A third of Eritrea’s population - 1.4 million people - were directly affected by drought and this number was set to increase this year, says the US government's Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS). "Insufficient rainfall for crops and livestock, labour shortages due to mobilisation, the pressure of internally displaced people (IDPs) and returnees, and an economic tailspin contribute to an overall picture of high food insecurity," it said.