atrocities.
Despite international pressure, Ethiopian officials claim that fighting is minimal and normalcy is returning. However, the classification of the TPLF as a terrorist group by Abiy's Council of Ministers has dealt a blow to the prospect of peace talks.
