WFP Emergency Report - 42: 19-Oct-01
WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 42 / 2001 - Date 19 October 2001
This report includes:
(A) West and Central Asia: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Tajikistan, (3) Pakistan,
(4) Iran
(B) South Asia: Sri Lanka
(C) Southern Africa: Angola
(D) West Africa: Sierra Leone
(E) Great Lakes Region: Burundi
(F) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Russian Federation, (2) Balkans
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Belize, (2) Guatemala,
(3) El Salvador, (4) Nicaragua, (5) Peru
>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 and Central Asia: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Tajikistan, (3) Pakistan,
(4) Iran
(1) Afghanistan
(a) At a press conference on 17 October, the WFP Executive Director said
an estimated 52,000 tons of food per month is necessary to feed the six
million people identified as the most desperately in need in Afghanistan.
She said WFP was currently delivering about 900 tons a day up from 200
tons just after the crisis and expressed confidence that the deliveries
could be significantly increased. "In the next ten days we expect to
deliver about 16,000 tons if all goes well," Bertini said. 8700 tons are
intended for northern Afghanistan. The remainder is planned for Kabul and
Sia Khaq. WFP has appealed for a total of USD 257 million to feed the
hungry and provide logistical support.
(b) In total WFP has 12,725 tons inside Afghanistan and 35,573 tons in
neighbouring countries. This 48,000 tons is sufficient to provide food
assistance to some 5.7 million people. Since 11 September, WFP has
distributed 18,500 tons to approximately 1.8 million people inside
Afghanistan. This week 6537 tons was dispatched from regional stocks in
Pakistan, Iran Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.
(c) The WFP warehouses in Kandahar, and temporarily, Kabul, were occupied
by the Taliban this week. As of Thursday 18 October, 2001 the warehouse
at Kabul had been returned to WFP. The warehouse in Kandahar, which
continues to be occupied, contains 1640 tons of stock and also has parked
in its compound one Landcruiser, two pick-up trucks and 10 IH (7-ton)
truck. There are reports that some NGOs and UN premises have been looted
in Kandahar. Likewise UN and NGOs vehicles are thought to be in use by the
Taliban.
(d) WFP has been holding extensive meetings with NGOs to finalise the
modalities for food distributions inside Afghanistan where NGOs have
national staff implementing their programmes. Agreements are being
finalized for over 60,000 tons over a period of 3 to 6 months. On 18
October contracts were signed with Oxfam for 5000 tons and the Canadian
Relief Foundation for 3500 tons.
(e) On 18 October, an NGO meeting was held at the WFP Afghanistan office
with about 20 NGOs participating. According to the International Rescue
Committee, there are an estimated 165,000 IDPs on the eastern Pakistan
border. There was agreement that a strategy for addressing this population
will need to be explored. Concern was also expressed for the nomads
(Kuchis) population and NGOs were encouraged to submit proposal to assist
this population.
(f) On 17 October, 1302 tons of wheat was loaded from Kabul into 50
trucks hired by WFP implementing partner, Canadian Relief Fund, to various
beneficiary in the districts around Kabul. For security reasons, the wheat
was diverted to other destinations in the central districts. On 19
October, Canadian Relief Fund will be distribute wheat from Kabul to
Kharwar in Logar Province (250 tons), Jagori in Ghazni Province (306 tons)
and Ander in Ghazni (746 tons).
(g) In Herat, it has been reported that the security situation is
deteriorating with UNICEF and IOM stopping all dispatches from Iran. On
17 October, 100 tons of rice and 30 tons of split peas were given to 2000
households in Mashlak IDP camp, 44 tons of wheat were distributed to 6355
persons in Rawzabagh IDP camp and 4128 tons of wheat were distributed to
2064 people in the Rawzabagh health care center.
(h) In Faizabad and surrounding areas, the security situation remains
calm with no clashes and no population movements reported. 80 tons of
wheat were distributed on the 17 October to 1066 labourers in four food
for work activities in Rustaq, Argu and Shegnan districts. WFP food
distribution in the area is being severely hampered due to limited
availability of commercial transportation because of the sharp increase in
the price of diesel from USD 0.05 in the beginning of October to USD 0.75
per litre on 17 October.
