ANSEBA REGION

Anseba Region of Eritrea has a population of approximately 500,000. The region was almost decimated by the thirty years war of independence (from Ethiopia) and the experience of severe drought and famine have marked the lives of most adults in the region. Its capital Keren with a population of about 120, 000 is the second highly populated city in Eritrea.

Anseba region covers 22,834 sq. kilometres. The region is arid and semi arid. Much of the area is mountainous and therefore not suitable for cultivation. This adds to the pressure on those areas that are potentially fertile – should rainfall be favourable. The region experiences a wide variation of temperatures associated with altitude. But due to the arid nature of the land and scarcity of vegetation daytime temperatures are often high. The thirty-year war prompted the abandonment of farms and arable and grazing lands remain littered with land mines and unexploded shells.

The Region derives its name from the principal river - Anseba - which has its sources in the highlands of Eritrea and flows towards the Northeast of the country. In the past the river Anseba had a perennial flow, at present it has a surface flow only after substantial rainfall and usually at the end of the rainy season. It has been a valuable resource for small-scale farming and a source of water for livestock in the immediate area of its course. Over the last two decades the amount of rainfall has reduced significantly in the region.

Anseba region is home to diverse communities in terms of language, religion and culture. The region is remarkable for its ability to embrace diversity with people at a minimum being tri-lingual (Blin, Tigre, Tigrinia). However Arabic, Saho, Kunama and other Eritrean languages are also freely spoken. In addition the Anseba region is the home of great religious diversity: with equal proportion of Christians and Moslems, with remarkable sharing of festivals and mutual respect for each other’s faith. For example the Maryam Da’arit pilgrimage in May involves both Christians and Moslems celebrating together.

The Anseba region was considered by the Ethiopian government to have been the centre of the Eritrean independence struggle. Therefore, the region suffered systematic acts of destruction of its infrastructure and experienced the brunt of the war ravages associated with the thirty-year liberation struggle. The region takes pride in its active role and contribution to the independence struggle. However, the cost has been the near destruction of the region’s agricultural, educational and other social infrastructures. Many villages were forcibly evacuated and razed to the ground and village wells poisoned. Many inhabitants were forced to flee to the Sudan for their safety – and currently the refugee camps in the Sudan are being closed forcing those who fled in the past to return to Anseba.

The region is barely coping with the arrival of refugees who are returning from the Sudan. There is tremendous strain on the services that are available especially in the main city, Keren, where there are severe shortages of shelter, water and food.