OCHA Situation Report
Eritrea
Report for April 2006
16 May 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

UN Secretary General's Special Humanitarian Envoy Visits Eritrea

The UN Secretary General's Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of 
Africa, Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik visited Eritrea from 25-26 April 2006 
Asmara; his first stop in a tour to the countries of the region.

Mr. Bondevik noted as he wrapped up his one-day mission to Eritrea; 
"There is a need for more effective dialogue and enhanced cooperation on 
humanitarian and long-term food security issues between the Government 
and international community, including donors, UN agencies and NGO 
partners". "This mission can be seen as an opening for further dialogue 
on how best to deliver humanitarian assistance and support government's 
efforts in ensuring long-term solutions to food security challenges in 
Eritrea for the future" he added.

Mr. Bondevik said "my task is to play a coordinating role between all 
stakeholders and encourage Governments of this region to link 
humanitarian relief assistance to long-term development aimed at 
improving food security". He said he would advocate for increased 
funding to the regional appeal for the drought crisis in the Horn of 
Africa, which was launched on 7 April 2006 in Geneva and Nairobi with an 
overall requirement of US $426 million to assist more than 8 million 
vulnerable people.

During his meeting with President Isaias Afewerki, the Special 
Humanitarian Envoy commended the Government's effort in effectively 
implementing the return and rehabilitation of tens of thousands of IDPs. 
Mr. Bondevik further commended the Government's progress on some of the 
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and its determination to achieve 
self-reliance.

The Special Humanitarian Envoy underlined that the UN was firmly 
committed to assisting the Government of Eritrea and that he would 
"concentrate on securing the necessary resources for immediate 
humanitarian needs and long-term food security interventions in support 
of government initiatives and plans to tackle this challenge."

He appealed to the donor community to remain optimistic in this critical 
juncture and make necessary efforts to mobilise more resources by 
raising the awareness of their respective headquarters on the ongoing 
humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa.

While in Eritrea, Mr. Bondevik discussed the humanitarian situation and 
recovery efforts with President Isaias Afwerki; Minister Woldai Futur of 
the Ministry of National Development; Minister Askalu Menkerios of the 
Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare; the UN Country Team; 
representatives of the donor community; and non-governmental 
organizations.

IDPs Return to their Villages after Eight Years in Camps

5,000 IDPs who have been living in camps for eight years at Metera, 
Afoma and Awlie-Hahayle in Senafe sub-zone, returned to their villages. 
The IDPs are from 23 villages in Senafe sub-zone of Debub region and 
Endeli administrative area of Northern Red Sea region.

Over 90 km.-long road has been cleared to facilitate the return of the 
IDPs and health stations and schools have been renovated in the villages 
of return and are ready for use. Villages of return with no school and 
health stations would use rub halls and tents. So far about 10,000 IDPs 
including the recent returnees have returned to their villages.

The remaining 30,000 IDPs will be returning to their respective 
villages/settlement areas in the coming few weeks.

IFRC Appeals for US $ 2.1 million for Food Security and Water Projects

The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) in Eritrea appealed for 
US $ 2.1 million aiming at food security and water projects. The 
movement, in its appeal, said that after several years of drought, there 
is a general consensus in Eritrea that water and food security are the 
key factors that need to be addressed in order to develop the economy 
and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable- particularly children, women 
and girls.

FAO Emergency Unit

During the month of April 2006, the FAO Emergency Unit carried out 
monitoring activities of seed multiplication project in Tesseney 
Sub-zone in Gash Barka Region. The total Hectares under seed 
multiplication is 200ha of which 100ha of sorghum and 100 hectares of 
pearl millet.

UNICEF: Provides Supplementary Food and Supports Construction of Water 
Supply Systems

525 MT of supplementary food is being distributed through health 
facilities targeting 70,000 malnourished children and lactating and 
pregnant women in three regions supported by UNICEF.  In addition, 27 MT 
of therapeutic milk was provided to the Ministry of Health to support 
therapeutic feeding in 42 health facilities targeting severely 
malnourished children.

UNICEF is currently supporting the construction of nine water supply 
systems, which will provide clean water for a total of 65,000 
drought-affected people. In addition, drilling activities complemented 
by the installation of hand pumps will provide 5,700 people in 11 
drought-affected villages with clean water.  Over 32,000 pupils in 66 
primary schools in Anseba and NRS regions are currently providing water 
through water trucking in an effort to improve hygiene and reduce 
waterborne diseases.

UNMEE MACC Highlights

The Kenyan Demining Company commenced clearance operations along with 
the Integrated Demining Capacity (IDC) operators of MECHEM in the Deda 
Lalay, Badme, Gedamu and Sembel areas in Sector West. The IDC Team 
cleared an area of 102,599 sq.m. The Route Clearance Team of MECHEM was 
on leave for most of April 2006.

The MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team in Eritrea conducted EOD 
Operations in the Senafe and Tsorena areas in Sector Center and in the 
Adi Hakin and May Hebey areas in Sector West. The EOD Team based in 
Ethiopia conducted Battle Area Clearance (BAC) operations and bulk 
destructions of unexploded ordnances (UXO) in the Eche - Mare area in 
Sector Center. The teams destroyed a total of 484 UXO.

The MACC MRE Teams intensified their community-based MRE outreach 
activities in the IDP Camps in the sub zoba of Shambiko in Sector West 
and in the sub zoba of Tsorena in Sector Center due to the anticipated 
return of the IDPs to their homes of origin in the near future. The MRE 
Teams provided MRE to 6,337 people.

The MACC received one mine/UXO incident report in April 2006. The 
incident occurred on 29 April 2006 in an area known as Bar Ayro 6.5 km 
north west of Sheshebit village in Sector West. The incident involved a 
shepherd who tampered with an item when it exploded. The item could not 
be identified. The incident resulted in the death of a camel and minor 
injuries to the shepherd. The MACC conducted an investigation into the 
incident and released a Preliminary Investigation Report.

The UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC) along with other mine 
action partners in Eritrea including the Eritrean Demining Authority 
(EDA), UNICEF and other governmental organizations held activities at 
the Expo Grounds in Asmara to commemorate the International Day of Mine 
Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April 2006. The MACC set up 
various displays during the day, which highlighted the threat posed by 
mines and UXO.

The MACC is making preparations to hold a MACC Open Day on May 5, 2006. 
Representatives from government officials, UN agencies, members of 
diplomatic missions, and representatives from NGOs in Asmara will be 
officially invited to attend the day.

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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