The Red Cross Society of Eritrea (RCSE) today commenced a food distribution programme in the drought-hit Horn of Africa country, where two thirds of the population – or 2.3 million people - are in need of assistance as a result of food and water shortages.
The RCSE will assist 25,000 people living in one of the worst hit regions, Hagaz, in northern Eritrea. Five distribution centres, staffed by local employees and volunteers, will open across the region. Each person will receive 15 kilos of wheat per month, as well as 0.9 litres of oil and 1.2 kilos of lentils.
“The food has not come a moment too soon for the people of Hagaz,” said Mebrahtu Berhe, the RCSE’s relief coordinator. “They have been suffering since the harvest failed last year and have now used up all their emergency stocks of food. They are in desperate need.”
The intervention also includes a number of health, water and sanitation activities. An emergency water trucking service started on 21 February 2003.
The RCSE and the International Federation, coordinating closely with the Eritrean government the United Nations and other humanitarian actors, launched an appeal for 7.8 million Swiss francs (US$ 5.3 million) in December 2002 to set up the assistance programme in Hagaz. So far it has received 28 per cent funding.
The RCSE is hoping that a positive response to the appeal will allow it to extend its food distribution programme to more people. The appeal envisaged assistance to 41,000 people.
For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
In Eritrea
Alganesh Kidane, RCSE Secretary General - Tel: + 29 1 1 15 16 93
Frank Dewez, head of delegation - Tel: + 29 1 1 15 05 50
In Geneva
Roy Probert, Press Officer - Tel: + 41 22 730 42 96 / + 41 79 217 33 86
Josse Gillijns, Desk Officer, Horn of Africa - Tel: + 41 22 730 42 24 / + 41 79 358 31 16
Media Service Duty Phone - Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81