OCHA Situation Report
Eritrea
Report for October 2004
19 November 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in 
the Horn of Africa, visited Eritrea from 13 - 16 October. The Special 
Envoy met with the President of Eritrea, Senior Government Officials, 
donors and representatives of humanitarian agencies, as well as with 
members of the UN Country Team. During a field trip, he visited rural 
expellees at Gerenfit resettlement village and Adi-Keshi IDP camp in Gash 
Barka zone. He used the occasion to assess the conditions of vulnerable 
groups, failed crops as well as listen to the demands and aspirations of 
IDPs and expellees.

In his meeting with the media, the Special Envoy said that his major 
objectives were to raise international awareness of the humanitarian 
challenges in Eritrea and to also discuss strategies for ensuring that the 
response to urgent humanitarian needs is effective, timely and efficient.

Since his appointment as Special Envoy in June 2003, Mr. Ahtisaari has 
highlighted the challenges facing Eritrea and the region. The Special 
Envoy has been promoting humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and 
recovery programmes, and providing recommendations on how the current 
humanitarian efforts could be integrated into sustainable development in 
the country. This was his fourth mission to Eritrea and the region in less 
than two years.

The 2005 CAP for Eritrea will be launched on 11 November 2004 in New York 
Globally and on 23 November locally at Intercontinental Hotel in Asmara. 
Under the framework of the 2005 CAP, the United Nations Country Team 
(UNCT) in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), will 
work together with the Government to provide emergency assistance to 
vulnerable Eritreans in order to: prevent high levels of acute 
malnutrition through the provision of food aid and extensive supplementary 
and therapeutic feeding; ensure basic survival of highly vulnerable groups 
by providing access to basic services; provide assistance, protection and 
seek durable solutions for IDPs, expellees, returnees and refugees; 
strengthen de- mining activities; and enhance coordination structures and 
the implementation capacity of Government counterparts and civil society 
involved in the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The UNCT and participating NGOs are seeking a total of US$ 157,151,179 to 
fund 24 projects in ten sectors for 2.2 million Eritreans in 2005. Total 
food aid needs, taking into account carry-over stocks and commercial 
imports, have been identified as 505,000 metric tones (MT). Of this total, 
384,000 MT is the emergency food aid requirement; of which the World Food 
Programme (WFP) will resource 262,000 MT

In 2004, of the 1.9 million vulnerable persons requiring food aid, only 
1.3 million receiving food rations, with some of them at a reduced rate.

UNICEF Engaged in Multi Sector Interventions

As one of its major activities, UNICEF has completed and handed over Weki 
Village Water Supply Scheme costing US$ 198,000.00 on 22 October.  Weki 
village is about 30kms from Asmara, and the new water system is intended 
to serve around 3,500 people (700 households) who had up to now depend on 
2 hand-dug wells. In sustaining the project, UNICEF trained a Village 
Water Committee to take care of long-term operations and hygiene 
promotion.

In support of the Early Childhood development programme, over 120,000 
children under the age of five were successfully given Vitamin A 
supplement in Gash Barka and Debub regions. A significant number of 
children in Anseba and Maekel regions also benefited from the campaign. 
Vitamin A deficiency can result in poor immune function and even 
blindness.  In the implementation of the Reach Every District/ Reach Every 
Child strategy for immunization, UNICEF trained, in close collaboration 
with the Ministry of Health, 13 health workers and district health 
managers in the Northern Red Sea region.

Malnutrition continues to be one of the main threats to child survival in 
Eritrea, UNICEF is supporting intensive care treatment for as many as 600 
severely malnourished children in 38 therapeutic feeding centres 
countrywide.  Supplementary feeding for approximately 15,000 moderately 
malnourished children under the age of five and pregnant and lactating 
women in 14 districts in Anseba and Gash Barka regions, where malnutrition 
rates remain extremely high, was also provided.

