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Sub Saharan Africa
Eritrea |
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Country information
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
Trade and Investment
UK exports to Eritrea totalled £2.01 million in 2006 and £5.68 million in 2005. UK imports from Eritrea totalled £189,000 in 2006 and £274,000 in 2005.
Development
Eritrea is a very poor country, ranking at 156 out of 177 on the UN human development index. Life expectancy is 51 years. HIV prevalence is below 3%. Eritrea faces perennial food security problems but in recent years it has rejected much foreign assistance. Recent statistics are difficult to find but in 2003 about 70% of the population depended on foreign assistance for all or part of their food supply, and 66% of the population were living below the poverty line, rising to 80% in rural areas. Despite efforts by the government has put substantial effort into improving health and education provision, conditions may have worsened due to Eritrea’s increasing international isolation.
The UK provides substantial humanitarian support. Between 2001 and 2006 the UK have provided £10.2 million of humanitarian assistance, channelled through the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam and Dutch Inter-Church Aid/Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation. The DFID development budget for Eritrea is £4.8 million for 2007/8.
DFID Country Profile: Eritrea
United Nations Development Programme
