A two-day tour of the Gash-Barka
region of Eritrea was undertaken from June 25-26, 2000 to assess the basic
condition of the IDPs scattered across that region and, more importantly,
to assess the condition of the major towns and villages previously under
E thiopian occupation in order to determine their suitability and capacity
to accept returning IDPs.
The assessment mission was carried out
by the Eritrean Development Foundation in cooperation with Refugees International
and the generous assistance of the Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission
(ERREC).
Agordet
Agordet managed to avoid the worst of the recent Ethiopian offensive deep into Eritrean territory since the bombing raids in that area fell outside the town and it escaped occupation by Ethiopian forces. The residents had scattered throughout the area, in the nearby forest, in dry riverbeds and out of the province altogether. By the time our assessment team reached them, the residents had already started returning. People walked the streets, shops were open, goods were available on the market and life seemed to have returned to something approaching normalcy.
People who'd taken refuge in Deb'at camp near Keren had also started returning and had been given rations for 15 days to help them get restarted. Those who'd taken refuge outside the town in the forest and the surroundings had been encouraged to return to town and ERREC officials reported that their final allotment of aid had been distributed the previous week.
Puddles lay collected alongside the road, speaking of the approaching rainy season. With so many IDPs still on the move and the vast majority still without any sort of shelter, the implications were worrying.
On the other hand, the thinness of returning livestock throughout the area was a clear indication that the rains were indeed needed if this other form of economic survival for the people was to survive.
Barentu
Looting and Destruction
Entering the town of Barentu was a shock. The normally tidy main road was littered with papers, damaged goods and carried the air of complete disarray. A heavy military presence was visible in the town, but seemed to be mostly soldiers on break, simply strolling down the streets, drinking tea or relaxing.
The detritus of the Ethiopian army's looting lay everywhere, including on the faces of the returning residents -- shock, disbelief, anger, but also a strong determination to get by and make do with what was at hand.
Over 40 landmines had been discovered scattered throughout the town and subsequently disarmed by the Eritrean military. While many were obviously meant for government or military targets, others were likely aimed at civilians returning to the homes.
"Did we find all the landmines?
Yes, I think so. Maybe. I don't know... I'm afraid we'll just have to wait
and see."
sub-zonal administrator, Yosief Habtemichael
Nearly all the private houses of Barentu were completely looted of all personal effects and belongings. Nine houses were completely destroyed, with 10 partially destroyed and requiring major reconstruction. The main water supply generator was taken by the Ethiopian army, but marginal water supply had been reinitiated with tanker trucks. Water remained at a premium.
The targeting of private houses was not so random as in other areas. The poorer inhabitants' huts and small houses were mostly spared while the better off areas of Barentu were subject to almost malicious destruction. Stripped bare, the houses were then dynamited and/or burnt.
The local open air market had been looted with approximately one-third of the private stalls set on fire and destroyed.
A bakery run by 6 war-disabled fighters was looted and dynamited with maximum structural damage, while another bakery had one wall blasted out in order to remove the oven.
While the main electrical generator of the town remained intact, electrical wires throughout the town had been cut in many areas. Some electrical supply had, however, been returned.
The sub-zonal administrator estimated that approximately 7,500 of the 26,000 residents had returned, mostly from Deb'at camp, though he stressed that many hadn't yet committed to a permanent return and were coming to assess what was left of their homes, their businesses and their previous lives.
Bombing raids, through direct hits and near misses, had knocked off tin roofing throughout the town, with jagged remains still lying along the roads.
The town mosque had sustained minor damage to the roof, while the health center had had all medical supplies looted by the Ethiopian army. The school library had its books destroyed with some destruction to the desks and school furniture inside the classrooms.
Most all government offices had been deliberately targeted by the Ethiopian forces with the new administration building, police station, and high court destroyed. They seem to have been laced with dynamite in addition to close range heavy artillery fire. All buildings had been looted before being destroyed.
Thirty-five civilians were reported killed and forty-nine wounded during the bombing, shelling and subsequent occupation of Barentu. Three women who'd stayed behind were brought into the local health station requesting assistance, claiming to have been gang-raped by Ethiopian soldiers. They couldn't recall the number of soldiers and their current condition is unknown.
