AGP Executive Report

Breastfeeding in Asmara: Eritrea marked World Breastfeeding Week at national level, with the Ministry of Health urging mothers and communities to protect early breastfeeding and avoid unnecessary formula, alongside a medical association conference and father-focused discussions. Drug crackdown in Aweil: Northern Bahr el Ghazal police arrested 11 people and seized 14 cartons of tramadol in a targeted operation, warning parents about the health harms of substance misuse. Migration tensions and health stress in the UK: In Thetford, England, protests over asylum seekers turned violent, with police injured and migrants evacuated from a property—another reminder of how displacement and community conflict can strain wellbeing. Maritime rescue after Channel boat fire: French and British coastguards rescued 157 people after a migrant boat engine caught fire in the English Channel; no fatalities were reported. EU legal protection push: The EU backed a €1m Yemen program to support legal identity, registration, and counseling for nearly 13,000 refugees and asylum seekers, linking protection to access to healthcare and education. Regional instability affecting care access: Reports describe renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray and renewed displacement into Sudan, raising risks for wounded people and disrupted services.

Breastfeeding push in Asmara: Eritrea marked World Breastfeeding Week at national level, with the Ministry of Health urging mothers and communities to protect exclusive breastfeeding and fathers to play a stronger role in child nutrition and development. Drug crackdown in Aweil: Northern Bahr el Ghazal police arrested 11 people and seized 14 cartons of tramadol in a targeted operation, warning parents about the health and future harm of substance abuse. Refugee rights in Kenya: A Kenyan court ordered Eritrean asylum seekers in police custody to have refugee status determined through individual, lawful procedures, with some transferred to Kakuma or Daadab while cases are processed. EU maritime safety for migrants: The EU agreed to fund a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Benghazi under Operation IRINI to improve sea safety and reduce migrant arrivals, alongside reminders that no policy can override the ban on returning people to torture. Tigray fighting and displacement: Reports describe renewed confrontations in Ethiopia’s Tigray and continued cross-border flight of wounded people and civilians into Sudan. Health and aid funding pressure: UNICEF warned that Ethiopia’s humanitarian response for children is severely underfunded, leaving only a fraction of needed funds available. Community and mental health: Eritrean Catholics held a national conference in Charlotte, including workshops that covered mental health alongside worship and community support.

Breastfeeding push in Asmara: World Breastfeeding Week was marked nationally in Asmara under the theme “Breastfeeding Is a Sustainable Start in Life,” with Eritrea’s Ministry of Health urging mothers to prioritize breast milk over formula and calling for stronger community and father involvement in child nutrition and development. Drug crackdown in Aweil: Northern Bahr el Ghazal police arrested 11 people (including four women) and seized 14 cartons of tramadol in a targeted operation, warning parents about the health and future harms of substance misuse. Water stress in Eritrea’s capital: An AFP report highlights how chronic water shortages in Asmara are becoming normalized, with families rationing daily use, buying costly tanker water, and limiting hygiene—raising concerns for public health. Regional conflict and displacement risks: Coverage from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray describes renewed clashes and continued Eritrean military presence, with wounded fighters and civilians fleeing toward Sudan—conditions that can quickly strain health services. Humanitarian funding gaps nearby: UNICEF warns Ethiopia’s child-focused humanitarian appeal is funded at only 22% (about $88.7m available of $401.5m needed), threatening lifesaving services amid disease outbreaks and displacement. Migrant health and safety at sea: Reports of a Channel boat fire rescue (157 people saved, no fatalities reported) again underline the extreme injury and trauma risks migrants face during dangerous crossings.

Breastfeeding Push in Asmara: World Breastfeeding Week was observed nationally in Asmara under the theme “Breastfeeding Is a Sustainable Start in Life,” with Eritrean health officials urging mothers to prioritize breast milk over formula and calling for stronger community and father involvement. Drug Crackdown in Aweil: Northern Bahr el Ghazal police arrested 11 people (including four women) and seized 14 cartons of tramadol in a targeted raid, warning families—especially parents—to steer children away from substance misuse. Water Stress in Asmara: A new AFP report highlights how chronic water shortages in Eritrea’s capital are becoming normalized, with families buying costly tanker water and rationing daily needs. Child Rights & Harmful Practices: In Barentu, a seminar for religious leaders and village elders focused on protecting children and mothers, stressing that female genital mutilation and underage marriage drive maternal and infant deaths and are prohibited under Eritrean law. Regional Health Risks from Conflict: Reports from Ethiopia’s Tigray describe renewed clashes and displacement, with wounded people crossing into Sudan—raising urgent public health and care needs for refugees.

