OCHA Situation Report
Eritrea
Report for October 2006
9 November 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 13 to 18 October 
2006. Unlike the Special Envoy's previous mission, this time his visit 
to the region was to Eritrea only.

During his visit, the Special envoy met and held discussions with 
Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki, other senior officials of the 
Government, members of the international community including donors, 
NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements and the UN system.

The aim of the visit was to assess the overall humanitarian situation 
and follow up on issues raised during his previous mission in April 
2006. Mr. Bondevik also undertook a field trip to Debub region in 
southern Eritrea to see some of the Government's food security 
initiatives and visited water catchment projects aimed at increasing 
agricultural production and enhancing food security.

Mr. Bondevik underlined the importance of the overall developments in 
the region on the humanitarian situation, and expressed his concern over 
the possible humanitarian consequences should the recent developments in 
the Temporary Security Zone lead to an escalation of tensions.

CARE HIGHLIGHTS

CARE, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) branch 
office in Debub, National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and 
local administration, is implementing with funding from Norway an 
Integrated Livelihood Security project in Mai Mine sub zone. During the 
current planting season, CARE engaged and assisted 165 farmers to 
multiply improved varieties of seed in 80 ha. The farmers were provided 
with the necessary quantities of three improved varieties of sorghum 
seed, tractor plowing services and fertilizers to plant sorghum in Adi 
Bahailai administrative village in Mai Mine sub zone.

On 17 October, an open farmer day was organized and attended by farmers 
in Adi Bahaylay Maimene sub zone, representatives from the Ministries of 
Agriculture and Information, local government officials and members from 
neighboring communities. The main objective of the farmers open day was 
to disseminate the experience and the knowledge acquired to the wider 
farmer's community. After the harvest CARE will purchase the total 
sorghum crop, clean it at NARI and store it in MOA' storage in Adiquala. 
The estimated 70 MT of production will be distributed to farmers for 
planting during the next season 2007. CARE's plan is to expand the seed 
multiplication intervention in the coming years in order to improve 
productivity of farmers and ultimately strengthening their food security 
and livelihood systems.

CARE also received a grant from ECHO to address animal feed shortage in 
areas that did not receive enough rain and would face animal feed 
shortage. CARE in collaboration with MoA Debub will implement the 
project that will include production and distribution of 35,000 animal 
feed blocks, wheat bran distribution, and development of wheat bran and 
construction of 2 micro dams.

However, CARE is facing serious fuel (diesel) shortage that hinders a 
full scale of field operations. Often, in order to complete critical 
activities CARE rented vehicles from the market, which increased the 
operation cost unnecessarily.

OXFAM HIGHLIGHTS

Within the framework of its IDP Resettlement Support Project, Oxfam 
supported 700 IDPs resettled in Una Argenai from the Mai Wurai IDP camp 
in zoba Debub. The support focused on seed and tractor services 
provision. In the process, 613 Hectares of land has been ploughed and 
24MT of seed distributed (Taff). Regular monitoring conducted by Oxfam 
and the MoA indicated good crop performance.

In response to the request made by the MoA, Oxfam distributed, as part 
of its Emergency Seed Distribution Project in Zoba Debub, 47MT of 
chickpea seed (short maturation) to assist 1,600 farmers whose long 
cycle crops have been damaged by hailstorm in five village of Dekemhare 
sub-zoba.(Damba, Adi Keretse, Awlietsoru Korbaria and Harien). 
Monitoring report carried by the MoA indicated that the crops are in 
good condition.

UNMEE MACC HIGHLIGHTS

Integrated De-mining Capacity (IDC) Team of the UNMEE MACC focused 
operations on minefields in the Egri Meakel area in the Sub zone of 
Tserona in Sector Center, Badme area and Shambiko area in Sector West. 
The Team cleared an area of 425,671 sq.m. The Route Clearance Team (RCT) 
of the MACC deployed to Adihageray area in Sector Center. The RCT team 
cleared an area of 286 kms of road in October 2006.

Mine Risk Education (MRE) teams of the MACC deployed to Dibi Village in 
the sub zone of Tserona area in Sector Center and Sector West, Sub zone 
of Lalay-Gash. The teams conducted MRE briefings for local people, 
mainly children, from different age groups and gender. 829 people 
received MRE awareness training. The teams also reported a mine incident 
on 24 September 2006 in Dibi, Sub zone of Tserona.

The Force Mine Action Center of the MACC in Asmara conducted Mine Risk 
Education briefings to 499 UNMEE military contingent members, 14 
international civilian staff and 7 UNMEE MACC staff located in Asmara 
during the month.

The MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team based in Eritrea 
deployed to Sector West in Shilalo and Maher areas to conduct mine 
disposal operations and destroyed fuses, hand grenades, mortar and 
artillery shells. The Team destroyed 88 UXO's in Grat Mariam and Maher 
area. The EOD Team based in Ethiopia deployed to Atagna and Togoza areas 
and conducted mine disposal operations and destroyed two AP mines.

For further Information related to the Humanitarian Update, Please 
contact:

OCHA-Eritrea at 291-1-151666/151888, Fax- 291-1-151999, e-mail:
OCHA-Eritrea@un.org

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