The sub-zonal administrator informed us that the administration could not guarantee a safe return to the inhabitants as the military situation in the country remained uncertain.
Hope and Reconstruction Amidst the Destruction
The main street of Barentu had become a hive of activity with buying and selling from most every shop, although certainly at a greatly reduced level. Most shopkeepers, regardless of their earlier activities, their open and empty shops behind them, were now reduced to selling tea.
"My plan is to sell enough tea
to make a small profit. From that I'll buy some goods from Agordet, sell
those for a better profit and gradually build up my store again."
Lemlem, local female shopkeeper
The sound of hammering and reconstruction reverberated throughout the town as local merchants and private individuals began the long process of rebuilding. Shiny sheets of tin roofing gleamed in the sunlight atop previously damaged buildings. We were informed that the construction was all privately funded.
Although we'd been told that the returnees were only tentative, many seemed to have come back for the long term. Some reported that other family members had stayed behind in IDP camps until something more solid could be set up in Barentu, but business -- admittedly small and very basic -- was blossoming and a sense of determination if not quite hope, tempered with frustration and anger, was in the air.
No planting had yet started, but the town administration had requested three tractors from the central government. It was assumed that those tractors would then be used to mass-plough the entire agricultural area of the region and allow farmers to take over from there. Some seeds and agricultural tools were also available, but likely not enough to meet the needs of those returning.
One thousand quintals of wheat had arrived and was to be distributed to all returnees as a one-month ration.
A closer look into some private shops and restaurants revealed that some proprietors had indeed managed to save at least some of their property.
"The Ethiopians took two of my
refrigerators, our food supplies, our oil and our mineral water. Fortunately,
we were able to save the tables and chairs because one woman stayed behind
and when the Ethiopian soldiers tried to take them, she screamed at them,
'No! These are mine! You can't have them!' and somehow they listened to
her and left them."
Ali, owner of Hotel Sahel
Electricity, as previously stated, had been at least partially restored to most areas of town, but water supplies remained scarce and a source of concern.
Although the medical center had been looted, personnel had returned to the area with some supplies and were judged to be adequate to the current health needs. This would, however, need to be properly assessed.
A wood-burning clay stove had taken the place of the local bakeries and was supplying bread to those who had returned. Merchants had also started bringing in items to restock shops, though on a vastly reduced scale. Commercial life was, however, indeed returning to Barentu and was very encouraging.
Needs
In conversations all around Barentu, one overriding need was mentioned by most everyone: peace. "Without peace, we can do nothing," was a familiar refrain. Security guarantees are vital.
Secondly, Barentu will require money at two different levels. Partially, merchants and civilians will need at least partial reimbursement for goods looted or destroyed. They will need to rebuild their homes and restart their businesses as quickly as possible. The sooner the atmosphere in the town becomes more welcoming, the sooner the remaining displaced will be able to return with some degree of security. When that happens, what's left of the agricultural growing season can be salvaged, a relatively normal commercial life can begin and the process of rehabilitation can commence.
A third need of the population will be short-term "micro-credit" loans, used as start-up capital, perhaps administered through local ERREC or local government offices at low interest rates. Needs assessments and business loan proposals can be drawn up by the business people/merchants with the appropriate local offices and carried out through existing channels. Many merchants will need sums approaching several thousand dollars to restock their shops and restart their economic activity, although smaller sums will certainly also prove useful to smaller-scale businesses.
Common personal needs mentioned by the private citizens were food, furniture, clothing, blankets, and sheets. When asked what the local government could supply the people, the sub-zonal administrator replied, "Nothing. Our hands are empty."
Clearly, sizable intervention will be required to get the town back on track and functioning again. At the same time, the determination and initiative of the people of Barentu is enormously encouraging and will clearly go a long way in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the town. These are indeed people determined to survive, to reconstruct, to rebuild their lives and to thrive.
