ICC Humanitarian Update 30 Apr 2001


SUMMARY

Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) established on 18 April 2001. Rapid Village Assessment (RVA) in the TSZ conducted in Gash Barka Zone 2-5 April 2001 and ongoing in Debub Zone.

PEACE PROCESS

UNMEE announced the formal establishment of the TSZ on 18 April 2001, welcoming Eritrea's announcement on 16 April 2001 that the re-arrangement of its forces to the Northern boundary of the TSZ was complete. UNMEE in its statement reminded the parties of their obligation to create the conditions for the return of the population and the full respect of the population of their human rights, wherever their homes may be.

The establishment of the TSZ represents significant progress in the Ethiopian-Eritrean peace process and allows for the immediate restoration of civil administration and the return of IDPs in the areas of the TSZ. With the upcoming rainy seasons, it is imperative that returns occur in a safe manner and activities resume.

ASSESSMENTS

Rapid Assessment

Joint Rapid Village Assessment in the TSZ by Eritrean Relief and Refugee commission (ERREC), representatives of civil administration and UN agencies (OCHA, UNDP/PoWER, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNMEE), are ongoing. The objective of the assessment mainly was to collect base-line data within the TSZ, particularly areas previously inaccessible and to where large-scale returns are expected. Information was collected on sectoral lines and also included information on previous and current population figures.

Assessment in five sub-zones in Gash Barka, which fall in the TSZ (Gogne, Golij, Laelay Gash, Molki, and Shambiko) was conducted 2-5April 200. The findings highlight the need for immediate action, with special attention to the provision of safe water. It also noted that villages/towns close to the frontlines, where significant damage has been wrought, remain empty of former inhabitants. The.assessment.made.the.following.recommendations:


Intensification of Mine Action efforts

Copy of the report is available at ICC or icc@gemel.com.er

RVA have also been conducted in the sub-zones of Senafe, Maiaini and Adi-Quala in Debub Zone, 23-25 April 2001. (Reports will be available soon.) Red Sea Zone and Tsorona will be covered 30 April--02 May 2001 concluding RVA in the TSZ.

In planning for assessments in the TSZ, it was originally thought that once the TSZ was established and full access granted, a full comprehensive assessment would take place. Given the results of the RVAs it has been decided not to do this. Although the RVAs provide information on a limited number of villages, it is clear that there are urgent needs that should be addressed before conducting any additional assessments.

MSF-F Assessment

MSF-F has conducted assessment in Senafe sub-zone, Debub zone between 14 and 21 March 2001 covering food, health and nutrition and non-food items (NFI). The assessment noted that even though the household food supply was occasionally under-reported, all households were found to have some food from the food aid distributions. Regarding health and nutrition MSF-F has assessed the nutritional status of children under five during its household survey and found that for the whole sub-zone of Senafe out of 176 children under five seen in consultation, more than 50% have been screened for malnutrition, five have been found to have moderate malnutrition, and four including one from Senafe town were found to have sever malnutrition. As regard to Non-food items MSF-F noted that more than 95% of the families depend on wood as primary source of fuel, and 50% of the households use kerosene when available but among the NFI most consistently reported as needed were clothes and shoes. The full text of the report is available at ICC or MSF-F

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Exchange of Nationals

226 civilians Eritrean origin were repatriated from Ethiopia to Eritrea with the assistance of the ICRC on 10 April 2001. Between 30 March and 27 April 2001, ICRC repatriated 4,693 Ethiopians including one prisoner of war to Ethiopia.

IDPs

Preparation to repatriate IDPs to their villages/towns is under way and the first movement of IDPs took place mid-April. 7000 IDPs from Mekete Camp were successfully repatriated to their homes in Barentu and its environs with the assistance of UNHCR. ERREC has issued an appeal for USD $2 million to cover the cost of returning IDPs to their home communities. UNDP/PoWER and the Italian government have already pledged their support to assist in partially covering these costs, but further contributions are urgently requested from other humanitarian partners.

Repatriation from Sudan

Preparation is underway to repatriate 62,000 Eritrean refugees from Sudan this year. ERREC Commissioner Ms Hiwot Zemichael left Asmara on 27 April 2001 to start an information campaign in refugee camps, Sudan. The information campaign will give returnees up-to date information on the general situation in Eritrea, the modalities of repatriation and what awaits them up on their return. Soon after information campaign, registration will begin for those who wishing to return to Eritrea and actual repatriation is expected to start on the first half of May 2001. It has been noted that 71% of the returnees will be returned to Gash Barka Zone.

