Renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea erupted in early May, displacing thousands of civilians and causing many to flee into neighbouring Sudan. The Security Council and Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 19 June welcomed the signing by Eritrea and Ethiopia of an agreement, proposed by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), on the cessation of hostilities. Noting the key role played by the proximity talks held in Algiers from 29 May to 10 June, the Council urged the two parties to fully implement the agreement.
Emphasizing that the ceasefire agreement called for the United Nations to deploy a peacekeeping mission, the Secretary-General stated that he would "support all efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia", adding that he planned to send experts to these countries to determine what a future UN presence might entail. The Secretary-General dispatched to Algiers a representative of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to assist with planning for the implementation of the agreement.
On 17 May, the Council had unanimously adopted resolution 1298 (2000), strongly condemning the continued fighting and demanding that Eritrea and Ethiopia immediately cease all military action. It also decided to establish, initially for 12 months, an arms embargo against the two countries. It called on all States to prevent the sale or supply of arms and military equipment there, as well as related technical assistance or training.
The recent fighting took place in Eritrea's western lowlands--the country's bread basket, which accounts for three quarters of the country's food production. A speedy with drawal by Ethiopian forces from Eritrea would enable the displaced rural population to return to their fields and sow crops. With the window for the annual planting season rapidly closing with the approach of the rainy season, there will be a need for external food aid for at least one year.
The fighting has put a huge strain on the already impoverished and drought-stricken region. More than 1 million people--or one third of the population--have been displaced, and more than 80,000 have been driven into neighbouring Sudan. Some 200,000 are sheltering in camps or have sought refuge with host communities. But many more are left living in the open air, without access to food, water or basic sanitation. The World Food Programme on 20 June began airlifting emergency aid supplies--tents, blankets, medicine, medical supplies, food items and a mobile operating room--to Eritrea.
With the Onset of the rains in the next few weeks, the malaria threat will increase dramatically and health problems could explode across the region. Access to the camps would also become a huge problem once the rains started, with dirt roads that cross dry riverbeds becoming flooded.