The Tigray (Ethiopia) Conflict | Women's Refugee Commission

What is the Tigray Conflict in Ethiopia?

Conflict broke out in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia in 2020. Tigray conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people. Sexual and gender-based violence has been used as a weapon of war in Tigray, and food insecurity, malnutrition, and poor access to quality sexual and reproductive health services are serious concerns. More than 40 percent of the population in Tigray is experiencing a severe food shortage.

More than 25 million people (over one-fifth of Ethiopia’s population) need humanitarian assistance and protection, but access to humanitarian aid is severely limited.

WRC’s Priorities on the Tigray Conflict in Ethiopia

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is particularly concerned about the impact the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia has on women, girls, and other marginalized groups. WRC’s top priorities on the Tigray conflict include:

Ensure humanitarian aid meets the full range of needs for women, girls, and other marginalized groups affected by the Tigray conflict, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, clinical management of rape, psychosocial services, and access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Accountability for human rights abuses within the Tigray region, including the use of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence against women and girls as a deliberate weapon of war.
Remove barriers to aid reaching populations in Tigray facing humanitarian need, including food, medical supplies, and access to lifesaving health services such as family planning and other sexual and reproductive health care.

How to Help People Affected by the Tigray Conflict

Call or email your Congressional House representative to urge them to support H.Res. 842, a resolution condemning sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Ethiopia and emphasizing the urgent demand for humanitarian responses to meet their needs.

Contact Your Representative

Our Advocacy on the Tigray Conflict

WRC is committed to ensuring the needs and rights of those displaced by the Tigray conflict are protected. Below is a list of WRC’s advocacy work related to the crisis in Ethiopia.

US House Resolution on Sexual Violence in Northern Ethiopia

WRC supports the introduction of a resolution in the US House of Representatives by Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Lois Frankel, along with 45 others, condemning the sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Ethiopia and emphasizing the urgent demand for humanitarian responses to meet their needs.

WRC Media on the Tigray Conflict

The news media across the world have featured WRC’s research and staff expertise on the impact of the Tigray conflict on refugees.

Women’s Refugee Commission Alarmed by Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in Northern Ethiopia Conflict

Gayatri Patel, WRC’s vice president, advocacy and external relations, comments on a report released by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights documenting brutal human rights abuses against women and girls, including the widespread use of sexual violence by parties to the conflict intended to degrade and dehumanize their victims.

Members of Congress Condemn Sexual Violence in the Northern Ethiopia Conflict

WRC’s Gayatri Patel responds to the introduction of a Congressional resolution condemning the use of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence by parties to the conflict and calling for specific actions to be taken to support survivors and address the humanitarian crisis.

Speier, Frankel, Bass, and Jacobs Introduce Resolution Condemning Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls in Ethiopia Conflict

WRC’s Gayatri Patel is quoted in a press release announcing a Congressional resolution condemning the use of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence by parties to the conflict and calling for specific actions to be taken to support survivors and address the humanitarian crisis.