Middle East And North Africa Current Eventsidentify A Current Event ✓ Solved

Middle East and North Africa: Current Events Identify a current event from the Middle East and North Africa region (as indicated in the text book). The current event should have happened during the past year and should address issues of human or physical geography in the region in which it occurs. Post your word report (not including source links) to a new discussion topic. Every report should 1) identify the location the even occurred on and provide a link, 2) consult two (2) online resources, one of which should be published by a person or organization in the region where the event occurred, and 3) offer an analysis/reflection by answering these questions: 1) What happened?, 2) Why did it happen here?, and 3) Who was impacted (and possibly, who caused) by the event?

Create a short title for the new discussion topic that reflects the content of your post. Make sure that you use quotes when citing information in the article and cite the source so readers know where you got your information.

Paper for above instructions

Title: Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray: Ongoing Challenges in Ethiopia
Introduction
The Tigray region of Ethiopia has been the epicenter of a devastating humanitarian crisis that escalated significantly in 2021 and extended into 2023. The ongoing conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has led to a catastrophic situation marked by severe food shortages, internal displacement, and viral outbreaks, further complicating the humanitarian landscape (Medecins Sans Frontieres, 2023). This report will analyze the events occurring in Tigray during the past year, their geospatial significance, and their broad socio-economic impact.
1. What Happened?
The conflict in Tigray intensified in late 2020 and has continued to devastate the region. In 2021, the Ethiopian government declared a military offensive against the TPLF, which resulted in significant civilian casualties, atrocities, and the displacement of millions (International Crisis Group, 2023). As of 2023, despite a peace agreement reached in November 2022, the humanitarian crisis remains dire; limited access to health services and food has brought the region to the brink of famine (BBC News, 2023).
During the past year, reports have indicated that over 6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, as food insecurity reaches alarming levels (World Food Programme, 2023). Moreover, amidst the conflict, health crises like malaria, measles, and COVID-19 have proliferated due to weakened healthcare systems and deteriorating living conditions (Oxfam, 2023). A significant scale-up of humanitarian aid was projected, but various factors, including bureaucratic hurdles and ongoing violence, prevented timely intervention.
2. Why Did It Happen Here?
The roots of the conflict in Tigray can be traced back to longstanding ethnic tensions in Ethiopia, a country comprising a multitude of ethnic groups, including the Amhara, Oromo, and Tigrayans. Following the overthrow of the ruling party by the TPLF in 1991, a federal system was established based on ethnicity, which, while designed to grant self-determination, ultimately entrenched ethnic divisions (Alemayehu & Woldemariam, 2023).
The political landscape shifted in 2018, when Abiy Ahmed came to power, leading to widespread protests and the marginalization of the TPLF (Al Jazeera, 2023). The TPLF, feeling threatened and sidelined, responded aggressively, which spiraled into armed conflict in late 2020. The complex intertwining of politics, inter-ethnic rivalries, and issues of governance in Ethiopia contributed to the Tigray conflict, illustrating how localized tensions can rapidly escalate into larger humanitarian crises.
3. Who Was Impacted?
The humanitarian crisis in Tigray has affected millions of innocent civilians, primarily women, children, and the elderly (UNICEF, 2023). Displacement due to violence has pushed families into refugee camps, where living conditions are dire, exacerbated by limited access to food and medicine. Since the onset of the conflict, an estimated 2 million people are internally displaced (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 2023). These individuals have suffered physical and psychological trauma, loss of livelihoods, and a breakdown of social cohesion.
The Ethiopian government has been responsible for much of the suffering, through military offensives, human rights violations, and restrictive policies that limit humanitarian access (Human Rights Watch, 2023). Reports of sexual violence as a weapon of war have further highlighted the brutal reality faced by women in conflict zones. Notably, the TPLF has also engaged in acts that may constitute war crimes, complicating the issue further and showcasing the multifaceted nature of guilt and victimhood in this conflict (Amnesty International, 2023).
Conclusion
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Tigray is a stark reminder of the impact of political power struggles on the lives of innocent civilians. Such crises within the Middle East and North Africa play a vital role in shaping human and physical geography through significant displacement, food insecurity, and health challenges. As the world responds, the focus should evolve beyond emergency humanitarian assistance to fostering long-term sustainable development and conflict resolution in Ethiopia, with an emphasis on rebuilding trust among communities and ensuring fundamental human rights for all Ethiopians.
References
1. Alemayehu, B., & Woldemariam, D. (2023). Ethnic Federalism and Political Instability: The Case of Ethiopia. African Journal of Political Science.
2. Amnesty International. (2023). Ethiopia: 'We Are in Hell': The True Impact of the Tigray Conflict. [Link](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/03/ethiopia-we-are-in-hell/).
3. BBC News. (2023). Tigray after the Peace Deal: A Continuing Humanitarian Crisis. [Link](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64488966).
4. Human Rights Watch. (2023). World Report 2023: Ethiopia: Events of 2022. [Link](https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/ethiopia).
5. International Crisis Group. (2023). Ethiopia’s Tigray Conflict: Challenges After the Ceasefire. Crisis Group Africa Report No. 310. [Link](https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-africa/ethiopia/310-ethiopias-tigray-conflict-challenges-after-ceasefire).
6. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). (2023). Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023. [Link](https://www.internal-displacement.org/publications/global-report-2023).
7. Medecins Sans Frontieres. (2023). Ethiopia: Emergency Health Response in Tigray. [Link](https://www.msf.org/ethiopia-emergency-health-response-tigray).
8. Oxfam. (2023). Perspectives on the Humanitarian Crisis in Ethiopia: A New Report. [Link](https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/perspectives-humanitarian-crisis-ethiopia).
9. UNICEF. (2023). Ethiopia: The Toll on Children in Tigray's Conflict. [Link](https://www.unicef.org/stories/toll-children-ethiopia-conflict).
10. World Food Programme. (2023). Ethiopia: Food Insecurity and the Conflict in Tigray. [Link](https://www.wfp.org/publications/ethiopia-food-insecurity-and-conflict-tigray).