Asmara - The United Nations and the Government of Eritrea on Thursday appealed to the International donor community for almost $224 million to provide food and non-food humanitarian relief to some two million Eritreans affected by drought and the 33 months old border war with neighbouring Ethiopia.
The Eritrean Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, ERREC, said that three years of drought and a bloody border war with Ethiopia have negatively impacted on the country's ability to feed itself. Hence 70 percent of the total appeal is for food aid.
Eritrea is now facing an 80 percent food deficit with two million of its 3.1 million-population requiring food aid. The Eritrean Relief Commission has in the past three weeks received reports of few cases of child mortality due to malnutrition.
In a press conference held at the Asmara Intercontinental Hotel to announce the launch of this year's UN consolidated appeal, ERREC Commissioner Ms. Hiwot Zemichael said that although Eritrea was able to avert a humanitarian catastrophe last year, the country requires even more humanitarian assistance this year.
Ms. Hiwot expressed her appreciation to the international community for the concern and support it provided to Eritrea saying "the collective response was exceptional in averting a catastrophe". The Commissioner urged the international donor community to respond in a timely manner to the increased needs this year.
The UN and Government of Eritrea consolidated appeal for Eritrea includes food aid, shelter, health, education, water, sanitation and mine clearance assistance for war and drought affected Eritreans. The appeal also includes assistance for over 45,000 Eritreans expelled from Ethiopia and 65,000 displaced Eritreans planning to return to their homes with the withdrawal of the Ethiopian army from Eritrea and the establishment of the Temporary Security Zone separating the two armies. The appeal may be revised to reflect the changing situation on the ground once the extent of the of needs in the TSZ and in areas previously inaccessible because of the war is known.
With women and children constituting 90 percent of the war and drought affected population, this year's appeal under the theme "Women and War" will pay special attention to the needs of women and children and other vulnerable sectors of the community.
The international donor community positively responded to last year's UN consolidated appeal for Eritrea covering 67 percent of the appeal request. The largest response was to the food aid component of the appeal. However, the non-food aid component of the appeal was under subscribed and the UN has this year appealed for broad cross-sectoral support to ensure adequate funding for all components of the appeal.