Interim Support Strategy for World Bank assistance to Eritrea as part of a multi-donor effort to assist Eritrea in addressing its most immediate needs in the face of a serious humanitarian and economic crisis. The massive population displacement and destruction of property resulting from the last round of fighting has prompted a significant shift in new development assistance towards urgent humanitarian and reconstruction interventions. Bank assistance therefore focuses on emergency reconstruction and health. The Eritrean Government's overriding objectives following the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement are to reach a peace agreement with Ethiopia, rebuild the economy, and restore social services. This requires rehabilitating infrastructure and buildings damaged by the war, assisting the displaced to reestablish their homes, farms, and businesses, and restoring macroeconomic balance, among other actions. Therefore, over the next year or so, the Government will focus on: 1) meeting immediate needs for emergency humanitarian assistance; 2) reconstructing infrastructure and assisting displaced people to resume their economic activities; 3) and restoring a stable and supportive macroeconomic framework. Subsequently, a Transitional Support Strategy will be prepared to elaborate on the Bank's medium-term strategic response. During the coming months, the Government will also prepare an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Pape