UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

Eritrea: Government Confirms Severity of Drought

26 July 2002

The Eritrean government has confirmed the seriousness of the drought situation during a meeting with the UN's World Food Progamme (WFP) in Asmara.

A WFP spokesperson told IRIN that the organisation was creating a task force along with the Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission (ERREC), which on Thursday warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in the country. The task force was due to meet on Saturday.

The alert, issued by ERREC, said the country was facing an "exceptionally severe and prolonged drought". Vital rains expected in April-May had failed completely and the "unprecedented" dry spell had continued into June and July - the prime planting months.

"As a result, a humanitarian emergency that will have serious consequences - unless urgent preventive measures are taken by the international community - is unfolding," the ERREC statement warned.

The government has also warned that domestic water supply is very low, WFP said.

[See also: 'ERITREA: Government warns of looming humanitarian crisis' at http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=29011]

Tagged: East Africa, Environment, Eritrea

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