Eritrean occupation in Irob, Zelambessa continues unchallenged
Half of the 2.48 million school-age children in Tigray are unable to attend classes, according to a report from the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA).
Data obtained by The Reporter reveals that more than 1.42 million school-age children in the war-battered region have no access to education, while no less than 387 schools in various parts of Tigray remain closed or operating at reduced capacity due to insecurity, lack of resources, and shortages of teaching staff.
“Particularly in the western zone and in some parts of the southern and eastern zones, the security situation remains volatile, making it difficult for students to attend schools regularly,” reads the report from the TIA Education Bureau.
The Bureau indicates that in parts of the region, students have to make do with makeshift classrooms in tents and temporary shelter with limited access to basic facilities.
It also revealed the conditions have given rise to an increased dropout rate as many families are forced to prioritize basic survival needs over education, pushing at least 36,000 students to abandon their schooling.
The report shows that the war’s impact on the region’s human resources has been catastrophic, with as many as 14,000 teachers, school leaders, and education officials missing or unaccounted for.
The Bureau highlights troubling developments in the northeastern Irob Woreda, where 23 of 47 schools are located in territory occupied by Eritrean forces.
“Schools under the Eritrean government’s control are either fully or partially destroyed and none of them are operational as of now,” a source told The Reporter on condition of anonymity.
The remaining 24 schools in areas under TIA control are barely functional and cater to only 4,000 students, equivalent to just 35 percent of the pupils enrolled there prior to the war.
The Eritrean occupation is posing hardships elsewhere, such as the border town of Zalambessa, where residents report restricted movements, insufficient access to essential services, and recurring instances of mistreatment.
The Eritrean military’s involvement in the Tigray conflict led to their control over Irob Woreda Zalambessa, both located in Tigray’s Misraqawi Zone, even after the end of the war in November 2022.
Despite calls for troop withdrawal, the situation remains unresolved, with locals unable to resume normal lives.
Recent ground coverage by France 24 highlighted these issues, emphasizing the plight of affected communities.
Residents expressed their concerns about the prolonged military presence and its impact on daily life. Additionally, the residents claim that the persistence of Eritrean troops continues to hinder post-conflict recovery efforts in the region, with the nearest road to Adigrat town also blocked.
Reports indicate that Zalambessa remains cut off from development efforts, further complicating recovery initiatives. Many of its residents have sought refuge in Adigrat, where they currently reside.
Eritrean forces continue to occupy border areas, including 163,000 square kilometers of land in the Irob zone.
Medhin Aweala, a former resident of Irob now living in Adigrat, said that people in areas controlled by Eritrean forces continue to face severe suffering. According to him, the main road to Adigrat remains blocked, complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. Medhin also noted that the local people and the youth frequently disappear at the hands of Eritrean forces, with no information about their whereabouts.
“Very few are returned to their homes,” he told The Reporter. “The Eritrean forces can kidnap anyone they want at any time without anyone preventing them from doing so.”
Medhin emphasized that neither federal forces nor the TIA and regional security forces offer protection to local residents.
“Their suffering is unbearable,” he said. “No one dares to ask questions regarding their rights let alone asking where the abducted people and the youth were taken.”
He added that Eritrean forces have pressured the locals to join the Eritrean military, claiming the land belongs to Eritrea.
Recently, internally displaced residents now living in Adigrat organized a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the Zalambessa massacre, which was committed by Eritrean forces.
Half of the 2.48 million school-age children in Tigray are unable to attend classes, according to a report from the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA).
The Eritrean military’s involvement in the Tigray conflict led to their control over Irob Woreda Zalambessa, both located in Tigray’s Misraqawi Zone, even after the end of the war in November 2022. Despite calls for troop withdrawal, the situation remains unresolved, with locals unable to resume normal lives.