WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 50 / 2000 - Date 15 December 2000


This report includes:
(A) West Africa Coastal: (1) Guinea, (2) Sierra Leone, (3) Liberia
(B) West and Central Asia: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Tajikistan, (3) Pakistan,
    (4) Georgia, (5) Armenia
(C) Great Lakes Region: Rwanda, Tanzania
(D) Sudan
(E) Southern Africa: Angola, Namibia, Mozambique
(F) Russian Federation (Northern Caucasus)
(G) Laos
(H) Resources situation

From Francesco Strippoli, Senior Humanitarian Adviser. Available on the
Internet on the WFP Home Page (www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from
Zlatan.Milisic@wfp.org. For information on resources, donors are requested
to contact Valerie.Sequeira@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 06 6513
2009. Media queries should be directed to Trevor.Rowe@wfp.org, telephone
39 06 6513 2602. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco
dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.


(A)  West Africa Coastal

(1)  Guinea

a)  WFP temporarily suspended operations in southern Guinea due to an
upsurge of fighting in the Gueckedou and Kissidougou area. Other UN
agencies and NGOs have also evacuated their staff, or asked them to remain
in safe areas. Armed incursions and rebel attacks at the Guinea-Liberia
and the Guinea-Sierra Leone borders have forced at least 94,000 people,
mainly refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, to flee their homes and
have compelled aid agencies to dramatically scale down assistance to the
area. Prior to the recent fighting, WFP assisted some 300,000 refugees and
internally displaced persons (IDPs). Guinea is the host to the
second-largest refugee population on the continent, including 130,000
Liberians and 330,000 Sierra Leoneans.

b)  WFP has not had much information about the movements of the people
previously assisted since the rebel raids began, but is trying to monitor
the situation to the extent possible, hoping to be able to resume
operations when refugees and displaced are located and WFP staff could
safely reach them. First information indicates that at least 20,000 IDPs
are in urgent need of food assistance in Kankan and Kissidougou. WFP and
humanitarian partners are endeavouring to carry out a mission in Kankan to
assess the situation.

c)  A special envoy of the UN Secretary General is presently in Conakry to
assess the situation.


(2)  Sierra Leone

a)  Renewed fighting in southern Guinea has prompted thousands of refugees
to flee that region and it is quite possible that many of Sierra Leonean
refugees attempt to return back to that country. Around 2,000 returnees
have already been arriving to Sierra Leone on a weekly basis. WFP
continues preparing for a possible mass influx of returning refugees. UN
Country Team and humanitarian partners are discussing operational
modalities to respond to the possible mass return. A new coordination body
has been set up by OCHA to address the issue.

b)  During the week, WFP distributed a total of 181 tons of food to 17,114
beneficiaries in Freetown, Bo and Kenema. All food distributions of WFP
have been expedited to ensure that they are completed before Christmas and
Ramadan holidays.

c)  Recent field reports indicate that the road from Freetown to Magburaka
is now open to traffic. In the Eastern province, the population is being
mobilised to help repair the Daru-Kenema road, which is also expected to
be opened in due course.

d)  The cease-fire with RUF (Revolutionary United Front) ended on 10
December and has not been renewed yet. The extension is to be discussed in
Mali on 14 and 15 December.


(3)  Liberia

a)  Recent fighting in Kissidougou area of Guinea has become a major
concern, as most of the Liberian refugees there were forced to flee.
Destination of their movement is not clear yet.

b)  FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment team finalised the field part
of their mission on 11 December. The team visited most of the fourteen
counties. The report of the assessment mission is under preparation.
Preliminary findings suggest that cereal production is lower than in
previous years.



