Summary
Updated IDP figures are available and reflect the movement of IDPs and
camp residents to their homes. As yet it is undecided how to classify
all areas of return as not all people have been able to go home
although they have gone back to their areas of ori-gin. This month will
see the arrival of additional UNMEE Military Observers and next
fortnight (19 September) should see the UN Security Council pass a
resolution on the deployment of peacekeepers.
Population Movements
Repatriation from Sudan
Organised repatriation of Eritrean refugees from Sudan is ongoing on a
weekly basis. The total num-ber of returnees as of 3 September is
23,881 persons (7158 families). The last organised return took place on
3 September in which 364 people left camps in Sudan. Although there
were no people wanting to return the following week (7 September)
organised repatriation will be available each Thursday to assist those
wishing to return. (Note - there has been a sudden jump in figures not
in line with the reduced numbers of returns. This is a result of more
accurate figures that are being collected at the reception centres
rather than those on the mani-fests to leave Sudan which were the
figures previously used.)
The return of other Eritrean refugees in Sudan (those prior to May
2000) is not forgotten. A similar tri-partite arrangement between the
Sudanese and Eritrean Governments and UNHCR was reached 7 April 2000 to
repatriate 160,000 Eritrean refugees in Sudan. However, plans were not
implemented due to the conflict. Con-cerned parties are assessing
whether the situation is con-ducive to promote repatriation of this
group.
IDP movements
IDPs in camps and IDP return figures have been updat-ed by ERREC. There
are currently 22 occupied IDP camps situated in Debub, Gash-Barka and
the Northern Red Sea Zones with a total population of 210,000 per-sons.
Dige (Gash-Barka) camp emptied in August and the last two weeks have
seen the emptying of Girmaika (Gash-Barka) and Adi Ketina (Debub). In
all three cases, IDPs have spontaneously returned home. A further 1,500
IDPs returned to their homes in the Barentu area from Mekete Camp
(Afabet sub-zone) during the past two weeks. ERREC provided
transportation.
The Local Government and ERREC plan to relocate all 7,800 residents of
Zula camp (Debub) to Soyra camp (Debub) starting 9 September 2000.
There have been concerns about accessibility to Zula and these are
com-pounded by the need for children to attend school and increased
respiratory infections as the weather cools in the mountainous area of
Zula. Soyra (current popula-tion 20,000) offers better humanitarian
services and is close to Adi Keih town.
In Adi Keshi there was substantial shelter damage in late August
following torrential rains and winds. Additional shelter facilities
were immediately sent to the camp by ERREC. IDPs continue to arrive
from Agaro area and therefore shelter remains a priority.
IDP returns reflect a confidence in the status quo relating to the
security situation and the need for families to return to their land
and salvage agricultural activities. Although it is a positive
development many of those returning home are in need of reconstruction
assistance and household items. Furthermore, food aid needs are
continuing.
Agriculture
The Ministry of Agriculture hopes to publish figures indicating the
percentage of agricultural activity this year in the next weeks. In
early August, they estimated that only 38 percent of normal
agricultural activity had occurred by that time of year. As the rains
come to an end this month, this figure can be updated and estima-tions
for the harvest can be calculated. This will be a major indicator on
food security, not just in the war-affected areas but also the
drought-affected areas and therefore food aid requirements.
Drought
Two visits are planned during September relating to the drought.
Catherine Bertini, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Drought in
the Horn of Africa will visit Kenya and Ethiopia to review the cur-rent
situation and raise attention to ongoing regional humanitarian needs
and funding requirements. (Ms Bertini visited Eritrea in April 2000.)
Executive Director of FAO, Jacques Diouf, in his capacity as
Chairperson of the Inter-agency Task Force on the UN Response to
Long-term Food Security, Agricultural Development and related Aspects
in the Horn of Africa, will visit Eritrea 15-16 September. The Task
Force will help in the development of country plans to address the
latest crisis in which 13 million people in the Horn of Africa face
acute food shortages and the threat of famine.
Micro-Credit
A number of agencies are starting to plan beyond the emergency relief phase.
One of the areas of rehabilitation activities that is being assessed is that
of credit. Credit and loan schemes (separate from grants that are not paid back)
require detailed planning and implementation. It is proposed that a meeting
be held to bring together all those agencies planning such activities, with
representatives of the government to set common guidelines and policy relating
to credit and loans. More details to follow in next update.
UNMEE
As outlined in previous Updates, UNMEE is deploying in three phases. Phase I
is completed with the establishment of two Military Liaison Offices and the
deployment of ten Liaison Officers. Phase II is the deployment of 100 Military
Observers (MILOBS), 50 in each country. Deployment will take place in two stages.
