Relief and rehabilitation in Eritrea: Lessons and issues

Abstract

Eritrea and Ethiopia, up until the recent re-emergence of conflict from 6 May 1998 over disputed border territory, have both experienced an apparent peace since the end of the 30-year-long war in 1991 and the separation of Eritrea as an independent state from Ethiopia in 1993. Both these countries have experienced the effects of wars, drought and famine which have been more dramatic and tragic than most other CPEs and both countries are now at the rehabilitation stage in the relief-to-development continuum. This paper explores the lessons and issues arising from Eritrea's experience of relief and rehabilitation both during the liberation struggle and in the process of post-conflict reconstruction. The implications of the recent border dispute for Eritrea's and for Ethiopia's process of rehabilitation are also briefly discussed in the final section of the paper.