MINE ACTION

120 civil Eritrean deminers completed training provided by Danish Church Aid and funded by UNMEE, on 23 April 2001. They will begin work-clearing mines in the TSZ on 01 May 2001. An additional 72 diminers are undergoing training with HALO Trust and will be operational mid May. 50 deminers already trained by HALO Trust began manual and mechanical demining operations in the TSZ on 25 April 2001. To date, demining in the TSZ has been limited to UNMEE demining of routes and areas relating to their work. Now the first humanitarian demining has commenced. A mine threat assessment team comprising of representatives from HALO Trust, Danish Church Aid (DCA) and Eritrean Demining Agency (EDA) are working throughout the TSZ. Work started in Senafe on 18 April 2001. The survey was completed in Debub by the end of April and will continue into Gash Bark. Mine action in the TSZ remains hampered by the lack of detailed minefield maps, with only partial maps submitted by Ethiopian authorities.

MINE INCIDENTS

A number of mine incidents have been reported in the TSZ. On 6 April 2001 a mine/UXO detonator explosion in Senafe town, resulted in the loss of three fingers from the right hand of a 14-year-old boy. Two days latter, the explosion of an anti-personnel mine near Shambiko killed a herdsmen of 29 years old. On 11 April 2001, a ten-year-old boy was killed and a second sustained facial injuries and lost his right hand in a land mine explosion in the village of Giasha, near Embasoira, about 10 km north east of Senafe town. It was reported by MSF-F that on 13 April 2001 an anti-personnel mine exploded in Tisha village, North east of Senafe town, seriously injuring a 13 year old and 18 year old.

SECTORAL WORKING GROUPS (SWG)

The heads of the SWGs (line ministries and ERREC) and facilitators (UN agencies) held a meeting on 24 April 2001. The commissioner of ERREC and the UN resident Representative called up on SWGs to urgently convene meetings in order to prioritize and co-ordinate a rapid response to the findings of the Rapid Village Assessment involving all members of the humanitarian community. The SWGs were asked to submit their reports outlining priority needs in the TSZ and requirements to create an enabling environment for the return of IDPs to ERREC by 03 May 2001. These reports will form the basis for a General Humanitarian Co-ordination meeting that will be held on 05 May 2001.

Some changes have been made to SWGs. The Ministry of Agriculture will take chair of the food SWG (currently chaired by ERREC), which will become the food aid and food security SWG. WFP will remain the facilitator of this SWG. UNDP/PoWER will replace UNHCR as facilitator of the shelter and NFI SWG.

NGO NEWS

MSF-F has announced they will phase out their programmes in Eritrea within a few weeks. MSF-F actively supported the IDPs in Eritrea since the beginning of the emergency (June/July 2000) in co-operation with the Ministry of Heath. A phase out strategy with transition of responsibilities to the MoH is under way.

Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) has made 457 home visits and 31hospital visits to land mine survivors between July 2000 and March 2001.

LSN links survivors to local resources and has facilitated the provision of crutches to 20 survivors and wheel chairs to 14 survivors. Where there are no local resources available, LSN provides direct assistance. LSN works under the legal umbrella of Eritrean National Youth and Students Assossiation. For further info on LSN activities please contact LSN through tel. 184355, e-mail lsn_erit@gemel.com.er

SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SWG MEETINGS

Date

SWG

Time

Venue

02.05.2001

Food

16.00

WFP

03.05.2001

Health

15.00

MoH

04.05.2001

WatSan

08.30

WRD *

05.05.2001

General.Co-ordination Meeting

10.00

Selam Hotel

15.05.2001

Non-food

10.30

ERREC

16.05.2001

Mine Awareness

14.30

UNMACC

Education

Will be communicated as soon as scheduled

*Water Resource Department meeting hall. Tel.120404.

For further information relating to the ICC Update please contact ICC Information officer Sirak Gebrehiwot
Tel: 182923, 185154 or email icc@gemel.com.er

Information Co-ordination Centre, a joint ERREC/UN venture to facilitate humanitarian interventions in Eritrea