During our peaceful days, we used to think war was far away. However, it was not until we experienced the great retreat in Tigray State that we truly realized the strength of our motherland and the dedication of the Chinese Embassy and the Economic Counselor’s Office in Ethiopia, as well as our compatriots.
Background: Our company, Shanghai Metallurgical Equipment Group (SME Group), contracted a 270,000 TPA rebar & wire rod production line for Mekelle Company. The production line has been operating smoothly, with 10 SME technical staff stationed there to oversee production operations.
On November 4th, due to escalating conflicts between the Ethiopian Federal Government and Tigray State, all communication channels in Tigray—including telephones, text messages, and the internet—were severed. The communication blackout between Addis Ababa and Tigray lasted eight days, leaving 12 SME employees and other Chinese enterprise staff stranded in Tigray with no means to contact our Shanghai headquarters. Both the employees and their families were in a state of extreme anxiety.
Under the coordination of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, the Mekelle Water Supply Project Department of China Energy Engineering Group (Gezhouba Group) urgently collaborated with other enterprises in Tigray via satellite phone. Together, they mobilized over 60 vehicles to organize an emergency evacuation convoy for more than 300 Chinese nationals in the region.
Fortunately, all 12 SME employees joined the evacuation convoy and arrived safely in Addis Ababa on November 12th.
The evacuation journey was perilous and prolonged. The Chinese Embassy dispatched dedicated personnel to coordinate support along the route. On November 11th, 377 evacuees temporarily sheltered at an industrial park in Afar’s capital constructed by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), where they received warm meals, basic mosquito nets, and mattresses.
SME Group extends its deepest gratitude for the invaluable contributions and tireless efforts of the Chinese Embassy, the Economic Counselor’s Office in Ethiopia, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
