SUMMARY
The situation remains stable in Eritrea with no major population movements reported during the last two weeks. Preparations are underway for the annual needs assessment and a UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 2001.

POPULATION MOVEMENTS
Repatriation from Sudan
Organised repatriation takes place weekly on Thursdays. During the past two weeks, 60 people returned, bringing the total number of repatriated Eritrean refugees to 24,125. The programme remains demand driven. There are plans for the governments of Sudan and Eritrea, and UNHCR to review the programme at the end of October.

IDPs
There have been no major population movements in the last two weeks. Local government and ERREC are considering the location of a number of camps, particularly large camps such as Adi Keshi that may be broken. Resettlement for rural deportees in Jeja camp is also being reconsidered (plans were shelved with the May offensive). As the camp hosts only rural deportees, the camp would close once they have been resettled, possibly in Shelab

UMHAJER
Following the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Umhajer, 21 September, three missions have been to the area. A joint humanitarian mission (ERREC, ICC/OCHA, UNHCR and USAID) and a mine survey mission (HALO Trust) went on 28 September. Currently Umhajer is depopulated as it has been since May 2000 (Umhajer is just 2 km from the Ethiopian border as the crow flies), there has been extensive destruction of homes, infrastructure and religious buildings, and there is the threat of landmines which is currently not quantifiable. Eritrean forces are currently demining and therefore civilians are not permitted to return. (Copies of the two reports are available at the ICC.)

Eritrean NGO, Citizens for Peace in Eritrea (CPE) also visited Umhajer where they conducted detailed interviews with 3 of the 4 elderly people (one man died it is not known how) who did not leave the town when it was evacuated and remained there throughout the Ethiopian occupation. CPE are documenting human rights abuses relating to the conflict and are particularly concerned about the situation of Eritreans currently living in Ethiopian occupied territories.
CONSOLIDATED APPEAL WORKSHOP
A two-day workshop was held, 3-4 October, on the UN Inter-Agency Appeal Process (CAP). As noted in the previous ICC Update, a UN Inter-Agency Appeal will be launched in 2001.as opposed to a UN Country Team Appeal (UNCTA). It will not be possible to conclude the assessments and prepare the Eritrea appeal by November for the global launch (due to the timing of the rainy season and agricultural planting). Therefore, a preliminary document will be included in the global launch to alert donors to the needs in Eritrea and then the final document will be launched in early January 2001.
The workshop aimed to outline the CAP to participants and promote discussion on issues such as potential scenarios for 2001, a humanitarian strategy and areas of humanitarian priority. It was attended by a cross-section of the humanitarian community including UN agencies, donors, NGOs, Red Cross and government representatives.

2000 Appeal
SIDA (Sweden) has funded two FAO projects through the UNCTA appeal. Totalling over $ 0.5 million the two projects represent approximately 50% of the funding request for FAO for the year. One project is the distribution of 10,000 chickens (six-weeks old and vaccinated) and 50kg of feed to rural deportees in Jeja camp. The second is for seeds and tools targeting 20,000 returning beneficiaries in the Debub and Gash-Barka zones. SIDA has also announced a pledge of $158,000 to support OCHA co-ordination activities in Eritrea. Updated financial tracking (September 2000) will be available by mid-October.

ANNUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENTS
Planning for annual needs assessments is continuing. In preparation there will be two 5-day workshops conducted by WFP in Food Economy Assessment methodology. Participants are field-based staff from UN agencies, ERREC and various ministries, and NGOs. As noted in the previous ICC Update, field assessments will be regionally based, conducted by multi-sectoral assessment teams comprising key partners and stakeholders in the humanitarian community. It is planned that each team will have at least one person who has attended the WFP workshop.
It is proposed that the assessment period will be between 30 October and 15 November, followed by one week to prepare reports. The regional reports will then be consolidated and form the basis of the Appeal for 2001.

AGRICULTURE
Figures for agricultural activity for 2000 are available. This year 140,117 ha have been sown compared to 468,344 ha in 1999. This represents a loss of 60% in planting and as yet it is too early to predict the yield which is likely to be lower than normal due to the poor rains this year. The areas most affected are Debub (35,000 ha compared to 128,000 ha in 1999) and Gash-Barka (25,000 ha compared to 215,000 ha in 1999).

