The provision of gynecologic oncology services has plunged since the Tigray war broke out. Compared with the prewar period, surgical care for gynecologicmalignant disease has fallen substantially, from 108 major surgeries to 79 and 45 during the war and siege periods, respectively . Even when a few patients manage to overcome the hurdles to appear at the hospital, physicians are forced to turn them away—they lack supplemental oxygen, anesthetic medications, antibiotics, operation theater materials, and fuel to run generators. Patients who require radiation therapy must travel nearly 800 km to the national capital, Addis Ababa. However, the war, the siege, and the humanitarian blockademade traveling to access radiation services impossible.
The civilian population of the Tigray region of Ethiopia is enduring unbearable suffering from curable cancers and dying needlessly from preventable causes of death. The consequences of war and the siege have halted gynecologic oncology care in the Tigray region—chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical care have become inaccessible. Avoidable suffering and death among women will continue to rise in association with advanced stages of gynecologic cancers. We implore the international community, cancer societies,humanitarian organizations, and the UN agencies to advocate for Ethiopians in Tigray and to enforce international laws to bring this manmade catastrophe to an end. More can be obtained here: