DATE=3/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ERITREAN DISPLACEMENT CAMPS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260679
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=ASMARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Nearly one-half-million people have been
displaced in Eritrea since fighting broke out with
neighboring Ethiopia two-years ago. Feeding,
clothing, and sheltering the displaced is a huge
undertaking, one which is being managed not by the
international community, but by Eritreans. As Carol
Pineau reports from a displacement camp in central
Eritrea, the effort is part of the nation's emphasis
on self-sufficiency.
TEXT: As the hot afternoon sun beats down, 20-
students huddle under the shade of an acacia tree on
the grounds of Kotobia - a camp for Eritrea's war
displaced. A young girl, standing next to a cracked
blackboard strung up in the branches, reads from an
English language textbook.
/// ACT -- GIRL READING, FOLLOWED BY TEACHER ///
Girl: Leopards can climb the trees. They sleep
in the trees. Leopards like to eat animals.
They eat monkeys, dogs, and goats.
Teacher: Excellent, sit down. Who can read?
Who can read? Others.
/// FADE OUT UNDER TEXT ///
For the more than 20-thousand residents at Kotobia,
life goes on, despite the harsh conditions. Many of
the people were farmers along the Eritrean-Ethiopian
border, but fighting between the two countries forced
them to flee their land.
/// SFX - FOOD DISTRIBUTION - WOMEN TALKING, GRAIN
RATIONED // OPT ACT ///
/// OPT /// The women gather around a few sacks of
grain as they divide rations for children. The scene
is friendly, with the women laughing and talking. ///
END OPT ///
The people at Kotobia look surprisingly healthy,
especially considering many have been displaced for
nearly two-years. The camp has installed eight water
stations and a clinic. With 20 donated sewing
machines, the camp runs several classes in tailoring.
Metal supports are already up for the 12-planned
classrooms.
Self-sufficiency is also evident at the grassroots
level. Camp administrator, Elias Habte, says within
days of arriving at the camp, residents set up tea
salons, bars serving homemade brew, tailoring shops,
and small booths with provisions.
/// ELIAS HABTE ACT ///
Some of them, they brought 10, five cows, and
they sell the cows and they do these little,
little, little shops. They try to do something.
To live in the world, you must do something.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// Along the dirt path that serves as a
market street, a large wooden pole with an overturned
metal beer mug serves as a sign - homemade beer is
available here. Further along the path, a metal pot
lets people know they can get a spicy, sugary cup of
tea at this booth.
Inside one shop stocked with bolts of fabric, a man
works an old foot-pedal Singer sewing machine.
/// SFX - SEWING MACHINE - MIX WITH MAN'S VOICE -
ESTABLISH AND SLIDE UNDER TEXT // OPT ACT ///
The man says he is making a woman's blouse. He says
he worked as a tailor before being forced to flee his
village, but he adds he was lucky enough to be able to
take his sewing machine with him. He sells about five
garments per week. /// END OPT ///
Eritrea has cared for its own, but the burden placed
on the government is enormous. In a sense, Eritrea is
a victim of its own success. A senior representative
from the U-S Agency for International Development said
recently after visiting the camps that there was no
humanitarian crisis in Eritrea.
But aid workers say a crisis is brewing. Eritrea's
grain reserves are dangerously low and the relief
agency's funds are nearly exhausted; yet international
aid has only trickled in.
/// OPT /// There are severe shortages of tents, with
most families having to make do with plastic sheeting.
People also need clothing, blankets, and cooking oil,
as residents have little choice but to get firewood by
chopping down the few trees in the region. /// END
OPT ///
More than anything, camp residents say they need peace
to get on with their lives.
/// NAGISTE KIDANE - ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER ///
Nagiste Kidane, a young mother of five, says she would
like to get another farm, but for now, she just hopes
to survive. As a hot, dusty wind rips through the
holes in her tent, Nagiste comments that human beings
are not supposed to live this way. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/GE/RAE
28-Mar-2000 09:12 AM EDT (28-Mar-2000 1412 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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