of all the families who have lost loved ones over the last 20 years, the 457 british troops, serving men and women, who were killed in that conflict, many of them in helmand. i thank them for the immensity of their sacrifice, thank theirfamilies for what they have gone through, and i know how they must feel at the moment, but i must say to them, i don t believe it was in vain, because i do think, when you look back at what has happened over the last 20 years, there was a massive effort to deal with a particular problem. everybody will remember after 9/11, and that was successful, and to a very large extent, the threat from al-qaeda on the streets of our capital, around the uk, around the whole of the west, was greatly, greatly reduced, and there was the further advantage that millions, i think 3 million girls, young women, were educated
this affected my son a lot. before the war, we had hospitals and health centres. since it started, we literally had nothing to eat. a0 minutes north of mekelle. this was a clinic, then a military camp and now a distribution centre. many people fled to the mountains when the fighting began. lots are still far from the reach of aid agencies and cameras. the un says famine is imminent in tigray. they warn that hundreds of thousands could starve. travelling through tigray and meeting people whose lives have been shattered by this bloody conflict, which is now into its eighth month, one just gets the sense of the immensity of its tragic impact. we came here in march, and returning months later we could easily understand that there are so many untold
bloody conflict, which is now into its eighth month, one just gets the sense of the immensity of its tragic impact. we came here in march, and returning months later we could easily understand that there are so many untold stories, particularly in rural areas that are not easily accessible, and tragedy is still unfolding. there are at least 1a bodies buried here, mostly young men. one of them is lemlima s son. she last saw him being led away by eritrean soldiers, allies of the government. translation: we had fled from this area fearing - for our lives, since there was fighting. but we came back, thinking it was better. right after, they took my son, saying they needed him.
one just gets the sense of the immensity of its tragic impact. we came here in march, and returning months later we could easily understand that there are so many untold stories, particularly in rural areas that are not easily accessible, and tragedy is still unfolding. there are at least 1a bodies buried here, mostly young men. one of them is lemlima s son. she last saw him being led away by eritrean soldiers, allies of the government. translation: we had fled from this area fearing - for our lives, since there was fighting. but we came back, thinking it was better. right after, they took my son, saying they needed him. after two weeks, i realised he was killed. my son didn t participate in any political activities. he was just a day labourer.
he needed constant medical attention. but as tigray s war raged, it became difficult to find care and food. translation: we had medical appointments, but roads - were closed due to the war. so we had to walk for three days without food. this affected my son a lot. before the war, we had hospitals and health centres. since it started, we literally had nothing to eat. 40 minutes north of mekelle. this was a clinic, then a military camp and now a distribution centre. many people fled to the mountains when the fighting began. lots are still far from the reach of aid agencies and cameras. the un says famine is imminent in tigray. they warn that hundreds of thousands could starve. travelling through tigray and meeting people whose lives have been shattered by this bloody conflict, which is now into its eighth month, one just gets the sense of the immensity of its tragic impact. we came here in march, and returning months later we could easily understand that there are so many untold stories,