Asmara -- International response to the humanitarian needs in Eritrea continues to be woefully inadequate with only one month food supply in stock for Eritrea's 1.5 million displaced people, warns Dr. Festo Kavishe, UNICEF Representative to Eritrea.
With the onset of rain in Eritrea and the majority of the displaced still living in the open, Dr. Kavishe says, there is urgent need for increased international assistance in the areas of shelter and health care. "The need is there but the response has not been adequate," he said.
Dr Kavishe said that UNICEF is advocating for increased international assistance to respond to the humanitarian needs in Eritrea. "The situation is just overwhelming for both the government and international agencies working in Eritrea. We need to accelerate the response to both food and non-food items."
So far, UNICEF has mobilized US $ 5.3 million for relief efforts in Eritrea with half of the amount coming from its own sources.
Over one million people were displaced from their homes in Eritrea when Ethiopian forces launched a major offensive against Eritrea in May and occupied large parts of undisputed Eritrean territory. With Ethiopian forces still occupying Eritrean territory, the displaced are not able to return to their homes.
One third of the Eritrean population has been affected by the war with Ethiopia and by the drought. The majority of those affected are women and children.
UNICEF started its work in Eritrea in 1992.
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