HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A woman and her family sit in courtyard outside of a converted living space housing IDP’s at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The courtyard space is used for drying peppers and beans as well as general food preparation and cloths drying for the residents of the block of buildings housing IDP’s. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A woman comforts her child who is being treated with traditional medicine for burns at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The child suffered burns in an accident that took place as a result of the crowded conditions in a classroom converted to a living space housing 54 children and adults. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A woman and her child sit in a cooking shed erected at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A woman prepares food in a cooking shed erected at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
Temer Mekonen is an 18 year old internally displaced girl from the Limo Wereda in Wollega. Temer arrived at the camp at Jirri in late March of 2022, leaving her parents and 5 siblings behind as her family forced her to leave Wollega to save her life. Traveling to the camp at Jirri, Temer tearfully lamented….”I had to leave them all behind, I am the only one who got out. They told me to leave and they all stayed behind. I’ve only been able to reach them by phone. I spoke to them when I first arrived. I arrived here about 8 days ago. I came with others from my neighborhood as well. But my family couldn’t leave and male’s can’t get out. We had to leave my cousin (uncle’s son) behind as well because we were afraid they would slaughter him. When we brought the young boys we had to leave him behind cause they would kill him. These are my uncles kids. I don’t know anyone here, I have no relatives, I am all by myself. On the road, I was the only Amhara. The car was full of only Oromos. I kept my mouth shut and didn’t speak. I traveled like a mute, like I was deaf and didn’t know anything. Alhamdulillah (give thanks to God), I made it here in one peace. I used all the money I had already, and now I found a girl I know here, who got here before me. Her name is Zemzem Nuru, she came last year. Since I know her I’ve been staying close to her, she fed me, gave me a place to sleep, sharing whatever she has, she’s been helping me. And now when these people (the neighbors) arrived I moved into this barn with them. I finished all the money I had with me, Alhamdulillah, if I could work I would work, I would do whatever I have to do, I don’t know anvone.”
Temer Mekonen is an 18 year old internally displaced girl from the Limo Wereda in Wollega. Temer arrived at the camp at Jirri in late March of 2022, leaving her parents and 5 siblings behind as her family forced her to leave Wollega to save her life. Traveling to the camp at Jirri, Temer tearfully lamented….”I had to leave them all behind, I am the only one who got out. They told me to leave and they all stayed behind. I’ve only been able to reach them by phone. I spoke to them when I first arrived. I arrived here about 8 days ago. I came with others from my neighborhood as well. But my family couldn’t leave and male’s can’t get out. We had to leave my cousin (uncle’s son) behind as well because we were afraid they would slaughter him. When we brought the young boys we had to leave him behind cause they would kill him. These are my uncles kids. I don’t know anyone here, I have no relatives, I am all by myself. On the road, I was the only Amhara. The car was full of only Oromos. I kept my mouth shut and didn’t speak. I traveled like a mute, like I was deaf and didn’t know anything. Alhamdulillah (give thanks to God), I made it here in one peace. I used all the money I had already, and now I found a girl I know here, who got here before me. Her name is Zemzem Nuru, she came last year. Since I know her I’ve been staying close to her, she fed me, gave me a place to sleep, sharing whatever she has, she’s been helping me. And now when these people (the neighbors) arrived I moved into this barn with them. I finished all the money I had with me, Alhamdulillah, if I could work I would work, I would do whatever I have to do, I don’t know anvone.”
Temer Mekonen is an 18 year old internally displaced girl from the Limo Wereda in Wollega. Temer arrived at the camp at Jirri in late March of 2022, leaving her parents and 5 siblings behind as her family forced her to leave Wollega to save her life. Traveling to the camp at Jirri, Temer tearfully lamented….”I had to leave them all behind, I am the only one who got out. They told me to leave and they all stayed behind. I’ve only been able to reach them by phone. I spoke to them when I first arrived. I arrived here about 8 days ago. I came with others from my neighborhood as well. But my family couldn’t leave and male’s can’t get out. We had to leave my cousin (uncle’s son) behind as well because we were afraid they would slaughter him. When we brought the young boys we had to leave him behind cause they would kill him. These are my uncles kids. I don’t know anyone here, I have no relatives, I am all by myself. On the road, I was the only Amhara. The car was full of only Oromos. I kept my mouth shut and didn’t speak. I traveled like a mute, like I was deaf and didn’t know anything. Alhamdulillah (give thanks to God), I made it here in one peace. I used all the money I had already, and now I found a girl I know here, who got here before me. Her name is Zemzem Nuru, she came last year. Since I know her I’ve been staying close to her, she fed me, gave me a place to sleep, sharing whatever she has, she’s been helping me. And now when these people (the neighbors) arrived I moved into this barn with them. I finished all the money I had with me, Alhamdulillah, if I could work I would work, I would do whatever I have to do, I don’t know anvone.”
