New York/Geneva - Today in Addis
Ababa and in Asmara, United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) launched simultaneous
appeals to the international community for humanitarian assistance needed
this year to assist destitute persons in Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Both countries have been severely affected
by persistent drought, related natural disasters and their border war.
The assistance of the international community is urgently required to mitigate
the effects of these phenomena.
The United Nations and the respective Governments have just concluded detailed assessments of the urgent needs in both countries. The present UNCT Appeals represent a prioritisation of the most critical areas in which appropriate and timely live-saving interventions are indispensable, to avert further deterioration and humanitarian catastrophe.
The Appeal, for $ 42.7 million launched today in Asmara (Eritrea), solicits assistance with food and non-food items in favour of some 583,000 people of whom 372,000 are war-affected and over 211,000 are drought-affected mainly in Northern Red Sea and Anseba Regions. About 62,800 metric tons of urgent food aid is needed. Immediate relief assistance is also required for shelter and household necessities, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, education and psychosocial care for children. The needs assessment and Appeal preparation is the work of the UN Country Team comprising UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNDP, UNFPA, FAO, UNHCR and the World Bank under the leadership of the UN Resident Co-ordinator.
The Appeal for $ 190 million launched today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, requests relief assistance to some 8 million Ethiopians and 250,000 refugees from Sudan and Somalia for this year. Of the Ethiopians, some 7.7 million are affected by drought and related natural disasters while 350,000 are war-affected internally displaced persons in the Tigray and Afar Regions. Approximately 837,000 metric tons of food assistance is required. Donations are required to finance priority interventions in food assistance, health, water sanitation, nutrition, education, special protection needs and agriculture this year.
The UN Country Team in Addis Ababa involved in the needs assessment and preparation of this Appeal includes, inter alia, the FAO, WFP, WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR and the UNFPA under the leadership of the UN Resident Co-ordinator.
Further information on these Appeals can be provided as follows:
OCHA- New York: Phyllis Lee Tel:
00-1-212-963-4832
Rosa Malango Tel: 00-1-212-963-2380
OCHA-Geneva: Donato Kiniger-Passigli Tel: 00- 41- 22 917 2653.
Ethiopia: UN-Emergency Unit for
Ethiopia + 251 1 51 37 25
Eritrea: UN Office in Eritrea + 291 1 15 12 56