June 20, 2025
A powerful protest by Tigrayan Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) erupted in Mekelle this week, culminating in the release of 1,689 yellow balloons—each representing a day spent in displacement since fleeing Western Tigray. Organized by the Tsilal Civil Society, the protest denounced years of silence and inaction from both the Tigray Interim Administration and the Federal Government, blaming them for thousands of preventable deaths in overcrowded, under-resourced camps.
The balloons symbolized nearly five years of agony: malnutrition, disease, trauma, and crumbling dignity under plastic shelters with little access to food, water, or healthcare. “We didn’t die in war—we’re dying in these camps, slowly, silently,” a Tsilal spokesperson said.
Carrying banners such as “We can’t spend a fifth rain in IDP centers” and “Return us home or let us die with dignity,” protesters also issued urgent demands: the immediate withdrawal of occupying forces from Western Tigray, and the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, including the guaranteed right of displaced people to return home safely and voluntarily.
With the rainy season fast approaching, fears of flooding, cholera, and further isolation have heightened. “The next rains will bury the forgotten,” one protester warned.
A parallel protest was held outside the United Nations in Geneva by Tigrayan diaspora and supporters, echoing the call for international intervention and justice. Tsilal Civil Society presented evidence of multiple ignored appeals to authorities and demanded urgent action.
“Enough of the massacre of the displaced,” read one sign. “Send us home so we can farm, trade, and eat.” Their message is clear: without withdrawal of forces, without justice, the suffering will only deepen.
