The Unbearable Cost of War — and the Strength of Tigrayan Women

By Dr. M. A. Nurhussein

The Unbearable Cost of War — and the Strength of Tigrayan Women

The war in Tigray has left behind stories too painful to tell, and yet too important to forget. Among its countless war survivors, it is the women who carry the deepest wounds because of unspeakable violence, displacement, and loss. The hoped-for promise of justice and healing by the Pretoria Agreement remains elusive. Many still suffer in silence, unseen and unsupported, struggling with the lingering effects of trauma in isolated camps.

But even in the darkest moments, the light of resilience shines. A simple act of compassion sparked a powerful movement: a small poultry-farming project that began in Adwa with 40 women, each receiving 5,000 birr to buy hens and a rooster. From those humble beginnings grew self-reliance, livable income, and—most importantly—dignity.

One woman’s words captured it all: “ኣእምሮና ተመሊሱ” — “Our mind, our dignity, is restored.”

Today, 202 women have rebuilt their lives through this effort. What began as a small act of solidarity has become a model for empowerment and hope.

Wogahta: A New Dawn

Inspired by their courage, we created Wogahta, a U.S.-registered nonprofit (501(c)(3)) dedicated to healing and empowering survivors of war and gender-based violence. Our vision extends beyond Tigray—to all communities where women’s lives have been torn apart by conflict. Through medical care, counseling, and vocational training, we aim to help them reclaim their strength and independence.

As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”

Wogahta means “dawn.” Together, we can bring that dawn to women who have endured the darkest of nights.

Join us at www.wogahta.org and be part of this new beginning.