Source: Information Coordination Centre
Date: 2 May 2001

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Government of the State of Eritrea and United Nations Rapid Village Assessment Report Adi-quala and Mai-Aini Sub-zones 23 - 24 April 2001

A joint Government and UN agencies conducted a Rapid Village Assessment (RVA) of Temporary Security Zone areas from 23 - 24 April in Adi-quala and Mai-Aini sub-zones of Debub region. 12 persons from UNICEF, UNDP, OCHA, ERREC, Local Administrators and UNMEE officers visited 6 of 7 villages planned to be assessed within the two sub-zones using Rapid Village Assessment form to collect information.

The assessors were divided into two teams for logistic purposes and made observations regarding the general situation in each village. Below are general observations, sector situation and recommendations for villages located with the TSZ in the two sub-zones made by the team.

Members of the assessment team.

Name Organization

1. Emmanuel Abraha: ERREC

2. Yeshi Haile: UNICEF

3. Saba Tesfamichael: UNDP-POWER

4. Sirpa Rautio: UNMEE Human Rights

5. Yosef Debesai: UNICEF

6. Muktar Ali Farah OCHA

7. Local Leaders of Adiquala and Mai-Aini Sub-zones.

8. Four UNMEE Security Officers.

Villages assessed and location of displaced population.

Sub-zone	Village	Remarks	Status of Population	Present location
Adi-Quala	Ksad Eka	Assessed	Not returned	Geza Medebay Camp
	Tserasir	Assessed	All returned	N/A
	Sebo	Assessed	Not returned	Agraa IDP camp
	Kuhli Zibi	Assessed	Not returned	Agraa IDP camp
	Mai Alba	Assessed	Not returned	Mai Sagla IDP camp
Mai-Aini	Medfa Wolta	Assessed	Not returned	Mehram Gedo IDP camp
	Una Watot	Assessed (not visited)	Not returned (due to mines)	Genzel IDP camp

Summary finding by sector.

Population movements/Return:

The population of 6 villages out of 7 identified in the TSZ areas of Adi-quala and Mai-Aini sub-zones have not returned to their respective villages. Except Fiqechokomte Kebabi Adi (Adi Mekeda is one of village in this Kebabi Adi) located north of the TSZ the rest of the population are still living in IDP camps. However, since the announcement of peace between the two countries and subsequent withdrawal of troops, local residents in these villages are visiting their properties/homes and preparing for the return. The assessment team noted frequent movements between the camps and their home villages. Despite the risk of mines and UXOs, populations with livestock are grazing their traditional grazing areas near their villages.

Road Access/Mines:

All the villages visited are accessible during the dry season by light trucks. However, there will be difficulty in reaching some to these villages during the rainy season because of small seasonal streams that cross the roads leading to the villages.

The threat of landmines is limiting the return of population in Una Watot and Ksad Eka villages. The assessment team could not visit Una Watot for fear of landmines neither could they walk in Ksad Eka town for fear of UXOs. Roads leading to water points on the Mereb river need to be surveyed for mines as well.

Status of homes and community buildings:

Severe damage and looting occurred in Ksad Eka village located about 5 km to the main border crossing point at Mereb River. Civil Administration buildings such as border post, police station, church and shops have been destroyed. It was evident that destruction and looting was targeted mainly at important economic facilities.

An estimated 90% of traditional huts (made of mud walls and thatch roofing) have deteriorated due to lack of up-keep and maintenance. The residents of Fiqechokomte Kebabi Adi (composed of four villages) mentioned to the assessment team that the central pillars of traditional huts have cracked due to the heavy shelling during the war. Some of these houses are rendered inhabitable and require to re-built. Looting of permanent building was mainly doors, windows and roofing sheets.

Population returning to most of these villages will require plastic sheeting and tents.

Food and Food security:

The main source of food for the population is the food they get in the IDP camps. In the camps monthly food rations are provided by the World Food Programme and distributed by ERREC. The rations distributed at camps and other distribution points are brought over to the villages and town centers. The Pastoral communities also depend on these rations as well.

There is no farming for the last three years in the villages visited. Fear of proximity to border areas and landmines threat did not allow any form of cultivation. The returning population is presently not able to cultivate and there is urgent need to provide seeds and tools before the planting season in June. No mines incident have so far been reported in farming areas. However, there is need to carry out mine survey in the fertile Hazamu plains and farming areas along the Mereb river.

Water supply and Sanitation:

Currently the population in the camps has access to safe water. However, in the villages they get water from unprotected shallow wells dug in dry river- beds. Most of these wells get washed away during the rainy season and are of poor quality. Diarrhea is the most common illness in these villages.

Sanitation facilities are only available in schools, health centers and civil administration facilities, which are destroyed as well. Local residents traditionally use the surrounding bush for sanitation. There is need to encourage construction of latrines in village in the area.

Health and Nutrition:

Malaria, Diarrhea and ARI are the common diseases in villages inhabited so far. There is no health facility in any of the villages visited. Residents walk 3-5 hours to the nearest health posts. Una Watot and surrounding villages walk to Tsorona health center - 20 km away before the war. Presently they go to Mai-Aini for health care, another 20 km distance. There is an urgent need to provide mobile clinics to the villages where the populations are returning.

Education:

There are only three villages with schools out of seven villages assessed. Their roofs are destroyed and doors and windows have been looted. Desks and blackboards have been taken as well. The remaining villages have no school and the children have to walk long distances to the nearest school.

Female Headed Households:

In Mai-Aini sub-region, the two villages visited, Medfa Wolta and Una Watot, 37% and 35% of the population live in female-headed households respectively, which is a significantly high number. Considering that these are agricultural areas, further assessments need to be done so that these women are provided with the necessary tools to be self-reliant.

Recommendations of immediate needs and tasks.

1. De-mining of the roads leading to and around the villages of Una Watot and Ksad Eka.

2. Provision of seeds (Sorghum, Maize, Millet, Peanuts, Chick peas and Teff) to the IDPs before they return to their respective villages. Mine survey of Agricultural land in Hazamu plain and along the Mereb river.

3. A one-time plowing of agricultural land in the areas above. This will encourage local food production in the area. Micro credit scheme to provide irrigation pumps and draught animals to farmers.

4. Provide plastic sheeting to be used as roofing materials to the population returning to villages and towns.

5. Establish mobile clinic for the returning population. Provision of basic drugs, medical equipment and personnel to the existing health facilities in the area.

6. Existing water supply wells and systems to be rehabilitated and protected to provide clean water to residents.

7. Provide school materials and desks to existing schools.

8. In order to ensure the smooth return of local populations, the civil administration buildings need to be rehabilitated to allow local authorities to provide services including registration, management of relief assistance and to provide law and order.

9. UNMEE/Government to ensure the security of local residents returning to villages and towns bordering the southern temporary security zone especially along the Mereb river.

10. The team recommends a more comprehensive sector assessment is required as soon as the TSZ is established in order to determine and address both the short and mid-term needs of the returning population.