The Tigrayan community gathers once again to commemorate the 37th anniversary of “We Are The World” and to shine a light on the ongoing crisis plaguing Tigray. This iconic song, released on March 7, 1985, was originally intended to raise global awareness and support for the catastrophic famine that gripped Africa, particularly Ethiopia.

“We Are The World 37” (WATW37) holds profound significance today as it marks another year since the album’s release, aiming to mobilize the world once more in solidarity with the Ethiopian people who are enduring unimaginable suffering.

Tragically, the echoes of past famine resonate with haunting familiarity. Today, 37 years later, the Tigrayan region finds itself in dire straits, with approximately 8 million people trapped under a suffocating siege. The consequences of this prolonged crisis have been devastating, as researchers estimate that up to 500,000 Tigrayans have lost their lives due to a combination of war and famine during the 17 months since Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Eritrean dictator Isaias Afwerki initiated a genocidal military campaign, exploiting what began as a political conflict with the TPLF.

The magnitude of the current crisis is staggering. Tigrayans bear the brunt of widespread violence, severe food shortages, and a dire humanitarian situation. As the international community looks back on the past and the efforts made to address previous famines, it becomes clear that urgent action is needed to alleviate the immense suffering endured by the Tigrayan people.

It is a somber reminder that history has repeated itself, and the Tigrayan community now faces a humanitarian emergency of alarming proportions. Behind the numbers and statistics lie the untold stories of anguish, displacement, and heartbreak. With an estimated 8 million lives hanging in the balance, the Tigrayan people desperately need the world’s attention, compassion, and support.

As the Tigrayan community gathers to remember “We Are The World” and its original purpose, their meeting serves as a powerful call to action. It urges the global community to unite once more, to raise awareness, and to stand in solidarity with the resilient Tigrayan people who have endured immense suffering. Together, we must amplify their voices, demand justice, and work tirelessly to alleviate the ongoing crisis.

May the spirit of “We Are The World” be rekindled, not only as a reminder of the past but as an urgent plea to address the present. Let us strive to create a world where no community is left to endure such unfathomable pain, where empathy, justice, and compassion prevail over conflict and famine.

Royal Air Force C-130 airdropping food during the famine in 1985, source wiki.

In June 1985, the first USA for Africa cargo jet carrying food, medicine, and clothing departed for Ethiopia and Sudan.

About the video:
* Lionel Richie 0:25            * Stevie Wonder 0:32             * Paul Simon 0:42

* Kenny Rogers 0:54           * James Ingram 0:59              * Tina Turner 1:05

* Billy Joel 1:12                      * Michael Jackson 1:18            * Diana Ross 1:32

* Dionne Warwick 1:48         * Willie Nelson 2:02                * Al Jarreau 2:08

* Bruce Springsteen 2:14         * Kenny Loggins 2:21           * Steve Perry 2:27
* Daryl Hall 2:35                       * Michael Jackson 2:41        * Huey Lewis 2:48

* Cyndi Lauper 2:53                * Kim Carnes 3:01                  * Bob Dylan 3:48

* Ray Charles 4:41                  * Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen 4:53 * Bruce Springsteen 5:31                      * James Ingram 6:13                 * Ray Charles 6:27

What is We are the world 37 for Tigray?

Today after 37 years, 8 million people in Tigray are under complete siege and to date, researchers estimate that up to 500,000 Tigrayans have died from war and famine in the 17 months since Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his partner in war, Eritrean dictator Isaias Afwerki, plotted to turn a political conflict with the TPLF into a genocidal military conflict.

“In Tigray, families are exhausting all remaining means to access food, with three-quarters of the population reported being using extreme coping strategies to survive. The level of food insecurity is expected to worsen in the coming months as remaining food stocks from the last harvest, which was half of the normal year production, get depleted and humanitarian assistance is not delivered,” OCHA said in its situational report for March.

• 100 trucks are required daily for providing food, non-food items, and fuel daily.

Three weeks after the truce in the Tigray, an underwhelming <3% of required food aid has reached targeted areas.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said less than a hundred trucks had entered the region in almost a month.

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1516012598897963008

There’s a crisis in Tigray & it’s barely getting media coverage. Over 2M Tigrayans displaced & thousands in dire, life-threatening conditions according to international media and UN humanitarian organizations.

Tigray needs international attention more than ever. The world must walk up before it is too late.

@ProfMulugeta describing the " unconscionable " state of healthcare workers in Tigray who have not been paid for months and have no further resources. https://t.co/E3oeIdwScS

— Dr B. Bairavee (@Dr_Bairavee) April 23, 2022

Article by Hope Tigray  fact sheet: wiki,