1/n
THREAD: #WeaponizedRape
Yesterday, I promised to write a thread about a 19-yrs-old girl who I talked with on the phone. I couldn't get the courage to write about her b/se I was overwhelmingly devastated by her story. But, I have to tell her story to the world no matter what.
THREAD: #WeaponizedRape
Yesterday, I promised to write a thread about a 19-yrs-old girl who I talked with on the phone. I couldn't get the courage to write about her b/se I was overwhelmingly devastated by her story. But, I have to tell her story to the world no matter what.
2/n
Christine is originally from #Maikadra town. She and her family had to flee their hometown when it was changed to a hell on November 11, 2020. They took refuge at Humera town. After some days, the Ethiopian Army & Amhara Forces entered Humera. @LaetitiaBader @RepMcCaul @hrw
Christine is originally from #Maikadra town. She and her family had to flee their hometown when it was changed to a hell on November 11, 2020. They took refuge at Humera town. After some days, the Ethiopian Army & Amhara Forces entered Humera. @LaetitiaBader @RepMcCaul @hrw
3/n
The Amhara Forces were targeting every ethnic #Tigrayan and hence they abducted her dad. Life got tough for Christine, her mom, and her siblings in Humera town. But, she decided to take care of her family by selling coffee & tea across the main streets in Humera.
@jbgallopin
The Amhara Forces were targeting every ethnic #Tigrayan and hence they abducted her dad. Life got tough for Christine, her mom, and her siblings in Humera town. But, she decided to take care of her family by selling coffee & tea across the main streets in Humera.
@jbgallopin
4/n
She knew no one would help her in case something went wrong in the streets. Regardless, she didn't change her mind. As she thought, she started earning fair amount of money to buy food for her entire family. Day in day out, she was focused on saving the lives of her family.
She knew no one would help her in case something went wrong in the streets. Regardless, she didn't change her mind. As she thought, she started earning fair amount of money to buy food for her entire family. Day in day out, she was focused on saving the lives of her family.
5/n
On January 29, as she was on her usual business, it's getting dark & decided to spend the night in a nearby household for it would be too dangerous for her to walk all the way to where her family were staying. The woman was very generous and ...
@USAmbUN @AnnLinde @EUSR_Weber
On January 29, as she was on her usual business, it's getting dark & decided to spend the night in a nearby household for it would be too dangerous for her to walk all the way to where her family were staying. The woman was very generous and ...
@USAmbUN @AnnLinde @EUSR_Weber
6/n
... hence allowed Christine to spend the night at her house. Some hours later, the Amhara Forces started knocking at the door. They started beating the door with too much force and vowed to storm it with bullets if the owner fails to open it for them.
@helenhayes_
... hence allowed Christine to spend the night at her house. Some hours later, the Amhara Forces started knocking at the door. They started beating the door with too much force and vowed to storm it with bullets if the owner fails to open it for them.
@helenhayes_
7/n
They started firing bullets to the sky to terrorise them so that they would open it quickly. The woman opened the door and the Amhara Forces asked the woman and Christine to show their ID cards. Luckily, the woman had an Addis Ababan ID whereas Christine & a #Tigrayan ID.
They started firing bullets to the sky to terrorise them so that they would open it quickly. The woman opened the door and the Amhara Forces asked the woman and Christine to show their ID cards. Luckily, the woman had an Addis Ababan ID whereas Christine & a #Tigrayan ID.
