Eritrea - Drought - Development and Peace 2016

March 2016 - Eritrea is facing a serious and deteriorating humanitarian situation due to the effects of an ongoing El Niño -driven drought. Based on reports from the few humanitarian agencies in the country the Eritrean population is facing high levels of food insecurity and acute malnutrition. In 2015 food production was only able to satisfy 6.8% of domestic needs (compared to 50% in 2014) and malnutrition rates between 40% and 50% have been recorded in many communities (well above the internationally accepted ‘nutrition emergency’ threshold of 15%). With GAC’s support Development and Peace and its partners are addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of an estimated 25 000 Eritreans in the Eparchies of Asmara Keren Barentu and Segeneiti. Project activities include: (1) the distribution of food or cash to 1500 drought-affected households for five months; (2) the provision of animal feed to 825 households; (3) the provision of seeds to 1000 households; (4) the provision of nutritional support to over 700 pregnant women and nutritional screening of an estimated 1 000 children per month; (5) the provision of school meals for 1 200 children in remote villages; (6) the provision of health and nutrition education to 5 000 caregivers for young children; and (7) the construction of one reservoir with 75m3 capacity in Ala in the Eparchy of Segeneiti and one hand dug well in Barentu.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved food security for drought-affected households; (2) improved or maintained health and nutritional status amongst vulnerable women and children; and (3) improved access to safe water for targeted communities. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.