East Africa Regional Programmes
The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. The Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project.

Severe frost had damaged vegetables in

The MoA report indicated that the current harvest will be lower than last year due to total failure of the Azmera rains, late onset of the Kremti rains, and shortages of tractor services and manpower for planting and cultivation.

The FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Eritrea (18 to 31 November) for 2004 has completed its mission and the final report will be made public soon at the FAO web site.

BRIEFING NOTES:

POLITICAL:

On 16 December, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, held an end-of-year press conference in Addis Ababa, via video link with Asmara, during which he introduced the new Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Asmara, Sissel Ekaas.

On the same day, in Addis Ababa, the DSRSG/Asmara paid courtesy calls on the Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Mette Knudsen, and on the Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Hakan Akesson. They exchanged

21 December 2004, Rome - The European Commission and FAO have agreed to a new partnership to improve the ability of decision makers to target food insecure and vulnerable people and to take effective action to reduce hunger, the two organizations announced today.

The three-year, 15 million euro programme initiated by the agreement covers 20 countries across the world and aims to identify and analyze food security needs and recommend ways to reduce hunger based on the findings, the two Organizations announced today.

In Brief

This Information Bulletin (no. 1/2004) is being issued based details from a Federation assessment that recommends for the launching of an international Emergency Appeal.

The Situation

The prolonged drought in Eritrea has seriously affected agricultural and livestock production, threatening the

I. Introduction

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 12 of Security Council resolution 1320 (2000) of 15 September 2000, and provides an update on developments in the peace process since my report dated 2 September 2004 (S/2004/708). The report also describes the deployment and activities of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), the current mandate of which expires on 15 March 2005.

II. Status of the Temporary Security Zone and adjacent areas, and cooperation with the parties

S/2004/973
I. Introduction

"Child and maternal malnutrition here is the highest in Africa," UNICEF representative in Eritrea, Christian Balslev-Olesen, said in Asmara during presentation of its annual report on the state of children in the world.

Reducing child malnutrition will be a complicated task, he said, adding: "We do not need just more rain