#SaveDankalia

REPORT FROM ERITREA: sad stories from coastal areas
Every day, I will try to update what is going on currently in Red sea coast of Eritrea. I will name names, including High offical military leaders, security officers and administrators who are sanctioned our people. Daily, I will try to release two reports in English, Arabic and Afar.
-The regime that leased Assab port for millions of dollars in addition to monthly logistical support from UAE, sanctioned the owners and dwellers of the city. 1 bread for 1 one member of family per day. If they find enjera, they are lucky ones.
- The UAE stationed forces in Asseb tried several time to support the local people but the regime refused. In the last 2 month, they tried 2 times but all their meddling to provide assistance failed.
- In the first month of lock down, the PFDJ collaborated with the military battelions to collect some unused food grains from each battelion. They collected less than 100 quantal. There were brigade's who refused to give their share of what the top generals demanded.
- After they collected they handed it to city administration , however as usual it was insufficient . Majority of those who registered did not get the grain. Some of them reported to the city administration what they experienced and how they been humilited but nothing changed.

- PFDJ ration(grain, sugar and sometimes oil) which they sell for 1000(equivalent to 85 dollar) is not distributed for the last 2 month. For those who live in remote areas, mainly Pastoralists they are depend on PFDJ ration and for the last 2 months they didn't receive rations. Till now nobody knows how they are living because many areas have no connection coverage( for the last 27 years)

- In Asseb, out of 6 bakery, only 3 is operating. In massawa, out of 9 only 4 is operating.The main towns; Rahayto, beylul, Berasoli, wade, afambo, eddi, tio, Ghelalu, Bada, Buri pensuila and dahlak, foro Edafalu, Zula and Hirgigo, no bakery exist.
- In massawa and Asseb, they asked the owners of the bakeries to not sell flour(all purpose flour) to the people. The owners of the bakery work on to provide daily bread(Breakfast, lunch and dinner) but the quantity of the flour decreased. The STORES have less flours(all purpose flour) and they are now providing only night time.
- During the 1st weeks of lock down, Fisher men were ordered to sail to massawa to handover the fish they carry. Still now, they didn't receive the price of the fish. Some of the owners of the boats are collapsed and devestated.
- No movement in the sea is allowed. Even to catch small fishes in front of your house is prohibited.


Useful facts About Red Sea Region in Eritrea( Qasa badih caraatih Rakaakay) معلومات مفيده عن اقليم البحرالاحمر في ارتريا.

- Red Sea Regions in Eritrea stretches from Doumier to Sudan border, includes one of the two most strategical ports in Africa, Asseb and Massawa.
- The people that inhabit the region are Afar, Saho,Assaworta, Tigre and Rashida . Afars live in South part of the sea, all the way to coastal plains bordered with Dijbouti. From massawa to Dijbouti border.
While Saho live in Edafalu, faro, Hirgigo and massawa.
While Tigre live in Zula, faro, massawa and all the way to Sudan border. Rashida lives and move from massawa to Sudan border. Also Tigrinya ethnic group in large numbers started to live in massawa and Asseb after independence of Eritrea.

- Majority of the people are maritime traders, Fishermen and half of them are Pastoralists. They rarely plough the land for agriculture activities. But there are enough arable land in Faro, Bada, Ra, saroyta, Rahayto and other areas.
- The region borders with four main countries, Yemen, Ethiopia, Sudan and Dijbouti.
- The regime opened direct war with all the four countries. As a result the people in the region became under military siege for the last 27 years. Locally, they call it Military COMMAND Post.

- After independence, the large area become under direct control of military generals.
- Peoples movement, trading, commerce and fishery activities become under direct attack of the regime who can't understand well the livelihood of the people. Beside controls every sphere of life through Brutal security apparatus.
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-In the last 27 years, Many innocent life's have been ruined. Boats bombarded, Fishermen swindled and robbed, Subjoagted to prison, extra-judicial killings of the people widely happened.
-In the last 27 years, infrastructures build by government can be counted by numbers. Lack of social service beside no infrastructure and poor administration detoriarated the living conditions of the people.
- All the forces who are responsible for the evil deeds are the so called Eastern command(Samuel Haile(China), the late Wuch, Wadi Afan and others) Navy commanders,(Humad Karikare, Wadi fetwarari, Ahmed Mohammed(wadi Halima and others) and security apparatus under direct control of national Security and president's office.
- Mainly people live on PFDJ ration. Sorghum( 2killo and half - 5 killo for one family member) and sugar (1 and half killo). No other rations are allowed.

- 27 years of embargo on the region forced many people of the region to escape to neighbor countries, Ethiopia, Sudan, Dijbouti and Yemen.
- Statistics indicate half of the native population (more than 1 million) fled the country in the last 27 years of the ruling regime in Asmara.
- Systematical marginalization, deprivation of natural resources, extra-judicial killings, consifacting land and properties, arbitrary arrest, extreme humiliation on their own land are the main reasons behind exodus of the people of the region.
- Government systematically implemented unwarranted policies (land, education, movement of goods and people, maritime trade, border trade, and several others) to marginalize the people of the region.
- Only 35% of the the region have mobile connection.
- dueto climate change , harsh weather and lack of government support drought and famine are dominant natural disasters. Often, is is man- made.
- Fishery and marine resource are under government control. Government impose restrictions on the people while invite foreign companies, and fisher men from other countries to benefit from fishery and marine resource for hard currency. Companies from Philippines, Yemenis, Egyptains, are the main actors who rob people's resources. They work on the sea and pay hard currency for the regime.
- Reports indicate some of the companies are co-owned by Eritrean naval commanders.
- The regime through all the years, emptied the region from the people while took all the resources with out any returns of the owners of the land and the sea.
- several foreign bases have been established in the region with out consultant of the people who own the land. Iranians, Israelis, Qatarians and United Arab emirates are among the forces.
- Currently, UAE established a big naval and air base in Asseb. The regime gain millions of dollars beside logistical support.
- Massawa port have been destroyed for several years. Massawian's rarely get a benefit from the port activity.
- Salt exploration in Asseb closed and all the owners of the salt field been arrested, and Subjoagted to several inhumane acts by government forces.
- In massawa, salt fields are under direct control of the government. Many of the fields distributed to government officials and their relatives.
- Colluli Potash project which still not started is from this region. So far, no local people involvement allowed.