(B)  West and Central Asia

(1)  Afghanistan

a)  During November, WFP distributed 28,033 tons of food in Afghanistan,
an increase of 180 percent from the same month last year. Of this
quantity, 12,031 tons were distributed in Ghor province and other parts of
the severely affected Herat region.

b)  WFP started an emergency operation (EMOP) in Afghanistan on 1 August,
with the aim of providing urgently needed food assistance to drought
victims. The operation is expected to assist 1.6 million of the most
seriously affected people with 117,891 tons of wheat, over a period of
twelve months. In parallel, WFP has continued the implementation of the
protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO) that is assisting a
further 1.5 million people.

c)  As of the beginning of December, a total of 116,126 tons of wheat has
been pledged and committed for the WFP EMOP (98.5 percent of the
requirement). The drought crisis, however, is far from over as large-scale
out-migration of distressed families continues from rural to urban areas
and to neighbouring Pakistan. Given the limited employment opportunities
available to displaced families, the cities and urban areas are close to
reaching saturation point and can no longer support many IDPs. The
following numbers of displaced can be expected in different urban centres
by the end of the winter: Herat, 50,000-250,000; Mazar, 50,000-250,000;
Kabul, 100,000-500,000, some 200,000-1,000,000 in total (with possible
additional IDPs in Jalalabad).

d)  WFP has begun implementing the first phase of the contingency plan for
urban IDPs created by the drought. This plan is geared towards helping the
displaced population in Kabul, Herat and Mazar through food-for-work (FFW)
and food-for-asset-creation opportunities for 20,000 families and free
distributions for households without able-bodied members. The objective is
to ensure that all displaced families meet their basic food requirements
and to relieve pressure on urban centres. The plan allows for future
increases in the numbers of participants, activities and urban centres.

e)  WFP also continues to support large numbers of urban poor through
bakeries operating in Kabul and Mazar, and the Habitat/ECHO pasta project
in Mazar. It is expected that additional intervention would be required in
Faizabad. The needs of the most vulnerable IDPs, comprising of
women-headed households, disabled and elderly, will be addressed through
the provision of already prepared meals. The pasta production scheme might
be increased in Mazar and potentially in Herat.

f)  In order to provide adequate response to the crisis, WFP is
contemplating a second emergency operation in Afghanistan, to start in
April next year. WFP staff will continue to take all possible measures to
ensure that WFP food is given directly to women and children.


(2)  Tajikistan

a)  During the first week of December, WFP started the first large-scale
food distributions through the drought-response EMOP, planning to
assisting over 280,000 vulnerable people. Some 455 tons of food have
already been distributed (by 8 December) to 17,492 vulnerable
beneficiaries in Pianj and Beshkent, two severely drought-affected
districts of South Tajikistan. The beneficiaries received two-months food
rations for the crucial winter period.

b)  In close collaboration with local authorities and the communities, WFP
continues selection of beneficiaries for the planned December-February
distribution cycle in Khatlon province, which will include vulnerable
group feeding (VGF) and food-for-asset-rehabilitation (FFAR) activity. So
far, some 66 percent of the beneficiaries have been selected (55 percent
for VGF and 11 percent for FFAR).

c)  The donors have so far confirmed pledges for over 24,000 tons of
cereals, pulses, oil and salt for the WFP drought response EMOP in
Tajikistan.


(3)  Pakistan

a)  The number of Afghan refugee families that have been registered to
receive relief assistance, so far, has reached 9,594 (3,530 families are
in Akora Khattak and 6,064 in New Shamashatoo). WFP has been providing
food aid to the increased refugee caseload under the existing emergency
operation for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has
requested WFP to continue providing food assistance to the refugees for a
further 12 months. A new EMOP is currently under preparation by WFP.


(4)  Georgia

a)  Up to date, WFP has received contributions of 12,265 tons of wheat
flour, 1,400 tons of beans, 600 tons of vegetable oil for implementation
of its drought-response EMOP in Georgia.

b)  Household Food Economy Assessment (HFEA), which began in mid-October,
has recently been completed. The assessment provided a clearer idea
regarding the groups of population seriously affected by the drought that
need to be prioritised for targeting with food aid.


