ISAIAS ADMITS FAMINE PRESENT IN ERITREA; PROMISES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000407


DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/RSA; NAIROBI FOR GEORGIANNA PLATT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019
TAGS: EAID ER PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: ISAIAS ADMITS FAMINE PRESENT IN ERITREA; PROMISES
UNICEF ACCESS

Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d)



1. (C) SUMMARY: In a surprising departure from his public
pronouncements on the non-existence of hunger in Eritrea,
President Isaias admitted to visiting UNICEF Deputy Executive
Director Hilde Johnson that there is famine in the country
and UNICEF's help is needed. Johnson briefed Western
diplomats on her November 17-18 visit to Eritrea and her
lengthy meeting with Isaias. She said Isaias promised UNICEF
total access to the country for the purposes of conducting a
nutrition survey and providing blanket supplementary feeding.
End summary.


2. (C) Johnson, a former minister of development from Norway,
briefed Western diplomats November 18 at the close of her
two-day visit. She and UNICEF staff met with President
Isaias for an hour and a half, followed by a lengthy private
meeting with the president. She reported she obtained
Isaias's emphatic agreement to provide UNICEF with access to
the entire country for the purpose of conducting a nutrional
survey and supplementary feeding for children. (UNICEF has
been greatly restricted in its travel outside Asmara for over
a year, suffers from the same diesel restriction as does the
rest of the UN mission, and was forced by the GSE to relocate
its office to less desirable premises). She also pushed
Isaias for greater access to reports and statistics, which he
reportedly granted. He even agreed to closer cooperation with
the World Food Program. Johnson noted Yemane Ghebreab had
had a fruitful discussion with WFP in Rome last month.


3. (C) Johnson characterized Isaias as highly focused and
cogent during the meeting. He admitted that Eritrea's
efforts so far to combat hunger and promote child health had
not been completely successful, and that he welcomed UNICEF's
help. He stated there is famine in Eritrea. He agreed the
nutritional survey was necessary to see what had worked in
combatting malnutrition. He even expressed a desire for
regional cooperation in food security, saying he did not want
to see a "single hungry Ethiopian child." Johnson also
reported that GSE officials made no effort to hide cases of
severe malnutrition at a referral hospital in Massawa and
were grinning widely to hear their president agree to
cooperate with UNICEF.


4. (C) Comment. Johnson emphasized repeatedly her long
personal association with Isaias and may have heard what she
wanted to hear. But possibly Isaias is truly worried about
conditions in the country and his flagging popularlity. His
sincerity and willingness to accept UNICEF help will be
proven only if diesel fuel and travel permits are
forthcoming.


Tabler-Stone