The Impact of Conflicts and Post-Conflict Reconstruction on Human Security: The Case of War Widows in Woldia, Northern Ethiopia
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Date
2023-05
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Addis Ababa University,
Abstract
Conflict widows, who face many challenges due to the impact of conflict and widowhood, are
the most marginalized and forgotten group in post-conflict reconstruction. The purpose of this
case study will be to explore the effects of the conflict and post-conflict reconstruction on
human security for the armed conflict widows living in northern Ethiopia, the Amhara regional
state, at Woldia town, in order to draw attention to their insecurity and make them especially
considered in future recovery, development, and peacebuilding efforts in Woldia and other
conflict-affected areas of Ethiopia. A qualitative case study research design, three-step sampling
techniques, and the principle of data saturation were used. Semi-structured interviews were used
to gather primary data, and secondary data was collected from the internet. Then, using a six-step
thematic analysis methodology, the data were analyzed primarily using deductive thematic
analysis techniques, with the help of inductive techniques to capture new codes, relationships,
and themes generated from the data. The finding shows that the conflict affects the conflict
widows in many components of their human security. All the effects of the conflict on one
component of human security also have a relationship with and connection to the other
component. The results show that the conflict makes them widows, and these widows become
vulnerable because of the impact of the conflict and widowhood. Conflict widows were affected
by crime, SGBV, looting, property loss, income loss, and income generation activity loss; they
also became IDPs; they lived in unhealthy small homes; they were psychologically and
physically traumatized; they were vulnerable to food shortages and undernutrition; they found it
difficult to maintain inheritance rights; they were grieving; and so on. This impacts their basic
physiological and safety needs, which include personal, health, food, and economic security, and
their psychosocial needs, which include their relationship with location (home), community, and
time (which shows the impact on “identity, recognition, participation, and autonomy”). Their
coping strategies and support from post-conflict reconstruction were found to be ineffective in
lessening their vulnerability
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Keywords
conflict widow, conflict, human security, coping and post conflict reconstruction