It is now over 650 days since Eritrean military occupied sovereign Ethiopian territories. During the past hundreds days we often hear about diplomatic missions and battle confrontations. One aspect that is not extensively covered by the news media is the short- and long-term impact of Eritrea's aggression on the ecosystem. The facts about the damage to the ecosystem by the Eritrea war machine are alarming, enough for a book length special study.

One glaring impact is the deforestation of the area caused by the fixed trench warfare system, the standard form of fighting of EPLF (Eritrea's Peoples Liberation Front), the ruling junta in Asmara. Using its guerrilla experience EPLF had dug out strong lines of trenches along the areas it occupied. Initially, Eritrean leaders elaborately constructed one major trench. This trench system dug out along the Bademe front ran for approximately 100 kilometres and imagine the amount of trees cut down to cover the system.

The deforestation became much worst after the battle of Bademe. Soon after their ignominious defeat at Bademe, the Eritrean leaders changed their trench building system and techniques. They were so frenzied to be obsessed by the idea of building uninterrupted line of trench defence system. Instead of having one major trench, they now constructed three types of trenches along the occupied territories of Zalambesa, Alitena, Bure and others. The first one is the fire trench, which is the most forward front line trenches directly facing the Ethiopian soldiers. Behind it is another cover trench that is to give support to the front line trench and it is manned by reserve troops.

The last trench is used for communication and command headquarters. Bulldozer machines dig out these three major types of trenches. The trenches are dug out very deep to conceal them and protect them from artillery shells. The bulldozer exercise has completely killed the soil and disfigured the landscape. It may take many generations to regenerate the areas.

Not only that, the trenches are heavily fortified by woods. The building material for these hundred kilometres length of three-trench system comes from the surrounding trees. The trees are used for cover and to support the sandbag walls along the long lines. If one multiplies the many feet long depth and hundreds of kilometre length of the three-type of trench system, it is apparent to see the considerable number of trees cut down for the purpose. According to information obtained from the culture, tourism and information bureau in Tigray, the invading forces of the Asmara regime had cut down forest trees covering 290 hectares of land they had occupied. The bureau explained that the felled trees are the most precious ones of between 40 to 100 years. The greater portions of the trees were felled from the localities of Adi Tseser, Gemahalo and Badme. Indicating that the trees thus felled are over 294,000 in number, the bureau said a total of at least 330,916 cubic meters of wood could have been obtained from them. The long run effect of deforestation in these areas is serious. The areas will be susceptible to floods, which in turn denuded the land. There is thus much work ahead even after the return of the occupied territories.

In the no-mans land the Eritrean army has planted mines as obstacles. Hundreds of land mines are buried in a wider area along the front lines. According to a statement issued by the Office of the Government Spokesperson, "the Eritrean military has extensively and indiscriminately planted thousands of landmines. In fact, approximately one million anti-personnel and anti-tank mines are scattered across the border areas from western Tigray to northern Afar. To add to the danger posed by the landmines, they are unmarked, no map of the minefields exists and the mines are being used against civilian populations. In addition, hand grenades have been attached to both anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, booby-trapping them and thereby increasing the potential for damage and injury. The Eritrean troops also have attached trip wires to above ground mines by stringing the wires across paths and attaching them to trees. As a result of Eritrea's horrific practice of planting mines, over 100 civilians have been killed and many other Ethiopians have lost limbs or sustained other mine-related injuries. Many of these victims will require long-term care and rehabilitation and the majority of them, who are farmers, will not be able to engage in productive work as they once did. As the primary caretakers in households, women now have the additional burden of caring for victims permanently handicapped as a result of their mine-related injuries. In addition to these human casualties, the landmines have blown up civilian trucks and animals, including livestock. The loss of these material assets, upon which many people depend for their livelihood, has a significant and adverse economic consequence." In addition to the damage caused to human beings, landmines planted by the invading Eritrean forces have killed precious wildlife including zebras, lions and tigers. The landmines have highly endangered the survival of the wildlife and it interrupts the social relationships of the animals.

Displacing of people and interruption of normal system of food producing is another environmental impact of Eritrea's aggression. The Eritrean aggression has caused the displacement of 350 000 people. These people are facing starvation every day. Not only they became dependent on foreign relief programme, but also abandoned their normal food supplies system. Some of the displaced were unable to return to Bademe to cultivate fields because of unclear land mines. In Afar, the reallocation of pastoralists from unsafe border areas has created congestion of people and insufficient grazing land for their animals.

Those leaving under the yoke of Eritrean army are facing the same sufferings as the displaced. The occupying armies demolish their houses and farming. For instance, in Ahferom district of Tigray the Eritrean regime demolished 174 farmers' houses in four villages. According to the head of the social services sector of the Ahferom district council, the Eritrean regime demolished the houses in retaliation against the protests voiced by the Ethiopian farmers in Sebe'a Belasa, Kolo Birdo, Una Shihaq and Adikutu villages against the atrocities committed by the Eritrean regime. The Erirean army has also slaughtered the draught animals used for ploughing.

The environmental degradation caused by the Eritrean leaders is very considerable. What has been mentioned is the tip of the iceberg of the short-term ruins of the ecosystem. The Eritrean leaders should be held responsible for the havoc they caused on the life, properties of Ethiopians and on the ecosystem. Demanding the evacuation of the occupied territories is the minimum. The Eritrean leaders have perpetrated gross human rights violation against Ethiopians living under their occupation. They are responsible for the destruction of infrastructure and properties estimated to exceed about one billion Birr. They have confiscated Ethiopians' properties in Eritrea including at the ports. The Eritrean leaders are also responsible for the appalling sufferings of the 350,000 displaced people, the massacre of school children, raping of women and young girls, torturing of Ethiopian prisoners and what not. The crime committed by the Eritrean leadership against Ethiopians is unparalleled in Ethiopian history. The Eritrean leaders believe that they get what they want by using, or killing, dehumanizing, destroying and/or disintegrating Ethiopians. We Ethiopians have said enough is enough: no more free ride and no more reward for Shabiya leaders. The arrogant, adventurist, Mafia and irresponsible leaders of Eritrea should be hold accountable for all the crimes they committed against Ethiopians. There is no peace without justice.