Eritrea

 

Background

 

After the signing of the cessation of hostility between Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2000 to respond to the emergency situation that was unfolding in the country the Sectoral Working Group (SWG) for ‘Shelter and Household Items’ under the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) proposed the need to provide emergency tents to the war affected people of Gash Barka and Debub Regions including IDPs and expellees from Ethiopia, the most hit Regions by the devastating border war. However, after further assessments and deliberations the SWG decided that the provision of shelter kits would immensely benefit the targeted communities, as it would enable them, as soon as possible, to reclaim their shelter. In response to the appeal made to the donors the Royal Netherlands Government, based on the General Arrangements between the Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation and UNDP, made available 5.34 million USD specifically earmarked to address the need for shelter and household items.

The Recovery unit of UNDP is the one that manages and oversee the UNDP supported recovery efforts in Eritrea.

 

Objectives of the Programme

1- To provide healthier life situation for settlers (IDPs and Expellees)

2- To protect vulnerable groups such as women headed families, elders and disabled.

3- To provide shelter materials to war-affected communities; and

4- To rehabilitate war-damaged social infrastructures

5- To construct community centres

 

Programme Details

The overall objective of the UNDP emergency shelter programme is the sustainable reintegration of the war-affected populations into local communities or new settlement. By assisting the target population shelter, basic household items and sustainable livelihoods.

UNDP initiated the recovery interventions by providing emergency shelter and basic social services to the beneficiaries by encouraging to use local building materials and labour that helps the communities participation and provides income to the target populations.

The UNDP supported emergency shelter reconstruction and rehabilitation programme has worked with other related activities like land preparation and water supply schemes to ensure sustainability and contributes the countries in poverty reduction programme strategy.

 

RESULTS (Accomplished Activities)

• Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of Houses

• Rehabilitation of Tsorona Market place

• Construction of Community center in Gerenfit.

• Rehabilitation of Tsorona Junior and Secondary School (Phase 1 & 2)

• The Construction of six prototype-housing units for demonstration purposes.

• The restocking of livestocks, Agricultural farm tools and household utensils.

 

Currently assistance to the construction of shelter for the Gerenfit resettlers (Expellees from Ethiopia) is under way for 1250 HHs.

Contribution towards MDGs

This programme contributes to the achievement of MDG1 that is Eradicating the extreme Poverty and Hunger by providing shelter to the beneficiaries and MDG7 Ensure the environmental sustainability by introducing environmental friendly low cost housing technology.