On November 28, 2023, a Facebook post went viral, claiming to show a graphic video of a starving infant in Tigray. The post garnered nearly 8,000 views and was shared over 121 times.
The same claim, accompanied by the video, was shared on other Facebook posts. Another Facebook post featuring the same video and claim garnered over 5,000 views and 80 shares.
Reports indicate a severe drought and ongoing hunger crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The Tigray regional government reported that 17,000 hectares of crops, out of a total of 19,000 hectares under cultivation, succumbed to the drought’s effects in the Abergelle Woreda alone.
The situation worsened when USAID and the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) halted aid citing allegations of aid theft by government officials. On November 13, 2023, USAID announced it would resume food aid distribution in Ethiopia in December after a six-month suspension.
An OCHA report released on October 31, 2023, estimated that over 5 million people are affected by drought-like conditions in both Amhara and Tigray.
Additionally, the Tigray regional administration reports ongoing drought and hunger in the Wejerat and Atsbi Woredas.
Recent social media posts claimed that there is an ongoing famine in the Abergelle Woreda of the Tigray regional state. These posts have also initiated social media campaigns to raise funds for people in the Tigray region.
Amidst reports of hunger and fundraising campaigns, a graphic video depicting a starving infant surfaced and was widely shared on social media.
However, the video used in these campaigns was originally posted on TikTok on November 12, 2023, three weeks before the false claim appeared online.
The video in question first appeared on a TikTok account claiming to belong to someone named Kato Nicodem. The TikTok account has 1.8 million followers and 34.5 million likes.
Nicodem claims to lead a non-profit organization that helps orphans and children in Uganda. He frequently shares similar videos of children receiving care on his account, including the one used in the false Tigray claim.
Other videos featuring the same child have also been published by the TikTok account.
In a fundraiser post on GoFundMe, Nicodem claims to be the founder of “Save African Child 254 Ministry,” an organization that helps orphans in Uganda, and a co-founder of another orphanage organization named “Kinderhilfezentrum.” He also clarifies that “Nicholas Ssebuufu” is his real name and “Kato Nicodem” is his nickname.
While reports indicate an ongoing drought and hunger crisis in the Tigray region, the graphic video does not depict a starving child in Tigray. Therefore, HaqCheck deemed the Facebook claim False due to the use of a misleading video.
Hagos Gebreamlak
Hagos is a senior fact-checker at HaqCheck. He has worked for Fortune as a reporter previously.
