EMBARGOED TO THE MEDIA UNTIL TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2003, 1100 HRS NEW YORK TIME

Eritrea

CONSOLIDATED APPEAL

SUMMARY

Emergency continues

An estimated 1.7 million people are unlikely to be able to feed themselves in Eritrea in 2004, and will face a humanitarian catastrophe unless they receive assistance.

A similar number have been affected by water shortages. Eritrea has suffered four years of drought. Rains in 2003 were below average and erratic, resulting in crop failure and loss of livestock.

In 2003, Eritrea will have produced about 20 per cent of its annual food needs, and the Government lacks economic means to fill the gap.

Both the drought and the border conflict with Ethiopia have eroded household coping mechanisms and safety nets that would normally prevent starvation.

This has left two thirds of the population living below the poverty line.

Due to this, the emergency need for 75,000 IDPs and expellees, living in and outside camps, remains a priority.

In addition, over 186,000 IDPs who have recently returned as well as approximately 35,000 refugees in Sudan expected to return will require humanitarian assistance.

Malnutrition rates, both acute and chronic, remain unacceptably high. Current levels demand blanket supplementary feeding for children aged under five.

Malnutrition in women of reproductive age has risen in all provinces to unacceptable levels. This increases risks of maternal morbidity and mortality, which are already high.

Many communities lack access to potable water, posing a major threat to people's health and lives.

Framework for saving lives

The Eritrea CAP 2004 provides a framework for life saving assistance in the context of a continuing emergency, resulting from recurrent drought, border conflict with Ethiopia, and a high level of poverty.
Projects and activities in the 2004 CAP are focused on:

• Saving lives and preventing malnutrition and its impact on human and child development through famine prevention, provision of adequate food, health and nutritional care, and water/sanitation services
• Providing assistance to and supporting the safety, protection, return and sustainable reintegration of refugees, displaced persons and expellees
• Strengthening the coping mechanisms and traditional social safety nets of the most vulnerable households, through community based programmes and technical support in areas of food security
• Strengthening the capacity of the Government, UN agencies and NGOs to better target the use of resources, so programmes and resources reach those most in need.

Request

Humanitarian partners in Eritrea are appealing for a total of US$ 147,239,028.

Funding Requirements in 2004
(US$)