UN Delegation discusses with Eritrean Officials and visits Development Project sites

UN Delegation being greeted with warm hospitality in Eritrea

UN Delegation discusses with Eritrean Officials and visits Development Project sites

By Kesete Ghebrehiwet,

Last week a team of UN delegation has been busy making discussions with Eritrean officials. The UN delegation team headed by Ms. Leila Pakkala, UNICEF Regional Director for United Nations Development Group -Eastern and Southern Africa has visited different projects in the Central region so as to learn the true essence of Eritrea’s development undertakings. The delegation has also held a meeting with the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students and the National Union of Eritrean Women.

During a three-day stay in Eritrea from the 15th to 17th of November, the team has therefore been engaged in series of discussion with Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yemane Ghebremeskel, Director of President’s Office, Ms. Amna Nurhussien, Minister of Health, Mr. Hagos Ghebrehiwet, Minister of Labor and Human Welfare, Mr. Semere Russom, Minister of Education, Mr. Tesfay Ghebreslasie, Minster of Land Water and Environment, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Giorgish Teklemichael, Minister of National Development, and Mr. Brhane Habtemariam, Minister of Finance.

It is not hard to guess the discussions held with the above mentioned Government officials and ministers from different sectors have been mainly centered on how to enhance the development partnership that exists between the government of Eritrea and the UN. Such a meeting has enabled the UN delegation to have a firsthand clue about Eritrea and its nation-building endeavors.

As the meetings give focus on the true drivers of economic growth and societal well being, the main aim of conducting meetings with social sector ministries is hence to get familiarized with the activities that have been carried out towards educating as well as improving the living standards of nationals. Since economic growth plays decisive role in paving a way towards leading a healthy life style, meetings held with other ministries that have closer impact in the country’s economic growth was also another area which the UN delegation has been keen to learn about.

In a meeting held with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare, the delegation had a chance to hear a briefing that Eritrea has been work ing towards creating a viable environment for its people since the pre-independence period. Many of the goals that have been embraced in the Millennium Development Goals have been Eritrea’s targets before they become global goals. So, the Millennium goals are not new to Eritrea. So, Eritrea works not solely for accreditation but all its endeavors are aimed at realizing its people are leading a healthy life style.

Following to briefings about the achievements registered in the health sector and different welfare programs, the UN delegation held discussions as regards reinforcing partnership cooperation that could lead to a better accomplishment.

There is no doubt that Eritrea has continued to register massive achievement in the nation building process. A number of areas that had no connection with the rest part of the country due to lack of viable roads network and other infrastructures have now become destinations everybody could visit in a few hours’ drive. Some areas have also become new settlement areas owing to a growing provision of social services. Dr. Giorgish, the Minster of National Development, briefed the UN delegation about the multifaceted achievement attained since the post-independence period. Dr. Giorgish also explained that Eritrea has already mapped out substantially essential development programs and is relentlessly working on their implementation. Thus, the country never viewed the role development partners could play in the realization of the set out goals.

In a meeting held with the Minister of Land, Water and Environment, the delegation held deliberations about environmental risk reduction and recurrence of desertification. In this meeting, Ms. Leila and other representatives from the UN learned a great deal of Eritrea’s law on land, water and environmental protection. The two parties also looked on ways of mitigating dangers of desertification.

Accompanied by different UN representatives in Eritrea, Ms. Leila and her team visited Lamza, Merhano and Adi-ke villages just outside Asmara to observe different development projects that have been implemented in collaboration with the UN.

There, in the three villages, the relegation observed temperate fruits which are at good condition and a well built micro-dam in Lamza area and other water as well as sanitation projects.

In her remark about her visit to Eritrea, Ms. Leila said “Our meetings with Government have clearly shown the willingness and commitment to heighten cooperation and partnership with the UN and other development partners in a number of fields.”

Ms. Leila has generally expressed her observation about Eritrea as follows:

Eritrea by virtue of being in the Horn of Africa is naturally not well endowed with resources like water and this affects food security. But we saw very good examples of not only harnessing scarce resources but also effective and efficient utilization of such resources. The projects have clearly visible impact on the livelihood of the community. What makes this more interesting is the fact that community is at the center of the management of these initiatives. With these innovations, I am also convinced that, with time, food security and nutrition, which the Government has pronounced as “priority of priorities” will be a reality. What we saw only confirms the success stories we have heard about Eritrea’s progress in the health MDGS.

Ms. Leila has also urged the government of Eritrea to continue sharing information with partners for she believes potential partners and countries simply do not have information about the country.

Mr. Leila and she along her delegation theme have been impressed in their three-day stay in Eritrea. The meetings they held with Government officials have given them a true image of Eritrea. That is way Mr. Leila said “I encourage Eritrea to use the experiences in the health MDGs to help shape the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The world, and particularly Africa, needs your voice in defining its position in the ext development agenda.

The delegation has also held a brief meeting with Mr. Yemane Ghebremeskel, Director President’s office, about ways and means of further enhancing the already existing cooperation and partnership programs.

Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has given briefings to Mr. Leila about malicious plays that have been exercised against Eritrea. But such ploys have been losing ground with the ever growing awareness about Eritrea’s constrictive engagement.

In the closing session of the meetings and the tours to the villages around Asmara, Ms. Leila said “This is just my first visit, and I am grateful for the warm and open welcome the mission has received and the very positive discussions we had. I promise to visit regularly to keep in touch and help ensure that our cooperation continues to grow from strength to strength.”

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