H@H: Ep 60 - Today’s episode is a significant call for action against the ongoing genocidal war declared on Tigray and its people. This war has left more than 50,000 civilians killed in over 150 massacres, an estimated 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence committed by federal soldiers against girls as young as four, 2.3 million children needing assistance, 4.5 million people in need of emergency food, more than 60,000 refugees and 2.2 million people internally displaced.

We speak with Almaz Ali, Sami Tamyalew, and Lula Desta. Their families have been directly affected, as they describe the horrors through the stories of victims and survivors—stories that have received very little news coverage. With humanitarian aid being blocked, we discuss the ways we can help.

Episode Quotes:

On the need to help:

“Some stories are coming out and they're horrific. I think the worst part is this is just the tip of the iceberg. 80% of Tigray is inaccessible, so every story we hear, we know that there are thousands that we're not [...] I feel called to use these unearned privileges to go beyond myself—compassion is active and so it calls for us to alleviate the suffering of others. And that's kind of what I've been really holding on to because it helps me feel like I have a sense of agency.” – Almaz Ali

On the ways to help:

 “There are a few ways to get involved. The first would be to just donate to organizations that are on the ground and doing good work and to find a vetted list of set organizations, you go to omnatigray.org. The second thing you do is just attend and amplify protests [...] The third would be to reach out to your elected officials and to just put pressure onto a national government. The fourth would be to stay informed and engage in individual outreach to raise awareness in the communities you occupy [...] And then the fifth would be to form solidarity teams and reach out to Tigray advocacy organizations like Omna and ask them how you can assist.” – Sami Tamyalew

On the cry for help:

“War and genocide have become so normalized when it happens in developing countries, specifically countries made up of black and brown bodies, that when it occurs, we don't get the same attention and sympathy we would expect if this would have happened here in the United States or in a place like England. And it's frustrating because U.N and aid agencies constantly say never again, but here we are—2021—and there's a genocide happening in Tigray and no one has intervened and no one has done anything to help the people.” – Lula Desta

Ways to Support:

• Omna Tigray
• Two-day National Protest in San Francisco on May 21-22,2021

Contact Links:

• LinkedIn - Almaz Ali
• LinkedIn - Sami Tamyalew
• LinkedIn - Lula Desta

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/here-at-haas/donations