Adi Keshi IDP Camp
The population of the immediate camp was estimated at 27,000 with about 500 new IDPs arriving each day. Most of the new arrivals had been expelled from their homes by Ethiopian forces who claimed that the previously uncontested territory was now Ethiopian and had no room left for Eritreans. Though a clear violation of international law, the international community has thus far remained silent on this issue, including the International Committee of the Red Cross.
It was reported that around 19,000 of these internal expellees were on their way up from the Upper Gash region, but no firm date of arrival had been fixed, nor had there been any concrete confirmation as to the exact numbers.
The assistant administrator of the sub-zone, Mr. Desu Gerezgier, estimated that in the immediate surroundings, approximately 44,000 IDPs had settled and were in need of assistance. Instead of the increasingly typical fluidity of the IDP situation due to recent military/political developments, most of the IDPs in the Adi Keshi area were coming and staying.
Shelter was stressed as the major need of Adi Keshi, particularly in light of the recent arrival of 14,000 IDPs, the 500 internal expellees arriving per day and the expected influx of 19,000 additional internal expellees.
Most newcomers are given plastic sheeting as they arrive, but the administrator claimed that supplies were inadequate to the needs. 1,035 sheets had been delivered to the camp the day before the site visit, but had all been distributed by the next morning, not having met the needs of those already in the camp.
Currently, 2-3 families occupy each tent with some IDPs still living under trees without shelter of any sort. With the advent of the rainy season, the need has become even more desperately pressing.
A one month ration of emergency food had been distributed amongst the IDPs two weeks prior to our visit, but had proved inadequate for the newer arrivals, who were only allotted 2-3 day rations.
Other needs mentioned were clothing, kitchen utensils and blankets.
The camp health station was evacuated with the Ethiopian invasion, but has since returned, although at a greatly reduced capacity. The station's tents were overrun and destroyed by the Ethiopian army, but the medicines and equipment were safely removed. The station is currently being rebuilt and restructured.
The camp water pump had earlier broken down and been sent away for repair. Water is now brought in by water tankers 3-4 times per day and is serving a very broad band of people over a fairly vast area. However, water supply was mentioned as being adequate for the time being, although there is good reason for concern as the camp population steadily increases.
School classrooms were extant but no longer functioning with the closing of all schools throughout the country. The administrator expected that school would begin next year (September 2000), although recent reports suggest that school may continue as early as next week (early July).
When asked about IDPs returning to the home villages or towns, the administrator said there was little evidence of such returning as most of the camp residents were from areas still very close to the front lines, with only Tokombia being even marginally safe. Therefore the IDPs couldn't -- and shouldn't, in his opinion -- return until more security guarantees could be given.
Tessenei
The basic infrastructure of Tessenei has suffered far more than Barentu, with a speedy and concerted effort on the part of the Ethiopian forces to loot and destroy vast swathes of the town, its government structure and its private sector. The only bridge leading into the town was destroyed during the first Ethiopian occupation and further damaged during the second occupation (which ended only about one week ago). Although the Eritrean military was busily at work reconstructing the mined bridge (we saw one explosion during our time there waiting to cross the river), access into and out of Tessenei was limited to crossing the river bed farther downstream.
People had started to return to town, but still far fewer than could be seen in Barentu. At the same time, town inhabitants were also seen moving their goods out of town towards Agordet, unconvinced of the security of the town or afraid of the possibility of renewed Ethiopian attacks. The damage was certainly greater, but the town should be able to receive a good number of returnees should they indeed begin to return. Proper assessments will, however, need to be carried out as to basic infrastructure such as electricity (it was available during our visit) and water supply and certainly into structural stability of damaged buildings.
With the start of the rains, crossing has become a more complicated affair with larger trucks and buses becoming bogged down in the river mud. Local government workers constructed an earthworks bridge over the course of an afternoon to allow traffic to cross. However, it was feared that the next rain would immediately wash away that stop-gap effort. At the same time, it was estimated that the military would be able to finish the bridge within 2-3 days.
Looting and Destruction
The Catholic Church compound of Tessenei was said to have been used as the base of operations for the Ethiopian occupying forces in the town. Goods were looted from governmental offices, schools, clinics, private businesses, restaurants, snack bars and homes and brought to the church compound where they were then loaded onto trucks and reportedly transported into Ethiopia.