ECHO OPENS OFFICE
ECHO now has permanent representation in Eritrea. Mr Damian Berrendorf arrived 5 October and will initially be based in the European Union Office, 55-57 Gainer St (near the ex Peace Corps Office), Asmara and can be contacted on 12 65 66 or via email eudeleri@eu.er.punchdown.org. Up until now, there have been regular visits to Eritrea by ECHO's representative in Khartoum. The opening of an office reflects ECHO's ongoing investment in Eritrea. So far this year ECHO has funded six projects totalling Euro 2.5 million, plus Euro 2.7 million in 1999 and 2.1 million in 1998.
The EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Poul Nielsen, is touring the horn of Africa and will be in Asmara 7-9 October.

SECOND ROUND OF UNMEE DEPLOYMENT
The second round of UNMEE Military Observers (MILOBs) deployment is planned for the third week of October. (The first MILOBs deployed in Asseb and Menda [Ethiopia] on 23 September.) The remaining 40 MILOBs (20 in each country) are due to arrive and complete training in the second week of October. This completes the full complement of 100 MILOBs, 50 on either side of the border. The next stage will be the deployment of 4,200 UN peacekeepers as set out in UN Security Resolution 1320 (15 September 2000). As yet there is no fixed time for this. The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) to head UNMEE has been announced, Mr Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, currently Botswana Ambassador to the UN.

SEPARATED CHILDREN IN IDP CAMPS
A joint Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare, UNICEF and SCF (UK) report on the situation of separated children in IDP camps was released at the end of September. Assessments were conducted in six IDP camps in Debub and Gash-Barka where 3,092 separated children were identified (the majority in Harena camp). The majority, 2,750, are living in child-headed households, others are with neighbours or families previously unknown to them. In Debub it was noted that there were increasing numbers of very young children fleeing their homes in occupied areas which has raised concern and needs to be closely monitored.
The main issues are those of special needs and protection. The report's recommendations include:
· the appointment of a focal person dedicated to child protection issues in each camp,
· follow-up and further assessments,
· strengthening of local coping mechanisms,
· psycho-social support,
· flexible education to reflect the changing circumstances of children,
· the provision of appropriate assistance for reintegration and return to their homes at a time when this is possible

The inter-agency Child Protection Working Group will continue to act as the focal co-ordination for all child protection activities and follow up the recommendations of the report. The theme 'children in need of special protection measures' will be a theme running through the annual needs assessment process.

SECTORAL WORKING GROUPS (SWG)
Education
No meeting. Education remains a challenge with the start of the new academic year, not just in terms of physical infrastructure and materials but also in the ability to catch up lost time at the end of the last academic year.
Food
ERREC provided the SWG with detailed figures for food distribution in September and planned distribution for October. A total of 21,500 MT was distributed, the majority in Debub and Gash-Barka.
Food Distributions in Eritrea, September 2000
COMMODITIES (MT)
ZONES/ZOBAS WHEAT FLOUR OIL PULSES HEBHPB MILKDMK SUGAR SALT TOTAL
ANSEBA 525 - 53 - - - - 578
DEBUB 6783 449 727 6 33 289 48 8335
GASH BARKA 6181 371 494 - - - 62 7108
SOUTHERN RED SEA 35 2 3 - - - - 40
NORTHERN RED SEA 1365 68 134 - 40 14 14 1635
MAEKEL 3310 165 331 - - - - 3806
TOTAL 18,200 1,056 1.742 6 73 303 124 21,502

Health
The Ministry of Health (MoH) released their report on the condition of Health facilities in Gash-Barka and Debub. The report follows an assessment in July 2000. It outlines the financial costs of repairing damage sustained during and following the recent conflict, which totals US$ 5.7 million. This does not include health facilities in occupied areas where the assessment could not be conducted. In response, the MoH has called on agencies to take part in the rehabilitation programme (ICRC is committed to rehabilitating the hospital in Tessanei). To facilitate the rehabilitation programme, the MoH is assigning areas to agencies. Movi Mondo is preparing project proposals for Guluj sub-zone and CESVI/ESCA for Molki sub-zone.

