Government appeals for urgent humanitarian aid

The Eritrean government has again appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance to combat the effects of drought in the country.

The Eritrean Relief and Refugees Commission (ERREC) made the appeal last week at a meeting in the capital, Asmara, attended by diplomats, NGO representatives and UN officials. It called for 400,000 mt of grain "to avert the impending humanitarian crisis that would result from this year's prolonged drought".

Eritrean radio said that a government, UN and NGO task force formed last month had noted the current drought was "very severe" and "requires an urgent and positive response".

A UN senior political affairs officer, James Borton, told a press conference in Asmara on Friday it was "quite a step" for the government to issue an appeal this early in the year. "They are obviously very concerned that production will not be anywhere near the targets they had hoped for," he said.

Although there had been rain early last month, livestock would be badly affected if it did not continue, he added.

Poor rains this year had delayed the planting seasons, and the situation had been further aggravated by adverse affects on the regeneration of essential pasturelands and ground-water supplies, the UN said.

In late July, the government issued an alert warning of an unfolding humanitarian crisis due to the complete failure of vital rains expected in April-May, and called for international assistance.