{"id":12281,"date":"2021-10-08T21:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T21:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/axumawian.com\/?p=12281"},"modified":"2021-10-10T09:10:27","modified_gmt":"2021-10-10T09:10:27","slug":"9-activists-celebrities-speaking-up-about-ethiopias-humanitarian-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/axumawian.com\/?p=12281","title":{"rendered":"9 Activists & Celebrities Speaking Up About Ethiopia’s Humanitarian Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Source: Global Citizen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 8, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been almost a year since conflict in Ethiopia\u2019s northern region of Tigray began; a civil violence that has left millions of people displaced<\/a>, and hundreds of thousands of people<\/a> experiencing severe hunger. As such, world leaders, activists, and celebrities have used their status and platforms to call for peace in the region, and for the lives of vulnerable citizens to be protected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ongoing civil war has seen the Ethiopian national government at odds with its northern regional government in Tigray.\u00a0It began<\/a>\u00a0when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called out Tigrayans for allegedly attacking the Ethiopian national military base. Ahmed responded to the alleged attack by sending troops to the region, and announcing that the military had bombed Tigray and destroyed weaponry near the regional capital of Mekelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Violence escalated from this point, and civilians have been caught in the middle in what the United Nations has called a \u201cfull scale humanitarian crisis\u201d. Famine was declared in the region<\/a> in June 2021; increased violence against women and girls<\/a> has been reported by medics on the ground; humanitarian aid consisting of food and medical supplies for civilians caught in the crossfire has been blocked<\/a> by soldiers and rebels; and schools have been taken over<\/a> for the use of the military.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

World leaders including President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen<\/a>, French President Emmanuel Macron<\/a>, and the World Health Organisation\u2019s (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus<\/a>, have expressed the need for peace in Tigray, and have called for access to humanitarian aid in the region. Dr. Tedros, himself from Tigray, called<\/a> the situation in his home country \u201chorrific,\u201d adding that he had family members still living in the region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn addition to COVID-19, 2020 has been very difficult for me because my country is in trouble,\u201d he\u00a0said at a press conference<\/a>\u00a0in December 2020. \u201cAs if COVID-19 is not enough, I have that personal pain also\u2026 I worry about the whole country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WHO chief has continued to use his platform to highlight the ongoing situation in Tigray, especially on social media, and specifically for the lack of access to humanitarian aid for those in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the world\u2019s big-name celebrities have also joined with activists in the call for peace in Tigray, using their voices to help amplify the needs of the most vulnerable in the region. Here are nine activists and celebrities who\u2019ve spoken up against Tigray\u2019s ongoing humanitarian crisis: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Hopewell Chin’ono<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Zimbabwean journalist and activist\u00a0Hopewell Chin\u2019ono is known for bringing awareness to injustices and human rights violations\u00a0on the African continent. Most recently, he called out his home government for perpetrating corruption and,\u00a0despite facing harsh consequences<\/a>, he stood by his truth and continued speaking out.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The systematic use of rape as a weapon of war in the Ethiopian region of Tigray is heartbreaking & a throwback to that country\u2019s dark past!

It is unbelievable that hardly 2 years ago the whole world was celebrating Ethiopia\u2019s giant leaps & its leader even won a Nobel Peace Prize pic.twitter.com\/qEzALxRwkK<\/a><\/p>— Hopewell Chin\u2019ono (@daddyhope) March 19, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>