The rainy season has begun throughout most
areas of the country and fears of the humanitarian relief community are
very quickly being realized.
Shelter
Out of an estimated need for 120,000 pieces of shelter (tents and plastic sheets), only 39,700 were available as of June 29th , thus leaving well over two-thirds of the IDP population without adequate shelter.
Families who do not have shelter are forced to share with others, often sleeping 15-20 per tent to avoid the rain and cold of the season. Still many more have no shelter at all and are sleeping in caves or under trees.
Health
Reports from Salina camp suggest that the cold and wet of the rainy season, combined with the severe lack of shelter, blankets and proper nutrition, has already led to an increase in upper respiratory infections amongst the very young.
The malaria season will soon be upon us, posing additional threats to the young and elderly now living under such harsh conditions. Diarrhea is also wide-spread in the camps.
Distribution
A s the rains continue and rivers swell, dirt roads and tracks will become increasingly impassible, thus rendering the delivery and distribution of relief aid difficult to impossible. With limited in-country stocks of most items, even pre-positioning of relief items seems a rather distant possibility at this point.
Planting
While some farmers were able to preplough their fields before the main rains, the majority have not. The time to plant is now and without the security to return to many areas and the severe lack of seeds, tractors and agricultural implements, little will remain to be salvaged of the growing season, thus leading to long-term aid requirements.
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CONCERNS
Food: It has been estimated that food stocks in country will suffice for only an additional one month. Some areas of the country have received very little in the way of food assistance, while others are now beyond the emergency assistance stage, but still require longer term food aid. Such items -- cereals, pulses and oil -- usually items transported by ship, are urgently required, bringing up the question of additional air lifts. Food has again become the primary concern of ERREC. Shelter remains a vital concern, particularly as the rainy season has begun. IDPs are showing signs of upper respiratory infections, while those returning to their home villages are finding burnt out shells and rubble in many cases. Supplying adequate shelter is an ongoing and serious problem. Expellees: A very disturbing development is not only the continuing expulsion of "ethnic" Eritreans from Ethiopia but also the large-scale expulsion of Eritreans from uncontested Eritrean territory, such as the Upper Gash region and parts of Debub zone. Conservative estimates run around 15,000, with about 150 arriving at Adi Keshi camp per day. In 2000, a total of 500 Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean descent have been expelled from Ethiopia, including 150 this week from Addis Ababa. Eritreans behind front lines are an additional serious concern, particularly in the Senafe sub-region. Exact numbers are unknown, but are estimated well in the thousands. The condition of these people is unknown though IDPs who have escaped and are now located in Zula camp report food shortages and acts of torture and rape. Although Ethiopia has said that any interested aid organizations are welcome to check on these people, to date no one has done this. |
Population Movements/Conditions
In general IDPs are quite eager to return to their homes, but in areas close to Ethiopian occupied territory, they do not yet feel confident enough about the "cessation of hostilities" to move back. Therefore, in areas that are within shelling range or in areas still under the threat of reoccupation, there have been only very tentative movements back.
People living in semi-camps or sites outside established IDP camps in the three sub-regions of Mai Aini, Adi Keih and Adi Quala, are estimated at 100,000. Their condition is reported as being far worse than that of people in the larger camps, such as Salina and Harena.
Many IDPs have been living without shelter for at least a month. A great deal of attention needs to be paid to this region, especially now that the rains have begun.
Mai Aini sub-zone: No agency had visited this area for the past 2 months. There are approximately 29,000 IDPS located in this sub-zone. There are three semi-camps located in this area consisting of IDPs displaced in February 1999. New IDPs are living in 13 locations in the valleys and under trees. People have received a one-month food ration. Water is not sufficient for new IDPs . Harena: An unspecified number of IDPs have moved back towards Adi Keih. ERREC says these are voluntary returnees.
Salina: There is some movement from Salina towards Areza and Mai Dima.
Mai Sigla: 2,200 IDPs have returned to this camp.The total population is 4,000.
Ghinda: IDPs from Massawa have not yet relocated to Ghinda, but water and sanitation set-ups are near-ly complete and tents and blankets are standing ready.