8/n
When they knew that she was a #Tigrayan, they started punching, beating, slapping ... her to the point of making her unconscious. They dragged her away from the house & took her to an Orthodox Church with the name Saint Gabriel in Humera town. @DavidAltonHL @SweinEthiopia
When they knew that she was a #Tigrayan, they started punching, beating, slapping ... her to the point of making her unconscious. They dragged her away from the house & took her to an Orthodox Church with the name Saint Gabriel in Humera town. @DavidAltonHL @SweinEthiopia
9/n
There was a new building under construction at the church. The Amhara Special Forces commanded Christine to choose between either undressing herself or waiting for a bullet to be fired through her vagina. She begged them with the name of God. @SenatorMenendez @RepGregoryMeeks
There was a new building under construction at the church. The Amhara Special Forces commanded Christine to choose between either undressing herself or waiting for a bullet to be fired through her vagina. She begged them with the name of God. @SenatorMenendez @RepGregoryMeeks
10/n
However, they kept beating her and vowing to fire bullets through her vagina if she would not remove her dress immediately. They took turns to gang-rape her throughout the night. In the morning, they vowed to throw her off the building. @USEmbassyAddis @SamanthaJPower
However, they kept beating her and vowing to fire bullets through her vagina if she would not remove her dress immediately. They took turns to gang-rape her throughout the night. In the morning, they vowed to throw her off the building. @USEmbassyAddis @SamanthaJPower
11/n
She begged them to leave her alive. Then, they dumped her there and left her alone. As an elderly woman was passing by, she knew a lady was lying there. She approached her and knew that she was alive. She was kind enough to give her a hand. @AmbMKimani @irishmissionun
She begged them to leave her alive. Then, they dumped her there and left her alone. As an elderly woman was passing by, she knew a lady was lying there. She approached her and knew that she was alive. She was kind enough to give her a hand. @AmbMKimani @irishmissionun
12/n
Christine arrived at the place where her family were taking refuge. Her mom asked her repeatedly as to what happened to her firstborn child. But, Christine decided to keep it secret so that her mom would not be hurt. She told her mom that she's sick & it might be malaria.
Christine arrived at the place where her family were taking refuge. Her mom asked her repeatedly as to what happened to her firstborn child. But, Christine decided to keep it secret so that her mom would not be hurt. She told her mom that she's sick & it might be malaria.
13/n
After a month, Christine knew that her period was not coming. She was very afraid that she might be pregnant. She took a pregnancy test at a clinic in the town. Painfully, she found out that she was pregnant. @UN_Women @UNFPA @_UnfpaSudan @WHO @DrTedros @MSF @HedyFry
After a month, Christine knew that her period was not coming. She was very afraid that she might be pregnant. She took a pregnancy test at a clinic in the town. Painfully, she found out that she was pregnant. @UN_Women @UNFPA @_UnfpaSudan @WHO @DrTedros @MSF @HedyFry
14/n
Once again, she didn't want to tell her mom about the pregnancy. She visited Kahsay Abera Hospital - a public hospital in Humera - to get rid of the pregnancy. But, she was told that they could not abort her pregnancy. @HelenClarkNZ @batten_von @SenateForeign @SFRCdems
Once again, she didn't want to tell her mom about the pregnancy. She visited Kahsay Abera Hospital - a public hospital in Humera - to get rid of the pregnancy. But, she was told that they could not abort her pregnancy. @HelenClarkNZ @batten_von @SenateForeign @SFRCdems
15/n
She suspected they denied her of abortion b/se of her #Tigrayan ethnicity. She went back home and decided to accomplish a very risky task, to get rid of the pregnancy at any cost, "I decided to abort it myself even if the process may expose me to death." @RepKarenBass
She suspected they denied her of abortion b/se of her #Tigrayan ethnicity. She went back home and decided to accomplish a very risky task, to get rid of the pregnancy at any cost, "I decided to abort it myself even if the process may expose me to death." @RepKarenBass
16/n
At her home, without anyone watching her, she drank too much detergent, hoping it would abort the pregnancy. As she thought, it worked out well but very much devastated her health condition - was bleeding for many days non-stop.
@MelissaFleming @simoncoveney
At her home, without anyone watching her, she drank too much detergent, hoping it would abort the pregnancy. As she thought, it worked out well but very much devastated her health condition - was bleeding for many days non-stop.
@MelissaFleming @simoncoveney
17/n
Long story short, she managed to flee Humera to one of the refugee camps in Sudan. However, she kept her ordeal secret even at the camp to escape from social stigma. She even couldn't share her story to health professionals. Consequently, the bleeding continued and her ...
Long story short, she managed to flee Humera to one of the refugee camps in Sudan. However, she kept her ordeal secret even at the camp to escape from social stigma. She even couldn't share her story to health professionals. Consequently, the bleeding continued and her ...
