Kangaroo Mothers: A Testament to Love in the Shadow of Starvation

In the heart of Axum, Tigray, I witnessed an extraordinary display of maternal resilience that both humbled and haunted me. The wards of Aksum University CHS & Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, destroyed by genocidal war, host a scene unimaginable: mothers transforming themselves into living incubators for their malnourished children. These are the kangaroo mothers, stripped of everything but their will to keep their children alive. Their bodies, frail from hunger, serve as the last line of defense in a world that has turned its back on them. 
A Hospital Bereft of Hope 

Aksum University CHS & Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, once a beacon of medical care, now teeters on the brink of collapse. The hum of machines, the presence of skilled staff, and the steady flow of medicines have been replaced by silence, scarcity, and desperation. What remains are mothers clutching their children tightly to their chests, their skin-to-skin contact serving as a substitute for the inadequate incubators, rendered useless by the lack of electricity and resources. 

The hospital’s neonatal unit is a ghost town. The walls that should resonate with the sound of newborns thriving under careful medical care now echo with the faint, strained silence. These are the only proof of life in a place where survival itself is an act of defiance. 

Here, mothers sit on the edge of hospital beds, their eyes heavy with exhaustion and sorrow. Their babies, their ribs stark against translucent skin, lie pressed against their chests in a desperate attempt to share warmth, regulate heartbeats, and ward off death. This is kangaroo mother care—not by choice, but by the sheer force of necessity. 

The Science and the Sacrifice 

The concept of kangaroo mother care was originally developed in resource-limited settings as a means to help premature and low-weight babies survive when traditional incubators were unavailable. The method involves constant skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby, fostering temperature regulation, improved oxygen saturation, and stronger immune responses. It is a practice rooted in science, but in Tigray, it has become an act of love born out of desperation. 

These mothers know the stakes. Without warmth, their babies’ fragile bodies cannot endure. Without nutrition, their brains and organs cannot develop. Yet the mothers themselves are malnourished, their bodies drained of the ability to produce milk. The cycle of deprivation is relentless, and yet they persevere, holding their babies close as if their love alone might defy the laws of biology. 

The Weaponization of Hunger 

The plight of the kangaroo mothers is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made catastrophe, a result of the weaponization of hunger in Tigray. Since the genocidal war began, the region has been subjected to a systematic blockade, cutting off food supplies, humanitarian aid, and essential medicines. Crops have been burned, livestock slaughtered, and markets destroyed. 

The famine sweeping through Tigray is not incidental—it is intentional. It is a calculated strategy to break the spirit of the people by targeting the most vulnerable: children. Over 5 million people are in need of emergency food assistance, and thousands of children are already on the brink of death. The kangaroo mothers are the human face of this silent genocide, embodying both the resilience and the despair of a people fighting for survival. 

The Toll on Mothers 

The physical toll on these mothers is devastating. Malnutrition weakens their bodies, making them vulnerable to disease. The emotional toll is even more profound. The constant fear of losing a child gnaws at their sanity. 

Despite their suffering, these women refuse to give up. They hold their babies closer. Their love is a force of nature, defying the cruelty of a world that has abandoned them. 

A Call to Action 

The kangaroo mothers of Tigray should not have to shoulder this burden alone. Their courage and resilience are inspiring, but they are not enough. The world must act, and it must act now. Food, medicine, and medical equipment must reach the hospitals and villages where they are needed most. International organizations must step up, not only to provide immediate relief but to hold accountable those who have weaponized hunger against innocent civilians. 

This is not just a Tigrayan crisis—it is a human crisis. The suffering of these mothers and their children is a stain on the conscience of the global community. 

A Testament to Love 

As I left Aksum University CHS & Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, I could not shake the image of the kangaroo mothers from my mind. They are warriors in the truest sense, fighting with nothing but their love and their will to protect their children. They are a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering. 

But they cannot do it alone. Their story is a cry for help, a plea for justice, and a demand for action. The world must answer, for the sake of these mothers, their children, and the future they are struggling to save. 

The kangaroo mothers of Tigray remind us that even in the darkest times, love can be a light. But love, no matter how strong, cannot replace the aid and justice that are so desperately needed. The time to act is now.