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A group of Internally displaced persons from Wollega become emotional as they listen to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A group of Internally displaced woman from Wollega become emotional as they listen to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: An Internally displaced girl from Wollega becomes emotional after listening to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: An Internally displaced woman and child from Wollega stand with others gathered around to listen to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
Fatima Ali was forced to leave her home in Wollega after the murder of her husband who had been a trained local militia for 25 years. Her husband was called into a meeting by local government officials on July 13, 2021 and killed in an ambush on the road following the meeting by attackers she identified as Oneg Shene. She took her six children and with the help of her older son, escaped Wollega. She escaped in the middle of the night and traveled on foot for seven days through the forests and woods because the roads were unsafe for ethnic Amhara people. “I want the Government to see. My husband didn’t ask for anything. There were 30 men who went to the meeting and 20 survived but 10 were killed. The local government officials said they were going to dress them (provide uniforms) but they killed them. And I want the government to know, I have no means to raise my children, that’s why I’m giving my testimony. I left all my belongings and my home behind, I want them to see. “I have only my son who I followed here and brought us where his fathers other relatives are I still have my sisters there in Wollega but they have no way to get out, and my father is still in Gutin, my father and mother are in Gutin. I have no way to get to them, there is no way out, the roads are closed. That’s why I came through the forests there is no way to travel through the main roads.”
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: An Internally displaced woman from Wollega becomes emotional as she listened to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: An Internally displaced woman from Wollega becomes emotional as she listened to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A group of Internally displaced persons from Wollega become emotional as they listen to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: An Internally displaced woman from Wollega becomes emotional as she listened to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: An Internally displaced man from Wollega becomes emotional as he listened to other IDP’s recount their experiences of forced displacement from their homes in Wollega at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. Many of the IDP’s in the camp were either separated from their families during their flight from Wollega or had seen family members or neighbors killed at the hands of the OLA/OLF. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A child powes for the camera as a group of woman entertain their children and cook in a makeshift cooking shed erected at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A woman sits with her child next to a cooking shed erected at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
Wossena Seid Ermias Age 35. “The place I came from is Jarte Woreda, Samboato Kebele. The problem that brought us here, our brothers, our husbands and their brothers were called to gather and told to put on clothing (uniforms), they were militias that served for 30 years. They called them to come and then they had the ambushed in Harengu kebele. Oneg Shene was waiting to ambush them when they returned from training in their uniforms. There were 30 of the militia men, from those 30, 10 of them perished, they called them in and had them killed. That day we went (left). They buried 4 of them together. Then the called for help from “legal bodies” to come and rescue them but they never came so they kept on, they buried 4 and they also returned fire and killed some too. They came back to us and we left and went to Hamoro Kebele and stayed there. Those men died on Hamle 6, on that day we left our properties, homes and left behind what we had farmed and went and stayed at Homoro Kebele. Then when the children started crying because of hunger we screamed for the law (local authorities) we couldn’t get anything they still died of hunger. Then they started telling the people not to sell us firewood and water. We were hunted, we hid. We stayed like that for a while and then they came to our Kebele and started massacring us then we left at 8 past midnight (2 a.m). We went through Abay desert we were pushed to cross it. It took us 20 days to get here to the Amhara region. We had small children and we carried the elderly on our backs, many of them heads of house-holds. Today is Tuesday, it’s been a month now since we got here. So far, since we arrived, we have been given 10 kilos of flour each and now again our kids have gone hungry they haven’t got anything to eat they are suffering, we cry. To begin with we had our properties destroyed and we were going hungry and that’s why we came here on top of our hunger they massacred us that’s why we are here. There were many that were weak some were hit by bullets we had to leave them behind in Hamoro Kebele.”
