In the heartland of Kara in southern Mekoni district of Tigray, Ethiopia, Etsay Hafte’s story unfolds amidst the harsh realities of conflict and environmental degradation.

Inside her modest house, there is a sense of warmth and ease. The walls, made of sturdy mud bricks, give a refreshing shelter from the hot sun hammering down on the arid landscape. As soon as you go outside, you are confronted by a wall of heat that appears to engulf everything in its path. The air is dry; the sun is relentless, providing no relief from the terrible heat.

"In our community, the drought was catastrophic,” Etsay says. 

But heat is just one of the environmental challenges people in northern Ethiopia are facing. “Initially, we were seriously affected by the desert locust; now, we are affected by the floodswhich have nearly decimated all our land and basic infrastructures such as homes and roads.”

The impact of climate change was felt acutely in Etsay's village. Here in Mekoni, the flooding happened on March 11 and March 30, 2024, in Kara Tabia of Raya Azebo. Due to the flash flooding, 100 houses have been damaged and destroyed, along with livestock such as camels, cattle, and goats. In farming areas, heavy rains washed away recently planted seeds.

Floods in Ethiopia have devastated lives in Tigray, decimating hectares of land and infrastructures such as roads and bridges. CREDIT Petterik Wiggers/Oxfam

Floods in Ethiopia have devastated lives in Tigray, decimating hectares of land and infrastructures such as roads and bridges. Photo credit: Petterik Wiggers/Oxfam

Oxfam has been assisting families in this area, starting during the conflict that erupted in Tigray in 2020. As a member of a self-help group, Etsay received a small sum of money, a much-needed boost of 3,000 Birr ($52.69 USD) to invest in livestock. “From the cash received, I could buy five chickens,” Etsay says. “It wasn’t that much,” she admits, “but it was a start.”

As the secretary of her self-help group, Etsay was propelled into a leadership role, which she accepted with quiet determination. "I wanted to be a voice for my community," she explains, "simply because I wanted to stand up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves." 

Alongside her duties within the group, Etsay volunteers her time to help her community with agricultural activities and land use planning. In her role, she assists in planning and zoning land for various purposes, including agriculture, forestry, conservation, and urban development. This helps to balance competing land uses and minimize conflicts over land resources, embodying the spirit of communal support that defines her village. "I am serving my community without pay," she adds. 

Shewit Enkubeher, who is a Project Coordinator for Mums for Mums, describes her dedication. "She tries to show others that there are alternatives beyond migration, as many women flee to other countries.”

Oxfam, in partnership with Mums for Mums, with funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), initiated a project to provide urgent aid, transition to sustainable solutions, and empower women in conflict-affected areas of Tigray and Amhara Regions, Ethiopia. 

Concurrently, Mums for Mums, jointly with Oxfam, proposed a comprehensive two-year integrated emergency protection and development response in conflict-affected Raya Azebo, a district in Tigray region, to assist 37,985 individuals directly affected by the crisis, including IDPs and members of the host community (22,206 women, 15,779 men). The collaborative efforts result in tangible support for people like Etsay and her family. From cash assistance to agricultural inputs, the project provides essential aid to those affected by conflict, drought, and flooding.

“For many, migration is the only way to escape the hardships of life here," Shewit explains. "But through our partnership with Oxfam, we're working to offer them a flicker of hope."

The project achieved significant milestones, including:

  • Providing three goats and sheep to 150 self-help group members.
  • Distributing 15 chickens each to 210 members.
  • Distributing Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) kits, typically containing contraceptives, menstrual hygiene products, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception (morning-after pills) for urgent needs, to health posts.
  • Deploying a mobile health team serving 265 women.
  • Conducting prevention activities for gender-based violence.
  • Cash for survivors of gender-based violence, to help pay transport and other costs for them to access proper care and services. 
  • Training health workers on sexual/reproductive health needs and how to help survivors of gender-based violence.
  •  Conducting capacity assessments of Rural Savings and Credit Cooperatives.

As one of the only people in her community able to read and write, Etsay is playing a key role in organizing her community. "It's a challenge, but it also motivates me to strive for change, to pave the way for a brighter future for everyone."

"Etsay’s story is a testament to the enduring strength of the human heart," Shewit muses. "In the face of adversity, she and countless others like her continue to inspire us all."

And as Etsay looks towards the future, her gaze filled with quiet determination, she offers a simple yet powerful reminder: "Even in our darkest hour, there is hope.”