Trapped by the past: Families in Adihageray, Ethiopia still live with the threat of explosive remnants of war

In Adihageray, northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia, families and schoolchildren continue to live under the shadow of unexploded ordnance.

Years after the conflict, the effects of war remain visible across the region, where fear of explosives still lingers in farms, public areas like roads, and school classrooms.

In this rural community surrounded by farmland, people live with the daily reminder of what was left behind, unexploded items scattered across fields and school compounds that continue to pose serious risks.

For many families, returning home brought little relief. Though the fighting has stopped, the threat remains buried in the soil. Working in close partnership with the Ethiopian Mine Action Office, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Ethiopia, through its humanitarian mine action work is helping the community reclaim safety, livelihoods, and hope for the future. DRC works with local communities to reduce risks through awareness sessions, marking of contaminated areas, and is expecting to start removing explosive remnants of war soon to help families live safely again.

Among those affected is Mrs. Haregu Fisaha Meles, a farmer and mother of five. Before the conflict, her family depended on farming and livestock for their income. When fighting began, they fled their village. Months later, they returned to find their home damaged, their animals gone, and their farmland contaminated with dozens of mortars.

The discovery of explosive remnants of war (ERW) forced them to change their way of life. Neighbours stopped visiting, and children could no longer play freely.  For Haregu, every day is about finding ways to survive unexploded ordnance while keeping her children safe.

The contamination of farmland has affected many families who can no longer cultivate or graze animals. Some now rent safe plots from others or take on daily labour to earn a small income. The constant anxiety of living near explosive remnants has also affected people’s mental wellbeing and social life.

The danger has also reached schools. At Adihageray Complete Elementary School, unexploded ordnance has disrupted learning for hundreds of students. Mr. Mengstu Desalegn Tafere, the school’s director, recalls that before the conflict, the school had more than 2,000 students and over 60 teachers and staff. Now, due to the contamination with ERW, some classrooms remain closed, and parents are afraid to send their children far from home.

With support from DRC and local authorities, residents are learning to identify and report explosive ordnance. Volunteers also help map high-risk areas to prevent accidents. Each site that is safely cleared allows families to return to farming, children to resume learning, and communities to rebuild their life.

As the world marks World Disarmament Week, the experience of families in Adihageray shows that mine action is not only about clearing explosives but it is about restoring safety and stability so that people can live and work without fear.