Asmara ---- Visiting UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Carolyn McAskie, on Saturday praised the Eritrean authorities' handling of the humanitarian crisis affecting 50 percent of the population and said that she would "make a special plea for Eritrea" to help meet the Eritrean government's appeal for US $ 183 million, with the UN concentrating on raising half of the amount.
"I am very impressed with the way the Eritrean authorities are dealing with the crisis. Dealing with the government of Eritrea is quite different than dealing with many other countries in the region. The Eritrean government takes a very strong position of responsibility itself," said McAskie.
"The people of Eritrea are very self-sufficient and can handle drought. They have the resilience to handle drought". It's the tragedy of war that has exacerbated the situation," said McAskie.
The UN relief coordinator was speaking at a press conference in Asmara, the Eritrean capital, at the end of her two-day visit to the country to assess the humanitarian situation there. Ms. McAskie spoke about the aid efforts of the Eritrean government and various non-governmental organizations, outlined her appeal for additional humanitarian assistance, and emphasized the need to raise awareness about the tragedy of Eritrean women who have been raped by members of the Ethiopian army.
Ms. McAskie said that the UN team is "very much in support of the government's efforts" and emphasized that this is a situation where the international community is working in partnership with the government of Eritrea "which is very active in supporting its people."
The UN coordinator said that an estimated 50% of the Eritrean population-- 1.6 million people-- is affected by war and drought. This number includes those displaced by the invasion, those who have been affected by drought and "host communities", many of whom are poor villagers who have been sheltering the displaced in their own homes.
Most of the displaced are farmers, who left their homes in the face of Ethiopian artillery attacks. The Ethiopian army has heavily mined their farms and agricultural production is likely to be interrupted for a year to two years.
McAskie confirmed that the Eritrean government has opened a line of credit for the purchase of much needed aid to the urban poor, which is an area that the World Food Program is currently not directing assistance.
She added that she is concerned about the condition of those Eritreans who are currently trapped inside Ethiopian-occupied Eritrean territory, including the approximately 50,000 women and children who are in Senafe and the surrounding area.
Addressing the issue of Eritrean women who have been raped by members of the Ethiopian army, McAskie said that the act of rape in the context of war as "sexual torture" and that it is far more widespread than we think. She added that there should be a "general outcry" against it and called on the people of Eritrea to "stand up and publicize" the atrocities being committed against Eritrean women.
The Eritrean government will have an opportunity to participate in a debate on the difficulties facing the Internally Displaced Eritreans at a July 19 meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council in New York. Details of the situation in Eritrea will also be presented to donors at a meeting in Geneva scheduled for the end of this month.
Carolyn McAskie left Asmara on Saturday to continue her tour of the region.