The war that was inflicted on Tigray on 4th November 2020, when Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali forces invaded Tigray, resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Families knew this, but also knew that their sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, had to be buried where they fell.

They had no opportunity to mourn. Now, at last, this is happening. The pain is immense, but so it the dignity.

These photographs and information are from a visitor who has just returned.

Martin

Fighters’ deaths are only now being announced. The bodies lie where they were buried in the field but the funerals happen at home.

In one day’s drive out of Mekelle  we must have passed three or four of these ceremonies. They were huge: many thousands of people. As we drove we would begin to see small groups of white scarfed people, then more groups and bigger groups all walking gradually both sides of the dusty road would be crowded by these groups and finally the road would be blocked by silent crowds of mourners many crying.

Then a pick-up truck would appear with photos of the fighters and the wailing and dancing would  start. It is hard even telling you this not to feel tearful.

Funerals for fighters. The funerals are at their village, but they are buried where they fell

It’s surely impossible that so many people could have known the fighters; they were  mourning for the war, they were – and are – mourning for themselves. The whole country is traumatised: the whole country is grieving.

Later I was taken off the road to a beautiful quiet place where four villagers took us to the graves of their families shot in front of them. One lady pleaded with the troops to shoot her too. But he said no, she must die slowly afterwards….