(2) Tajikistan
(a) WFP urgently needs 67,000 tons of food, worth USD 36 million, to
cover the needs of the most drought-affected people in Tajikistan from
January to June 2002. The crippling drought that hit Tajikistan is part of
a regional phenomenon that has also afflicted neighbouring Afghanistan,
but donor support for WFP operations in Tajikistan has been much less.
(b) Tajikistan's cereal output in 2001, estimated at only 303,000 tons,
is down by 36 per cent compared to the average of the last five years.
Tajikistan needs more than one million tons of cereals a year for domestic
consumption. With commercial imports not expected to exceed 400,000 tons,
Tajikistan will have to grapple with an uncovered gap of 341,000 tons
until mid 2002.
(c) An assessment mission to the Afghan IDPs, located at the bank of the
Pianj River along the Tajik-Afghan Border reported that there is need for
food assistance for 6000 to 8000 persons. The monthly food requirements
would be some 128 tons of mixed food commodities.
(3) Pakistan
(a) UNHCR will rent warehouse facilities in Chaman and intends to
preposition non-food items including tents. A WFP/UNHCR joint field
mission will be conducted and food dispatched to Chaman next week.
(b) UNHCR plans to have 3 to 4 camp sites ready by the end of the month
in the Chaman and Chagui area (Darra 1 and 2, Rhogani, Tor Tangi and
Peshook). Total capacity would between 70,000 and 90,000 refugees.
(c) UNHCR reported that work is in progress to develop several refugee
camps at Khyber and Kurram agencies. Work on prospective camps at North
and South Waziristan has been temporarily suspended. It was also reported
that on average about 7000 refugees are arriving per day in NWFP province
through illegal means. These refugees are staying with their relatives at
Peshawar or with Afghan refugee families in some camps.
(d) A joint mission conducted at Khyber Agency with the representatives
from WFP, UNHCR and CAR, found that the warehouses proposed by the
government for pre-positioning of WFP food commodities were suitable.
Another mission left Peshawar on 18 October to assess the feasibility of
storing WFP food in the proposed warehouses in Bajour and Mohammadan,
which are close to the proposed refugee camps.
(e) WFP had a meeting on 18 October in Peshawar with representatives of
IFRC to discuss the possible participation of Pak Red Crescent Society in
the food distributions at the refugee camps.
(f) Ms. Claire Short, British Overseas Minister, visited the WFP
logistics office in Peshawar on the 18 October. She was accompanied by the
British High Commissioner in Pakistan and high officials from the
Government of Pakistan. WFP briefed the Minister about WFP assistance for
Afghan refugees at Peshawar and the preparedness for the anticipated
influx of refugees from Afghanistan.
(4) Iran
(a) 100 tons of wheat flour was dispatched from Mashhad to Herat on 18
October. 358 additional tons will be dispatched as soon as possible. 2710
tons of wheat flour have been loaded in Bandar Abbas for shipment to
Turkmenabad.
(b) The Resident Coordinator chaired a meeting of the major agencies with
the OECD donors. Attendants were informed of contingency planning for
400,000 refugees for six months by the various representatives (Red Cross,
UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, and WFP). WFP advised that it is purchasing food for
95,000 refugees for six months. WFP also discussed its cross-border
operation and the acquisition of 30,000 tons of wheat flour.
(B) South Asia: Sri Lanka
(1) Sri Lanka
(a) WFP is launching an emergency operation to feed 300,000 people in Sri
Lanka as a severe and prolonged drought in the island nation pushes large
segments of the population into desperate hardship. Under the USD 8.2
million operation, which runs from October to March 2002, WFP will
distribute a month's supply of rice, lentils and sugar to the most
vulnerable people in the three hardest-hit districts in southern Sri
Lanka's arid zone. Additionally, to avert a disastrous decline in
nutrition among these chronically destitute Sri Lankans, WFP will give a
fortified blended food mix to 50,000 children under 5 years of age and
14,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers.
