WFP Emergency Report - 51: 21-Dec-01

WFP EMERGENCY REPORT Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme Report No. 51 / 2001 - Date 21 December 2001

This report includes: (A) West and Central Asia: (1) Regional overview, (2) Afghanistan, (3) Pakistan, (4) Iran, (5) Tajikistan (B) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Guatemala. (2) El Salvador, (3) Haiti (C) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Somalia (2) Eritrea (D) West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone (E) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia, (3) Republic of Congo, (4) Democratic Republic of Congo (F) Eastern Europe region: Northern Caucasus: (1) Regional overview, (2) Ingushetia, (3) Chechnya >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) Regional overview, (2) Afghanistan, (3) Pakistan, (4) Iran, (5) Tajikistan (1) Regional overview (a) Between 13 and 19 December, WFP dispatched approximately 13,900 tons of food into Afghanistan. Dispatches were slightly slowed down, with commercial transporters reluctant to load trucks between 14 and18 December due to the Eid holiday. Cross border dispatches to Hirat were also held up as local authorities had blocked WFP trucks at the border for several days, demanding a fee to pass into Afghanistan. The Hirati Authorities also made aid cargos transit through Hirat instead of moving directly to districts. On 19 December, WFP met with Ismael Khan, Governor of Hirat who agreed to ensure the removal of these constraints. (b) Between 13 and 18 December, no airlifts took place from Kulyab to Faizabad due to bad weather. However, on 19 December, 85 tons were delivered, bringing the total quantity of wheat flour airlifted to Faizabad to 513 tons. Access by trucks to districts in Badakhshan is becoming progressively more difficult although donkeys can still move on narrow tracks and make their way to villages. (c) WFP Iran has bagging and despatch operations going on in Bandar-E-Abbas, Chabahar, Bandar-E Khomaini and Mashad ports. As of 15 December, over 34,200 tons of bagged wheat had been dispatched from Bandar-E-Abbas to Turkmenabad. At Chabahar the rate of bagging and dispatch began to improve as more trucks were gradually mobilized. As of 19 December, WFP had bagged and dispatched over 2,700 tons of wheat from the ex-State Organisation of Grain in Mashad to Hirat. At Bandar-E-Khomeini, WFP continues to discharge commodities. A vessel carrying 15,700 tons of wheat for the Afghanistan regional EMOP and the Iran Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation arrived on 16 December at the port of Bandar-e-Khomeini. (2) Afghanistan (a) In Kabul, the general one-off post conflict wheat distribution benefiting 1.2 million people (200,000 households) was completed on 20 December. WFP re-opened the 21 Women's bakeries involving over 7,000 vulnerable women such as widows and their families in Kabul. The situation in Kabul is reported to be calmer although several robberies by armed groups have occurred during the week. (b) On 13 December, WFP dispatched 30 tons of food from Spin Boldak for 500 displaced families in Zaranj near the Iranian border (Nimruz Province). Many have travelled for over one month to reach Zaranj from Chakhansor, Badghis and Farah and are in great need of food assistance as well as shelter. The situation in Kunduz and Takhar Provinces remained calm this week. However, there have been reports of clashes between Northern Alliance commanders in Pulikhumri (Baghlan province). (c) The WFP warehouse in Spin Boldak is reported to be intact. People and traffic across the Afghan ? Pakistan border at Chaman have reportedly resumed. The situation in Kandahar has stabilised this week, but shootings on the outskirts of the city were reported. A Security assessment mission is on-standby to move into the area early next week. (d) In Faizabad, food and non-food items are reportedly available in the local bazaars. Wheat prices have continued to fall and the local currency gained considerably against the dollar. However, the price of diesel fuel remains very high. WFP remains concerned about the situation in the District of Ragh, partly inaccessible over the last two weeks. In response, WFP has delivered over 60 tons of food from a distribution point 38 kms from Faizabad and 57 Kms south of Ragh centre. It is hoped that weather conditions will not deteriorate further in order to complete the distribution of the remaining 2,000 tons by early January. (e) Winds have pushed snow across certain areas on the Ishkashem-Faizabad route but WFP's Canadian snow team was deployed on 20 December to facilitate convoy movement across the difficult areas. Over