Operations

Operational context and population trends

The Government of Eritrea is demonstrating efforts to improve the socio-economic situation of the country even though job opportunities remain limited.

UNHCR’s protection and assistance activities target mainly Somali refugees and are heavily affected by funding constraints, high inflation rates and rising operational costs. In 2016, UNHCR in Eritrea will continue to advocate for enhanced durable solutions, Eritrea’s accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and the establishment of a favorable protection environment.

Since 2012, UNHCR has registered very few new arrivals in Eritrea. Following recent developments in Yemen, 27 Somali refugees from Yemen arrived in Eritrea in 2015; however the situation is expected to remain more or less the same as there are no documented movements towards Eritrea to the best of UNHCR’s knowledge. By the end of January 2016, UNHCR’s total population of concern, including camp-based and urban refugees, stood at 2,500 individuals.

Key priorities in 2016

In addition to pursuing core protection activities and lifesaving assistance, UNHCR will invest in:

• Promoting solutions-oriented programmes such as repatriation, resettlement and local integration activities through livelihood and self-reliance projects that target refugees and host communities, in addition to progressively integrating refugees into the national healthcare and education systems, water services, and development programmes.
• Building the capacity of UNHCR’s government counterpart in Eritrea;
• Enhancing SGBV prevention and response mechanisms and carrying out periodic reviews of SGBV standard operating procedures;
• Strengthening child protection mechanisms mainly through close monitoring of children at risk, including orphans, single parent children, and children with special needs. Best interest assessments will be systematically carried out;
• Strengthening the Office’s engagement with the Government of Eritrea and partnerships with other UN agencies and development actors, including with a focus on mixed migration.