Summary

Population movements are the main issue this week. There are new internal population movements from near the Ethiopian border requiring the establish of a new camp. At the same time, ERREC state the total number of refugees who went to Sudan after May 12th was 50,000, not 95,000, the figure commonly used. The majority have already returned, but reintegration remains a challenge.

1. Population Movements

1.1 Repatriation from Sudan

This week's repatriation saw the return of 264 individuals (92 families), bringing the total since July 25th (start of the organized repatriation) to 22,263 individuals (6,637 families), according to UNHCR. [Repatriations take place each Thursday.] The main areas of resettlement, from 25 sites of return, are Guluj (2,027), Tessenei (1,294), Tebeldia (1,062) and Gergef (1,033).

An ERREC press release from August 26th stated that the repatriation program was successfully nearing completion, noting that 24,000 people had been voluntarily repatriated through the tri-partite agreement between UNHCR and the governments of Sudan and Eritrea, with an additional 25,000 having returned spontaneously. ERREC noted that the previous figure of 95,000 Eritrean refugees having gone over into Sudan after the resumption of hostilities on May 12th was overestimated. ERREC estimates the number of refugees who went to Sudan after May 12th at 50,000.

Note: The disparity in figures for organized returns (approx. 1,800) is due to the fact that UNHCR record refugee returns from the recent May 12th hostilities, whereas ERREC record all returning refugees, including those from previous periods.

1.2 IDP Movements

New Camp Established

ERREC reports people are fleeing the Endeli and Alha administrative environs in the sub-region of Gelalo, where there are reports of the burning and destruction of houses. A new camp has been established in the Northern Red Sea zone to accommodate an estimated 3,000 IDPs now on the move from areas near the Ethiopian border. The new camp is tentatively called Boya (south of Foro) and is currently hosting approximately 400 IDPs. At the moment, the remaining IDPs are believed to be scattered in the mountains. Shelter, food and household items have been delivered to the new camp, but requirements remain in the sectors of health and WatSan.

Movement Out of Senafe

Approximately 40 individuals arrived in Alba during this week from the Senafe zone (including separated children), according to the Director General of Social Services in Debub, Mr. Kaleab Haile. Those arriving from Senafe, 23-25th August, report confiscation of livestock and property, as well as 30 house burnings, 5 disappearances and 2 killings.

Separated Children

An interagency team, including UNICEF, SCF-UK, UNHCR, Eritrean Red Cross/Red Crescent Society and the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare, is currently readying a report on children separated from their families since the outbreak of hostilities on May 12th. [In general, there are two categories of separated children: those who were separated while outside of the home when the conflict started, thus scattered away from their families; and those who continue to be sent away by their families due to security concerns.] The greatest number of separated children are accommodated in Harena camp and children continue to arrive in IDP camps having fled Senafe sub-zone. [Significant numbers of separated children are also being accomodated in Alba and Adi Keshi camps.] The ages and numbers of unaccompanied children in Harena camp are:

Age Number
6 - 9 58
10 - 14 367
15 - 18 897
Total 1,322

A further 526 are living in child-headed households in Harena camp. Mr. Kaleab Haile notes that these minors require additional assistance beyond that typically offered to IDPs, including help in cooking, counselling, and the creation of a stable environment.

2. Drought

The Rapid Assessment Mission Regarding Drought-Affected Areas of Anseba and Northern Red Sea Zones, 16-19th August, will be available next week. The preliminary conclusion of the mission in which UNICEF, the Ministry of Local Government, ERREC and OCHA participated is that there is "little likelihood there will be any significant harvest for this year as a result of inadequate rains this season."

3. Health Concerns

MSF-F have mobile teams operating in the valleys between Adi Keih and through south of Zula camp, providing health care to isolated and remote communities hosting IDPs. In these areas MSF-F note that the health situation is deteriorating, particularly with an increased incidence rate of diarrhea and dysentery, as well as acute respiratory infections in higher regions and malaria in lower regions. Due to problems of accessibility, only limited humanitarian assistance is reaching these communities.

Diarrhea has become the number one source of morbidity in Alba camp. MSF-H is working on reducing the rate of incidence, but additional resources are always welcome. Due to population densities, the same situation is feared in Harena (which has already reported significant increases in incident rates, with reported incidences of shigelosis), Adi Keshi and Mekete. A full report is available at the MoH in the CDC (tel. 20 20 47).

Malaria is also on the increase in the so-called "malaria belt" of the country stretching along the southern border and to the west over into the Gash region of Gash-Barka, affecting such areas as Tserona, Mai Aini, Molki, Korokon, Koytobia, Gergef and Tebeldia. The MoH is in the process of distributing some 70,000 bed nets and an anti-malaria campaign is underway. However, the results of these efforts are thus far unknown.

Conference on Malaria: A conference on malaria prevention was held in Massawa at the end of the week. The conference is an annual event.

Association for Participation in Development (APS) returned from an assessment trip along the Mendefera - Barentu road late this week and reported that Dembe Doran has no health facilities, problems with water supply and a serious shortage of non-food items. It was reported that the ICRC are supplying water by tanker on a daily basis, however access to sufficient water per person remains an area of concern.

Health Report on Mekete Camp

SCF-UK led a survey on nutrition July 10 - 15th with the MoH, IMC and UNICEF in Mekete camp in the Northern Red Sea Zone. A full report will be available next week from both SCF-UK and ICC.

