Eritrea
Ongoing
13 July 2017 – The humanitarian situation in Eritrea – which is quite isolated and off the media radars – is “on a positive trajectory” but international donors need to give malnourishment and food insecurity continued attention, a senior United Nations relief official today said.
Back from a three-day fact finding trip to the east African country, John Ging, Director of the Operational Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told journalists in New York that food and security remains a key concern there.
Highlights
• From January to June 2017, UNICEF Eritrea worked closely with the Government and partners to provide children and women with access to nutrition, health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene and child protection services and support, as per UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal.
AFTERNOON
Council Extends Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Eritrea
GENEVA (23 June 2017) - The Human Rights Council this afternoon adopted two resolutions in which it extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea for a period of one year, and in which it urged States to ensure that counter-terrorism measures were not discriminatory. The Council also appointed four Special Procedure mandate holders, and then closed its regular thirty-fifth session.
GENEVA (15 June 2017) – Eritrea must stop delaying action to tackle the severe human rights abuses meted out to its citizens, a United Nations rights expert has warned in a new report to the Human Rights Council.
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth, stressed that citizens continue to suffer arbitrary arrest, incommunicadodetention, enforced disappearances, and a national service system that amounts to enslavement.
Human Rights Council
Thirty-fifth session
6-23 June 2017
Agenda item 4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth
Summary
Geneva, 5 June 2017
RE: Renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea
Your Excellencies,
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Strategic Partnership Cooperation Framework (SPCF) 2017-2021 is the fourth strategic medium-term cooperation framework for Eritrea. It outlines the collective vision and shared response of United Nations agencies in Eritrea to the National Indicative Development Plan (NIDP) 2014-2018 and responds directly to the goals of the National Charter of the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) to advance Eritrea’s sustainable development agenda and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Eritrea is in need of quality teachers, particularly in rural regions, where up to 80 percent of the country’s population live. Certain elements of the Finnish education system could benefit Eritrea as well.
An English class is under way for second graders at the Sewra primary school in the Eritrean capital Asmara. “Jerry can, jerry can” the children repeat eagerly after the teacher.
The teacher holds up a picture of the container and asks the children what it is. The little ones answer in their native tongue Tigrinya.
EU prevention policy puts Eritreans at risk of imprisonment, torture and death
Despite mounting evidence of inhumane treatment faced by Eritreans, both within and outside Eritrea, the EU is doing all it can to prevent them from reaching its shores, says a new report published today by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Barentu, 16 February 2017- Nurse Temesgen Berhe, head of Barentu healthcare center, explained that the number of pregnant women who have been provided with efficient maternity service has been increasing along with the expansion of healthcare facilities.
Nurse Temesgen, further elaborated that the healthcare center has been offering pediatric service to children below 5 years of age, prenatal and postnatal service to pregnant women, voluntary blood test for HIV/AIDS as well as counseling service related to reproductive health.
Keren, 14 February 2017- Owing to concerted prevention actions so far taken in Ashara administrative area, Hagaz sub-zone, the prevalence of malaria, has in 2016 declined by 10% as compared to that of 2015.
According to Sister Senbetu Ghebrat, head of Healthcare center in Ashera administrative area, prevalence of various communicable diseases has substantially declined while prenatal and antenatal services has shown commendable progress.
The African Development Bank has approved a loan and a grant amounting to US $7.14 million to finance the fourth Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program in Eritrea.
This Program is an expansion of the ongoing Eritrea Component of the Multinational Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program in the Horn of Africa Project II (DRSLP-II) approved by the Bank Group in November 2014.
Total people to be reached in 2017: 505,0001
Total children to be reached in 2017: 450,000
2017 programme targets
Nutrition
- 15,000 children under 5 with SAM admitted into therapeutic feeding programmes
- 40,000 children under 5 with MAM benefiting from targeted supplementary feeding
- 450,000 children under 5 provided with vitamin A supplementation
Mendefera, 27 December 2016- A micro dam project is underway in Mai-Gorzo, Mai-Mine sub-zone.
Pointing out that the micro dam will have a capacity of holding 40 thousand metric cube of water, Mr. Zaid Berhane, coordinator of the project, commended the effort residents of the area have so far exerted towards the successful implementation of the project.
The residents of the area said that they use to travel for long hours to fetch water and expressed expectation that their problem will be alleviated with the completion of the project.
European Commission - Press release
Brussels, 15 December 2016
The European Union invests €170 million to tackle instability and irregular migration in the Horn of Africa
The European Commission has today approved a package of 11 new actions under the EU Trust Fund for Africa to improve stability and address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement in the Horn of Africa region.
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Good “kiremti” rains (June-September) benefited 2016 main season cereal crops
Moisture deficits affect grazing resources in most coastal areas
Good prospects for yields of 2016 main “kiremti” season crops
Letter dated 7 October 2016 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea addressed to the President of the Security Council
On behalf of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea, and in accordance with paragraph 32 of Security Council resolution 2244 (2015), I have the honour to transmit herewith the report on Eritrea of the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea.
GENEVA (28 October 2016) – States must heed the pleas of countless victims of crimes against humanity for justice and accountability, Sheila Keetharuth of the former UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in Eritrea urged the UN General Assembly today. The Commission has recommended that the situation in Eritrea be referred to the International Criminal Court.
Legal ruling identifies risk of serious harm to returning Eritreans after MPs condemn ‘inexcusable’ delay in revising existing guidance
Karen McVeigh
The Home Office will alter its much-criticised policy on Eritrean asylum seekers, after a legal ruling found that the majority of those fleeing the country risk persecution or serious harm on returning.