There were several reports of active participation by Ethiopian civilians in this concerted looting operation, which is further cause for concern regarding future reconciliation between the two peoples..
Evidence in the church compound itself would support the claims of its having been used as a base. The compound was in disarray, educational and religious books had been taken, along with furniture and other such items. The church itself seemed in good condition, but reports were that religious objects had been removed and damaged during the occupation. The outbuildings in the compound suffered far more.
Within the town itself, the looting was extensive leaving little of any value in either public or private buildings. Buildings were set on fire or dynamited. The clinic was looted and sustained minor structural damage. The secondary school was burnt and suffered rather major structural damage.
The damage throughout Tessenei, with the exception of all government offices, seemed extraordinarily random with approximately every 5th building burnt, dynamited or hit at close range with heavy gunfire. The destruction was extensive. Private houses were indeed targetted, but the concentration was more on economic targets: banks, restaurants, snack bars, bars, hotels and shops.
The destruction seemed at times malicious, but thorough.
"Unless [Eritrean President]
Isaias is destroyed, we will give you people no peace."
Graffiti on building in Tessenei (rough translation from the Amharic)
The clinic was again operational, but nearly completely empty. Medical staff had returned and were seeing a steady stream of patients.
It's difficult to assess the greatest needs of potential returnees at this early stage, but our recommendation would be to supply building materials (tin sheeting, wood, metal, nails, tools, etc.) to the people through the local administration in order to assist with the rebuilding process.
It is assumed that start-up capital would also be a priority for the small to medium sized businesses of the town.
Other necessities would likely be blankets, kitchen utensils, emergency and staple food assistance, as well as increased medical assistance and short term temporary shelter for those whose houses had been destroyed.
Ali Gidir
The road leading to the village of Ali Gidir was lined with the rotting corpses of various types of livestock -- cattle, goats and sheep -- apparently shot and set on fire by the Ethiopian forces. The village itself was a horrendous sight.
Ali Gidir has, by far, suffered far worse than any of the other occupied towns/villages so far visited (this is notincluding villages farther south or along the front lines) with massive destruction of exclusively civilian housing and small businesses.
Burnt black circles mark the previous sites of now non-existent mud huts. Personal items not looted and transported away, sit broken and charred amidst the rubble of family homes. Residents sift through the ash and stone remains of their homes in search of what few personal items can be salvaged. Little remains to be salvaged.
Following the typical pattern of other towns and villages occupied by the Ethiopian troops, the village was thoroughly looted, then set on fire or dynamited on a massive scale. Government and public buildings were particularly singled out, but the difference in this case was the purposeful, malicious destruction of civilian houses and property. Though certainly carried out in other towns and villages, Ali Gidir marks a turning point in the destruction. These are not and cannot be explained away as accidental destruction by crossfire. This was a purposeful, spiteful and vindictive destruction of civilian targets.
Some residents claimed that the houses destroyed were those whose family had children or relatives in the Eritrean military. However, since such a vast majority of Eritreans fall into that category, it seems unlikely that the Ethiopian military would have been able to make that distinction.
Graffiti covered the walls of private houses and public enterprises, some threatening, some childish, some boastful and some vulgar.
"Dear comrade Isaias, we know
that you've spent a lot of money to construct this establishment and we
are happy to have been able to help out with its renovation. Understood!!"
Graffiti painted on the wall of the Ali Gidir Cotton Factory (estimated
value: USD 50 million) which had been nearly completely destroyed.
The Ali Gidir Cotton Factory was singled out for massive and near total destruction. The cotton gin was dynamited, as was the generator and a machine for converting cotton waste products into animal feed. Tractors and other heavy machinery left behind were burnt and blasted. Cotton stores were burnt and the warehouses destroyed. Unusually, the irrigation system inside the compound seems to have been left undamaged, though an older irrigation system just outside Tessenei town was dynamited.
To rehabilitate the factory will cost multiple millions of dollars and will definitely set back the country in its drive to development.
The school of Ali Gidir suffered extensive fire and explosive damage, while the clinic was looted and lightly damaged. The extent of landmines, if there are indeed any, is unknown.