Breastfeeding push in Asmara: World Breastfeeding Week was marked nationally in Asmara under the theme “Breastfeeding Is a Sustainable Start in Life,” with Eritrean health leaders urging mothers and communities to protect exclusive breastfeeding and avoid early switching to formula. Drug crackdown in Aweil: Northern Bahr el Ghazal police arrested 11 people (including four women) and seized 14 cartons of tramadol in a targeted raid, with officials warning parents about the health harms of substance misuse. Water stress in Eritrea’s capital: A new AFP report highlights how chronic water shortages in Asmara are becoming normalized, forcing families to buy expensive tanker water and ration daily needs. Child protection seminar in Barentu: Local officials and public health leaders met with religious and community leaders to strengthen action against harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and underage marriage, citing their links to maternal and infant deaths. Regional conflict and displacement watch: Reports from Ethiopia’s Tigray describe renewed fighting and continued cross-border flight into Sudan, raising risks for wounded people and disrupted access to care.

Drug Enforcement & Public Health: Police in Aweil arrested 11 people (including four women) and seized 14 cartons of tramadol in a targeted crackdown, with officials urging parents to warn children about the physical and mental harm of substance misuse. Water & Daily Health: AFP reports chronic water shortages in Asmara are becoming normalized, pushing families to buy expensive tanker water and ration basic hygiene like showers, laundry, and toilet flushing—conditions that can worsen health and stress. Eye Care Access: In Keren, a joint Eritrean and Sudanese Al-Beser ophthalmology team examined about 3,000 patients and performed cataract and other eye surgeries on 406, continuing a national blindness-control campaign. Maternal & Child Protection: A Tessenai sub-zone seminar for religious leaders and elders highlighted that female genital mutilation and underage marriage drive maternal and infant deaths; officials reiterated Eritrea’s legal bans and called for coordinated community action. Humanitarian Protection (Regional): UNHCR says the EU is funding legal protection in Yemen for nearly 13,000 refugees and asylum seekers, supporting registration, documentation, and access to healthcare and education. Conflict Spillover (Regional Health Risk): EEPA reports renewed confrontations in Ethiopia’s Tigray, with wounded fighters among those fleeing toward Sudan, raising urgent medical and protection needs.

Water & Health in Asmara: An AFP report describes chronic water shortages in Eritrea’s capital, where families stagger showers and laundry and buy costly tanker water—normalizing a hardship that still harms health. Maternal & Child Protection: A Tessenai sub-zone seminar for religious leaders and village elders urged stronger community action to end harmful practices, highlighting that female genital mutilation and underage marriage drive maternal and infant deaths; officials also reiterated legal bans and a goal to be FGM-free by 2030. Eye Care Campaign: In Keren, a joint Sudanese Al-Beser team with Eritrean experts performed cataract and other eye surgeries on 406 patients after exams for about 3,000 people, supporting the national blindness-control push. Community & Mental Health: Eritrean Catholics held a national conference in Charlotte with workshops including mental health, alongside Ge’ez Rite worship and community support. Diaspora Culture: Festival Eritrea USA is set for Dallas, aiming to bring Eritrean culture, food, and music to thousands amid ongoing regional pressures.

Tigray Conflict & Health Risks: New clashes between ENDF and TPLF erupted in Western Tigray near Shererina, with heavy artillery, mechanized units and drones reported; Eritrean forces remain present and wounded people are among those fleeing toward Sudan, raising urgent needs for trauma care and border health support. Eritrea Water & Daily Health: AFP reports chronic water shortages in Asmara are becoming normalized, pushing families to buy costly tanker water and ration basic hygiene—conditions that can worsen sanitation-related illness. FGM Pushback at Community Level: A Tessenai sub-zone seminar urged religious leaders and elders to help end female genital mutilation and underage marriage, citing links to maternal and infant deaths and reaffirming Eritrea’s legal ban. Blindness Care in Keren: A joint Sudanese Al-Beser and Eritrean team performed cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 patients at Keren Referral Hospital, continuing the national blindness-control campaign. Diaspora Wellness & Mental Health: Eritrean Catholics held a national conference in Charlotte with workshops including mental health, alongside Ge’ez Rite worship and community support. Refugee Health Access: Reports from Niger’s Agadez humanitarian center describe long-term detention with limited movement and no asylum processing, a situation that can strain health services for vulnerable groups.