The first stage is the arrival of 20 MILOBS in each country 14-17 September.
The sec-ond stage will be the deployment of the remaining MILOBS. Phase III
is the deployment of 4,2000 troops and an additional 125 MILOBS.
In both Ethiopia and Eritrea there will be three sectors where MILOB teams will
be co-located with the host nation military. In Eritrea the sectors are as follows:
* Sector 1 Barentu
* Sector 2 Adi Keih and Adi Quala (to be confirmed)
* Sector 3 Assab
Other News
A World Bank Team is currently in Asmara (2 - 14 September) to develop
final details in collaboration with the Government of Eritrea for their
Emergency Reconstruction Programme for Eritrea. The pro-gramme is a
multi-sector response to the recent crisis.
As of September the ICC Update will move from a weekly publication to a
fortnightly one. ICC plans to produce focus papers in the interim weeks
covering specific issues relating to the humanitarian context.
Mine Action
A new sectoral meeting group has started dealing with mine relat-ed
issues. The meeting is fortnightly, chaired by the Mine Action
Co-ordi-nation Centre (MACC), and is held in the UNMEE offices (Adulis
Printing Compound - behind the Intercontinental Hotel). Next meet-ing
is 14 September at 14.30. All agencies who are involved in mine related
activities or are planning such activities are invited to attend the
meeting.
Agency News
Following a fact-finding mis-sion, Care International will launch a
programme in Eritrea. Team leader Lockton Morrissey arrives in Asmara
September 9th.
Oxfam Belgium has a represen-tative in Eritrea to design a pro-gramme.
Oxfam Belgium has a shipment of supplementary foods (CSB, milk powder
and sugar) and may develop a seeds programme. Contact R (Mike) Van
Hauwermeiren, Sunshine Hotel during September.
CordAid also has a representative on a one month (September) fact
find-ing mission. Contact Aart van der Heide, Savanah Hotel.
A Caritas International Support Team (CIST) is in place to support the
Eritrean Catholic Secretariat (ErCS). The CIST currently compris-es
Catholic Relief Services and Cafod.
Sectoral Working Groups (SWG)
Education
The education meeting was cancelled by the Ministry of Educa-tion.
Food
The food situation is stable at the moment with a strong pipeline of
staple foods through to the end of 2000. However, there are concerns
that there are no pledges for next year as yet.
Health
In general the diseases that exist in IDP camps are consistent with the
climate and conditions and are not seen to be alarming. Shigellosis is
evident in Herana and Mekete. The MoH is currently investigating the
causes of the outbreak so as to stem further cases. Mosquito nets are
being distributed free to residents in IDP camps and returnees but
there remains a shortage of nets.
The MoH will investigate concerns about levels of malnutrition among
children in Mekete camp and the lack of distribution of supplemen-tary
foods. Mekete camp is one of the largest camps in Eritrea (23,455).
Shelter & Non-Food Items (NFI)
The SWG prepared detailed informa-tion on prioritised needs and gaps in
the Gash-Barka Zone. Key require-ment needs are shelter kits (5,500),
blankets (76,500), clothing, house-hold items and mosquito nets
(50,000). This follows a similar exer-cise conducted by ERREC and UNHCR
in Debub in August and which has led to improved targeting and
distribution of shelter and NFI items. (The detailed plan of
require-ments by sub-zones is available from UNHCR and the ICC.)
In Harena camp, some 500 families are currently accommodated in the
Technical School compound. The school is due to resume in October and
alternative accommodation (500 family tents) is required.
Despite the improvements outlined above the SWG noted that some
agencies are conducting distri-butions without co-ordination. There are
concerns that some agencies may have stocks available that ERREC and
the SWG are not aware of, stocks which could be directed to camps or
areas of return where there are pressing needs.
WatSan
The planned movement of camps is of concern to the WatSan SWG. Movement
of camps affects all SWGs and the provision of humanitarian support,
however, the impact on WatSan is significant as services require high
investment. Therefore, the WatSan SWG have called upon the government
and ERREC to pro-vide timely information to ensure an efficient
transfer of camps and to avoid wasted investments in camps slated to
move.
The WatSan SWG decided to reduce their meetings to fortnightly. Now all
SWG meetings are held on a fort-nightly basis. Next meeting, 22
September, 08.30 at UNICEF.
Displaced Persons in Camps in Eritrea
Information Co-ordination Centre ICC
Contact People:
Yemane Tekleyohannes, ERREC
Tanya Power-Stevens, OCHA
tel. 18 51 54/18 20 84 fax. 18 26 44
e-mail: icc@gemel.com.er