Between 2020 and 2022, the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia was the scene of one of the most violent armed conflicts in recent decades. As always, civilians were the first victims: in just two years, several hundred thousand people lost their lives, were injured or were displaced to flee the fighting. In addition to the violence and memories of the past conflict, there is now the danger of explosive ordnances, threatening the lives of the population and hampering any hope of a return to "normality". Mehari Amara Tadele, a victim of one of these devices, recounts how his life was turned upside down.
The explosive legacy of conflict: when everyday life becomes a danger
Mehari Amare Tadele is 36 years old and lives in the village of Adikeala Kebele in the woreda of Seharti in southern Tigray. Before the conflict, Mehari had a metalworking business, a small enterprise that enabled him to support his wife and four children.
Like so many others, Mehari's life was turned upside down by the conflict in Tigray: explosive weapons have a lasting effect on the territory, often decades after the fighting has stopped. Mehari's accident happened in 2024, when he was working. The explosion cost him his left eye and hand, as well as other serious injuries. He recalls:
"I remember the date very clearly, it was 16 April. I was crushing some scrap metal that I'd picked up from abandoned war remnants. I didn't see that there was a mortar rocket among the pieces of metal", recalls the young man.
As well as physical injuries, survivors of explosive ordnances face real psychological trauma. The shock is immense, especially when the injury results in a permanent disability, as was the case for Mehari. Acceptance can be difficult, with a new reality to assimilate and a new way of looking at everyday life... The road to reconstruction can be a long one.
In Mehari's case, the accident was also synonymous with major financial difficulties: unable to work, he was forced to sell his essential equipment, particularly his compressor, to survive. This added pressure and stress plunged the family into uncertainty.
"This period was very difficult for us. We had to accept that our daily lives would change, and that we would face many difficulties ahead. Mehari's business was our only source of income, and for months our family's future was uncertain", explains his wife, Trhas Adane.
An admirable reconstruction, from survivor to company director
After several months of taking time to reconstruct, Mehari's road to recovery has accelerated. The young metalworker met HI and was taken into the care of the Orthopaedic and Physiotherapy Centre in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, to receive treatment and a prosthetic hand. This turning point was just the beginning.
In February 2025, through a project run by HI in the region, Mehari received support to develop an income-generating activity. He received financial assistance and training in small business development. At the same time, Mehari continued to receive HI's mental health and psychosocial support, which is essential to enable victims of explosive weapons to move forward and make a fresh start. When he tried to return to his former metalworking business, Mehari encountered a few difficulties:
"Initially it was difficult, but his experience and training enabled him to bounce back! Mehari quickly adapted himself and relaunched his business with new energy. He was able to buy back the tools that were essential and he started to develop his business", points out Mebrahton, Director of Job Creation in the woreda.
Today, Mehari's transformation is remarkable. His situation is stable, his income allows him and his family to be completely independent, and he has even managed to employ two workers and a security guard.
"I've gone from being a survivor to an entrepreneur, and now I'm an employer! I hope that my story will help other victims of these weapons. Recovery is possible with the right support, that's the important thing to remember" adds the young man.
Mehari is still in contact with HI and has alerted its teams to the presence of explosive weapons near his workshop. As a result, the HI team was able to intervene and remove 19 explosive devices.
