Welcome Statement by Mission Director

I am pleased to welcome you to our Web site, which provides information on USAID's programs and achievements in Eritrea. Eritrea, one of Africa's youngest nations, is in the process of transition since the 1998-2000 war with Ethiopia. The war left Eritrea with a number of challenges, including meeting emergency humanitarian needs; reducing food insecurity; reconstructing infrastructure; reintegrating the one third of the population displaced by the conflict; and demobilizing over 200,000 soldiers. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is at an early stage, but the risk of the disease rapidly spreading is high. Despite all these problems, Eritrea's diversity and multiplicity of ethnic groups, its location and access to the sea, its industrial traditions, and its disciplined workforce yield great hope for the future.

USAID, in partnership with the Government of the State of Eritrea, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations, is proud to contribute to improving the lives of the Eritrean people through our strategic areas of intervention. USAID/Eritrea's Integrated Strategy Plan, which covers the period from 2003 to 2007, focuses on making progress in three areas: health care as well as HIV/AIDS services; creating jobs through small and medium business development in rural areas; and increasing public participation in the country's development.

USAID has achieved many notable successes in Eritrea. With USAID's assistance under the Leland Initiative, Eritrea joined the Internet world; Eritrea was the first country in Africa to meet the Abuja targets for preventing malaria, in addition to achieving dramatic results in the health sector; and USAID assistance has helped to create 5,500 new jobs in rural areas of Eritrea. Once again, I welcome you to our Web site.

USAID/Eritrea
Street No. 172-9, House #15, P.O Box 957
ASMARA, ERITREA
PHONE: (291-1) 126546, FAX: (291-1) 123093