UNICEF in collaboration with VSO and elementary school teachers, published 
the "Big Book" project and incorporated it into the curriculum. It is 
ready to be used in elementary schools. The "Big Book" concept is used 
globally as a standard methodology and is a large size book that teachers 
can use with the whole class, however big the class may be. Each book 
contains an international traditional story and suggested activities, 
which have been illustrated and adapted for use in Eritrea.

An evaluation of UNICEF's Mahzel project, where orphans are reunified with 
their extended families and provided with income generating assets, has 
just been completed.  A team representing UNICEF, the Ministry of Labour 
and Human Welfare, and the Italian government, which funded the project, 
found that the project had surpassed its targets.  A total of 3,703 
families (103% of the set target) and 8,589 orphans (107% of the set 
target) have been assisted to date in Gash Barka region. The evaluation 
also found that the project, which provides assets such as shops, 
livestock and teahouses for the families, has provided long term and 
sustainable benefits, while also remaining more cost effective than other 
alternatives for orphaned children, such as institutionalisation in 
orphanages.

UNHCR Holds Workshop on Repatriation and Reintegration of Eritrean 
Refugees

A three-day workshop on repatriation and reintegration was held from 18-20 
October 2004 in Tesseney. The workshop provided an in-depth insight into 
protection issues relating to UNHCR's repatriation and reintegration 
practices.  A total of 35 people attended, including Asmara-based and Zoba 
line ministries, ERREC, ORA, NGOs, police and immigration representatives. 
Participants gained a broad understanding of UNHCR's work, actively 
participating in lectures, group work, role-plays and open discussions.

Translated into Tigrigna, the workshop provided an introduction to UNHCR 
and its principles, an overview of UNHCR's mandate and international 
protection, refugee law, the current situation of refugees in Eritrea, the 
voluntary repatriation operation, returnee monitoring, and a synopsis of 
the reintegration programme in 2004. The workshop highlighted that UNHCR 
no t only provides protection and assistance to refugees, seeking their 
long-term solutions, but aims to promote international refugee and 
statelessness protocols; assisting the Government to develop and implement 
national legislation governing refugees, nationality and statelessness 
issues and assisting in the establishment of interim administrative 
arrangements and procedures. Other protection seminars are planned for 
November and December this year.

UNFPA: Trains Change Agents on HIV/AIDS Through Joint Programming and TBAs 
In Improving Referrals of Pregnancy and Delivery Complications

With Norwegian funding, the joint programming formed in June 2004 between 
UNFPA, UNAIDS and UNICEF to the HIV/AIDS outreach activities project 
targeting the Eritrean Defense Force and National Service Conscripts, and 
trained and deployed in different communities in Gash Barka, Debub and 
Anseba a total of 203 change agents as of 31October 2004. An estimated 
population of 230,000 has been reached with messages on HIV/AIDS 
prevention, voluntary counseling, testing, care and management of HIV 
positive status.

For the Danida-supported HIV/AIDS outreach activities project, and care 
and support programme, religious organizations from the Evangelical, 
Orthodox and Catholic churches were sensitized and are managing micro 
financing and home based care activities reaching a total of 745 PLWHA.

Funded by Japan and signed at the end of 2003, the Mobilizing Communities 
Against Maternal Morbidity & Mortality Project was implemented by Various 
partners including MOH, NUEYS, NUEW, FRHAE and HABEN. The project aims to 
reduce maternal and neonatal deaths and other reproductive-related 
morbidity and mortality, including STI/HIV/AIDS by promoting awareness of 
RH issues and encouraging the adoption of positive behaviour. The project 
also seeks to prevent harmful traditional practices especially FGM.

In totality, 200 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have been trained to 
detect the danger signs of pregnancies and to refer complicated 
pregnancies/cases to health facilities. More than 10,000 women were 
reached by health talks and counselling on reproductive issues. 100 
religious leaders in Gash Barka were also sensitized and 32 radio spot 
shows aired with the aim to raise awareness on the harms of FGM. Drama 
groups were also established to promote awareness amongst youths on 
reproductive and family planning issues including HIV/AIDS/STIs. The 
maternal mortality rate in Eritrea remains significantly high, and the 
project will continue in 2005 with more training and outreach activities 
to address the issue.

