| Ethiopia Project |
 In 2007, UNHCR reinforced the existing Field Unit in Sire, Northern Ethiopia and its Eritrean Programme in order to provide emergency protection and assistance to increasing number of Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers. This is a volatile region. The existing refugee population required greater support and there is a sincere concern about increasing arrivals. The program, therefore, has increased its emergency preparedness for the early part of 2008. The political tension continues to mount between Eritrea and Ethiopia over their disputed border, as well as over regional security and politics. Both sides are maintaining massive military build-ups face to face along the border. The number of refugees arriving in Ethiopia seeking refugee status has increased steadily during the course of 2007, with the possibility of further increase at the rate of up to 1,000 persons per month. There are currently 16,250 Eritrean refugees in Shimelba refugee camp on the border. The maximum capacity of 10,000 has been long over-stretched to accommodate increasing number of monthly influx. There are 16 border entry points (scattered across 250km radius). The 2007 budget to provide clean water for the existing and growing Eritrean refugee population in the Ethiopian program was US$ 334,520 The $30,000 contribution from Earth Water International was allocated to the Northern Ethiopian water sector expenditures including the following activities in the latter half of 2007.
Plans for 2008 in this program include increasing the supply of water in camps from 11-18 litres to 20 litres, per person per day. The 2008 budget requirements for clean water for refugees in the country is over US$1.17 million, given the increase in refugees from Eritrea and Somalia. The specific needs of the Eritrean population are estimated at $450,000 of that total. |
