When the war on Tigray began in November 2020, its impact extended far beyond the battlefield. It tore through towns and cities, dismantling municipal institutions that sustained everyday life and pushing ordinary people into lasting vulnerability. “We lost our shops, goods, and vehicles. Even when peace returned, we had nothing left to restart our business.” A local merchant said.
Damaged Office Equipment, Furniture, Vehicles, and Buildings (Source: CITG,2022)
Municipalities across Tigray, responsible for urban planning, housing, land administration, and basic services, were systematically targeted. Skilled personnel were displaced, injured, or traumatized, creating severe human-capital losses and paralyzing local governance. Offices were looted or burned, records destroyed, and essential services brought to a halt, leaving communities without administration, protection, or economic lifelines.
Damage to Municipal Record Office Due to Targeted Attack (Source: CITG,2022 )
In Edaga-Arbi, a town in the Central Zone, Tigray Region, municipal offices were destroyed during coordinated attacks, primarily by the Eritrean Defense Forces, with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces involved at different stages. Homes, businesses, and public institutions were looted or burned, and municipal records were erased. The worst destruction occurred in 2022, leaving the town effectively paralyzed.
“During the war, our municipal office was completely disrupted. The Eritrean army primarily carried out attacks, and Ethiopian forces participated at different times. Homes, businesses, and public institutions were systematically targeted. Municipal records were destroyed, office infrastructure was rendered unusable, and public services were completely halted. The most severe phase of destruction occurred during the third round of the war in 2022, leaving the town paralyzed and our residents extremely vulnerable. Recovering from this level of damage has been overwhelming, as almost all administrative and service functions were interrupted. As the municipal head explained, nearly all administrative and service functions collapsed, making recovery overwhelming and residents extremely vulnerable.
A similar pattern unfolded in Adi-Daero, a town in the Northwest Zone of Tigray Region. Municipal buildings were deliberately set on fire by the Eritrean Defense Force, decades of land ownership and lease records were burned, and all equipment was destroyed. This erased legal proof of property rights, triggered disputes, and undermined public trust. Before the war, the municipality generated nearly USD 9 million in annual revenue; afterward, income fell to zero as markets collapsed and governance ceased. Merchants and residents fled, while those who remained faced life without services, income, or protection.
Destruction of Building by Heavy Artillery (Source: CITG, 2022)
Overall, the assessment estimates USD 187.42 million in physical damage, with the municipality offices sector accounted 85% (USD 159.15 million), and USD 597.12 million in economic losses, largely driven by the destruction of municipal offices and the suspension of urban services. These losses reflect not only damaged buildings but shattered systems of governance, livelihoods, and social stability.
The findings point to a clear conclusion: the destruction of Tigray’s municipal infrastructure was deliberate and systematic, leaving institutions dysfunctional and communities impoverished. Urgent action is needed to rebuild municipal infrastructure, restore essential services, and safeguard institutions against future harm. Equally critical are accountability, acknowledgment of responsibility, fair reparations, sustained reconstruction support, and genuine reconciliation so that shattered institutions can be rebuilt, and shattered lives restored.
For the details, see pages 61-76. Targeted Destruction: Damage and Loss Assessment on Tigray’s Public Infrastructure Sector, Volume 1, (November 13, 2025)
For the full report: https://citghub.org/targeted-destruction-damage-and-loss-assessment-on-tigrays-public-infrastructure-sector/