THE ICRC IN ERITREA – UPDATE February 2003 "I can't express my happiness!" The 29 November 2002 will be remembered as a day of happiness and joy for the 1130 Eritrean former Prisoners of War and 95 Civilian Internees, who were repatriated from Ethiopia to their home country under the auspices of the ICRC. The images show the returnees crossing the border at Mereb bridge (left and right) and the bus convoy in Mendefera, being greeted by the population (centre). Back home not waiting just for close come to an end. The same brothers and sisters, all are conventions give the ICRC "I am born again – I will be the same for us and we are the right to visit persons baptised after 30 days!" said happy to see them again." detained in relation to an a joyful, exhausted Eritrean international conflict. Du - civilian. He had just crossed A chapter has been closed ring their detention, the the border at Mereb river, prisoners are allowed to between the towns of Rama Three months before, ano- contact their families (Ethiopia) and Adi Quala ther 279 former prisoners - through Red Cross Messa- (Eritrea), on 29 November Ethiopians this time - had ges. ICRC delegates assess 2002. During the border war celebrated their release and their treatment and deten- between the two countries, repatriation. Both Eritrea tion conditions and urge the he had been detained in an and Ethiopia had announced authorities through confi- Ethiopian internee camp for their readiness to release the dential talks to make im- over 4 years. Many others last prisoners visited by the provements, if needed. like him just couldn't ICRC during a visit by Currently, ICRC delegates express their happiness to ICRC's President, Jakob continue to visit Ethiopian be back home, with the Kellenberger, in August. civilian detainees in Eritrea perspective to be united Both states fulfilled hereby and Eritrean civilians detai- with their families soon. their obligations under the ned in Ethiopia – to ensure A bystander from Adi Geneva Conventions of good treatment and proper Quala who had travelled to 1949, which state that detention conditions and to Mereb bridge to witness this Prisoners of War and help them to contact their remarkable day declared: Civilian Internees must be families through Red Cross "All of us who are here are released after the hostilities Messages. After 4 years Hager joins her family again Through the ICRC family reunion programme, 12 year-old Hager (3rd from the left) has joined her family in Eritrea, after having been separated since May 1998.More than 200 children, sick and elderly persons have been reunited with their families in Eritrea and Ethiopia since the end of 1998. When Hager was seven country of origin by air via nationals who want to years old, she was visiting Sanaa; others go by land return to their home her grandparents in a village and cross the border country. This programme, in Tigray (Ethiopia). In May between Eritrea and called "Safe Passage 1998, her family had to Ethiopia at Mereb bridge, Operation", is conducted leave the country and between Adi Quala (Eritrea) through the Mereb bridge arrived in Eritrea, leaving and Rama (Ethiopia). under the auspices of the Hager behind. ICRC. Volunteers from the Now, nearly five years later, Helping to cross the border Ethiopian Red Cross and Hager can smile again from the Red Cross Society together with her parents Together with the Eritrean of Eritrea provide water and and her 8 brothers and and Ethiopian authorities, food during the repatria- sisters. She was included in the ICRC facilitates also the tions. In 2002, more than the ICRC family reunion repatriation of all those 1800 Eritreans and Ethio- programme, and by end of Eritrean and Ethiopian pians have been repatriated. December 2002, ICRC delegates brought her all the Anxious for news? Send a Red Cross message! way from Tigray through All over the world and the border at Mereb bridge since more than 100 to the Sheleb camp for years, Red Cross mes- displaced persons in Gash sages connect people Barka, where her family separated by conflicts. lives now. Currently, more than Since the end of 1998, more 2000 such letters are than 200 children, sick and sent monthly between elderly persons have Ethiopia and Eritrea benefited from the ICRC through the Red Cross reunion programme. Often network. they are brought to their Bishuka's inhabitants now have their own water The ICRC Water and Habitat department is also repairing hand-pumps, which provide water for residents and displaced people living in or near war-affected border regions. During the last four months, 9 hand- pumps have been fixed in Zoba Debub and 8 more in