UNMEE's Humanitarian Projects

According to the recently released report, since April 2001 to date, the 
UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea supported directly and indirectly 
560,000 people in Eritrea utilising over eight hundred thousand dollars 
for health, education, sanitation, and water projects. Over thirty 
implementing partners have been engaged in the implementation of 
seventy-three projects. The projects support small-scale relief and 
recovery initiatives in the Temporary Security Zone that is in UNMEE's 
Eastern, Central and Western sectors falling partially inside the regions 
of Northern Red Sea, Southern Red Sea, Debub and Gash Barka.

UNMEE's humanitarian activity has started with the contribution of the UN 
Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) towards quick impact 
projects.  Subsequently, a Trust Fund (TF) to Support the Peace Process in 
both countries was established for voluntary contributions from, among 
others, states, and private individuals. The Mission's major donors have 
been the governments of Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. On the whole, 
the projects have aimed at the general war-affected population. Yet, a 
number of them has addressed the needs of the most vulnerable: internally 
displaced living with host families, returnees and refugees living in 
camps, population of drought-affected areas, malnourished children as well 
as single women headed households. For instance, through the 
rehabilitation of a school building and hand-pump in a village in Gash 
Barka, UNMEE assisted in creating favourable conditions for the return of 
the displaced.

Also in Gash Barka, the Mission established one temporary medical site in 
the Korokon IDP camp in 2001. In Senafe, Debub region, a safe-play area 
was constructed on a part of a ground cleared of land mines to enable some 
1,000 war-affected children to restore a sense of normalcy. Moreover, 
through an implementing partner, UNMEE established a training programme in 
cloth making for women in Adi Quala, Debub.  In the same town, the 
irrigated food security project is being initiated aiming at producing 
food to allow the sale of excess vegetables to generate the income for 
some 400 persons, mainly women. Similarly, to alleviate the consequences 
of drought, UNMEE arranged for the supply of water to 2,700 people in 
Debub.  By contracting a local office of the Ministry of Health, two sheds 
for therapeutic feeding of malnourished children and women were 
constructed in a hospital in Gash Barka.

UNMEE MACC/FMAC

During the period under review, there were no reports of UXO or mine 
incidents. The Peacekeeping Force (PKF) de-mining teams, which currently 
include the Bangladeshi and Kenyan de-mining contingents, conducted 
clearance operations in Sector West of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ), 
in particular the minefields of Shilalo region. The PKF assets cleared 14, 
441 square meters of land and 11 km of roads. They also destroyed five 
anti-personnel mines and three UXO. In addition, the MACC Explosive 
Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Team disposed of two anti- tank mines and 878 
UXO. The MACC Mine Risk Education (MRE) Field Teams carried out MRE in a 
number of villages in the Debub zone in Sector Center and the Gash Barka 
zone (Laelay Gash and Shambiko sub zones) in Sector West. They provided 
MRE to 2,229 people and distributed MRE posters and games.

The Chief of Policy, Information and Resource Mobilisation/Deputy 
Director, Ms. Ilene Cohn, from the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) visited 
the mission area to review the programme and obtain a thorough update on 
all mine action activities in the mission area as well as to examine the 
progress in resource mobilisation for mine action in Eritrea. The Senior 
Portofolio Manager from the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS), Mr. 
Michael Mersereau, also visited the MACC. He reviewed the project service 
provided by UNOPS to both the MACC and UNDP's Mine Action Capacity 
Building Programme (MACBP).

