OCHA Situation Report
Eritrea
30 November 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

The funding status of the Eritrea Consolidated Appeal for 2005 stands at 
63% against the total requirement of US $156.2 million to mitigate 
humanitarian challenges in the country. The funding allocation shows 
that 70% resourced for food aid and 43% to non-food sectors. The 
non-food sectors received relatively low funding, particularly sectors 
such as Basic Recovery, Mine Action, Shelter and Non Food Items, Water 
and Sanitation and Coordination.

Good rains this year would result in a better harvest than in past five 
years. The immediate impact of the harvest is expected to improve food 
availability in rural and urban markets, leading to a decrease in 
prices. This will improve food security throughout Eritrea.

In addition good rains have also improved pasture conditions, which when 
coupled with straws available after harvest will provide adequate forage 
for livestock in the coming months in all the kremti-rain benefiting 
areas of the country. However, the complete recovery of pastoral and 
agropastoral households in northern Gash-Barka and Anseba zones will 
take much more than one good season.

Water availability has also improved reducing serious water shortages 
faced by the country. Dams have been refilled and many dry wells have 
recovered. Adequate water has been accumulated in most dams in Maekel 
and Debub to allow irrigated crop production activities during the 
upcoming long dry season. The Government through the Ministry of 
Agriculture and partners has been working on developing irrigation 
infrastructure and distributing variety of seeds to farmers to promote 
irrigation under the dams.

The Bahri rains, which start in October in various parts of the Northern 
Red Sea zone, Southern Red Sea and the eastern escarpments, are critical 
to continued recovery. Thus, the food security outlook for the 
predominantly agro-pastoral households along the eastern escarpments 
could improve in the short-term as pastures recovery and agricultural 
employment opportunities increase. Reports from Northern Red Sea zone 
indicate that crops in the spate-irrigated areas in Sheeb and Gadem 
Halib are in good condition.

UNICEF and WHO Support National Polio Campaign

UNICEF and WHO supported the Ministry of Health to conduct Eritrea's 
first House-to House polio immunization campaign. This measure was taken 
to protect children against polio after one case was detected in August 
2005 and the campaign targets all children under five years old. The 
first round was conduc ted 11-14 November and the preliminary results 
indicate a coverage rate of over 95 per cent. The second round is 
planned to take place 16-19 December.

FAO Emergency Unit Distributes Seeds to Bahri rain Recipient Areas

FAO, Emergency Unit has distributed 40 tons of imported maize seed 
(Katumani variety) to Ghidae and Foro Sub-zones of Northern Red Sea 
Region for the Bahri (October/November) planting season.

But this year the rains are late for planting maize in the Eastern 
Escarpment and a concern is increasing for the vulnerable pastoral and 
farming communities in the Region.

The current drought condition in this part of the country is badly 
affecting livestock owners in the region; this is due to the fact that 
livestock becomes the first victim in situations where there is no 
pasture for grazing. The Bahri rains (October to February) are crucially 
vital not only for the livestock in the region, but also for usual 
migrating animals from the highlands to the Eastern Escarpment in search 
of feed during this particular time of the year.

The seed multiplication programme in Gash Barka is continuing and 
harvesting and threshing operations of sorghum and pearl millet are 
on-going in Tesseney. The harvest is expected to be completed by the end 
of December and up to now 39 ton of seed has been collected.

LWF Assists War Affected with Restocking and Construction of Permanent 
Housing

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in partnership with the National 
Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) have started provision of breeding herds 
to women headed families in war affected areas of zoba Debub and Gash 
Barka. 50 households from each of the four sub zoba: Adi Keih, Mai Mine, 
Mai Aine and Areza in zoba Debub, will receive one cow each. Similarly, 
200 households in sub zoba Lalai Gash; Gash Barka region will receive 
the same. LWF, in consultation with the zoba Gash Barka Administration, 
is preparing to construct permanent shelter for the IDPs who were hosted 
in Adikeshi camp and returned to their places of origin. LWF will assist 
200 households in Shehsebit village, Laelay Gash sub zone. The funding 
for both projects is received through Action by Churches Together (ACT) 
International.

UNMEE MACC HIGHLIGHTS

The UNMEE Force demining contingents, as well as MECHEM's Integrated 
Demining Capacity Team, have not yet resumed operations. However, the 
MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team resumed operations. The Team 
deployed to Sector Center where it inspected several unexploded ordnance 
(UXO), which had been reported to the MACC. These UXOs were relocated 
for future disposal.

Whilst the majority of clearance operations remained suspended, Mine 
Risk Education (MRE) activities continued. The two MACC MRE teams 
deployed to Sector West and Sector Center and provided MRE to 2,120 
people.

UXO Accident

The UXO accident occurred on 11 November2005 in the village of Dibbi in 
the sub zoba of Tsorena in Sector Center. The accident involved a four 
-year-old boy who tampered with the UXO when it exploded. He had minor 
injuries from the explosion. The MACC deployed a MACC team to 
investigate the accident and to compile a Preliminary Investigation 
Report.

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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