850+ Tigrayans Raped After CoHA: Support Victims Of The Tigray Genocide

I write to you today to draw your attention to the ongoing crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia, and to urge you to take immediate action to bring peace and aid to the people of Tigray. Despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) four months ago, essential services such as banking and telecommunications are still cut in most areas in the Tigray region. Additionally, a blockade of roads by Amhara Fano militia and Eritrean forces continues to prevent the delivery of essential supplies to many areas in Tigray. This has resulted in a severe food shortage, with only 11% of the targeted population receiving food assistance under the latest distribution cycle. Because of these continued road blockades over 5 million people are still at risk of starvation and malnutrition. Regrettably, the Ethiopian government has failed to implement the commitment to ensure "unhindered humanitarian access to all in need of assistance" as stipulated in Article 2, Section G of the CoHA. As a result, the majority of the population in Tigray has been left without the critical aid and services they need to survive. As an elected official, your power and influence extend far beyond the borders of this great nation. The citizens of the world look to leaders such as yourself to act in their best interests, especially during times of crisis. We cannot ignore the cries of Shashu, an 80-year-old woman who has been raped twice in this war - before and after the CoHA. She, like many others, has suffered unspeakable trauma and violence. According to the official Tigray Health Bureau data, in November and December 2022, there were 852 reported cases of sexual violence AFTER the signing of the CoHA. The trauma and suffering inflicted upon the people of Tigray are unimaginable. We must take swift action to provide them with the support and access to the aid they desperately need. It is incumbent upon us to use our power and influence to pressure the Ethiopian government to lift the blockade and provide unrestricted access to Tigray for humanitarian organizations. We must work together to ensure that innocent civilians receive the support they require and that the atrocities committed against them do not go unnoticed. In conclusion, I implore you to take action and work to bring peace to Tigray. Those in the region urgently need our assistance, and it is our responsibility to act swiftly and decisively to help them. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.