United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator to visit Eritrea

Asmara, Friday 6 June 2003 - Ms. Carolyn M. McAskie, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), arrives in Asmara, Eritrea on Monday 9 June for a two-day visit.
During her visit, Ms. McAskie will participate in the launch of the 2003 Mid-Year Review of the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Eritrea. The appeal was launched in November 2002, and sought to raise US $163 million for emergency humanitarian relief in response to Eritrea's most severe drought in a decade. A total of US $69.2 million has been pledged so far, while a shortfall of $90.7 million remains.

Ms McAskie's mission is intended, among other things, to assess the overall humanitarian situation and recovery effort in Eritrea. Her visit is also aimed at moblising further resources for emergency relief operations by encouraging greater support from the international donor community. It is also a follow up to the visit of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Kenzo Oshima in October 2002.

In meetings with senior officials of the Government of Eritrea, representatives of the international donor community, members of the UN Country Team, and Non- Governmental Organizations, Ms. McAskie will discuss the humanitarian situation, and the overall level of response to recent appeals. Ms. McAskie will also visit drought affected areas and camps for internally displaced persons in the Debub Zone.

The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator will be accompanied by Mr.Eric Laroche, UNICEF Emergency Operations, Mr. Simon Tuenstra, Deputy Director of Humanitarian Relief and Emergencies Branch and, Ms. Christina de Bruin, Policy Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands.

This visit to Eritrea is the first part of the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator's mission to the region. From Eritrea she will travel to Ethiopia and Kenya. This will be Ms. McAskie's second mission to Eritrea since 2000.

For further information please contact: UN-OCHA Asmara, Eritrea, Tel.: (291-1) 151666 Fax: 291 - 1 151999