Water & Health in Asmara: Chronic water shortages are hitting daily life in Eritrea’s capital, with families rationing showers and laundry and buying costly tanker water. Maternal & Child Health: A Tessenai sub-zone seminar urged communities to help end female genital mutilation and underage marriage, noting both practices drive maternal and infant deaths and are prohibited under Eritrean law. Eye Care Access: In Keren, a cataract and eye-disease campaign with a Sudanese Al-Beser team delivered surgeries for 406 patients (from about 3,000 examined), as part of national blindness control. Community Wellbeing & Mental Health: Eritrean Catholics held a national conference in Charlotte with workshops that included mental health, alongside Ge’ez Rite worship and community support. Ophthalmology Capacity Building: The Keren program follows repeated cross-border medical missions, with the Al-Beser team having run similar services in Eritrea on 15 occasions. Health & Migration Context: Reports highlight long-running refugee hardship in Niger’s Agadez and broader regional instability that can strain health and protection systems.

Water & Health in Asmara: Chronic water shortages are hitting daily life in Eritrea’s capital, with residents limiting showers and laundry and buying costly tanker water as dry-season cuts become normalized. Maternal & Child Health: A Tessenai sub-zone seminar urged communities and local administrations to help end female genital mutilation and underage marriage, citing links to maternal and infant deaths and noting both practices are prohibited under Eritrean law. Eye Care Access: In Keren, a joint Eritrean and Sudanese ophthalmology team carried out cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 patients after exams of about 3,000 people, as part of the national blindness-control campaign. Health Workforce Development: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences held its 5th commencement, awarding postgraduate clinical specialist degrees and nursing and medical diplomas to 114 graduates, with the Health Minister calling for strong ethics and continued learning. Refugee Health Context: A long-running refugee-led protest in Niger’s Agadez highlights how limited movement and stalled processing can worsen vulnerability for people including Eritreans.

Water & Health in Asmara: Chronic water shortages in Eritrea’s capital are forcing families to ration daily needs—staggered showers and laundry, limited toilet flushing, and reliance on costly tankers—while fear and restricted media leave many treating the crisis as “normal.” Child & Maternal Health Protection: In Barentu, a seminar for religious leaders and village elders urged stronger community action to end female genital mutilation and underage marriage, citing links to maternal and infant deaths and reaffirming legal bans. Eye Care Access: Keren Referral Hospital in Eritrea ran a cataract and eye-disease surgery push with Sudanese Al-Beser ophthalmology experts, treating 406 of about 3,000 examined patients and urging follow-up medicine use. Health Workforce Growth: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences graduated 114 clinicians (with a strong female share) across medical, nursing, and specialist tracks, as Eritrea’s health sector investment expands. Refugee Health & Safety Risks: A long-running refugee protest in Niger’s Agadez highlights limited movement, stalled asylum processing, and unsafe conditions for people including Eritreans—raising concerns for wellbeing and access to care. Regional Instability Spillover: Fresh fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray and broader East Africa security strains can quickly disrupt health services, displacement, and access to treatment across borders.

Water & Public Health in Eritrea: Chronic water shortages in Asmara are pushing families to ration daily use—staggered showers and laundry, limited toilet flushing, and reliance on costly water tankers—while fear and restricted media leave many people enduring the problem in silence. Maternal & Child Health / FGM: In Barentu, a seminar for religious leaders and village elders urged community action to end female genital mutilation and underage marriage, linking harmful practices to maternal and infant deaths and reiterating Eritrea’s legal bans. Eye Care / Blindness Control: At Keren Referral Hospital, a Sudanese Al-Beser Ophthalmology team and Eritrean experts carried out cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 of about 3,000 patients screened, with additional patients receiving glasses as part of the national blindness-control campaign. Health Workforce / Training: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences graduated 114 clinicians (with 60% women), including postgraduate clinical specialists and nursing and lab diplomas, as Eritrea continues expanding health-sector human resources. Health & Wellness Abroad (Eritrean links): A large Eritrean Orthodox church property case in the U.S. touches governance and legal process, while a separate report highlights violence risks for refugees in the Netherlands—both indirectly affecting health and safety for Eritreans in diaspora.