My name is MeriGeta Yemaneh Mekonnen. My age is 59. My place of birth is northern wollo. The place where I used to live at Jimma zone Nigu Seka woreda, I have lived there for 37 years with my family my brothers, children of my aunts and uncles, there were many of us, more than 10 house-holds. We did a lot of things here. We were able to acquire property for many years gave birth to and raised our children here, we wed our kids here, we considered it our home. We were living good lives, we used to work earn profit and help those less fortunate than us. We were living good lives. Oneg Shene, now they call it by a different name called Oneg shene but generally in Ethiopia these are anti-peace forces. For Ethiopia peace is a huge big wealth. If there’s no peace mankind cannot live. Everyone wants peace even animals want to live in peace leave alone humans. This anti peace force comes from eastern Wollega from Dembi Dollo organized for many years, it’s been organizing since 1997(2005) then it went on and on while it was under the government and the government ignored it and day by day it got stronger, then they made a plan. They said “let’s eradicate the ethnic group called Amhara” when asked why they say during the time of Menilik Amhara cut off the breasts of Oromos something that has never been said before and that never even happened, they just came up with it. In the olden days they used tall oromos as pillars when building their houses. They cut off Oromo women’s breasts so that we don’t get to nurse from our mother’s breasts and Menilik said “don’t kill animals let alone galas” so he did us wrong and today we are awake and educated and we will pay back for the blood. For something that happened in the 18th century and even that is a lie now they want to use that as a reason to remove all Amharas from a place where they have been living organized from their homes, from where their kids were born a place where they saw grandkids. No w as you can see the country has been good the creator has been giving us rain on time there is nothing amiss, no hunger or suffering. The only problem is the one brought on by these anti- peace forces. People, human beings even when killed they are not buried, they are killed and burnt, imagine that, its unheard of. Its one thing to be killed and buried that’s a great honor, we are even denied that they are killed collected in a straw hut so that its easier to burn so that even their bones wouldn’t be buried. Girls, small kids and pregnant women, they ask, what is that? What is the gender of the baby? Let’s open her stomach and see. The type of thing that hasn’t been done before on earth is being perpetuated against us by Oneg Shene and they did this by targeting us by ethnicity just those of us who are Amharas. Just because we are Amharas and we worked hard to change our lives equally to them. Let alone working we taught them how to eat, dress how to trade. We taught them how to farm we have taught them many things we have not hurt them one bit. Now what came about was when some people had cases with woredas, police stations, administration offices, courts they started saying “If you don’t speak Oromigna don’t enter the compound. What can we do then? They said we need to pay an Oromigna speaker by counting the words and paying 50, 200, 300 up to a 1000 depending on your case. We have to hire/ pay an Oromigna speaker to communicate. Also there has never been a court case decided in our favor even if we have evidence or whatever for our properties, leave alone, towards the end, we started losing our lives. The only choice we had, however we can, we didn’t look back at the property we left behind we didn’t stop of bend down to pick up any of our belongings. Those of us who survived used whatever means like cars or going through the deserts and forests we came home to our region. May all thanks be to God. They used tell us “ if you return to wollo you will be eradicated by drought” . we are not hungry Wollo is a blessed place. They gave us what they had to eat themselves, they gave us their own clothing they gave us what they had in their pockets. Northern Wollo, southern wollo all of it, when they were told that our people, our brother have come they brought out whatever they had and gave it to us with the administration. Food and drinks some kind we had not even had when we were home but still when we run out of things we worry about what will happen to us in the future, there were worries but we lived like this for a while. There is a saying “don’t lend a sickle to a person who is sad/depressed” while we were living here in relative peace from this end the Junta and the Tigres came and as we feared the army got close and started raining bullets on us. When this happened again, like my brother said, we were forced to leave behind the few belongings we had been given here like mattresses, cups we drink with and post for cooking they had given us everything when this happened again, we didn’t stop to pick up anything. There are mothers and fathers and kids that are not able to walk 5 yr olds, 6 yr olds, 2 yr olds, 1 yr olds even months old 6-month babies. We just took the kids we held some to our chests and some on our backs and dragged the older ones on our way to dessie, Kombolcha to many places even to Gojam, Mota and Bahirdar we were made t walk 3 months from tikimt to tahisas now that time of suffering has passed. Then now, may all thanks be to God, when the Junta was removed from our region we were told to return to where we were, to the refugee camp since we didn’t find a place to stay where we were we returned after hidar/tahisas. There is more of us now we have increased in number than last year we are ok but we don’t have our needs fulfilled but we are ok but we worry about our future. We go hungry and we go thirsty we don’t have farms we don’t have business we have nothing; we have no work we just sit there, 24 hours sitting there at night we sleep. We have to look at people’s hands for help. People may run out, let alone people God runs out. What would we do if those people run out and stop? What can they do for us if they don’t have any? Why can’t we work and give back? why can’t the government give us land to farm, it can be in our region. There may be empty land or create other jobs, why