UN envoy urges stronger links between Govt, agencies

The United Nations special humanitarian envoy for the Horn of Africa, Kjell Magne Bondevik, has called for the strengthening of cooperation between the Eritrean government and humanitarian organisations in a bid to improve food security in the Horn of Africa country, one of several in the region affected by drought. "There is a need for more effective dialogue and enhanced cooperation on humanitarian and long-term food security issues between the government and [the] international community, including donors, UN agencies and NGO partners," said Bondevik, who met Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki at the start of a tour of the Horn of Africa that will also take him to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The drought has affected an estimated 11 million people in the region. "This mission can be seen as an opening for further dialogue on how best to deliver humanitarian assistance and support government's efforts in ensuring long-term solutions to food security challenges in Eritrea for the future," he added. The biggest challenge facing aid agencies still present in Eritrea is the lack of engagement between themselves and the government, according to a humanitarian source in the country. "This lack of dialogue for the past nine months has resulted in a lack of information to partners about the humanitarian situation on the ground," said the source, who asked not to be named. Nutritional surveys in Eritrea have indicated that the situation is deteriorating, with malnutrition levels double what they were in 2005. This has been attributed to the government's decision to stop general food aid distribution in September 2005, a move authorities said was intended to encourage self-reliance. Aid agencies received authorisation to distribute food aid to just 72,000 Eritreans, down from roughly 1.3 million in August. In the recent past, Eritrea has gradually changed its relations with the aid community, emphasising the need for self-reliance. Since a proclamation on administering the activities of NGOs was put into effect in June 2005, the number of NGOs working in the country has dwindled from 37 to 13. In July 2005, Eritrea, one of the world's most food aid-dependent countries, asked the United States Agency for International Development - its largest donor of food aid - to stop operations, saying it was uncomfortable with the agency's work. Bondevik said during their discussions, Isayas indicated his willingness for renewed dialogue with the humanitarian community on issues related to their work in future. The president insisted, however, that issues raised must be in accordance with the government's existing programmes. The UN envoy assured the president that the world body and its partners were in Eritrea to support the work of the government on food security programmes and commended the country for projects implemented so far. "My task is to play a coordinating role between all stakeholders and encourage governments of this region to link humanitarian relief assistance to long-term development aimed at improving food security," said Bondevik, a former Norwegian prime minister appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in February 2006 to mobilise assistance for those who had lost their livelihoods as a result of the drought. Humanitarian agencies, including the UN, have launched a US $426 million humanitarian appeal for the Horn of Africa.