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USAID/Eritrea Links

USAID/Eritrea Mission

Mission Director:

  • Jatinder K. Cheema

Local Address:

  • 34 Zera Yacob Street
    Asmara
    Eritrea
    Tel: 291-1-126-546
    Fax: 291-1-123-093

From the US:

  • DOS/USAID
    7170 Asmara Place
    Washington, D.C.
    20521-7170

USAID's Strategy in Eritrea

2002 was a transitional year, as Eritrea attempted to revive its economy and restore infrastructure affected by the 1998-2000 war with Ethiopia. The devastating impact of the war is still being felt in all sectors, especially with labor shortages due to delays in the planned demobilization of approximately 200,000 soldiers. Exports have decreased dramatically due to the war, the slow development of the private sector, and the cessation of trade with Ethiopia. The country is dependent on support from abroad, both from official donors and private remittances. Government expenditures on productive sectors and social services are low. The HIV/AIDS prevalence is moderate, but the disease already strains Eritrea's limited trained human resource base and fledgling institutional capacity. A severe drought reduced agricultural production in 2002. Hence, Eritrea will continue to face critical development challenges for some time to come, and aggressive economic and political reforms will be needed to meet these challenges while Eritrea continues to provide a safety net for the poor.

The United States has four key foreign policy interests in Eritrea: maintaining regional stability, combating global terrorism, promoting the establishment of a democratic system and economic development. To these ends, the U.S. seeks to ensure that the uneasy peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia becomes a lasting one.

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