In Eritrea, UN deputy relief chief urges support for vulnerable communities

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Kyung-wha Kang with Eritrea's Foreign Minister Osman Saleh

By UN

The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kyung-wha Kang, wrapped up a three-day visit to Eritrea today, where she urged broader support for the Government's efforts to meet basic needs and build resilience of the country's most vulnerable communities.

In a press release from the capital, Asmara, Ms. Kang also welcomed the growing opportunities for engagement between the Government and UN partners and fruitful collaboration in implementing the Strategic Partnerships Cooperation Framework (SPCF) 2013-2016.

Thanking the authorities for their warm welcome and hospitality, Ms. Kang reiterated the readiness of UN development and humanitarian actors to work together with the Government towards the speedy conclusion of the SPCF for 2017-2020.

During her visit, Ms. Kang met with Osman Saleh, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Yemane Gebreab, Head of Political Affairs of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice and Presidential Advisor; Yemane Gebremeskel, Minister for Information; Arfaine Berhe, Minister of Agriculture; Amna Nurhusein, Minister of Health; Semere Russom, Minister of Education; and Kahsay Gerehiwet, Minister of Labour and Human Welfare. She also met with humanitarian, development and donor representatives.

The discussion dealt with the full range of challenges facing Eritrea, including human rights and the implementation of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review recommendations (UPR), and the role of the UN and international actors in support of Government endeavours to meet basic needs and build the resilience of the most vulnerable communities in the country.

Together with the Minister of Health, Ms. Kang visited Serejeka and Gashnashm in the Maekel region, where she saw Government-led nutrition and basic health programmes that help thousands of children and mothers with the support of UN agencies.

“Programmes that provide supplementary feeding, immunization and nutrition surveillance are vital to reducing malnutrition and building resilience,” she said. “Eritrea has made significant progress in improving child and maternal health, and I urge partners to continue supporting national and international efforts,” she added.

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