"We went to Sudan when we heard
the Ethiopians were coming, but we hid our goods in Tessenei. We got back
four days ago and now we're going to see what's left. My sister says everything
was destroyed, but perhaps we can rebuild. My father was killed during
the occupation and my baby now has this strange skin disease he picked
up on the road. We'll take him to the clinic when we get there. If it's
still there."
Two women riding a donkey drawn cart back into Ali Gidir from Tessenei
Inhabitants were only just beginning to make the trip back to the village to assess the damage. We saw perhaps 5 donkey drawn carts heading into Ali Gidir, loaded with a few possessions: beds, chairs and clothing. Very few people were present in the village itself.
Ali Gidir will require massive intervention in many forms: immediate emergency assistance in the form of food, shelter and medical treatment; medium-term assistance in the form of start-up capital and building materials; and longer-term assistance in the form of large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Ghirmaika
Ghirmaika is a regional trading center, relying mainly on cross-border trade with Sudan, rather than more traditional agriculture. The displacement of such large numbers of people has naturally upset the economic life of this small town.
IDPs from Tessenei and areas farther south had previously flooded Ghirmaika, but had recently begun to move to other areas -- some of them back home. However, the number of displaced still reached 3,935, according to the sub-zonal administrator. Most of those were IDPs from the town of Ghirmaika itself who were afraid of Ethiopian bombing and shelling inside the town and so had taken to living in nomad-like shelters on the periphery or in the surrounding mountains and valleys. Approximately 500 were living 2-3 kilometers outside town, while the rest were somewhat farther away.
Food had been delivered to the area, but had been intended for the IDPs from Tessenei and its surrounding areas. Little to none had been allotted for the Ghirmaika IDPs who had thus received only very minimal supplies, which had quickly run out.
The administrator and the people themselves complained long and loudly about the state of their food supplies, claiming nothing had been delivered for over a month, and that had been only emergency supplies for a few days. It was stated that the residents returned to Ghirmaika town every day for manual labor when it was available. With the little earned from such labor, small amounts of food could be purchased and shared with the others.
It was obvious from our visit that the IDPs in this area were living under very harsh conditions, did not have adequate food supplies in any way, shape or form and were in need of immediate medical attention for some of the residents, particularly the elderly.
A nearby clinic was reported to be functioning, but without a doctor. Previously, more serious medical conditions were transported to the Tessenei clinic, but that service was now suspended. Medical supplies were also at a premium.
Shelter in this area was made of woven straw mats tied together to form very basic structures. While serving adequately as protection from the sun, the porous mats would offer very little protection against the rain.
We did not visit those living in the surrounding mountains and have no clear picture of their condition or needs, though it can be assumed that their condition is likely worse than the small community we visited -- already in quite desperate straights.
Immediate emergency and staple food intervention is strongly recommended as well as more thorough assessments to determine health and shelter needs.
Conclusion
As we drove away, a sudden torrential downpour raged down with high gusting winds and a dramatic drop in temperature. The storm lasted approximately 2 hours.
One cannot help but wonder about the condition of the approximately 600,000 - 700,000 IDPs in Eritrea without shelter of any kind; especially in light of the fact that over 65% of these are children.
Immediate and massive intervention is required in most all sectors, though shelter has suddenly jumped the queue in terms of immediate needs. We must get these people out of the rain, supply them with blankets and adequate food. Medical treatment will very soon also become a major concern, particularly amongst the children.
The fear is that we will begin seeing large numbers of cases of upper respiratory infections amongst the very young and very old. The malaria season will also soon be upon us and the camps are rife for infection, again putting the very young and very old at risk.
The situation is somewhat beyond desperate and rapidly deteriorating with the advent of the rains.
Human rights abuses are numerous and increasingly well-documented locally, but the international community remains stonily silent on these issues, leading to serious concern as to the precedent this silence might set.
International humanitarian intervention can make an extraordinary difference, not only in the lives, but in the very survival of Eritrea's 1.1 million war-displaced. Hesitation or failure to act now will undoubtedly allow this humanitarian crisis to degenerate very quickly into a dire humanitarian catastrophe.