18/n
... health condition deteriorated as time went by. One courageous health professional confronted Christine to tell her story when she suspected her of being raped. Christine had no choice but to reveal her story hoping she would get medical help. @Elif_Safak @SholaMos1
... health condition deteriorated as time went by. One courageous health professional confronted Christine to tell her story when she suspected her of being raped. Christine had no choice but to reveal her story hoping she would get medical help. @Elif_Safak @SholaMos1
19/n
Shocked by the story, the health professional wrote her a referral letter to Gedarif Hospital, a public hospital in Gedarif [Sudan]. Unfortunately, she couldn't get the necessary medical help at the hospital and is currently languishing to death at Gedarif. @Refugees
Shocked by the story, the health professional wrote her a referral letter to Gedarif Hospital, a public hospital in Gedarif [Sudan]. Unfortunately, she couldn't get the necessary medical help at the hospital and is currently languishing to death at Gedarif. @Refugees
20/n
When I called her yesterday, she was very desperately in need of medical & psychological help. I can't express it enough how intensely she thanked me ONLY because I talked to her on the phone. She told me that she considered herself trash & below any human being.
When I called her yesterday, she was very desperately in need of medical & psychological help. I can't express it enough how intensely she thanked me ONLY because I talked to her on the phone. She told me that she considered herself trash & below any human being.
21/n
I was heart-wrenched when I Iearned how much she was devastated, psychologically traumatised, & humiliated due to the barbaric forces of evil. @CarineNantulya @CathyDAndrea99 @nadiainitiative @MichouParaskevi @MelanneVerveer
I was heart-wrenched when I Iearned how much she was devastated, psychologically traumatised, & humiliated due to the barbaric forces of evil. @CarineNantulya @CathyDAndrea99 @nadiainitiative @MichouParaskevi @MelanneVerveer
22/n
I said, "Christine, look, the situation you are in does not define you. It rather defines the savage & rapist Amhara Forces who betrayed their own moms to perpetrate such a barbarity on a girl that looks exactly like their own moms & sisters." @WomenforWomen @MSF_EastAfrica
I said, "Christine, look, the situation you are in does not define you. It rather defines the savage & rapist Amhara Forces who betrayed their own moms to perpetrate such a barbarity on a girl that looks exactly like their own moms & sisters." @WomenforWomen @MSF_EastAfrica
23/n
She was has been extremely traumatised and hence needs continuous psychosocial support which I feel is almost inexistent at the refugee camps in Sudan. @DrTedros @AgnesCallamard @DrChristou @MSF_USA
She was has been extremely traumatised and hence needs continuous psychosocial support which I feel is almost inexistent at the refugee camps in Sudan. @DrTedros @AgnesCallamard @DrChristou @MSF_USA
24/n
Among all things, one thing she told me will never be lost from my memory. She said, "The Amhara Forces told me that I have to say ok to the rape and get pregnant to an Amhara baby, 'your womb must give brith to an Amhara baby'; otherwise, they vowed to kill me." @ChrisCoons
Among all things, one thing she told me will never be lost from my memory. She said, "The Amhara Forces told me that I have to say ok to the rape and get pregnant to an Amhara baby, 'your womb must give brith to an Amhara baby'; otherwise, they vowed to kill me." @ChrisCoons
25/n
I have to confess that I am the type of person I usually resist not to weep. However, yesterday was one of the few days I weeped over the past 11+ months.
I have to confess that I am the type of person I usually resist not to weep. However, yesterday was one of the few days I weeped over the past 11+ months.
26/n
Before hanging up our conversation, I asked her what she wanted people to do fo her. She replied, "I beg people for ONLY one thing; to help me get medical treatment and recover from this unbearable & non-stop pain. This is my only plea."
Before hanging up our conversation, I asked her what she wanted people to do fo her. She replied, "I beg people for ONLY one thing; to help me get medical treatment and recover from this unbearable & non-stop pain. This is my only plea."
27/n
I promised her that we'll never leave her alone & we will help her get the type of medical treatment she deserves to have to get back to her normal life. We plead with the intl community for
#Justice4TigraysWomenAndGirls; justice for the #TigrayWarRapeVictims. @UNOCHA @hrw
I promised her that we'll never leave her alone & we will help her get the type of medical treatment she deserves to have to get back to her normal life. We plead with the intl community for
#Justice4TigraysWomenAndGirls; justice for the #TigrayWarRapeVictims. @UNOCHA @hrw
28/n
*Christine isn't her actual name. I decided to keep her real name secret for the sake of her safety & privacy.
Moreover, I don't want to specify which exact refugee camp she is in. If there is someone who has the desire to contact her for an/a interview/help, DM!.
*Christine isn't her actual name. I decided to keep her real name secret for the sake of her safety & privacy.
Moreover, I don't want to specify which exact refugee camp she is in. If there is someone who has the desire to contact her for an/a interview/help, DM!.
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