OCHA Situation Report
Eritrea
28 November 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

HIGHLIGHTS

On Friday November 28 in Asmara, the United Nations and the Government of
Eritrea launched the 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Eritrea.
The Minister of Labour and Human Welfare and Chairperson of the National
Drought Coordinating Committee, Ms. Askalu Menkarios officiated at the
launch.  On behalf of the Government, she called on the Donor partners for
early and more generous support in order for the humanitarian agencies to
maintain the momentum of their interventions.  She also said the Eritrean
Government had appreciated the support from the Donors.  The Appeal calls
for US$147.2 million in food and non-food assistance to contribute towards
meeting the continuing humanitarian needs of over 1.7 million Eritreans
from displaced, returnee and vulnerable communities affected by war and
drought.  Sixteen UN agencies and organisations are appealing to fund the
implementation of 31 projects in 10 sectors.  Commenting on the magnitude
of the humanitarian crisis in Eritrea, the UN Resident/Humanitarian
Coordinator, Mr. Simon Nhongo said that "in spite of our earlier optimism
that the rains would yield higher cereal output, it has turned out that
the 2003 Azmera and main (Kremti) rainy seasons were both inadequate and
unevenly distributed.  So the need for humanitarian assistance in 2004
will be about the same as 2003".  UN agencies, NGOs, Donors and Government
all participated in the CAP process.  This year NGOs have also submitted
project proposals in the 2004 CAP, as well as, participating in the
strategy discussions.

On Wednesday November 19, the CAP Eritrea 2004 received its global launch
in Washington.  The Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Simon Nhongo
and Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Head of OCHA, Mr. Musa Bungudu,
attended the launch where they highlighted the humanitarian situation in
Eritrea and the continuing need for donor support.

JOINT REGISTRATION EXERCISE STARTED

The UNHCR and the Eritrean government this week started the first-ever
joint registration exercise in an attempt to improve assistance to people
uprooted by conflicts in the region. On Friday 21 November, staff of UNHCR
and Eritrea's Office of Refugee Affairs concluded the first phase of the
exercise in Emkulu camp near the coastal city of Massawa. The camp hosts
an estimated 3,315 Somali refugees, a figure to be verified by the
registration that started on Tuesday. The new number will include newborns
and newcomers, and highlight refugees with special needs.  For many
Somalis who have been in Eritrea's refugee camps since the early 1990s,
registration also gives them a chance to voice their interest in returning
home and other long-term solutions to their refugee situation. "At least
it is safe here," said Abdi (not his real name...), a Somali refugee who
has been in Eritrea for more than 10 years. "But many people are ready to
go home." Kabi Bernander, who oversees protection in the camp, adds, "The
registration is a great opportunity for UNHCR to get to know who are in
the camps, how we can help them better, and how we can identify possible
solutions to their long-term status as refugees."

The Norwegian Government has announced a contribution of USD 642,000 (NOK
4,5 million) from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
towards UNHCR's transitional assistance in Eritrea.

UNFPA AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH AIM TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY

In collaboration with UNFPA, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is providing
training for associate nurses on Emergency Obstetric First Aid to make
pregnancy safer and reduce maternal mortality.  By improving the
availability and accessibility of essential Obstetric care and by bringing
the services and skilled attendance at birth to the women who need it,
Eritrea hopes to reach the national target of reducing MMR to the level of
35/1000 lives births by 2015.  The latest data available for maternal
health in Eritrea suggests a maternal mortality rate of 998/100,000 live
births.  The numbers of trained midwives and physicians able to provide
Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care is extremely limited.  
In September, 21 midwifes were given a 3-weeks training to become
trainers. Now the first batch of 44 associate nurses will graduate on
Saturday 29 November also after a 3-weeks training course.  Essential
Obstetric Care (emergency obstetric first aid) incorporates emergency
care, which consists of those aspects of care most often needed for the
management of complications that occur during pregnancy, labour and
postpartum including postpartum haemorrhage, prolonged labour, and sepsis.
The purpose of the training is to make emergency obstetric care accessible
to lower level health facilities that are closer to the community, and to
increase skilled attendance at birth. In total, 2,000 associate nurses
will be trained in Emergency Obstetric First Aid, which will make a
definite and positive impact on the reduction of maternal mortality and
morbidity in the country.

NGO ACTIVITIES IN AGRICULTURE AND MICROFINANCE

CARE International and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) are currently
undertaking a pilot livestock concentrate feeding program in 4 sub zones
of Debub targeting 1500 households.  Results of the pilot project and
assessment of livestock condition will determine the level of intervention
required during the livestock 'hunger period' of 2005.  17,850 Fyomi
chicks, which had arrived from Egypt last month, were distributed to
brooding centres in Keren (10,200 chicks) and to Dekemhare (7,650 chicks)
ready for distribution to 700 female-headed households in Debub & Gash
Barka.  CARE/Vision Eritrea and the Ministry of Agriculture completed the
Gash Barka distribution on the 14th November and the remaining chickens in
Dekemhare will be distributed by the end of November.  CARE/Vision Eritrea
and the MoA have completed 80ha of a 100ha spate irrigation System near
Inghel.  The remaining 20ha will be completed by the end of this month or
early December ready for the planting season.  Currently two dozers
provided by the MoA are working on the project.

CARE/Vision Eritrea and Haben have formed 6 new women's Savings and Credit
associations in Agordet (Gash Barka) and Ghinda (North Red Sea Zone). CARE
provided training workshops for partner NGOs and program staff on Credit
and Savings methodology, selection and planning management for Income
Generating Activities (IGAs).

FUNDING FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD

Norwegian Church Aid - Eritrea has secured funding from the Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supplementary food. The supplementary food
will be distributed to 55,000 beneficiaries through ERREC in Gash Barka
and Anseba regions and the target groups are malnourished children and
pregnant and vulnerable women. Included are 300 MT of lentils, 300 MT of
edible oil, 100 MT of milk powder, and 100 MT of high-energy biscuits.
Distribution will start as soon as the supplementary food items have
arrived or are purchased. The total cost of the project is 6 million NOK,
which is approximately 10 million Nakfa, which has already been
transferred to Norwegian Church Aid. ERREC will decide where in Anseba and
Gash Barka the food shall be distributed.

MINE KILLS YOUNG BOY

A 13 year old boy was killed on November 14 when he struck a TM 57
anti-tank mine fuse with a stone. According to the Preliminary
Investigation Report (PIR) conducted by the MACC Regional Liaison Officer
for Sector Centre/East, the boy belonged to the Saho nomad group from the
village of Kermeze Guzay (which is 3 km south of Endaestifanos). According
to the PIR, his father found him dead at the scene of the accident. The
MACC Mine Risk Education (MRE) Field Teams will immediately visit the
nomad group to conduct MRE for its members. His death brings the total
number of fatalities due to landmines and unexploded ordnance in the
border region to 19 since the beginning of the year.  Recent de-mining
statistics released by UNMEE MACC show that 5, 302 km of road were cleared
from January to October 2003.  A total of 167,420 people have received
mine risk education (MRE) since 2001 with almost 10,000 people benefiting
from MRE between March and September 2003.

Please contact: OCHA Eritrea Information Office. 291 1 151888


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