Rains affect urgent shelter needs

The Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission (ERREC) has estimated that approximately 170,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their home areas, while another 70,000 remain in camps because their homes are not accessible. In a parallel press briefing given by the spokespersons of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in Addis Ababa and Asmara, journalists were told that heavy rains in both Ethiopia and Eritrea, including the areas of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) in Debub and Gash Barka regions, had made some roads impassable and restricted movement. The rains had highlighted the “urgent shelter needs” of IDPs returning to the TSZ, UNMEE said. “In many areas roofing and building materials have been looted or buildings damaged during the course of the conflict, while in other areas mud and thatch homes are in poor condition after being abandoned for many months.” The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with Dutch funding, had signed an agreement with the Eritrean Ministry of Local Government for the supply of roofing materials to rehabilitate about 3,000 partially destroyed homes in Tserona town in Debub Region. UNDP, through the Post-War Emergency Reconstruction Programme, is also funding the NGO Intersos for 1,200 housing units in Shambiko, Lailay Gash and Om Hajer areas in Gash Barka, while ICRC has initiated a pilot programme for traditional housing of mud blocks and thatch roofs, in Barentu. Norwegian Church Aid has donated 17,300 corrugated iron sheets to ERREC for the rehabilitation of damaged houses in the TSZ. Although these projects would ease the shelter problem, most families would have to rely on traditional building materials for their immediate shelter needs, UNMEE warned.