(5)  Armenia

a)  WFP has met with representatives of all communities that will be
assisted under the drought-response emergency operation. The numbers of
beneficiaries to be assisted through relief distributions, food-for-work
and food-for-training activities (FFT) have been discussed with each
community. The communities have been asked to create civic action groups
that would help WFP streamline the targeting process and finalise
beneficiary lists for all activities and distributions. The first relief
distributions are expected to take place towards the end of December,
while FFT activities for the first 50 communities are expected to start
slightly before.



(C)  Great Lakes Region

(1)  Rwanda

a)  On 11 December, WFP approved an emergency operation, to assist
drought-affected persons in Southeast Rwanda. Through this operation,
valued at USD 6.3 million and expected to last for three months, WFP is
planning to provide 13,216 metric tons of maize, beans and vegetable oil
to approximately 267,000 persons in the prefectures of Kibungo, Kigali
Rural, Umutara, Butare and Gitarama.

b)  Deficient and irregular rains have adversely affected three
consecutive harvests since mid-1999. Between August and December of that
year, WFP distributed 5,100 tons of food to 44,000 vulnerable households
in Kibungo, Umutara and Kigali Rural and this year, WFP has already
provided around 6,000 tons of food to 67,000 affected families in the
worst hit communes of Kigali Rural, Gitarama and Kibungo.

c)  The cumulative effects of adverse climatic conditions, compounded by
structural poverty and disease of crops and herds, have undermined the
food security situation and eroded the already fragile coping mechanisms
of the most vulnerable households. These vulnerable groups, including many
female- and child-headed households, will benefit from monthly food
rations between mid-December and mid-March. WFP plans to assist other
affected population, not targeted within the EMOP, through food-for-work
activities implemented under the regional protracted relief and recovery
operation (PRRO) in the Great Lakes.

d)  Urgent donor contributions are required for the EMOP, so the food
distributions may start immediately. Additional donations of 13,000 of
food commodities are also required for distribution in Rwanda under the
Regional PRRO, to continue assisting 30,000 refugees and returnees, over
30,000 children and women in supplementary and therapeutic feeding centres
and over 100,000 beneficiaries of food-for-work and food-for training
activities during the first half of 2001.


(2)  Tanzania

a)  On 13 December, WFP approved an emergency operation for Tanzania, to
assist a total of 1.3 million drought-affected persons in eleven regions
of the country. This operation, valued at USD 15.8 million, will be
implemented from December to April 2001, during which period 42,424 metric
tons of maize grain are to be distributed.

b)  Poor rains in 1999 and again this year have affected large parts of
northern and central Tanzania, resulting in reduced harvests of the staple
maize grain and affecting the production of cash crops. The food situation
of farming families in the semi-arid areas was severely affected, as for
many families this was the fourth consecutive year of adverse climatic
conditions. This EMOP is the third WFP drought relief operation
implemented in Tanzania since 1997 and since then, WFP has already
provided over 40,000 tons of food to drought-affected persons.

c)  The duration of the drought relief assistance will vary according to
the agro-climatic zone. Some beneficiaries will only receive food for two
or three months, as in the bimodal areas where the next harvest is
expected in January. Affected households in the unimodal areas will
benefit from food distributions until the April/May harvest. The EMOP will
be implemented through community-based targeting and distribution, a
system successfully used in the previous drought relief operation. A key
aspect of this approach is the sharing and dissemination of information,
including sensitisation campaigns prior to the delivery of food.

d)  Several donors have already announced contributions for the EMOP but
WFP still requires 25,000 tons of maize for distributions in early 2001.
Some of the contributions already announced are in cash and WFP hopes to
purchase locally, in surplus areas, as much maize as possible.

e)  The number of refugees from Burundi, Rwanda and DR Congo that are
assisted with food by WFP in the camps in Tanzania has reached almost half
a million. The inadequate food pipeline under the regional Great Lakes
PRRO still does not allow the distribution of full rations to all
refugees. The cereals ration is being provided at 60 percent of the full
ration and the rations for other commodities in the food basket remain at
80 percent.

f)  WFP requires an additional 12,400 tons of food to cover distribution
shortfalls for the refugees in Tanzania during the first half of 2001. An
additional 8,000 tons are required to build up buffer stocks. As refugees
continue to arrive to Tanzania (1,348 during the past two weeks), the food
requirement for the refugee programme is expected to further increase in
the coming months. The buffer stocks are crucial to allow for a timely
response to these needs.



