It was founded in 1976 by a group of Eritrean refugees together with British supporters of the Eritrean struggle for Independence. As a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England, it is governed by a Memorandum and Article of Association. Over the following two decades, ERA-UK has challenged the effects of drought, famine and war by raising funds to run effective relief, health and community-based programmes, both in the liberated parts of the country, and in refugee camps in Sudan. During the war of the 1970’s and 1980’s it was the only UK based charity working in the war zone, where it played a vital role in facilitating cross-border relief and rehabilitation operations. The work of ERA-UK also included long term development programmes in primary health care, education, training & employment, rehabilitation of refugees and internally displaced people. Today, ERA-UK works in partnership with NGOs, associations, self-help groups and Government departments in Eritrea in furtherance of the objectives for which it was established. ERA-UK will always maintain an independent stand from political, economic, religious or cultural affiliations. The charity has and will continue to work independently of the Eritrean Government.
