Food shortage plagues Eritrea

2005-11-17 12:22

Asmara - Food shortage will likely persist in Eritrea despite improved rains in the impoverished Horn of Africa nation, a United States-funded famine monitoring team said in a statement Wednesday.

The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) said the rains will boost food production and decrease prices but may not end chronic shortages in Eritrea.

"However, agricultural production even in a good year accounts for no more than half of the country's food needs. Thus, commercial imports and food aid will continue to be critical to national food security," FEWS NET added.

A survey conducted between May and August 2005 by the country's health ministry recorded very high levels of malnutrition, with acute rates as high as 15% in most parts of the country.

According to diplomats, two-thirds of Eritrea's 3.5 million people face shortages this year and are in dire need of humanitarian support.

In September, Asmara decided to halt as much as 80% of food handouts around the country to promote self-reliance among Eritrea's population.

In addition, the country's breadbasket was depleted by the country's frosty relations with its southern neighbour Ethiopia, which resulted in a large output of the limited cash from the country's coffers.

Relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa deteriorated in the late 1990s and degenerated into a major armed conflict in 1998 over their common border.

Despite a peace accord signed in 2000, relations remain far short of amicable.

- AFP