When the war in Tigray ended, we wanted to understand how families in towns and cities were managing their lives. Many previous studies had shown how conflict disrupts farming and rural livelihoods, but little was known about what happens to urban families. We grew up in Tigray and have seen that life in towns depends on markets and cash, not on farmland. When banks, roads, and markets were destroyed, people could not buy food even when some supplies were available. We wanted to know how this situation affected women, particularly those who became heads of households after losing husbands or relatives during the war.

Understanding the hidden hunger in cities

Our study focused on six urban centres in Tigray: Enticho, Adwa, Axum, Shire, Endaba-Guna, and Shiraro. These towns experienced some of the most severe destruction. Between May and June 2024, we gathered data from 740 households. The survey asked families about their food situation over the previous month. We wanted to understand whether households led by women were more likely to experience hunger and what factors contributed to that difference.

The findings were deeply concerning, although they were not unexpected. Nearly half of all families in urban Tigray were food insecure. Only 17% could be considered fully food secure. Female-headed households were 24% more likely to face hunger than those led by men. Many of these women had become widows or had been separated during the conflict. They had to care for several dependents with limited income opportunities. Education and humanitarian assistance helped reduce this gap slightly, but widespread destruction, the loss of income sources, and the heavy burden of household care made recovery extremely difficult.

Beyond income and education

When we analysed the data, we found that gender disparities were not only linked to income or education. About half of the difference came from structural and social barriers that numbers alone cannot describe. Many of these barriers were shaped by long-standing inequality and cultural norms. Some women explained that they often ate last after serving other family members. Others said they felt uncomfortable asking for help or had little control over decisions about aid distribution. Men still dominated most local committees that managed assistance. These findings reveal that food insecurity is not only an economic issue but also a social and gendered challenge.

Conducting research in a difficult environment

Carrying out research in post-war Tigray was extremely demanding. The conflict had left the region without electricity, transport, and reliable communication for many months. Even after the peace agreement, travel remained risky, and infrastructure was badly damaged. Enumerators often had to cross destroyed bridges and walk long distances to reach participants. Despite these hardships, communities received us with generosity and trust. Many people wanted to share their stories so that their experiences would not be forgotten. Their courage and resilience gave our team the motivation to complete the study.

What the findings show

The results demonstrate that conflict reshapes gender roles and responsibilities in complex ways. Women in urban areas carry a heavier burden of recovery because they are responsible for food, children, and the overall well-being of their households. When banks close and jobs disappear, women lose both their income and the informal support systems that once helped them manage. In cities where survival depends on cash rather than crops, this creates rapid and widespread hunger.

Households that received humanitarian aid were able to cope better with food shortages. This shows that fair and transparent aid distribution is not only a moral duty but also an essential part of sustainable recovery. However, the study also revealed that access to assistance was not always equal. Some women said that they had been excluded from aid because they were not registered, while others said that local leaders controlled distribution in ways that favoured men. These stories remind us that rebuilding fairness and trust is as important as rebuilding physical infrastructure.

The human face behind the numbers

While analysing the data, we were constantly reminded that each number represented a person. Behind every statistic is a woman trying to feed her children in a damaged city, or a family forced to choose between food and medicine. These stories are painful, but they also contain hope. Many women have already begun rebuilding their lives. Some have started small businesses, others have joined savings groups, and many have found new ways to support one another. Their determination shows that resilience and solidarity are at the heart of recovery.

Looking toward the future

The message of our study is clear. Post-war recovery must take gender into account at every stage. Rebuilding markets and infrastructure is essential, but rebuilding equality is equally important. Policies should focus on improving women’s access to employment, microfinance, and education. Humanitarian programmes must also ensure that women are included in aid decisions. Supporting women is not simply about fairness. It is the most effective way to rebuild families and communities.

This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how gender and conflict interact in urban settings. Hunger is not only about the absence of food. It is also about inequality, lack of opportunity, and limited access to power. The future of Tigray and other post-conflict regions will depend on how well recovery efforts can transform relief into resilience and resilience into equality.

About the author

Hafte Gebreselassie Gebrihet (PhD) is an Associate Professor at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. His work focuses on conflict recovery, gender equality, and food security in East Africa. He aims to use research to support fair and lasting recovery for communities affected by war. His broader interests include development, comparative politics, political economy, democratic governance, corruption systems, polarisation, food insecurity, conflict, and humanitarian crises.

Yibrah Hagos Gebresilassie (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor of Economics at Aksum University, Tigray, Ethiopia. His academic expertise encompasses university teaching, applied research, and advanced quantitative data analysis, underpinned by a strong interdisciplinary focus. His research interests span health economics, poverty and inequality, impact evaluation, food security, development economics, and broader applied economic analysis.