ASMARA, March 22 (AFP) - Only one Eritrean in five in rural areas has access to drinking water, against around half the population in cities, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Saturday.

"In rural areas, the objective is to get potable water. We look for the minimum of 15 liters per capita per day," said Alem Tesfamariam, a UNICEF adviser on water.

The main difficulty facing the project is the task of collecting water during Eritrea's rainy season -- during which heavy rain falls in a short space of time -- rather than letting the water flow away to the Red Sea or the south of the country, he said.

Like neighbouring Ethiopia, Eritrea is often hit by ruinous droughts.

Around 70 percent of Eritreans are suffering the effects of the latest drought to hit the region, sparked by late and insufficient rainfall, the UN and Eritrean authorities have said.

smo/gir/kdz AFP

Copyright (c) 2003 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 03/22/2003 07:59:21