(b) WFP will also introduce work schemes that will benefit the community,
such as cleaning and desilting of irrigation canals. These schemes,
designed to offset the effects of future droughts, will carry the 225,000
participants through to the next harvest, in March 2002.
(c) The Sri Lanka government estimates that 1.6 million people have been
affected in some way by the drought. The majority of the victims are
landless labourers, small-scale farmers and subsistence farming families.
A joint assessment mission conducted last month by WFP and the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that between 30 and 50 per cent of
the people in the drought zone were already living below the poverty line
when the rains stopped.
(C) Southern Africa: Angola
(1) Angola
(a) Security constraints in Uige province led to the cancellation of WFP
World Food Day activities in the province. The number of IDPs reaching the
provincial capitals and municipal headquarters continued to rise
throughout Angola, increasing the emergency component of WFP Angola's
activities.
(b) 80 people were reportedly killed and many others were injured during
an attack on Kanzo, located 30 kilometers from Cafunfo, in Kuango
Municipality, Lunda Norte province. Most of the victims drowned, when
they fled into the torrential Kuango River nearby. In a separate
incident, six people were killed and others were injured during the attack
on two vehicles, on the road between Lucapa and Saurimo.
(c) In Uige province, Caritas registered 468 new IDPs in Songo, bringing
the total number IDPs in the town to 575. WFP partner organization NRC
registered 2679 new IDPs in M'Banza Congo, 837 of which are returnees from
the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through a WFP-Danish Refugee Council
project, 237 resettled IDPs received groundnuts and bean seeds and locally
collected cassava cuttings from WFP. Unfortunately, due to the military
situation, the delivery of 3,000 sticks of ameliorated cassava was
postponed. The new variety of cassava, developed in a joint effort between
the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture and FAO would benefit IDP communities,
as it provides yields at a biannual rate.
(d) A meeting was held on 11 October between partner organizations, in
which WFP took part, to discuss the resettlement of IDPs in Bié province
willing to be voluntarily resettled from Ungundo, Chicala I and II,
Tinguita and Boumba. The resettlement areas chosen were Chissingui, Kukema
and Kunhinga. The IDPs were already given land where water points have
been identified.
(e) In Bié province, Belo Horizonte, the Municipal subgroup for
identification and registration of new IDPs reported the arrival of 1794
persons from Kuito City and Cunhinga village. In Camacupa, they are more
than 8000 new IDPs since September, raising the number of IDPs in Camacupa
to over 31,000, according to Angolan Ministry for Social Reinsertion
(Minars).
(f) WFP and partners distributed some 260 tons of food to 80,352
beneficiaries between 8-12 October in Malange province. In Cangandala,
some 607 new IDPs were registered by Minars. The current number of IDPs
registered in Cuito Kuanavale (Kuando Kubango province) is 6106 persons.
Between 8-12 October, 170 persons arrived at the Menongue transit center
which already had 529 inhabitants.
(g) In Cunene province, a WFP partnership with EURONAID and Lutheran
World Federation has ensured the distribution of 1000 agricultural kits to
new and old IDPs in Omatemba municipality, and will include some residents
from Calueque, Chivemba, Manquete and Mucope. The package includes seed
protection food for six months. As a result of the arrangement, WFP food
originally pegged for the area will be distributed in another part of the
province.
(h) The availability of vegetable oil is ensured up to the end of
February, due to an oil donation worth USD 1 million. Deficiencies are
still felt in pledges of pulses so that the pipeline is guaranteed only
until January.
(D) West Africa: Sierra Leone
(1) Sierra Leone
(a) The security situation in Freetown, Bo, Kenema and Moyamba Districts
remained calm during the reporting period. Disarmament and demobilisation
activities continue in Bo district. Vehicular movements continue
unhindered from Kenema into RUF held areas in Kailahun Districts.
Civilians coming from those areas confirmed that vehicles go as far as
Koidu.