The preliminary findings show total global malnutrition for under 5's at 7.7%. [A malnutrition rate of 10% in a stable camp triggers an emergency response.] Malnutrition rates in Mekete camp vary in different geographical areas of the camp and the report seeks to analyse and address the reasons for this.

The population of the camp when the survey was carried out was 24,600 [population today stands at 28,000] and under 5's should typically represent 20% of that population. However, under 5's instead represented 30%, showing that camp demographics are skewed.

Other News

UoA Economic Impact Report: On Wednesday, August 23rd, the University of Asmara held a presentation on the economic impact on war-affected areas in Eritrea. Field surveys were carried out in Gash-Barka and Debub, though it should be noted that access was not possible in all areas due to security concerns. In Gash-Barka, it was determined that farming households were hardest hit, mostly in the form of loss of livestock. In Debub, however, urban households were hardest hit. Total estimated loss is put at Nkf 6 billion (approximately USD 660 million). The total loss is based on original cost price and not replacement costs. In addition, the study focused on the economic impact of the war, not the human impact. The impact on rural poor coping strategies is likely to be far higher than the monetary value placed on losses incurred.

Rehabilitation: Whilst the emergency is not over, a number of agencies are already looking at medium-term and rehabilitation strategies. UNDP is currently working on a Rehabilitation Program for War-Affected Areas. The program is foreseen to bridge the gap between immediate emergency needs and future development needs of the war-affected areas and will benefit from a donation through the Cooperazione Italiana and UNDP funds for emergency and post-conflict rehabilitation.

UNIFEM: Two UNIFEM (UN Development Fund for Women) consultants from Nairobi completed a 3-day fact-finding mission in Eritrea this week. UNIFEM is assessing potential interventions, including income-generation and trauma counselling for women. UNIFEM is also working closely with the Ministry of Justice. The justice system is currently under review in Eritrea and UNIFEM are assisting from a gender perspective. UNIFEM are also considering paralegal education for women.

IOM: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) were here this week on a fact-finding mission with a view to setting up an office.

A Halo Trust team of 5 carried out a preliminary assessment in Tessenei, Barentu and Guluj areas to determine which areas will need the most attention in relation to the planned deployment of UN peacekeepers. The team reported that 3 of their members will remain in Eritrea while 2 had been called to Ethiopia for similar activities.

UNMEE activities are picking up speed with two flights of equipment having arrived this week. It was also decided that UNMEE and the Eritrean Commission for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Force would share joint offices.

INGOs: There are now 31 registered INGOs with ERREC. There continues to be a number of new INGOs arriving for fact-finding and assessment missions. The ECHO representative will be in Eritrea next week and a number of INGOs are hoping for funding commitments.

Sectoral Working Groups

Education: DANIDA will fund the reconstruction of 21 schools, one office and 6 toilets in Gash-Barka and Debub zones.

The MoE will print 1.4 million textbooks locally for 210,000 war-affected students. Funding is through UNICEF, DANIDA and others.

UNICEF has funded the construction of 20 makeshift classrooms in Harena camp, with 20 others to begin construction next week in Dige. The distribution of furniture for 423 teachers in camp schools is on-going, while the procurement of 100 classroom size tents, and of basic writing materials is proceeding. 3,500 locally made desks are also currently being manufactured.

Ockenden International carried out a reconstruction assessment in Guluj and has decided to support the scheme.

Food: WFP supplied 3,745 MT of food (217,531 war-affected beneficiaries) in Debub, Gash-Barka and Mekete camp, with an additional 1,819 MT (35,465 drought-affected beneficiaries) in NRSZ and Anseba zone during the week.

Concern was expressed by the SWG on the delayed food distribution in Mensura, Jejah and other areas.

Concern was also expressed on the lack of supplementary food distribution and the subsequent effect of malnutrition among children.

Health and Nutrition: The MoH conducted a series of meetings with health workers in the IDP camps on methods of reporting regularly on notifiable diseases, the health interventions they are supposed to carry out and to help with coordination.

For more information, see "Health Concerns" elsewhere in this update.

Shelter: ERREC and UNHCR have begun distribution of shelter and household items in Debub based on the ERREC fact-finding mission last week. A total of 1,200 family tents, 5,543 plastic sheets, 63,592 blankets, 6,569 kitchen sets and assorted clothing, water barrels, and jerrycans will have been distributed in 15 distribution centers.

A joint ERREC/UNHCR needs assessment team visited Gash-Barka August 17-22nd, visiting 14 sites. The outcome is expected soon. Generally, a preference was expressed for tents over plastic sheets, which cannot withstand the extremely windy climate of the area.

WatSan: The SWG were informed that water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities are registering progress generally

Update Meeting Schedule

All SWG have moved to fortnightly meetings, with the exception of WatSan.

Education: Thursdays 10.30 at the Ministry of Education
next meeting: September 7th

Food: Tuesdays 15.00 at UNDP
next meeting: September 5th

Health: Thursdays 15.00 at the Ministry of Education
next meeting: September 7th

Shelter: Tuesdays 10.00 at the Selam Hotel
next meeting: September 5th

WatSan: Fridays 08.30 at UNICEF (weekly)

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