War against humanity. It has been over a year since the conflict broke out in the Northern part of Ethiopia due to the aggressive action of TPLF, a registered terrorist group both by the Ethiopian government and the international community. In the face of the global COVID pandemic, such futile atrocity exacerbates all aspects of humanity. The loss of lives and the aftermath of war have a lasting impact on the economy; it distorts the social and value system, causes devastating moral decay; tents historical facts as the tendency for political polarization is inevitable.

War knows no limits! Over the years, humanity has seen some atrocious wars for different reasons. The war that showed unimaginable ugliness against the most vulnerable and innocent witnessed at the hand of a militant group that has been lurking around for three decades. Atrocities caused by war have happened since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, it will continue to occur as long as the unquenchable thirst for whatever human desire continues to overshadow the value and price of peace and life itself.

The ugliness of it all is that it does not discriminate against age or gender. In the recent month, the world witnessed a horrifying story coming out of Ethiopia's conflict where a militant group rapped an eighty-five-year-old nun while she pleaded not to defile her. Her plea falls on deaf ears. This is not an isolated story. Testimonies have come out in many of the areas impacted by the war. A year-long battle is bound to cause devastation to an already weakened economy due to various factors. 

The older population has been neglected in terms of the humanitarian crisis and its impact. One can only imagine the psychological and emotional turmoil among the aging population.

The older population continues to be marginalized, and it is a deeply concerning matter. The government and society, in general, need to take progressive action to maintain the safety and health of the older population.

According to data from Index Mundi 2020, Ethiopia's population is 118 million, of which 3.8% is over 65 years of age that translates to 4,484,000 give and take. Data also show that over 85% of Ethiopia's population lives in rural areas that compound the older population's issue in terms of access to medical care, nutrition, shelter, and safety. Although the current conflict in the country seems to have ethnic division, atrocity affects every just the same. Much attention and focus given to the various demographics, the vocal ones, the voice of the older population have not carried much weight, although they are the hardest hit in terms of displacement and lack of support. 

We intend to call awareness to the silent indignance the older citizens of Ethiopia are experiencing to lift their voices and their concerns. The fear and uncertainty that must be hovering over them are not difficult to fathom. Society owes its aging population the respect and supports it deserves as they are the past that took part in the making of history, the present that paved the path for the future generation to embark upon. We would not have a future without the past that gave way to the present. The war is not against a given enemy; the most incredible and worst enemy is against humanity and integrity. We must honor and serve them.

Join hands with BLR in the effort to sustain the dignity and quality of life for the honorable elders of Ethiopia that had paid the ultimate price to give all of us the Ethiopian-ness.

Their challenges are our opportunities!