Ethiopia – Provincial Council visits Northern Communities, in March

21 March 2023

(ANS – Makalle) – For more than two years, because of war, the communication and animation of the four Salesian communities in the North of Ethiopia (Makalle, Adigrat-Gola, Adwa, and Shire) were terminated. At the beginning of November 2022, a peace agreement was signed between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Regional Government of Tigray, and following the agreement some access and the possibility to visit have been allowed – even though a lot more is still to be done. The Provincial Council has thus decided to make the Provincial Council meeting of March in the North and visit all four communities. The following is an account of this trip.

The flight took us from Addis Ababa to Shire on Thursday 2nd of March, 2023. Starting from Shire, we journeyed to Makalle by car. In each community, we were able to visit the surroundings and to have a moment of sharing with the confreres. The meeting was regarding two points: the First was a forum to let the confreres express some of their experiences and their feelings, and the Second was about sharing some ideas about what can we do at the moment and what we dream about for the future. 

As the Provincial Council, we did not have enough words to thank the confreres for the testimonies they have given being with the people for two years in such an unimaginable situation. They were not able to express all their experiences and their feelings. Things that happened for two years, one could not imagine happening in the 21st century. It is so sad that humanity had gone that low, there was no one to voice the suffering of almost seven (7) million people without school, hospital, telephone, or transport (both air and land) … under the continuous threat of bombardment and killing. Our confreres, without any exception, were present with the people. The local communities were very grateful for the presence of Salesians among them at this critical time. It was not about what they could offer materially – which was very good when it was possible – but for their mere presence.

The confreres expressed to us that they really felt cut off from the province and the whole congregation. They felt that the communications were not enough, they felt they were left to themselves. They were honest and bold in sharing what they felt. But at the same time, they recognised some of the efforts that had been made, but the siege was too long – staying under siege for two years is not enough.

We understood that the whole population, including our confreres, are highly traumatised and there is a need for a systematic trauma-healing process. 

Even though the guns are silent, there are some areas still - from where we have a good number of confreres - which is not accessible, and confreres are without news from their families till now. Schools are not yet opened (now for the fourth year), banks are said to be open but few branches are functioning and there are long queues to receive only 2000-3000 birr (the equivalent of 30-50 euro), the flights have a lot of restrictions to get the tickets (to fly out of Tigray one has to be 65 and above or should have letters for medication or work reasons – getting tickets online as other domestic flight is not possible).

For us Salesians, we have started with tutorial classes in all our four communities for the younger ones. At least children can stay in our centres. There are teachers (from the academic or technical field) we have a good number of volunteers and students from high schools and universities.

At the same time, the Provincial Office and the Province Development Office (PDO) are continuing to support the needy people, especially in the North, with food and non-food items. We are so grateful for Don Bosco Network, which is so generous in funding this assistance. All the members – Don Bosco Nel Mondo Rome, Bosco Mond Bonn, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Turin, VIS, etc. – as well as so many individual donors who assisted us and are still assisting us. There was a trial from New Rochelle – USA to send food items with a container but we are still facing difficulties in importing them. One container with food items that was sent as a trial run is still in Djibouti, and we are not sure if we will be able to get permission.

The needs can be seen as short-term and long-term. For the moment, there is a need for emergency response with food and sanitary materials as well as sports and stationery materials for the young people coming for tutorial classes. The issue of Trauma-Healing work has to start now and also will need to continue.

Long-term, the issue will be rehabilitation, rebuilding, restarting official schools, and giving training to the young people who have been disarmed, disabled, mentally disturbed, etc. Our four communities are positive that this peace process will continue to implement the agreement signed and slowly it will come to “normality”. They will be ready to offer short-term training for many young men and women in Hair Dressing, Computer, Food Preparation, Textile, Welding, Automotive, etc. 

But the challenges are also there. Our structures do not have all the necessary preparations in the fields, they are not made to welcome all (inclusivity) in the structures as well as in the delivery of the training.

This communication is just to give the news that the Provincial Council was able to visit our confreres and our communities and to highlight the situation. 

We are so grateful for your prayers, support, and understanding.

Abba Lijo Vadakkan SDB,

AET Provincial Councillor

  

RELATED ARTICLE(S)

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes. By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more or to opt out, click "Further Information".