can’t they make us work? We ask to those concerned but we haven’t heard anything satisfactory from the government concerning getting farm lands. Our greatest wish is to be given land we want to help we can help. We are able and have energy. I am old there are those better than me younger than me look, they can do a lot, they can produce a lot daily. The women and men will work government should find a way to provide us with this. We can’t return to where we came from because the problems have not been cleared, the problem is still there are getting worse. That’s the issue we don’t hate the place where we have lived for 30 – 40 years. Our plants, our coffee our eucalyptus trees and all properties we accumulated for many years. Some homes are still standing many have been burned down we would have like to return there. But these anti-peace agents and still they haven’t been removed. Government hasn’t taken sufficient steps against them. They are still there now organizing and getting stronger. So now we don’t want to be a burden on the government or a burden on charitable people. The government is responsible the charitable people have given what they have, we thanks them for that, they will be repaid by God. We don’t want the government to think we are settled and living here, they have to find a way to settle us permanently. Government can find away there is nothing they cannot do. Let the give us land, they need to help us but we need to be working as well. If that happens and they give us such support in two years those of us getting help will be giving help. I will stop what I have to say here. You came to see us, its our happiness, its like food to us even if you don’t do anything for us the joy we get when you ask our problems shouldn’t be taken lightly. We become very happy. We can think that these big people know about us and worry about us. Our thoughts and worries shouldn’t be taken lightly. It makes us happy. May God keep you well. Nothing is impossible to God and government. May it all end well.
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: IDP’s from Wollega walk through the courtyard outside of a converted living space housing IDP’s at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The courtyard space is used for drying peppers and beans as well as general food preparation and cloths drying for the residents of the block of buildings housing IDP’s. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: IDP’s from Wollega walk through the courtyard outside of a converted living space housing IDP’s at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The courtyard space is used for drying peppers and beans as well as general food preparation and cloths drying for the residents of the block of buildings housing IDP’s. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A glimpse of a converted living space for families with young children at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A tent sits among converted living space housing IDP’s at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: Three young woman sit in a classroom turned shelter at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The walls of the room display whatever personal possessions the people could carry when they fled the attacks their homes. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: Internally displaced children from Wollega play amongst cloths hanging outside of converted living space housing IDP’s at the Children’s Growing Center IDP camp on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The courtyard space is used for drying peppers and beans as well as general food preparation and cloths drying for the residents of the block of buildings housing IDP’s. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly frequency. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A young girl lies next to her parent on a mattress in a tent erected at the Children’s Growing Center on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 28: A girl and a child lie on mattresses in a tent erected at the Children’s Growing Center on March 28, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp arriving with any thing they could carry. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
HAYK, ETHIOPIA – APRIL 4: A young girl sits on a mattress in a tent erected at the Children’s Growing Center on April 4, 2022 in Hayk, Ethiopia. The IDP camp houses over 1,300 ethnic Amhara who had been displaced by ongoing attacks and ethnic cleansing in the province of Wollega in Oromia by the Oromo Liberation Army and Oromo Liberation Front. The attacks against ethnic Amhara farmers and business people who had lived in the region for at least 2 generations or more are meant to rid the Oromia region of ethnic amhara and forcibly acquire their lands and property. Some of the displaced people in the camp walked for up to 22 days to seek safe haven in the camp. The camp is one of several in Wollo housing ethnic Amhara forced from their lands under threat of slaughter and death as multiple massacres have occurred in Wollega with almost weekly. State authorities in Amhara recently said that 11.6 million people in the region are in need of food aid, including hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces and their allies. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
The situation in the western part of Oromia in general and Wallagaa in particular can be called a forgotten death and destruction. It has been proven ground for the new deadly military toy, drones, since those weapons’ arrival in that country from Turkey, Iran and Beijing. Bigots have killed scores and displaced hundreds of thousands merely for their ethnicity. Being an Oromo is not a certificate to live in piece in that part of the country. Armed groups being led by bigots move in at night and round up those they think are collaborators with the regime and massacre them in the most barbaric ways. Then the regime forces return during the daylight hours to round up those especially the youth they think are members of sleeper cells of the bigoted gangs. For the people of that area is living like between a rock and a hard place. It is like damned you do, damned you don’t. Just photo copy that in certain parts of the Amhara region nowadays. Very sad indeed.