National polio immunisation will take place 14/15 October and be followed by a second round one month later. Agencies are invited to participate, especially those with transport facilities, and help work towards the goal to eradicate polio worldwide by 2005.
Micro-Credit/Grants

A detailed brief of the ACORD micro-finance programme was given at the meeting. ACORD started their programmes in 1993/4 and is currently focused in 10 sub-zones in Debub, in reaching 11,000 people with funding of Nf 20,000. The programme is currently expanding into Maekel. In addition, ACORD has a training component and can run 3-4 week theoretical and practical training courses. For more details contact Dr Hasebenabi, tel. 18 42 72.
A discussion then followed on the differences between micro credit and finance. It was noted that paying back a loan does not necessarily reflect success and in some cases micro-credit can cause dependency. Micro-finance on the other hand should have a savings and ultimately investment component. In this way, programmes can economically empower people. Minutes of the meeting are available from the ICC

Mine Action
Background information concerning mine incidents (involving civilians - mine accidents are related specifically to those working in the demining profession) was provided the Eritrean Demining Programme (EDP). Between August 1998 and July 1999 there were 17 deaths, 20 people seriously wounded and a further 11 people lightly wounded.

The EDP announced that they had received information that Ethiopian forces have begun demining in areas controlled by them in Eritrea around Senafe.
Agencies involved in mine action noted the general lack of maps available in Eritrea is a serious impediment to their work.
Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI)

The last two weeks have focused on the collection of up to date information about NFI distributed and in the pipeline. The shelter and NFI SWG focuses on a spreadsheet detailing distributions and items in the pipeline. It was noted that more information from the field could be shared in the meeting and this is planned for the future.

ICRC requested distribution reports since the beginning of the current crisis to date. ERREC have committed to provide this by the end of 2000.
The time of the meeting has been changed to 11.00 so as not to break the morning. Next meeting 17 October, 11.00 hours at Salem Hotel.
Water and Sanitation (WatSan)

Some 100 hygiene promoters have been trained by a variety of NGOs and agencies under the auspices of the MoH. The hygiene promoters are working in IDP camps and are themselves IDP residents in camps. The issue of payment of the hygiene promoters has arisen. Traditionally in Eritrea, community based services are paid for by the community and not by the government. However, displacement and the establishment of IDP camps have disrupted this and payment of the hygiene promoters is therefore an issue. In some cases hygiene promoters have been paid by agencies that trained them in others there is no payment at all. The SWG has therefore requested the MoH to prepare guidelines for the hygiene promoters with standardised rates of pay.

One of the main areas of education has been in the use of latrines both for general hygiene and to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in IPD camps. There continue to be new latrines built in IDP camps

One new case of Shigellosis has been confirmed in Adi Keshi camp. Up until now Shigellosis was confined to Harena and Alba. Despite this new case, the MoH believes the outbreak is under control and September saw a dramatic reduction in the number of diarrhoea cases in Alba. Reports in September that there was Shigellosis in Deda camp were incorrect. There were 40 cases of bloody diarrhoea among children but these tested negative for Shigellosis. The diarrhoea was linked to the local water supply, which has been severely overstreched due to the IDP camp (see ICC Update 14 September). In response, MSF-Holland began delivering 21,000 litres of clean water daily on 3 October. This is a short-term emergency response whilst a more permanent solution is found. In general the average amount of clean water provided per person per day in the IDP camps is 6-7 litres. This reflects the basic minimum but still falls below the humanitarian standards of 15 lt. for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

NGO NEWS
Advocacy focused NGO, Refugees International, returned to Eritrea for the month of October.
French-based NGO, Premier Urgence will visit Eritrea for a month in October on a fact-finding mission.
In general the number of INGOs arriving in Eritrea has stabilised. There were a number of new agencies visiting in August and early September. This has now petered out and the number of INGOs registered with ERREC is 32 of which 30 are operational in Eritrea. In addition, there is one INGO awaiting registration (Eritrean Development Foundation) and two INGOs on fact-finding missions (Oxfam Belgium and Premier Urgence.)
Information & Co-ordination Center (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
ICC, a joint ERREC/UN venture to facilitate the humanitarian intervention in Eritrea