(D) Sudan

a)  The emerging drought, particularly in the south and west of the
country, together with continuation of the conflict between the Government
and SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) have created a worrying
situation.

b)  WFP/FAO Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission has recently concluded
its field work in Sudan. Preliminary results indicate the need for
food-aid to be critical. The overall food deficit is expected to be higher
than last year, as well as the planned WFP food assistance. Food aid
requirements will be find tuned following the finalisation of the WFP/FAO
assessment report.

c)  According to early indications from the WFP country office and the
FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission, drought is developing in
Darfur and Kordofan. Food stock levels are low, cereal prices are rising
and livestock prices are plummeting. Wells, dams and other water sources
are drying up. Some population movements towards south and urban centres
are reported. Approximately 700,000 people are reported to be affected.



(E)  Southern Africa

(1)  Angola

a)  Confirmed contributions for the WFP PRRO are currently at USD 120.3
million, (58 percent of the operational requirement). The food pipeline is
facing imminent shortfalls of maize, pulses and corn-soya blend (CSB).
WFP, implementing partners and donors have agreed to use CSB and sugar
only in supplementary and therapeutic feeding projects during December and
January. With the available funds, WFP expects to be able to cover the
most immediate needs up to January, but new contributions are urgently
needed to allow subsequent distributions.

b)  Insecurity prevailed in most provinces during the week, with reports
of attacks and ongoing military activities. Arrival of new IDPs was
reported in Bie, Kuando Kubango, Lunda Sul, Malanje, and Moxico.

c)  Bie: Some 5,005 new IDPs were verified in Kuito, during the past ten
days. Over half of the IDPs came from Kuningha and Cambandua. The
verification of all IDPs in Kuito took place on 12 December and all those
that could not be accounted for will be removed from the lists. The total
number of IDPs is expected to decrease from the current figure of over
150,000.

d)  Huambo: Ministry of Social Assistance and Reintegration (MINARS), in
collaboration with WFP, FAO and an implementing partner MICROFORM,
commenced the long-awaited registration of newly arrived IDPs in Chipipa
and registered a total of 3,229 families from 24 villages. The exercise is
expected to continue in remaining 18 villages at a later date.

e)  Kuando Kubango: Due to continuing military activities, 423 IDPs
arrived and were registered in the province during the week. New IDPs
received ration cards and food rations. Due to lack of local
transportation, food distribution to Cuito Cuanavale, for resettlement
programme there, was postponed.

f)  Lunda Sul/Norde: MINARS reported arrival of 546 new IDPs in Saurimo
town from the periphery of the municipality of Lubalo, Lunda Norte, due to
insecurity in this area.

g)  Malanje: MINARS reported arrival of 566 new IDPs from Cambaxe and
Kiwaba Nzoji (30 km and 92 km from Malanje, which is due to insecurity
there. The IDPs were temporary placed in Cambondo, 20 km from Malanje.

h)  Moxico: A total of 333 new IDPs from Bie, Lunda Sul, Malanje, and
within Moxico province arrived to Luena during the week, due to continuing
insecurity. The majority came from areas within Moxico province.

i)  Huila: An evaluation of food-for-work projects in Gambos municipality
was conducted on 5-6 December. A number of projects were not renewed, due
to delays and poor quality of work. Gambos is targeted as a food insecure
area due to cyclic droughts and poor commercial network.

j)  WFP is currently preparing a special operation (SO) to continue
supporting demining activities in selected areas of the country next year.
The SO is a continuation of ongoing demining initiatives, though in
different areas. The main objective of the SO is to support the
implementation of the existing WFP food aid projects in the country by
allowing resettlement and land cultivation by IDPs, improving road access
and enabling implementation of rehabilitation activities supported through
FFW.

k)  Several airports in the country continue to be accessed only with
difficulty. Kuito airport is still only accessible by L-100 aircraft,
which is more expensive than other aircraft. Movements to and from Luena
airport are still restricted to traffic until 11:00 a.m.. State of the
Saurimo airstrip has deteriorated significantly, causing three WFP cargo
aircraft to have tire bursts on landing.