(b) Between 8-15 October, a total of 122 tons of food was distributed to
10,605 IDPs living in Kandeyella I, Kendeyella II and Splendid camps.
Through vulnerable group feeding at Blama camp, 12,138 beneficiaries have
received 36 tons of food.
(c) Preliminary results from monitoring in all supplementary and
therapeutic feeding programmes in Freetown show that beneficiary figures
have significantly dropped in most feeding centres and WFP's food support,
and the improvement of the medical facilities and drugs, has positively
impacted the nutritional condition of beneficiaries.
(d) 50 tons of food were delivered to Children's Aid Direct (CAD) centres
in Lungi and Port Loko District where 2500 under-five malnourished
children and 5500 pregnant and lactating women are receiving supplementary
nutritional care. Through expanded school feeding programmes, 42 tons of
food was distributed to 11,104 beneficiaries in schools in Mile 91 between
8-14 October.
(e) Between 8-14 October WFP assisted 170 beneficiaries with 8 tons of
food through food for work programs to build 19 temporary classrooms in
Kambia District. During the same period 1,750 farm families received 83
tons of food through food for agriculture programs in Samu, Mambolo and
Magbema chiefdoms in Kambia district.
(f) An HIV/AIDS staff training was conducted in all WFP sub-offices by
Ms. Frederica Wyse, Reproductive Health Officer at UNFPA.
(E) Great Lakes Region: Burundi
(1) Burundi
(a) Talks between warring parties in the Burundi conflict continued to be
held in both Tanzania and South Africa to agree upon the transitional
government. A military delegation from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and
Senegal visited Burundi on a fact-finding mission.
(b) The security situation during the reporting period, 10 September- 7
October, remained volatile in many areas. Confrontations between the army
and the rebels were reported in Makamba and Bujumbura Rural provinces. Two
main roads leading to interior were temporarily closed to traffic but
reopened soon after the confrontations in which some 17 people were
officially reported killed. Incursions continued to be reported in
Makamba, Rutana and Ruyigi provinces bordering Tanzania.
(c) WFP has launched the distribution of the Seeds Protection Rations
(SPR) to protect seeds in accordance with FAO seeds distribution
programme. This operation was completed in most of the seven provinces and
more than 4,000 tons were distributed to over 375,000 people.
(d) A WFP/UNHCR joint assessment to the refugee camp in Rugombo commune
(Cibitoke province) found that the residents remain largely depend on food
assistance. The same teams carried out rapid assessment in Kayanza,
Makamba and Rutana provinces and reported that the maize, beans, sweet
potatoes, manioc (cassava) and banana were damaged by storms. The teams
also conducted an in-depth assessment on food security situation in Ngozi
province and reported that the good rainfall should result in an
improvement of crops if the weather remained favorable.
(e) WFP distributed 262 tons of food to 37,211 beneficiaries in Kayanza
province (victims of crop failures), and Bujumbura Mairie and Bujumbura
Rural provinces (malnourished people in feeding centers). WFP distributed
40 tons of food to 2331 refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo in
Bujumbura Mairie and returnees from Tanzania in Ngozi.
(f) WFP authorised dispatches of 338 tons of food to 26,128 most
vulnerable persons including orphans, elders, physically and mentally
handicapped, street children, chronically ill persons, the deaf/mute
children and the blind under the supervision of the social centres in
Burundi.
(F) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Russian Federation, (2) Balkans
(1) Russian Federation
(a) The Government has abolished the Ministry of Federation,
Nationalities and Migration Policy, which was responsible for registering
and assisting IDPs living in the three Northern Caucasus republics of
Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan. In accordance with the Presidential
Decree, the functions of this Ministry will be divided among the
Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Economic Development and
Trade.
(b) The Danish Relief Council (DRC) indicated that 733 new IDPs from
Chechnya were registered in Ingushetia between 1 and 15 October. This
brings the total of IDPs registered as of 15 October to 146,626. Of these,
21,478 live in tent camps, 31,014 in spontaneous settlements and 94,134
with host families.
