Nature of child abuse in war-torn districts in Ethiopia: the case of Amhara Region, Chenna and Maikadra

Since 2019, the war in Ethiopia between the Federal Government and the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has severely impacted civilians, including children. Although children have been affected in many of the war-torn regions of the country, the study targeted two specific locations, Maikadra and Chenna, in Amhara National Regional State, where civilians were massacred because of their ethnicity. The focus of the study was to understand the acute and complex child abuse that occurred in the midst of the war. A qualitative method with a descriptive case study design was employed to collect and analyze data. Twenty-four individuals were purposely selected and participated in the interviews. From Maikadra, the participants included seven children, two parents, two school principals, one eyewitness woman in the community, and one Kebele administrator. Similarly, from Chenna, five children, three parents, two school principals, and one Kebele administrator participated in the interviews. We applied in-depth interviews and systematic observation to gather primary data. Using social ecology as a theoretical framework, the result revealed that at the micro level, community members (particularly children) experienced witnessing killings, experience rape and verbal abuse, intimidation, and the destruction of the family unit. At the mezzo level, the study documented communities’ experiences related to displacement and the destruction of schools and community networks. Further, at the exo level, the study revealed experiences of hunger, starvation, and the emergence of child-headed families. Finally, at the macro community level, the study revealed loss of future aspirations and the development of negative attitudes toward cultural values. All these forms of child abuse, as reported by study participants, are crimes deliberately committed by the TPLF rebel groups. This study suggests multiple interventions at all levels are required.