These people are queuing outside a
bank to try and get their money. AFP
Tigray
has been totally cut off for many months, leaving millions in desperate need of
food and essential supplies. A resident of Tigray's capital, Mekelle, which is
under the control of the TPLF, has managed to tell the BBC what life is like.
Obtaining
the essentials for day-to-day survival is a cause of concern.
It
aches my heart as a father of two tiny children that I am unable to care for my
family. This is partly due to the fact that I am unable to spend the money I
have because all banks are closed.
Many
of us are dealing with this issue, and money is tight.
I
haven't had access to my account since June of last year, so I've been
borrowing money to feed my family from friends and relatives here.
Relatives
on the other side of the world have also expressed an interest in assisting,
but it is hard to do so because all phone lines and the internet have been
turned off.
Furthermore,
food prices have risen dramatically.
Teff,
a native staple grain, is becoming more difficult to come by, as is wheat
flour, pepper, and cooking oil.
A
year ago, a 100kg (220lbs) bag of teff cost around $80 (£60), but today it
costs $146.
Those
that can afford it buy a lesser amount of teff and combine it with less
expensive sorghum and wheat to produce injera (flat bread), which is an
important element of every meal.
Many
others, on the other hand, are unable to obtain teff at all.
We've
been instructed that we should grow veggies in our compound, and we're getting
started. The issue, though, is that we need to obtain water.
We
used to buy a 200-litre barrel of water every week to get us through the week,
but we can no longer afford it, so we have to rely on shallow wells.
The
purchase of new shoes or clothing for the children, as well as the consumption
of meat, have become luxuries.
Running
water and electricity are scarce, and they come and go during the day; days can
go by without either.
Many
people are out of work and the majority of shops and business centres in
Mekelle are closed as they are either unable to pay rent for their shops or
lack supplies to sell.
As
a result, many have begun to sell their valuables, such as automobiles,
furniture, and jewellery, in order to purchase food. They're also being pushed
to sell at a steep discount.
A
$64 21-carat gold ring may now be purchased for as little as $12. Even if a car
used to cost $16,000, it can now be purchased for $7,000.
When
individuals run out of goods to sell, they turn to begging, and the streets are
overrun with beggars, the bulk of them are moms with children.
Drugs
have also ran out at medical facilities.
People
with chronic illnesses are dying as a result of a shortage of medication.
Antiretroviral
pills are given to HIV patients on an as-needed basis.
Religious
feasts and marriages, which used to be such an important part of the social
fabric, are now a distant memory.
In
terms of my daily routine, I used to sleep in late before the schools reopened.
This
was due to the fact that I stayed up late at night watching and listening to
all of the news snippets I had gathered.
The
most recent information is difficult to come by.
I
can't use the internet since I don't have a computer. Instead, I go to roadside
vendors and capture video and audio pieces on current events to sell for $0.20
apiece.
Other
than that, I either read books, talk to my neighbours, or go for a stroll.
Unaffordable petrol
Since
my son has returned to school, I've been doing a lot of walking. My phone
estimates that I walk between 9,000 and 12,000 steps every day.
Most
mornings, I walk the 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) to drop him off. At midday, my
wife takes him up on foot once more.
I
used to go by vehicle, but it has been parked outside my house for over 18
months due to a lack of funds.
It
is still available for purchase, but only on the black market. A litre of
gasoline currently costs almost $10, when it used to cost $0.42 at a gas
station before the war.
Taking
a taxi or bejaj (three-wheeled motorised rickshaw) is also out of the question,
as a single journey in a bejaj costs $2.
Horse-drawn
carriages are now being used for public transport.
Cycling
has gotten more popular, but bicycles have also become more costly.
People
here want the situation to be settled peacefully, and they were overjoyed when
word of the cease-fire last week arrived.
They
had been waiting to see whether it was more than just a promise, and things
appear to be changing with the arrival of the first relief convoy in months on
Friday.
I
am glad for my survival and the opportunity to share my tale, but I am aware
that many others are in far worse situations than I am, and some may be dying.
There
is a silver lining to all of this: people continue to support one another.
"Those
who eat alone, will die alone" is a saying in our Tigrinya language and
people follow that.
They
share what they have with others even if it means they will starve tomorrow.
There is so much solidarity to surviving together.
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