Published: 4 December 2002
Eritrea has been badly hit this year by a severe drought, leaving over one million people, or one third of the population, in need of food assistance. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has today launched an appeal for 7.86 million Swiss francs (US$ 5.28 million) for one of the worst-affected regions, Zoba Anseba.
Most regions of Eritrea received less than 25 per cent of the average rainfall this year, which has severely affected harvests and the availability of drinking water. Loss of livestock from starvation has been reported to be as high as 20 per cent in some regions. United Nations agencies say cereal production is at the lowest level since the country's independence in 1993 and will only cover 15 per cent of the country's food needs.
The Red Cross operation will be focused on Zoba Anseba, north-west of the capital, Asmara. It is one of the most drought-prone regions of the country, and one which consequently faces recurrent food security crises. Basic food and water relief will be provided to 41,500 people for up to nine months, along with health promotion.
The appeal for Eritrea comes less than a month after the International Federation launched a 16-million-Swiss-franc (US$10.8 million) appeal for Ethiopia, where 14 million people are expected to be in need of food aid next year. In total, some 31 million people in the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa are currently threatened with malnutrition and starvation as a result of drought.For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
In Nairobi
Andreï Neacsu, Regional Information Delegate - Tel: + 254 271 34 24 / + 254 733 63 29 43
In Geneva
Roy Probert, Press Officer - Tel: + 41 22 730 42 96/ + 41 79 217 33 86
Media Service duty phone - Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81