(2)  Namibia

a)  Following the Government decision to stop importation of maize meal
into Namibia, the Government has contributed 220 tons of maize meal for
the WFP emergency operation, which is targeting Angolan refugees in the
country, and ensured delivery of sufficient quantities of food aid to
implement the December distribution.

b)  Distribution of new ration cards at Osire camp was completed on 7
December and food distributions started the following day. As a result of
the verification and ration card exercises, there was a 30 percent
reduction in the number of refugees deemed to be eligible for WFP
assistance - 11,700 beneficiaries are targeted with food in December
compared to 16,700 in November.

c)  As the current EMOP for Angolan refugees in Osire camp in Namibia will
terminate at the end of January, WFP is preparing a new operation to cover
operational requirements for the next year.


(3)  Mozambique

a)  Heavy rains during the month had adverse effects on agricultural
activities and road conditions. Several relief food deliveries were
hampered. In some areas the water dried up after a few days, while in
others it resumed up to a week. WFP is closely monitoring the situation
and assessing the affects of the rains

b)  Road conditions have significantly deteriorated throughout Machanga
district in Sofala province, making food deliveries difficult. The
rehabilitation project of the road EN1-Machanga sede has started, but it
is progressing very slowly and there are fears that it will stop if rains
intensify. Road conditions have remained difficult also in Machaze
district in Manica province. In Gaza province, heavy rains caused serious
delays at the Macarretane/Barragem crossing from Chokwe to Guija, Mabalane
and Chicualacuala districts. The rail option may also be at risk.

c)  During November WFP targeted approximately 175,000 flood victims, of
which 38,200 were recipients of free food distribution. As a result of the
crop production surveys, nine towns in western Chokwe district have been
targeted for free food distribution for the next two months only, after
which time food-for-rehabilitation projects will be initiated. Gaza
remains the only province still receiving free food distribution and the
caseload is expected to decrease further in December. Reports have been
received from Chokwe about possible malnutrition, which will be promptly
reviewed.

d)  WFP took delivery of 8,298 tons of mixed food commodities during
November. No further resources have been received for the WFP EMOP and
there are concerns that the commodity pipeline will break during the
height of the rainy season, when food supply is most critical, if no new
contributions are secured.

e)  WFP input for the UN emergency preparedness plan, which will in turn
serve as an input to the national contingency plan is currently being
prepared. Over 2,000 tons of food have been pre-positioned according to
contingency plans in the five flood-affected provinces and in Tete
province. A Logistics team visited Marromeu district (Sofala) to assess
warehousing facilities and road conditions, should an emergency arise in
that area. A seminar was held in Chibuto, in Gaza province, on lessons
learned and preventative measures for floods and cyclones. The contingency
plans of Gaza, Inhambane and Maputo provinces were discussed.

f)  Health authorities in Gaza province announced 319 reported cases of
cholera during the period 11 October to 16 November. Measures are being
taken to stop the disease from spreading to other districts. Similar
problems have been reported in Maputo province as well, principally in
Maputo City.



