In Ethiopia, the conflict continues in Tigray province. It killed thousands of people and also caused significant damage. In particular, many infrastructures have been looted or destroyed.
With our special correspondent in Aksum, Sebastien nemeth
There are dozens of those waiting in a long line that stretches around the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. For Mobratu, who came to withdraw cash, it is unknown. “It did not exist before the war. Watching people wait is so sad. In addition, sometimes there is money, other times not. And withdrawals are limited to $ 100. This money is important to my family. We have to buy food. $ 100 is too little. “
“All distributors are down”
People from all over the region come to Aksum. Hagos lives in Adwa, a city about thirty kilometers to the east. He has been waiting his turn for two hours. “The banks are all closed and all ATMs are down. It is the only one open in the region. I had to pay for the transport and generally wait 5 hours. Sometimes I fail because the agency closes at 14.00. ”
A strategy?
Customers who have been able to come in and perform their surgery are generally relieved. Tohadu could pay a late bill. “I am partly happy to have succeeded. Some people line up and sell their seats for three dollars. So I saved time. I’m lucky, because sometimes the bank has no money and you wait for nothing ”; Many Tigrayans believe that the looting, destruction and closure of banks is part of a strategy to drive people into poverty and somehow return the province to the Stone Age.
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