WFP: Largest Single Consignment of Food Aid Since Independence

The US Flag ship "Liberty Sun" and its lighter vessel M/V Denden docked at 
the port of Massawa on 29 October 2004 with 61,200 MT of donated wheat on 
board from the United States Government. This shipment, representing the 
largest single consignment of food aid to Eritrea since independence in 
1991, is composed of a 38,500MT in support of WFP's emergency operation in 
Eritrea and another 22,700 MT to the Eritrean Grain Board. The WFP portion 
is targeted to feed some 600,000 of the most vulnerable population in the 
regions of Gash Barka, Debub and Anseba for about four months. These 
predominantly farming families are facing another bleak harvest, 
compounded by a dramatic rise in the prices of basic foods, which severely 
limits their food access, thus aggravating their household food 
insecurity.

The harvest prospects for the coming cropping season remain low. Field 
observations in many areas, especially Gash Barka and Anseba regions 
indicate that less than a quarter of the crops would be harvested.

WFP Massawa Field Office reports a sharp price increase for lentils (15 
percent) and vegetables (between 10 percent for potatoes and up to 25 
percent for carrots). The Barentu Field Office, located in western 
Eritrea, even reports an increase of cereal prices by about 40 percent. 
Locally produced milk also remains unavailable.

As of the end of October 2004, about 82,412 MT of food worth US$ 28.1 
million have been resourced under EMOP 10261.1 This amount represents 77 
percent of the total resource requirements for this operation. For PRRO 
10192.0, WFP could mobilize 52,686 m.t. of food commodities with a value 
of 26.8 million US$. Thus, about 50 percent of the planned food 
requirements are covered. The above PRRO will end in June 2005.

FAO: Low Rainfall Performance Resulted in Food Shortage

The shortage of food in Eritrea persists following the low rainfall 
performance during this season. According to the preliminary assessment 
conducted in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the 
expected harvest yield is about 108,000 MT of cereals that represents less 
than 20 percent of the country's total annual requirement of over 600,000 
tons.

The Kremti rains, which normally occur between June and September, have 
ended with a very low performance below the normal average in most parts 
of the country. Many areas of Gash Barka, Maekel and Anseba regions and 
eastern part of Debub are severely affected by drought. In addition to the 
drought, other factors that are limiting crops production are late sowing, 
due mostly to the lack of tractors to plough the fields on time and their 
high cost of hiring. Of equal importance are the lack of manpower in rural 
areas for land preparation; the use of poor quality seeds/grain of mixed 
and degenerated local varieties and non availability in the country of 
enough quantity of improved seeds, especially of short cycle varieties, 
with lower requirement of water. The actual conditions of pasture and 
grazing are also poor in most parts of the country, which will seriously 
affect the livestock-feeding situation during the coming dry months.

FAO distributed good quality cereal seeds, produced by National 
Agricultural Research Institute (MoA) and other seed multiplication 
projects (NGOs). FAO Emergency Coordination Unit also identified, among 
the beneficiaries of the present campaign, the farmers who produced better 
seeds of sorghum and pearl millet. More than 400 tons of these selected 
seeds will be shortly purchased by FAO and stored for the next campaign, 
in order not to be consumed by the farmers. These seeds will be used in 
seed multiplication/distribution projects for the next year.

UNDP Mine Action Capacity Building Programme (MACBP)

During the period under review, MACBP assisted the EDA to plan and 
prioritise Mine Action tasks using LIS information and assisted EDA to 
improve the execution of clearance and other mine action activities. Two 
EOD teams, and two EDO Technical survey/Manual clearance teams were 
completed. The Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) inputs to OCHA were 
finalized which included only three high priority emergency projects in 
the CAP, namely, emergency de- mining for IDP return, MRE, and 
revitalization of the prosthetic centers. National Mine Action Strategic 
Plan was completed, translation underway before approval. M ACBP also 
assisted and advised EDA operations for the return of approximately 19,000 
IDP's to the Shilalo area and facilitated agreements for the use UNMEE 
Force and MACC assets. A task assessment to produce a technical survey 
plan was completed.

For Further Information Related to the Humanitarian Update, Please 
contact: OCHA - Eritrea Public Information Section at 291-1-151666/151888, 
Fax- 291-1-151999, e-mail: gebrehiwots@un.org

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