Eritrea - Food and Nutrition Assistance - Development and Peace 2015

March 2015 - Eritrea is facing a serious humanitarian situation due to the effects on food production of both chronic drought and the exodus of an increasing number of young men to avoid national military service. Although government restrictions make it difficult to assess the situation in Eritrea current estimates indicate that between 1.4 and 2.7 million Eritreans (out of a population of 6.5 million) will face acute food insecurity in 2015. Global acute malnutrition rates have been reported at above 50% or more than triple the accepted 'emergency threshold' of 15% in some rural communities a situation that is exacerbated by extremely low levels of access to safe water sources and proper sanitation facilities outside urban areas. With DFATD’s support Development and Peace is helping to decrease morbidity and mortality amongst children under-5 years of age and pregnant and lactating women. Project activities include the provision of: (1) nutrient dense food rations to 1 050 pregnant women across 7 health centres; (2) food rations to 250 internally displaced person households (1 500 people) in the eparchies of Asmara and Segeneiti; (3) agricultural inputs (seeds goats chickens) to a total of 860 households (5 000 people); (4) access to water for 900 households (5 500 people) through the construction of 1 water reservoir in Ala Region of Segeneiti and 1 hand dug well in Barentu; and (5) health and nutrition education to 5 000 caregivers to improve their capacity in the early detection and prevention of malnutrition.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved health and nutrition; (2) improved food security; and (3) improved access to safe water for vulnerable women and children in Eritrea. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.