CERF allocates $ 2 million for emergency supports in response to food crisis in Eritrea
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A boy at a UNICEF-supported water station in Eritrea
[Photo: UNICEF] |
27 August 2008: Eritrea faces a host of humanitarian challenges such as acute malnutrition and a new influx of refugees in need of food assistance. The situation has been compounded by a reduced capacity of farmers to produce crops due to drought which is affecting the whole region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is addressing malnutrition in Eritrea by scaling up existing programmes to aid nearly 120,000 children under five years of age. It is improving the detection and treatment of diseases related to malnutrition, by providing supplies and training to health workers, and supporting therapeutic feeding plans run by health facilities. Outreach immunization services with Vitamin A supplementation are also being conducted to combat malnutrition.
Eritrea’s food producing capacity has been negatively affected because of recent drought and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing humanitarian assistance to those affected. Utilizing a CERF grant, FAO is providing seeds, tools and fertilizer to approximately 26,000 households and it is expected that farmers will increase production while becoming more self-sufficient.
CERF funds are allowing the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to respond to the latest arrival of Somali and Sudanese refugee into Eritrea. A basic food ration consisting of wheat, lentils, vegetables and other foods is being provided to approximately 5,400 Somali refugees and 130 Sudanese refugees. The food rations are expected to prevent a deterioration of the food security among refugees.
[Last Update: 29 August 2008]
CERF allocates US$ 1 million for agricultural assistance to IDPs and expelles in Eritrea
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Emergency agricultural assistance is alleviating the suffering of resettled IDPs and expellees
[Photo: UNDP] |
2 April 2008: In late 2007, over 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned to Gash Barka in a joint operations by the Government and the UN system. Another 11,010 IDPs are currently resettling in Debub Region, either in their ancestral homes or in other locations. Due to their continued stay in overcrowded camps, the levels of vulnerability have increased negatively affecting their ability to develop crops and sustain their basic food security needs.
A CERF grant is enabling the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to provide agricultural assistance in preparation for the next rainy season to 11,010 IDPs and 20,000 returnees. Project activities include supplying farming hand tools and distributing seeds, as well as assistance in ploughing and planting crops. UNDP is also regularly monitoring the implementation of the programme.
[Last Update: 17 April 2008]