Perfil urbano

Regional and Technical Cooperation Division

EritrEa: NatioNal aNd CitiEs UrbaN ProFilE
asMara, MassaWa & MENdEFEra

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Eritrea National and Cities Profile Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), 2008 All rights reserved United Nations Human Settlements Programme publications can be obtained from UN-HABITAT Regional and Information Offices or directly from:P.O.Box 30030, GPO 00100 Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: + (254 20) 762 4266/7 E-mail: unhabitat@unhabitat.org Website: http://www.unhabitat.org

This report was prepared by Giorgis Tekle and Ermias Ogbai with information collected through interviews with key urban actors in Eritrea. The report was reviewed by Medhanie Estifanos and coordinated by the UN-HABITAT Programme Manager for Eritrea, Eyob Kahsai.This project and report was managed by Alain Grimard and Kerstin Sommer. Important inputs were provided by Alioune Badiane, Antonio Yachan, Farrouk Tebbal, Clarissa Augustinus, Mohamed Halfani, Lucia Kiwala, Eduardo Moreno, Raf Tuts, Gulelat Gebede and Gora Mboup. HS Number: HS/111/10E ISBN Number:(Volume) 978-92-1-132224-8 Disclaimer The designation employed and the presentation of the material inthis publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic system or degree of development. The analysis, conclusions and recommendations of the report do notnecessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT or its Member States. Excerpts from this publication may be reproduced without authorisation, on condition that the source is indicated.

Acknowledgements UN-HABITAT and UNDP staff members supported the Urban Profiling process in Eritrea with their inputs andcomments: Alain Grimard, Kerstin Sommer All photographs: Alain Grimard and Afom Tsegay. Illustrations as indicated. Design and Layout: Florence Kuria and Kerstin Sommer Printing: UNON, Publishing Services Section, Nairobi, ISO 14001:2004-certified 2

EritrEa: NatioNal aNd CitiEs UrbaN ProFilE
asMara, MassaWa & MENdEFEra
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME
Regional and Technical coopeRaTiondivision

Table of conTenTs
FOREWORDS ExECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND GOVERNANCE SLUMS GENDER AND HIV/AIDS ENVIRONMENT BACKGROUND OF THE THREE CITIES PROjECT PROPOSALS URBAN SECTOR GOVERNANCE SLUMS GENDER AND HIV/AIDS ENVIRONMENT 30 31 35 38 40 4 7 9 15 17 19 21 23

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foRewoRds
The annual urban growth rate in sub-saharan africa is almost 5 percent twice as high as in latin america and asia.it also has the world’s largest proportion of urban residents living in slums, which today are home to 72 percent of urban africa’s citizens representing a total of some 187 million people. as more and more people seek a better life in towns and cities, the urban slum population in africa is projected to double every 15 years in a process known as the urbanization of poverty. african cities arethus confronted in the new Millennium with the problem of accommodating the rapidly growing urban populations in inclusive cities, providing them with adequate shelter and basic urban services, while ensuring environmental sustainability, as well as enhancing economic growth and development. UN-Habitat is the lead agency for implementation of Millennium development Goal (MdG) 7, target 10 (reducingby half the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water), and target 11 (achieving significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020). as part of our drive to address this crisis, UNHabitat is working with the European Commission (EC) to support sustainable urban development in african, Caribbean and Pacific (aCP) countries. Given the...