Why Heal?
Millions of Tigrayans experienced unimaginable cruelty during the war. They were raped, tortured, were forced to witness the massacres and brutalization of loved ones, while systematically being starved, denied healthcare, bombed, and looted of everything they owned and had built as a society. In addition to experiencing violence, almost every child survivor in Tigray witnessed savagery and believed they or their loved ones would die during the genocide.
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As was seen in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, psychosocial distress is highly prevalent in communities that experience genocide. People (young and old) who have experienced genocide events suffer from long-term PTSD, anxiety and depression.
© Samaritan’s Purse
How to Heal?
BBT intends to roll out a series of projects that will help Tigrayans cope with the impacts of the genocide and rebuild their lives so that they can thrive again. As part of the healing process, we seek to empower impacted individuals to develop their skills, to support one another, and to foster hope by rehabilitating their livelihoods. A key area of focus of our Heal program is healing women and girls.
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Healing women and girls of Tigray affected by weaponized Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV).​
From the onset, the war in Tigray was characterized by widespread attacks against civilians, and the conflict has been characterized by extensive weaponization of rape and high prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), including physical violence, assault, rape, gang rape, and intentional transmission of HIV, committed on women, girls, men, and boys which exposed them to life-threatening physical, psychological, and health consequences, including grim trauma and unwanted pregnancy. Some were infected with sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and victims have to now grapple with numerous challenges in the aftermath of such attacks, including physical (amputation, fistula, cervical cancer, etc.), psychological trauma and stigma.
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BBT Future Directions to Address CRSV under the Heal program:
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Access to Treatment: Strengthening access to comprehensive physical and psychological rehabilitation and coping mechanisms, including Mental Health and Psycho-social Support/ MHPSS/ and reintegration.
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Livelihood empowerment: Enhancing the safety and well-being of affected women and girls, support the early recovery of victims, and promote women’s economic livelihoods.
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Advocacy for Justice: National and international advocacy against CRSV in Tigray which strives to identify and challenge the injustice while demanding justice and independent investigations that hold perpetrators accountable for the systematic sexual violence against women and girls in Tigray.
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Data collection: In partnership with grassroots organizations and associations, BBT will identify unreported cases and document the necessary data and evidence. All relevant data needs to be recorded and reported in support of the effort BBT will be making to demand justice.
© Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/ Reuters
How to Help?
Join our efforts today!
Brick-by-Brick Tigray (BBT) crowdfunds as a funding solution to support programs and projects that are designed to serve communities in Tigray that were devastated by the genocidal war and the year-long humanitarian siege. Help support our work by volunteering, donating and shopping at our fundraising store. Click here and make a difference today.
