OCHA Situation Report
Eritrea
Report for December 2006 - January 2007
5 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

UNICEF HIGHLIGHTS

National Vitamin A Plus Days

A second round of National Vitamin A Plus Days (NVAD) was successfully
conducted by the Ministry of Health of the State of Eritrea supported by
UNICEF and WHO in December targeting all children between 6 and 59
months. The "Plus" was, for the first time, promotion of hand washing
among 440,000 elementary school and kindergarten children of 1,260
schools. Each child was given a piece of soap along with distribution of
promotion materials. The local Mass media contributed to raising
awareness about the importance of vitamin A for children as well as hand
washing. About 7,400 teachers were trained on demonstration of proper
hand washing and were provided information about benefits of hand
washing. Children were requested to carry these messages to their
families.  Preliminary results showed a high coverage of vitamin A
supplementation.

Community based Therapeutic Feeding (CBTF)

The Ministry of Health (MOH) of the State of Eritrea in collaboration
with UNICEF and WHO initiated CBTF in selected communities of three
zobas (regions/zones) with high acute child malnutrition rates. The CBTF
initiative was to treat to those severely malnourished children while
allowing them to stay in their families during treatment. Currently,
four sites are operational and community volunteers are linked to health
facilities in Adi-Kieh and Hawasu in Debub, Geleb in Anseba and Shieb in
Northern Red Sea (NRS). The preparatory activities include sensitization
of authorities and communities, pre-intervention survey, training of
trainers, training of health workers and volunteers and screening of
children. As of end of 2006, over 100 severely under-nourished children
were admitted in the programme - Geleb (36), Adi-Keyih (38); Hawasu (10)
and Shieb (23).

In support to IDPs resettlement in Debub and Gash Barka regions, UNICEF
provided the following assistance of non-food items in December and
January: one 20 liters jerry can each to 3,500 vulnerable households to
alleviate water storage problems faced by household and provide access
to appropriate and adequate water storage containers. In Sena'fe and
Tsorona sub-zones 5,000 women and children received clothing. To address
the psychosocial needs of children in the resettled IDP villages 20
recreational kits were also provided to 2,000 children in regions of
Debub and Gash Barka.  5,991 vulnerable resettled IDP families (4,250 to
Debub & 1,741 to Gash-Barka), primarily targeting to child and
female-headed households, received one family relief kits each. The kits
include different sets of household items.

UNFPA HIGHLIGHTS

"Prevention of HIV/AIDS among the Eritrean Youth, the Eritrean Defense
Forces and National Corps" This joint program with UNICEF and UNAIDS has
been successfully completed operationally and financially by end of
2006. To curb the spread of HIV 325 change agents have been trained from
the military and have been deployed in the remote rural community as
part of the outreach program to enlighten the people. The change agents
are expected to equip the people with the knowledge and skills that help
reduce the risk behavior. The program has also strengthened three youth
centers by furnishing and equipping the libraries, VCT centers and
trained young peer leaders.

Funds disbursed for the response to the CAP 2004 projects "Save the
mother and her baby; and Prevention of HIV/AIDS among young pregnant
women" were utilized during the last quarters of 2006. During this
period necessary equipment like mama kits, bed sheets, and medical
equipment have been procured and distributed to selected health
facilities in three zobas (regions). The necessary drugs and supplies
were ordered and are expected to be received within the first quarter of
2007.

CARE HIGHLIGHTS

Following to the implementation of the project Environment/Energy
conservation in November, in Mai Mine sub-zone in Debub region, 500
women were identified and received training on how to make improved
stove and materials needed to construct improved mogogo (a traditional
material made from mud and used to bake injera/bread) stove. Likewise,
Additional 1,150 women beneficiaries were identified who will receive
full package support to install improved mogogo stove in the coming
months. As it was mentioned in the November humanitarian update, CARE
with its partners has also implemented Emergency Drought Response for
Livestock Project in Debub and Northern Red Sea administrative zones.
Out of the four components of this project, the implementation process
of the micro-dam construction, multi-nutrient feed block production and
the rangeland development have started. So far 4,000 feed blocks have
been produced.

CARE with its partners is also implementing an Integrated Livelihood
Security project in Mai Mine sub zone of Debub zone.  Two wells are
under construction downstream of previously constructed micro-dams.
Implementation process to construct a micro-dam has started.  300
quintals of improved sorghum seed was collected from farmers who
participated in improved seed multiplication program.

LWF HIGHLIGHTS

Community Resettlement Project in Zoba (zone/region) Debub

LWF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zoba Debub
Administration for the resettlement of communities who are located in
the mountains of four areas called Hansesa and Gherehelassie in sub zoba
Areza, Gheremariam and Da'ero Hara in sub zoba Mai Mine. Around 1,700
hhs will be relocated to three resettlement areas that are very close to
where they are now and where they will get clean drinking water and good
agricultural land. These two sub zones are grouped under the most war
affected sub zones and located close to the border, within the Temporary
Security Zone (TSZ). Landmines are cleared and therefore the communities
can safely restart their normal activities once they are resettled.

LWF will provide 1,700 pcs of family tents and three water supply
systems in the three- resettlement areas. Ensuring the food security of
the communities is equally important and therefore the communities will
be assisted with agricultural inputs like oxen and seeds. Project
implementation period is from December 2006 - August 2007.

UNMEE MACC HIGHLIGHTS

The Route Clearance Team (RCT) of the MACC continued to verify mine
threats in riverbeds, verges of roads & minefields and on roads in
Sector Center. The Integrated Demining Capacity (IDC) teams also
continue to work in Egri Mekel minefield in the Tsorona area, Sector
Center, within the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). The teams cleared
186,133 m=B2 of land and 160.8 Kms of road in the area. The teams
discovered 1 Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) item and 2 Anti Tank mines in
December 2006.

One from the Mine Risk Education (MRE) Team deployed to Sector West, Sub
zone of Lalay-Gash and conducted MRE activities for 504 local people
from different age groups and gender affected by mines and explosive
remnants of war living in Habela, Tsilale and Adi-tsetser villages. From
the MRE Team two were also deployed to Ayba village in Sector Center and
conducted MRE briefings to 95 children from various ages and gender. The
teams reported two kinds of UXO's and four explosive remnants of war
during the month.

The Force Mine Action Center (FMAC) in Asmara conducted MRE briefings to
one UNMEE security staff member, 22 UNMO and 280 UNMEE contingent
members recently arrived in the mission and 09 UNMEE MACC newly
recruited staff members.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team based in Eritrea deployed to
Tsorona area, Adi Quala Militia camp, and Endagergish demolition site in
Sector Center. The team destroyed 46 Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and
declared 7 items free from explosives.

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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