Water & Daily Life in Asmara: A new report from Asmara describes how chronic water shortages are becoming normalized—families buy costly tanker water, stagger showers and laundry, and ration toilet flushing, with fear of authorities keeping people from complaining. Child & Maternal Health Protection: In Tessenai sub-zone, a seminar for religious leaders and village elders urged stronger community action to end harmful practices, highlighting female genital mutilation and underage marriage as drivers of maternal and infant deaths; officials cited Eritrean legal bans and a push to be FGM-free by 2030. Eye Health at Keren Referral Hospital: A joint Sudanese Al-Beser Ophthalmology team and Eritrean experts carried out cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 patients out of about 3,000 examined, as part of the national blindness-control campaign. Health Workforce Growth: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences graduated 114 students across postgraduate specialist degrees, medical and nursing tracks, and diplomas, with the Health Minister stressing continued learning and professional ethics. Regional Health Context: Coverage also notes ongoing regional instability and displacement pressures across the Horn and beyond, which can worsen access to care and nutrition.

Water & Public Health: Chronic water shortages are hitting daily life in Asmara, with families rationing showers, laundry, and even toilet flushing—often buying expensive tanker water as dry-season scarcity becomes normalized. Maternal & Child Health: In Tessenai sub-zone, a seminar urged communities and local leaders to help end harmful practices like female genital mutilation and underage marriage, linking them to maternal and infant deaths and reminding that both are prohibited under Eritrean law. Eye Care / Blindness Prevention: At Keren Referral Hospital, a joint Eritrean and Sudanese Al-Beser Ophthalmology team carried out cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 of about 3,000 examined patients, with follow-up medicine use emphasized. Health Workforce: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences graduated 114 students across clinical specialist, degree, and diploma programs, with the Minister of Health highlighting continued investment in health human resources. Health Policy (AU): Eritrea shared its approach to universal access—free or low-cost care, community health representatives, and high childhood vaccination coverage—at an African Union summit in Accra focused on ending AIDS, improving maternal health, and strengthening health systems. Community & Culture: Festival Eritrea USA returns to Dallas this weekend, spotlighting Eritrean culture through food, music, and events for thousands of attendees.

Eye Health: A Sudanese Al-Beser Ophthalmology team, working with Eritrean experts at Keren Referral Hospital, carried out cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 patients out of about 3,000 examined, as part of Eritrea’s national blindness-control campaign. Health Policy at AU Level: Eritrea’s delegation shared its approach to universal health coverage at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, highlighting free or low-cost care, community health representatives, 98% childhood vaccination coverage, and improved maternal and child outcomes. Medical Education: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences held its 5th commencement, awarding postgraduate clinical specialist degrees, first degrees, and diplomas to 114 graduates (60% female), with fields spanning pediatrics, pathology, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, internal medicine, and nursing specialties. Public Health & Food Security: El Niño conditions are strengthening, with Eastern Africa—including Eritrea—expected to face drier June–September rains that can hurt crop production and raise food insecurity risks. Community Health & Services: Eritrean-linked community health and wellness efforts also show up in local initiatives, including a focus on healthy food options and services in neighborhood businesses supported by recent small-business investment.

Eye Health Push: A Sudanese Al-Beser Ophthalmology team, with Eritrean experts, carried out cataract and other eye surgeries for 406 of about 3,000 examined patients at Keren Referral Hospital (20–26 July), as part of Eritrea’s national blindness-control campaign. Health Workforce & Training: Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences graduated 114 students (including 60% women) across postgraduate clinical specialist degrees, first degrees, and diplomas, with Eritrea’s Health Minister urging graduates to keep improving skills and uphold professional ethics. Regional Health Leadership: Eritrea’s delegation took part in the AU Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, emphasizing health as a human right, free/minimal-cost care, community health representatives, and high childhood vaccination coverage. Maternal & Child Health Focus: Eritrea highlighted progress in maternal and child health and equity, including access to care within 10 km for most people. Public Health Context: El Niño is expected to strengthen later in 2026, with likely drier main rains in western parts of the Horn (including Eritrea), raising risks for crop production and food insecurity. Community Wellness & Culture: Festival Eritrea USA returns to Dallas this weekend, spotlighting Eritrean culture, food, and music—an indirect boost to community wellbeing and healthy social connection.