(c) A household survey recently carried out in Achkoy-Martan and Sunzha
districts of Chechnya revealed that 72 percent of the population is poor.
WFP has been providing food assistance to about 25,000 IDPs and vulnerable
persons in these districts since June.
(d) In spite of generous donor contributions, there will be a food
pipeline gap in November- January, due to the late arrival of food
shipments. In order to meet the shortfall, WFP will require additional
cash contribution. Since the level of food stocks was low, WFP reduced
the monthly ration of wheat flour from 13.5 kg to 10 kg for October
distributions. The Programme has also temporarily removed vegetable oil
from distributions in Ingushetia and sugar from those in Chechnya, for the
same reason.
(e) From 1 to 15 October, by DRC and Islamic Relief (IR) distributed 807
tons of food to 75,800 beneficiaries in Ingushetia. WFP provided a total
of 950 tons of food commodities to 83,500 beneficiaries through DRC,
People in Need Foundation (PINF) and Caritas International during the same
period in Chechnya. A further 8500 beneficiaries received food rations
through food-for-work activities in three districts of Grozny, starting
from October.
(2) Balkans: (a) Kosovo, (b) Serbia, (c) FYRoM, (d) Montenegro,
(e) Albania
(a) Kosovo
1. According to monitoring conducted by UNHCR, UNICEF and the Red Cross,
most of the refugees from fYRoM who are still in Kosovo intend to stay
there for the winter. UNHCR and WFP are undertaking separate but
coordinated exercises to establish respectively the real number of
refugees still in Kosovo and how many are eligible for continued food
assistance.
2. October food distributions to 69,000 Social Assistance Scheme
beneficiaries are ongoing. WFP, implementing partners and local
distribution partners are refining criteria for continuing the phase-down.
In addition, discussions are being held with various agencies about the
continued provision of assistance to those families most in need after WFP
phases out in March 2002.
3. According to a recent poverty survey by the World Bank, 12 per cent of
the population in Kosovo live in extreme poverty, and a further 38 per
cent live under the poverty line. These figures are among the highest in
Europe.
(b) Serbia
1. Two workshops were recently held in Belgrade: one on monitoring and
evaluation, for food aid monitors from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Russia, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo; and another on programming,
procurement and LTSH.
2. The WFP Serbia Office is working closely with the Ministry of Social
Affairs to implement capacity-building measure for local Government
monitors.
(c) FYRoM
1. The WFP fYRoM office continues to provide basic rations to
approximately 4,600 refugees living in host families and collective
centres. The September/October double distribution of food commodities to
refugees in host families is nearly completed.
2. UN and ICRC teams continued assessment visits to conflict-affected
villages. As of 14 October, the Macedonian Red Cross had registered
53,800 IDPs. WFP, in cooperation with Action against Hunger, continued its
assessment of the food aid needs of returnees and conflict-affected
persons.
(d) Montenegro
1. The September/October distribution to 25,000 social cases is ongoing.
A workshop in warehouse management is scheduled to take place in November.
2. Distribution to IDPs and refugees for the same period were16, 750 and
8,100, respectively. The proportion of beneficiaries picking up rations
was 20 per cent higher than the previous bi-monthly period. In addition, a
one-time bi-monthly ration was provided to 130 of the most vulnerable
members of the Organization of Deaf and Mute Persons in four northern
municipalities.
3. WFP held several meetings with the Montenegrin Commissioner for
Displaced Persons (MCDP) to discuss the updating of distribution lists.
MCDP promised to take appropriate action.
(e) Albania
1. WFP Albania distributed food commodities to approximately 3,900
unassisted-unemployed households (19,500 beneficiaries) in the northern
prefectures of Kukes, Lezha, Diber and Shkodra.
2. On 3 October WFP participated in the Follow-up Workshop for the
Preparation of the Common Country Assessment/United Nations Development
Assistance Framework (CCA/UNDAF). The main objectives of the workshop were
to update those involved in the CCA/UNDAF process on the most recent
developments, and review the timeline and the implementation mechanisms.
