UN Special Envoy makes humanitarian assessment visit to Eritrea
With 1.9 million Eritreans facing starvation after four years of drought, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa arrived today in Eritrea's capital city, Asmara, to look at gaps in assistance and assess the implementation of strategies to reduce the country's vulnerability to drought.
With 1.9 million Eritreans facing starvation after four years of drought, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa arrived today in Eritrea's capital city, Asmara, to look at gaps in assistance and assess the implementation of strategies to reduce the country's vulnerability to drought.
Martti Ahtisaari, whose mandate was recently extended for six months, will leave Asmara tomorrow for Ethiopia, whose border dispute with Eritrea has contributed to the problems with food security, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
"Household coping mechanisms and safety nets that normally prevent starvation are being eroded," OCHA said.
Mr. Ahtisaari has raised the profile in the international community of the challenges Eritrea and the region must confront, thereby increasing donor contributions, OCHA said.