Ethiopia - our gynecology and obstetrics clinic in a combat zone

The armed conflicts in Ethiopia have reached Afar and thus the area of our gynecology and obstetrics clinic for girls and women affected by female genital mutilation. The region is in an absolute state of emergency, with residents fleeing with their few possessions from the gunfire of advancing insurgents. For safety reasons, we have evacuated the staff and temporarily closed the clinic. Contact with the region is almost impossible. According to informants, the clinic is occupied by the TPLF rebels. Heavy fighting is taking place in the region around our clinic. Afar shock troops are repeatedly trying to advance into the area around our clinic. You are defending the land of your ancestors with life and limb.

We are currently preparing part of our evacuated team for deployment in the villages not yet conquered by the rebels. They want to assist the girls and women who have fled there, for whom our clinic was previously the only place of refuge. So our work continues, in difficult times under the most difficult conditions. We hope that our heartfelt project will be spared from destruction and our thoughts are with the local people who are currently fighting for their lives, have been separated from their families, are suffering from hunger and have lost the last of their possessions.