3. On 8 October WFP organized a workshop on monitoring and evaluation
techniques and tools. Staff from the Kosovo Office and WFP's implementing
partners in Albania also took part in the workshop.
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Belize, (2) Guatemala, (3) El
Salvador, (4) Nicaragua, (5) Peru
(1) Belize
(a) Based on the WFP assessment conducted in coordination with UN
partners and Government authorities on the impact of Hurricane Iris, WFP
will approve an IRA-EMOP. This operation will target the most affected
persons in the Toledo and Stann Creek districts, both of which were the
hardest hit areas by Hurricane Iris.
(b) WFP is planning a three-month intervention that will help the most
food insecure of those affected by the hurricane recover their livelihoods
and, for those who are small farmers, bridge the gap between now and the
next harvest in March, 2002.
(2) Guatemala
(a) WFP continues to work with the figure of 16,945 drought-affected
persons. Despite the availability of locally produced food commodities,
the affected families cannot access them due to a fall in their purchasing
capacity as a consequence of the drought and limited job opportunities.
(b) Although rain precipitation is normalizing, further assistance may be
needed in the Champerico and San Miguel Villaseca districts in the
southern region of the country because of crop failure. The nutritional
situation in Camotán and Jocotan districts continues to be evaluated by
UNICEF.
(c) A first shipment of 894 tons of maize and vegetable oil arrived in
early October for drought-affected people. This will only cover the
requirements of the first food distribution and repay loans from the
development projects.
(d) WFP in conjunction with UNICEF has made a rapid assessment in the
southern coast region, as well as in the western, northern and eastern
regions of Guatemala. The preliminary results show that some areas of the
southern coast region may continue with a serious food deficit. Lack of
employment, partly due to the international coffee crisis, is affecting
people's capacity to purchase food. Interventions are not required for
drought-affected persons in the western highlands.
(e) WFP is working jointly with the Red Cross and the government (FIS) on
a joint effort aimed at ten communities in the Rabinal (Baja Verapaz) y
Camotán (Chiquimula).
(3) El Salvador
(a) The second phase of distributions by the governmental counterpart
(DAA) began through the provision of 311 tons of food to 15,560
drought-affected people in eastern El Salvador. Catholic Relief Services
(CRS) continued to distribute 206 tons of food to 17,500 people involved
in food for work activities in the provinces of Usulutan, San Miguel, La
Union, and Morazan. CARE and World Lutheran Federation (WLF) are expected
to distribute 254 tons of food in the coming weeks to another 26,155
people.
(b) CARE and its 7 NGO counterparts have distributed food to 60,650
people affected by the earthquakes in the provinces of Usulutan and San
Vicente. CARE has also begun distributing 20 tons of food to families with
special nutritional needs.
(c) Another 19,000 persons were also assisted by WLF in the provinces of
La Libertad, Sonsonate and Ahuachapan. WLF distributed 12 tons of food to
the most affected families. FUSADES (a national NGO) is assisting 6250
persons. WFP has now distributed 8973 tons of food since the 13 January
2001 earthquake. Another 2000 tons will be distributed over the next two
months by these NGOs and CRS. However, distributions will reach only
75,000 persons out of the original 200,000 persons due to a 40 per cent
shortfall against the original commitment.
(4) Nicaragua
(a) WFP food for work activities in response to the drought agricultural
rehabilitation and local infrastructure projects.
(b) During the week of 22 October, FAO, USAID and WFP will be conducting
a new field assessment on the expected needs that the drought-affected
families will have after mid-November, when the emergency interventions of
these three organizations are planned to conclude.
(5) Peru
(a) Food distribution from the WFP IRA-EMOP has now concluded, having
reached 31,366 people. Food distributions under the EMOP 10102 - approved
on 31 August for earthquake victims ? have proceeded with loans from other
WFP development projects. An approved contribution of USD 300,000 has been
received and will be used for local food purchases. The government called
upon several donors to determine their assistance, and to coordinate the
activities that will take place.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No 42)
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