Elfinesh Hadush had enjoyed a stable life with her husband and two sons, Leul and Natnael. The income generated from their coffee farm enabled them to cover all their home expenses and even set some savings aside.

But when the ethnic conflict began to escalate in their part of the region, she had to flee with her children to the south-east of Tigray, where other members of her family lived.
 “My aim was to escape. I didn’t had time to collect my resources - we rushed to save our lives.” 

Elfinesh no longer had a means of income to help pay the rent, nor could she access her savings. She felt shame in having to rely on others for financial support.

Thanks to her skills and experiences, she was soon able to farm poultry, generating just enough money to cover the medical bills of her elderly mother. But then, just as their lives were getting back on track, the Tigray war broke out.

Photo caption: Elfinesh Hadush with her son Natnael Dawit and her mother Akeza Fiseha in her home in Metoge on 14 June 2023. (Photo: Danial Zemchal/LWF Ethiopia)

Three weeks into the conflict, Elfinesh lost her poultry, but that became the least of her worries. Atrocities against civilians were common. “We fled to hard-to-reach rural areas as soldiers used my home as their camp.”

The family was now facing a deadly hunger situation, and Elfinesh was forced into a choice that no mother should have to make: “We opted to be starved than be killed by soldiers”.

When Elfinesh and her sons were able to return home after eight months, they found only loss and devastation. “All what we had was looted by soldiers”, she said. The poultry, clothes, beds, blankets - basic things that a family would need to survive, and they had all been taken.

“There were days we slept without food” recalled Elfinesh, before correcting herself. “It was not a sleep at all; we couldn’t sleep while being hungry”.

Based on a vulnerability assessment, Elfinesh has received cash as well as water, sanitation and hygiene items, kitchen sets, shelter items and dignity kits. The cash has helped for her family to minimize reliance on negative coping mechanisms (such as selling vital farming tools or begging for food), which is something that struggling families often fall into when they are in a traumatic situation.

“Thankfully, I’ve been able to prioritize buying food items which enabled Leul and Natnael eat for four months. Now I have full set of home facilities to bake, cook and sleep at home”, said Elfinesh, grateful for the help she has received. But then she asked an important question: “How should I shape my tomorrow?”

Photo caption: Elfinesh Hadush showing the home facilities she received from LWF on 10 March 2023. (Photo: Danial Zemchal/LWF Ethiopia)

Families like Elfinesh’s have faith that they can rebuild their lives and become resilient once again, but the trauma of war and conflict can be so hard to overcome. With your continued compassion, love and support, they can do it.

Together, we can help shape a better tomorrow. Click here to help families like Elfinesh's now!