Zoba Gash Barka. Relief items for IDPs From September to December 2002, the ICRC department of Economic Security has continued to provide relief items to people affected by the past war. No need to walk to the river: new public fountain in Bishuka Around 60'000 internal Tsehaitu is a mother of six pumps it through a 4 kilo - displaced persons (IDPs) children living in Bishuka, meter pipeline to a reservoir living in camps, 77 new Gash Barka. The widow in on a hill, and another displaced families in Mono- her fourties is earning the pipeline brings the water to xoito (Debub), some 400 family's expenses by pro- three public fountains in the families who have returned ducing the local beer Suwa. town. In December, the to their villages around She is glad that she can ICRC handed over the pro- Tsorona (Debub), and 271 collect the daily ten ject to the local authorities. IDP families which were jerrycans of fresh water In order to make it resettled in Debai Sima close to her house, at a sustainable, the beneficia - (Southern Red Sea) have public fountain in Bishuka. ries pay 25 cents per benefited from the program. The Water and Habitat jerrycan. The money covers Depending on their needs, department of the ICRC the diesel needed to run the they have been given items Eritrea has installed a new pump, maintenance costs as like tents, plastic sheets, water supply system for the well as the salaries of the blankets, kit chen sets, 5000 inhabitants of Bishuka pump operator and 3 emplo- jerrycans, toilet soap and area: a submersible pump yees working at the foun- laundry soap. takes the water from a well, tains. Health centre in Tokombia renovated The ICRC continues to renovate health facilities da- maged during the conflict of 1998-2000. In Gash Barka, the Tokombia Health Centre (photo) got new windows and doors, the roof was fixed, walls and ceilings were painted. Works for the Shilalo Health Station are ongoing. In January 2003, the ICRC and the Ministry of Health signed a Memo - randum of Understanding to rehabilitate the Shambuko Health Centre. "Are we allowed to shoot or not?" The Ministry of Defence invited the ICRC in November 2002 to give a 4 days basic training course on the Law of Armed Conflict to 20 officers of the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF). The course was held in Embatkala and closed by the Minister of Defence, General Sibhat Efrem (picture in the centre). The case study is tricky. one officer after the closure their soldiers during the Sergeant Haile has disabled of the course, which had daily military trainings. an enemy tank. According been held in the EDF center The participants stressed to International Humanita- in Embatkala from 5 to 8 that they had already rian Law, is he allowed to November 2002. applied many humanitarian shoot at the tank crew, who rules, like the correct is trying to flee on foot? From the heart to the mind treatment of prisoners of The officers of the Eritrean war, before having studied Defence Forces hesitate. It has been the first-ever the Geneva Conventions, During the previous days, course on the law of armed where the basic rules of war they have learned that they conflict given by the ICRC are written. But the course should not attack a comba- to members of the armed has helped them to "carry tant who is out of combat. forces in Eritrea. In 2003 the knowledge about the But an enemy who flees is more such courses are limits in warfare from our still combating – unless he planned. The idea is to train hearts to our minds", as a surrenders. "The course was the EDF trainers, who shall high-ranking officer from very good – I suggest every pass the learned lessons to the Sawa training center put soldier should take it!", said it. The Red Cross Society of Eritrea strengthens its volunteer network In Eritrea, there is no shortage of enthusiastic volunteers who are ready to devote their time for humanitarian aid work within the Red Cross Society of Eritrea (RCSE). Since September 2002, the ICRC Cooperation department is helping the RCSE to strengthen its volunteer network through the build-up of an adequate structure and training. The RCSE will create "Red Cross Action Teams" which consist of trained, well equipped, highly motivated non-paid volunteers, who are regularly available for different types of RCSE activities, like Emergency Preparedness & Response, First Aid, Tracing, Dissemination, etc. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Zoba 4 Sub Zoba 01, next to Expo Hotel – P.O. Box 1109 – Asmara, Eritrea Tel. 18 11 64 Fax 18 11 52 E-mail : [email protected] For further information contact the Communication dept., Marçal Izard .