Adigrat, is located in northern Ethiopia, approximately 19 miles south of the occupied Ethiopian border town of Zalanbessa. It is the largest town in the area, with over 30,000 residents.

Since late May, 1998, the Eritrean military has singled out Adigrat for special attention. This is not because Adigrat contains any significant military targets. In fact, the Eritrean artillery is operating at the extreme limit of its range when it shells Adigrat. At these ranges, it is impossible to choose targets. The artillery shells tumble out of control and simply land in an essentially random pattern.

Instead the Eritreans appear to have three reasons in targeting Adigrat:

1. As a human shield for their exposed troops in the Zalanbessa valley. - Eritrea initially captured Zalanbessa but failed to extend its control to the strategic heights at the southern end of the valley. Eritrean troops have currently dug trenches in the valley bottom, about 1 mile south of Zalanbessa. These positions, their supply lines through Zalanbessa, and Zalanbessa itself, are exposed to Ethiopian artillery positioned in the hills less than 3 miles to the south.. This has resulted in a steady stream of Eritrean military casualties.

2. To disrupt international peace plans which are distateful to the Eritrean dictator. - Whenever the international peace process reaches a critical juncture (such as during the OAU summits) Eritrea begins randomly lobbying shells into Adigrat.

3. Revenge and Spite - Targeting civilian areas is a mark of cowardice and failure. The Eritrean bombing of Adigrat on June 11, 1998 is a clear example of the vengeful and spiteful tendencies of the Eritrean dictator and his inner clique. The bombing took place after the Eritrean army was heavily defeated at the Bure, Badime and Zalanbessa fronts two days earlier (see news reports from foreign correspondents).

The residents of Adigrat have taken measures to defend themselves - civilian bomb shelters have been dug in many compounds.

To protect their children, the residents of Adigrat have moved children enrolled in the lower school grades to safer towns located further south and out of range of the Eritrean artillery. The higher school grades (grade 7 to grade 12) have been moved to a narrow valley located about two hours walk to the south.

Open-air "classrooms" have been designated along either side of the valley, and students gather close together, sitting on the ground with their notebooks propped in their laps.

These pictures depict a 9th grade geography class (above ) and a 9th grade English class (below). The students are mostly from the Adigrat Agazi High School and the Alem Birhan High School, but also include remnants from the schools of Zalanbessa and two other localities invaded by Eritrea.

Although the setting of the new open-air school is extremely beautiful, the relocation of the school has caused a number of hardships for the students, and the school director was concerned about a drop-off in attendance. However, the decline in attendance has been minimal. This is probably because it was the students themselves who insisted on contiuing their education when closure of the Adigrat schools was first discussed in the wake of the random Eritrean artillery barrages.

Due to the lack of transport, the students and the teachers all face a minimum 2-hour walk. Those students who used to live outside Adigrat are additionally burdened. For example, Hayit Gebrehiwot, (a seventh grader) who lives a 1 and 1/2 hours walk to the west in Bikot, now has a nearly 4-hour one way commute to school. This became too much for her, and she has decided to stay with relatives in Adigrat rather than go home each day. Hayit was in school in Adigrat when Eritrean artillery shells first hit the town. She describes the sound of the attack as "terrifying" but has decided to stay in Adigrat while she commutes to the new open air school to the south. At least she will be safe during the day.

The photo at right was taken when we encountered Hayit on the road. She was walking alone by herself to Adigrat late in the evening after spending the weekend at home. She cannot afford a proper backpack, and instead carries her books in a cloth shawl wrapped around her back.

If you would like to send a message of support to the students, write to:

P. O. Box 14
Agazi Secondary School
Adigrat, Ethiopia