Eritrea bans US aid group

2005-08-26 09:52

Asmara - Eritrea has ordered an American aid group operating in the country to halt its activities, saying it was "uncomfortable" with the group's continued presence.

Scott DeLisi, the US ambassador to the Horn of African nation said late on Thursday that Asmara had called on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to wind up its operations.

"The government has told us that it is uncomfortable with the operations of USAID," said DeLisi, who did not divulge more details.

"We will be here as long as the government of Eritrea wants us to be here. We will respect the government's choices," he added.

Government officials, however, declined to comment on the move that comes amid wrangles between Asmara and other international aid agencies over tax requirement on incoming food aid.

Humanitarian

On Wednesay, UN special envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa said he was seeking the release of nearly 90 vehicles impounded by Eritrea in recent months.

USAID will join four other non-governmental organisations (NGO) that have halted operations in Eritrea in the last three years.

In 2002, Asmara expelled three NGOs, while in March this year, Grassroots International, another American aid group, stopped funding operations in Eritrea, blaming the government for political oppression and a poor human rights record.

But Asmara has also slammed Washington for failing to put pressure on Ethiopia to accept a legally binding border ruling signed in 2000 that it has continued to reject.

- SAPA