Images And Doctor Testimony Reveal Tigray Hunger Crisis

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the north of Ethiopia, driven by drought, crop failure and continued insecurity in the aftermath of a brutal war.
With local officials warning that more than two million people are now at risk of starvation, reports has gained exclusive access to some of the worst affected areas in Tigray province, and analysed satellite imagery to reveal the full scale of the emergency the region now faces.
The month of July is a critical period for food security, when farmers need to plant crops to take advantage of the seasonal rains.
The satellite images we have identified show that reservoirs, and the farmlands they help irrigate, have dried up because the rains failed last year. They now need to be replenished by seasonal rains if farmers are to stand any hope of a successful season later in the year.
The images below are of the Korir dam and reservoir, about 45km (28 miles) north of the regional capital, Mekele.
A small lake with an artificial barrier, known as a micro-dam, is clearly visible in the first photograph, taken in June 2023. Below the dam is fertile land irrigated by the reservoir.
Systems such as this have been able to support more than 300 farmers growing wheat, vegetables and sorghum – a grain crop.

The lower image shows the same area in June 2024, with the reservoir empty and parched fields.
Without adequate rainfall, the irrigation system cannot operate and farmers are unable to survive off the land.
“Even though our dam has no water, our land will not go anywhere,” says Demtsu Gebremedhin who used to farm tomatoes, onions and sorghum.
“So we don’t give up and we hope we will go back to farming.”

Food and security
Tigray’s population is estimated to be between six and seven million.
Until the end of 2022, the region was engulfed in a bitter two-year war pitting local Tigray forces against the federal government and its allies.
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the conflict, or died because of starvation and lack of health care.
Dozens of displacement camps were set up to provide refuge, and humanitarian support.

Now the war is over, some have been able to return home – but most have remained in camps, reliant on food aid being delivered there because the lack of rainfall has meant they have no crops to harvest and eat.
One of these camps is near the town of Shire about 280km (174 miles) by road to the west of the Korir dam. Set up by UN agencies, it now provides shelter to more than 30,000 people.
The blue tents seen in this satellite image have been provided by the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the white by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

Tsibktey Teklay looks after five of her children in the camp. Her husband was killed in the war.
“We had animals. We used to harvest crops in winter,” she told the BBC in May. “In short, we had the best lifestyle. Now we are down to nothing.”

BBC/Jide Johnson.