9 April 2009: The unresolved border dispute with Ethiopia remains the most important drawback to Eritrea’s socio-economic development, as national resources (human and material) continue to be prioritized for national defense.
The drought and food security crisis affecting the Horn of Africa countries has also affected Eritrea. A September 2008 forecast by the European Union’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) estimated the 2008 cereal crop production at no more than 200,000 MT - barely 30 percent of the country’s total annual needs. Even in a good season, the country produces no more than 60 percent of its annual cereal requirements, with the gap filled through imports and food aid (until 2005). The risk of food insecurity has been exacerbated by the variable global food prices, resulting in sharp increases in the domestic cereal prices.
18 September 2009: Eritrea is vulnerable to recurrent droughts and variable weather conditions with potentially negative effects on the 80 percent of the population that depend on agriculture and pastoralism as main sources of livelihood. The situation has been exacerbated by the unresolved border dispute, resulting in economic stagnation, lack of food security and increased susceptibility of the population to various ailments including communicable diseases and malnutrition. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) continues to provide support to 5,000 camp-based refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Somalia and Sudan, in the Gash Barka and Northern Red Sea regions.
Recent monitoring visits in all six regions indicate a two- to six-fold increase in the numbers of children admitted to facility-based and community-based therapeutic feeding centres. Low rainfall patterns in the eastern parts and the western lowlands of Eritrea are responsible for increased food shortages, while the impact of high consumer food prices is another threat to the livelihood of the population. Furthermore, the low immunization coverage rate coupled with the high levels of malnutrition in women and children, and the decreased access to safe drinking water along with the low hygiene and sanitation levels increase the susceptibility of vulnerable groups to communicable diseases.
To assist the humanitarian agencies responding to these needs, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator allocated $1.5 million from CERF through the second round of the underfunded emergencies window.
The World Health Organization (WHO) will receive more than $420,000 to work with the Ministry of Health to reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality due to acute malnutrition and schistosomiasis. An allocation of $300,000 will enable UNHCR to continue to support the needs of Somali and Sudanese refugees in Eritrea. Another $400,000 will go to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support drought-affected, women-headed households in the Gash Barka region. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will receive $400,000 for an emergency health and nutrition project.