(F)  Russian Federation (Northern Caucasus)

a)  UN Consolidated Appeal for Northern Caucasus, for the year 2001, was
launched on 29 November. As part of the UN appeal, WFP requested 65,000
tons of food commodities and related costs at a total value of USD 23.9
million, to assist 335,000 people affected by the Chechnya conflict,
including internally displaced persons from Chechnya in Ingushetia and
IDPs and vulnerable groups in Chechnya.

b)  As of 27 November, the total number of registered Chechen IDPs in
Ingushetia was 155,332. During November, WFP provided food aid for 119,335
IDPs through Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Karabulak municipal district,
Malgobek region, Nazran municipal district and Sunzha region, distributing
over 1,800 tons. Additional 214 tons of WFP food were distributed by
Islamic Relief to 14,220 beneficiaries in Nazran region.

c)  People in Need Foundation (PINF) distributed 470 tons of WFP food to
approximately 42,000 IDPs and vulnerable groups in Leninski, Oktyabrski
and Zavodskoy districts of Grozny, Chechnya. DRC distributed 187 tons of
food to 16,175 IDPs and vulnerable persons in Staropromyslovski district
of Grozny and carried out a one-time distribution of 5.5 tons of high
energy biscuits (HEB) to around 8,166 people. Polish Humanitarian
Organisation (PHO) rehabilitated food storage and electric installations
in Hospital No. 9 in Grozny with WFP support through FFW. WFP also
supplied food for 1,000 children under "Safe Zones" program, funded by
UNICEF. Centre for Peace-making and Community Development (CPCD) carried
out FFW activities (assisting 3,932 households, 19,660 persons) and
institutional feeding (900 hospital patients) in Achkhoy-Martan and
Urus-Martan districts, distributing 318 tons.

d)  In November, WFP food reached a total of 212,515 persons, 133,555 in
Ingushetia and 78,960 in Chechnya. In December, WFP will continue
providing food assistance to IDPs in Ingushetia and IDPs and vulnerable
groups in Chechnya.

e)  Commodities donated under the current EMOP (for the year 2000) are
expected to allow distribution of reduced rations in January, but
shortfalls are expected in February. No contributions have been confirmed
for the WFP EMOP in 2001. Donors have been urged to confirm their pledges
and allow for regional procurement to prevent a break in the pipeline
during the winter

f)  On 24 November, the Council of Europe called on Russian Government to
encourage international aid organisations to work in Chechnya by ensuring
security, minimising bureaucratic obstacles and exempting humanitarian
supplies from value-added tax (VAT).



(G) Laos

a)  The floods in Laos directly affected 450,000 people, mainly farming
households that have lost rainy season paddy crop on an estimated 42,530
hectares of land (about 10 percent of the main monsoon crop). As an
emergency response to the flood in central and southern Laos, WFP is
hoping to resource 8,160 tons of glutinous rice. The Government,
international donors and NGOs have also been providing food aid. WFP
considers the consolidated available food relief to be sufficient to cover
food shortages of the most-affected families.

b)  A targeting strategy has been defined by WFP, to deliver rice in the
first two months only to the most affected villages that lost more than 40
percent of their crop and face an average rice deficit of more than four
months. The first delivery of WFP rice was carried out last week through
an immediate response EMOP, some 288 tons to Champassak province. An
additional 232 tons are being delivered to Khammouane Province, this week.
Distributions have started in both of these two most affected provinces.
Preparations have been made to purchase and deliver a second tranche, of
1,200 tons of rice.

c)  WFP has been working very closely with the Government in implementing
the emergency operation. Four WFP coordination staff and 54 government
officers from five provinces have been trained to implement the operation.



(H) Resources situation

a)  During the week, WFP recorded new donor contributions for the
following projects and operations: Balkan Regional (EMOP 6136.02 & SO
6133), Ethiopia (EMOP 6080 & 6080.01), Gaza and West Bank (EMOP 6314),
Guinea (EMOP 6312), Iraq (PRRO 6085), Kenya (EMOP 6203.01), DPR Korea,
(EMOP 5959.01 & 5959.02), Rwanda (EMOP 6318), Tajikistan (EMOP 6288), West
Africa Coastal (PRRO 4604.07, SO 6071.01, SO 6229, SO 6229.01, SO 6004).

Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons

(End WFP Emergency Report No 50)


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