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Paper focuses on the resettlement of people displaced by Eritrea's 30 year liberation war. However, Eritrea's 1998-2000 war with Ethiopia poses new reconstruction problems which are only now emerging. Since large-scale programmes of post-war resettlement and reintegration are costly, it is important to learn the lessons of the previous resettlement programme started after the end of the liberation war in 1991.Paper shows that land tenure largely facilitated resettlement (although long-term environmental problems may emerge), social capital built during the war has been a positive resource, and the state's legitimacy has been another positive factor despite the shortage of skills, and fragmented help from donors.Conclusions and policy implications:those who self-settled generally did better that those who settled under government schemes: the implies that helping self-settlement is more cost-effective than direct government helpthe success of returnees in reconstructing their livelihoods depends upon the resumption of sustainable development activities in settlement areas, therefore a multifaceted development programme should be implemented in the areas of return. This does, however, require more donor support given the limited resources of Eritreaassistance is most effective and equitable when provided on a community-wide basis, bringing benefits to the entire population of areas where returnees settle. Again, further donor resources are needed to reinforce government efforts[Adapted from the author]
