21.01.2004
Solidarity for People of Eritrea
LWF General Secretary to meet with high-level government officialsGENEVA, 21 January 2004 (LWI) - The incessant tension between Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as the status of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be among issues addressed at a high-level meeting between government officials and the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko.
Noko will travel to Eritrea, January 21-25, to visit the LWF member church, the Evangelical Church of Eritrea, and the LWF field program there.
The LWF general secretary will be accompanied by the director of the LWF Department for World Service (DWS), Mr Robert Granke as well as by LWF field program staff.
"I believe that such a visit will be an important opportunity for expressing solidarity with the people of Eritrea at this time of critical need and of search for peace in the region. It will also provide a valuable opportunity for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Eritrean perspectives on the current situation," Noko said prior to his departure.
Tensions between the two neighboring countries have been rising since Ethiopia rejected the decision of the international and independent Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) to give Eritrea the village of Badme, where the two-year border war (1998-2000) began.
The visitation program also includes a field trip to war and drought-affected areas and meetings with religious leaders. "It is essential for me to address the crucial role of inter-religious dialogue and to encourage faith communities and government to collaborate with each other," Noko said.
Eritrea has suffered six years of drought during the past ten years. According to reports from the LWF/DWS field program, an estimated 1.7 million people are unlikely to be able to feed themselves in Eritrea in 2004 and will face a humanitarian catastrophe unless they receive assistance.
The theme of the 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal "Hear Our Voices" emphasizes listening to people ravaged by war, conflict and natural disasters struggling to rebuild their lives. The appeal calls for USD 147.2 million in food and non-food assistance to meet the most urgent and ongoing human need. (351 words)
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