Assab reopens to large vessels

For the first time in nearly four years a large grain vessel has docked at the Eritrean port of Assab, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Saturday. The arrival of the MV Pontocratis, which was chartered by WFP to carry 15,000 tonnes of relief food donated by the United States government, marks the first significant shipment to be handled by the port since war broke out between Eritrea and Ethiopia in May 1998. Until the war broke out Assab had served as a major port of entry with as much as 90 percent of its cargo destined for Ethiopia. With the outbreak of war the port became effectively redundant overnight with the smaller port of Massawa servicing all imports to Eritrea. During a recent visit to Massawa IRIN noticed a significant number of ships in port with local dock workers reporting that colleagues in Assab were idle and the local economy in tatters. With the arrival of the MV Pontocratis however it is hoped that this will begin to change. "Our new ability to use it [Assab] will greatly benefit relief operations," said Patrick Buckley, WFP's Country Director in Eritrea. "The use of Assab will also create employment opportunities ... for local people in and around Assab, which had become almost dormant." The 15,000 tonnes of food brought in is designed to feed 800,000 Eritreans who are victims of drought or who after being displaced by the war had not been able to return home in time to cultivate crops this year.