Eritrea: UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator calls for more humanitarian assistance

Asmara, 12 June 2003 (OCHA) - Ms. Carolyn McAskie, United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, wrapped up her two-day mission to Eritrea on Wednesday, calling for further assistance to meet the long-term needs of vulnerable Eritreans.
During her visit here, Ms. McAskie had the opportunity to discuss the humanitarian situation and the response needed with Foreign Minister Mr. Ali Said Abdella, Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commissioner Mr. Deragon Haile-Melekot, the UN Country Team, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the donor community.

Ms. McAskie said that it was essential to "work hard at a new partnership" between government authorities and the international community to help make delivery of vital aid more effective and efficient. "We need their support," she added, "if I am going to be the kind of advocate that I need to be on behalf of the suffering people of Eritrea."

Ms. McAskie's visit to drought-stricken Debub region confirmed the reality that there is little sign of improvement in the drought situation and the early "Azmera" rains have failed. The drought emergency continues to threaten food security, with acute food and water shortages causing high rates of malnutrition. Ms. McAskie witnessed total crop failure in the Hazemo Plains, once the most fertile area in the region. "Right now, we are at the severe malnutrition stage, with a large number of people affected. Our goal must be to make sure that drought does not lead to famine", the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator said. "We also need adequate response to address the underlying factors that have made Eritrea so vulnerable to drought", McAskie added.

In Tsorona, a town trying hard to rebuild itself after being destroyed during the border war with Ethiopia, Ms. McAskie visited camps for internally displaced persons unable to return to their home areas for security reasons, presence of landmines and/or destroyed homes and socio-economic infrastructure. She also visited the overstretched Tsorona health centre and a soil conservation project undertaken by the Government of the State of Eritrea.

"Up to 70 percent are suffering either due to the fall-out from war or drought, and this can only constitute a major disaster," said Ms. McAskie at the launch of the 2003 Mid-Year Review of the Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal for Eritrea. Noting that the humanitarian situation in Eritrea is dire and the need for humanitarian assistance remains high, she urged the international community to "translate their pledges into cash-in-hand".

The appeal, launched in November 2002, has been revised downwards, as a result of insufficient funding, from $163 million to $160 million, to focus on life-saving interventions such as food, water, health, nutrition, agriculture and shelter. To date, humanitarian agencies have received 43% of the $160 million required under the appeal, leaving a shortfall of some $91 million.

Despite an increase in pledges and commitments from donors in recent weeks, especially in the food sector, to 225,650 MT out of the 476,000 MT of food required in Eritrea, only 69, 337 MT have actually reached the country.

"There is a feeling in the UN capitals (New York, Rome and Geneva) as well as in many donor capitals that we haven't done enough to carry the story of what's really happening in Eritrea to the world," she said. "Part of the syndrome is that people who might be at risk don't make good photo opportunities."

In addition to severe drought, crop failure, water shortage and high rates of malnutrition, Eritrea continues to recover from war, compounded by the delayed demarcation of the border.

Ms. McAskie later left Asmara for a mission to Ethiopia.