CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
Emergency Appeal: # 6449  for $70,000
Eritrea Internally Displaced
June 3, 2002


SITUATION: The April 13 announcement of a commission overseeing an
agreement on the long-running border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia
has given renewed optimism within the east Africa region. But the peace
along the common border area remains fragile. Thousands of people are
still displaced around the heavily mined areas along the border and its
surroundings.

Although a peace agreement was signed in December 2000, the conflict has
left thousands of people displaced in camps and others dispersed from
their home areas. These people are almost entirely dependent upon
humanitarian aid. They also continue to suffer from unpredictable and
crippling weather conditions that affect their survival in poor living
conditions.

One of the main serious concerns shared among all humanitarian agencies
and government bodies in Eritrea is the quickly deteriorating condition of
temporary shelter (tents), especially with the approach of the rainy
season, in the IDP and refugee camps in the country. International
agencies are proposing that shelter materials be flown into the country
from oversees to reach the people in time before the rains begin. The fast
approaching rainy season of June-September makes this appeal particularly
urgent.


RESPONSE: CWS is responding through Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) - Eritrea,
a fellow member of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International
network. NCA, along with Lutheran World Federation, Department of World
Service - Eritrea, is providing immediate shelter assistance for the most
vulnerable through July 2002; another appeal will address longer-term
needs.

Specifically, the agencies will provide tents for 3,000 families who most
urgently need assistance, particularly female-headed households.

The budget for this appeal includes $420,000 for tents and $267,300 for
storage and transport.

CWS-ERP is seeking $70,000 from its denominational members for this
appeal. For more specific information, including budget information,
contact CWS ERP. Or go to the ACT web site: www.act-intl.org

Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is
responding, contact CWS Emergency Response.

Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail: donnajderr@aol.com
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Web site: www.cwserp.org


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