Adi Keshi is receiving approximately 150 IDPs per day expelled from the Upper Gash area.
Deb'at: The entire population of Deb'at I has been moved north to the new camp Deb'at II, with notice-able movement to home villages/towns.
Sudan: There is a steady flow of IDPs/refugees from Sudan, but the repatriation of all 80,000 - 90,000 (figures vary widely) IDPs has been delayed because of lack of proper facilities in the envisioned new camps of Keru, Wakai and Dige. Many from the Guluj area do not feel comfortable returning home while the military/political situation remains so uncertain and thus will have the option of settling in the three new camps when preparations are complete. Various agencies are working to ensure that food, water, shelter and sanitation needs will be met.
In general, displacement rates have declined.
Transportation
The issue of adequate transportation for the delivery and distribution of relief aid in Eritrea has been raised repeatedly in recent weeks.
UNHCR recently announced the delivery of 11 heavy trucks and 2 light vehicles to ERREC, thus bringing the total of UNHCR trucks used by ERREC to 51, including 40 trucks and 22 trailers.
Additionally, ERREC has announced their enhanced cooperation with the private sector to come up with a number of additional trucks. ERREC officials state that transportation should no longer pose a problem and focus can be placed on get-ting relief items into the country.
Delivery of relief items has thus increased significantly this week as have the regions being served by ERREC deliveries, including Karora, Afabet and Foro.
Education
The Ministry of Education has announced that middle and secondary schools will begin classes next week in some areas of the country. School will be delayed in those areas still under Ethiopian occupation, where schools have been seriously damaged or destroyed, where school buildings are being used as relief storage and where security guarantees cannot be given. In areas where schools have been looted, assistance will certainly be required in supplying school supplies and furniture. There are many challenges involved in opening schools in IDP camps.
Sectoral Working Groups
The main functions of the sectoral working groups are three-fold: to exchange technical information, to coordinate operations, and to facilitate resource mobilization. Each sectoral working group will be chaired by the concerned government agency and co-chaired/facilitated by the corresponding UN agency.
The sectoral working groups will identify needs and unmet needs by site (both short-, medium-, and long-term needs), prioritize those needs, identify resources and coordinate interventions.
Each sectoral group will compile a weekly update, outlining needs, unmet needs and actions to be taken. Copies of the weekly sectoral updates will be made available at the Saturday general coordination meeting and will also be provided to the ICC.
Sectoral Group Chair Co-Chair
Food ERREC WFP
Health & Nutrition Min. of Health WHO
Water & Sanitation Min. of LocalGov't UNICEF
Shelter/Household ERREC UNHCR
Return & Rehab. ERREC/MoLG UNHCR/UNDP
Education Min of Education UNICEF
Population concentrations (estimates to date):
Adi Keih/Senafe: 45,655 (3 sites)
Mai Aini:23,618 (4 sites)
Tserona/Quatit:14,283
Areza:28,133 (3 sites)
Emni Hail:14,593
Harena:47,360 (fluid moving)
Salina:68,487 (decreasing)
Alba:13,976
Molki/environs: 37,000
Jejah:9,7000
Koitobia:11,000
Korobon:8,000
Barentu:6,000
Forto/Haicota:31,000 (fluid)
Adi Keshi:44,000 (growing rapidly
Teamrat/Ela Abdella:16,000
Ghirmaika:3,930 (growing)
Meleboor:6,000
Dige:5,000
Gogne/environs:35,000
Mensura/environs:4,321
Agordat:15,000 (growing)
Deb'at I & II: 50,000 (moving and returning)
Umkulu: 7,000 (static, but ready to move)
Sudan: 80,000 (resettlement delayed) wm1@server.unog.ch
| About ICC
ICC's main aim is to facilitate a rapid and efficient response to the humanitarian crisis in Eritrea, in coordination with ERREC. Among other activities, ICC will encourage and coordinate the exchange of information among the donor community to help achieve this aim. ICC operates under the auspices of the ERREC commissioner and the UN resident coordinate. Its office is located in ERREC. ICC is supported with human and material resources by: ERREC, OCHA/UNDAC , UNICEF,NCA, and EDF. Contact People : |