Fears that Eritrea may be hiding its famine victims from the world

[Introduction (from AI Staff):

Here we go again: while the world worries about famine in Eritrea, the government denies it.

Rain or no rain, Eritrea has never been self-sufficient in food production. Under normal circumstances, the malnutrition level among its people, especially among children, is one of the highest in the world. It has been years since the peasants have been living at semi-starvation level. Riga bani has become a fixture in Asmara, the only privileged city in Eritrea. The number of beggars in the towns and cities across Eritrea has skyrocketed to a level never witnessed before. Yet, the officials deny it because to admit it would damage the image of "self-reliant Eritrea" and of the All-Wise Supreme Leader Isaias Afwerki who is the author of that philosophy.

Below are two most recent news about famine in Eritrea, the first regarding the concern of the world body. The UN is requesting for a "joint assessment" on the famine condition, while the PFDJ doesn't see the need of it simply because the Supreme Leader has said that we are self-reliant. Any assessment that would contradict that self-reliance is to be completely rejected. That carte-blanche denial has already started at the official level. The second news deals with Yemane Ghebreab and his characteristic denials. ]

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Fears that Eritrea may be hiding its famine victims from the world

By Daniel Howden, Africa Correspondent

Saturday, 30 July 2011

Concerns are mounting of a possible hidden famine in Eritrea while international aid agencies scramble to fill a "black hole" in information coming out of the isolated Horn of Africa nation.

The UN, Red Cross and other organisations have appealed to the Eritrean government to conduct a joint-assessment as the impact of the drought crisis continues to worsen in neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia.

Eritrea has so far denied any shortages and accused the international community of crying "crocodile tears" over famine victims in other countries. Ethiopia, where 4.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, as well as 228,000 refugees, claims that more than half the population in Eritrea needs food aid. This has been strongly denied by Eritrea, where presidential adviser Yemane Ghebreab said: "There [are] no food shortages in Eritrea at the present time. Last year, we had a bumper harvest."

In its crisis map of the region the UN has listed Eritrea as "stressed" but officials admit they have almost no information on the situation on the ground. The former Italian colony, once feted for its heroic struggle for independence, has evolved into an international pariah that was this week accused by the UN of planning a bombing campaign against regional rival Ethiopia and has previously been charged with funding Somali militants the Shabab.

The government of long-time leader Isias Afwerki promotes an official creed of self-reliance and regularly insists there is no hunger in Eritrea. The country is almost alone in Africa in refusing foreign aid and has given no detailed information to the UN or the World Food Programme which ceased operations there six years ago. "There's a black hole in information there," said a senior aid official who asked not be identified. "But I'm sure that they're not escaping the effects of this crisis."

Officials at the Red Cross office in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, confirmed that there had been a problem with rains and that they were "waiting for information from the government". According to UN estimates there are now 11.6 million people affected by the food crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Two area of Somalia have been categorised as famine zones and some 2.2 million people have not yet been reached with aid because of ongoing conflict. Washington's lead official on Africa, Johnnie Carson, has voiced concern over what he calls a "closed and increasingly reclusive country" and appealed for more information.

(Source: The Independent)

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Eritrea Unaffected by Drought, Famine, Says Asmara Official

Peter Clottey

A political advisor to Eritrea President Isaias Afewerki says Asmara has implemented measures to ensure that citizens are unharmed by the effects of drought and famine in the Horn of Africa region.

Yemane Ghebreab denied reports that a food crisis is forcing Eritreans to flee to neighboring countries.

“There [are] no food shortages in Eritrea at the present time. Last year, we had a bumper harvest.  We have also built up our reserves in terms of food stocks by importing food, so we will be ready for any emergency,” said Ghebreab.

His comments came after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson was quoted as saying “Eritrea is a closed and increasingly reclusive country, and its government has not been particularly helpful in sharing data and information about the severity of the food shortages or the drought in its country.”

Carson also encouraged Eritrea to be open about the needs of its population.

“Because it is a part of the greater Horn of Africa, we assume that conditions in Eritrea are probably quite similar to the drought conditions that we are seeing in other places – in Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia. Because we don’t know what’s happening, our understanding of the situation is limited, but we encourage them to be more open about their needs and the needs of their population.”

But, Ghebreab said Asmara does not seek international charity, but rather partnerships that would benefit Eritreans.

“What Eritrea seeks is not a food handout. This has been our policy for many years. What we want is trade and investment,” said Ghebreab.

He insisted Eritrea is not experiencing a severe drought, but conceded that Asmara might coordinate with aid groups if drought or famine management “goes beyond our means.”

“So far, the situation is normal, and we believe we can manage with our own resources,” said Ghebreab.

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