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5 December 2002 by Lloyd Njue in Nairobi Even at the best of times, the vast majority of Eritreans live close to subsistence levels, often resorting to casual labour and selling of wood fuel to feed their families. This year, the siutation is much worse. About 1.4 million people, or more than one third of the population, require emergency food aid due to the severe drought that has hit the Horn of Africa. The drought, the worst since independence in 1993, is the result of the near total failure of consecutive rainy seasons since October 2001. This year, most regions of Eritrea received less than 25 per cent of the average rainfall, which has severely affected harvests and the availability of drinking water. Cereal production is at its lowest level since independence nine years ago, and will only cater for 15 per cent of the country's food needs, according to United Nations agencies. Livestock, too, have been hard hit. In some regions, up to 20 per cent of animals are reported to have died of starvation. "People are selling off their livestock at throwaway prices to buy food. They realize that if they don't dispose of them, the animals will certainly die of starvation', says Alganesh Kidane, Secretary-General of the Eritrea Red Cross (ERCS). She says the situation in most parts of the country is "grave". The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an international appeal for nearly 8 million Swiss francs, (just over US$ 5million), to enable the ERCS to assist one of the worst affected regions in Eritrea. The operation will be focused on the Anseba Zoba, a province situated northwest of the capital, Asmara. The ERCS will distribute food and provide health, water and sanitation services to 41,500 people for nine months. Anseba is on of the most drought-prone regions of Eritrea, and one which faces recurrent food security crises. "With prices skyrocketing beyond the reach of ordinary folks, it is the most vulnerable Eritreans that suffer the impact of the present drought," says Frank Dewez, the Federation's representative in Asmara. "Signs of anaemia and malnutrition are already visible, especially in children." Many Eritreans are only able to get one meal a day and have resorted to eating wild fruits like cactus berries, which are dangerous to human health. NGO workers say evidence of malnutrition and an upsurge of water borne diseases have been reported in many areas. The ERCS says that in three provinces - Anseba, Southern and Northern Red Sea - nearly 19 per cent of children exhibit clear signs of body weight loss and are increasing getting emaciated. Eritrea, which is just recovering from more than 30 years of conflict with neighbouring Ethiopia, has a weak industrial and agricultural base, poor health and educational facilities, and a badly damaged infrastructure. Eritrea's neighbour, Ethiopia, has also been badly hit by the drought. There, some 14 million people are expected to be in need of food assistance by early next year. The International Federation has launched an appeal for over 16 million Swiss francs (US$ 10.8 million) for Ethiopia. Related links: Eritrea: appeals, updates and reports Ethiopia: appeals, updates and reports Make a donation |
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