a metre of snow fell in Ghor Province early in the week and MSF and ICRC, now in Chagcharan, report that the road from there to Hirat is impassable. (f) The internal movements of populations from rural to urban areas during winter, which has been a particular characteristic during the last three years of prolonged drought, have not so far been experienced in Faizabad, Keshem and Rustaq areas. WFP food assistance is likely to have contributed to the stabilisation of drought affected rural populations. (3) Pakistan (a) By 13 December, over 4,600 families (21,000 peoples) had been registered at Killi Faizo Staging Centre near the Chaman border with Afghanistan. Between 13 and 19 December, over 100 families received food assistance at Killi Faizo. The total population of Roghani camp is now 3,750 families (17,000 people). Between 13 and 19 December, 600 families received WFP assistance at Roghani camp. A Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP) has been initiated by MSF to treat malnourished children. (b) Mohammed Kheil camp has recently been set up close to Chaman. As of 13 December, its total population was 750 families (3,650 people) and over 100 families received WFP assistance. (4) Iran (a) UNHCR reports that since the fall of Hirat to Northern Alliance Forces on 12 November, an estimated 30,000 persons have voluntarily returned from Iran to Afghanistan through the Dogharun border crossing. (b) An estimated 2,000 unregistered people who had gathered on the outskirts of Makaki Camp have been given some food assistance by IRCS and moved out of the area by local authorities. It is believed that 80 percent of these people were from nearby villages and that the balance was from Hirat or areas further away. It is not clear where these people have been re-located. (5) Tajikistan (a) On 19 December, WFP initiated the distribution of 180 tons of food to 11,600 IDPs from Afghanistan on Island #9 at the Tajik-Afghan border. By 19 December, 3,300 beneficiaries had received WFP assistance. (B) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Guatemala. (2) El Salvador, (3) Haiti (1) Guatemala (a) UNICEF is presently conducting a nutritional assessment in 102 of the poorest districts in the country to measure the impact of the drought and other factors on the nutritional situation. Preliminary results indicate that the situation is worsening: 16 percent of children under 5 years of age in the Chiquimula, Jutiapa and Zacapa are suffering from acute malnutrition, including a number of reported cases of kwashiorkor. According to the preliminary information collected so far, the lives of up to 100,000 children under 5 may be at risk due to malnutrition, a figure which is likely to increase. (b) So far, WFP has responded to the drought situation by providing 2,850 tons of emergency food assistance to 101,600 persons, as well as to 3,000 children in nutritional centers. WFP require some 7,000 tons of food to continue to provide emergency food aid and avoid additional deaths among children. (2) El Salvador (a) Catholic Relief Services, FUSADES and the World Lutheran Federation will complete their Food for Work activities as planned for 2001. Activities for 2002 for both the EMOP 10022 and PRRO 6089 are now being planned and discussed with counterparts. It is estimated that with current resources, 5,000 families will be assisted through the EMOP. Projects will focus on housing reconstruction, rehabilitation of water supplies and other related activities. Under the PRRO approximately 12,000 families will be reached through FFW activities, including improved cropping, water retention schemes and reforestation. (b) The number of families affected by the drought remains very high. In many cases, food stocks will not last until the next harvest in August 2002. Therefore, food shortages are likely to increase over the coming months. (3) Haiti (a) A failed Coup d'Etat attempt took place on 17 December. The Presidential Palace was attacked and several persons are reported to be dead. All WFP staff in Port-Au-Prince is reported to be fine. The situation is very confusing and international flights were cancelled. Less than 800 tons of WFP food are stored in Port Au Prince in a private compound under strict security measures. (C) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Somalia (2) Eritrea (1) Somalia (a) Traditional coping mechanisms for many Somalis are now exhausted due to a combination of extended drought (particularly in parts of southwest and northeast), reduced remittances from abroad following closure of the main banking company Al Barakat and the continued export embargo. (b) Gedo region is still of most concern. Prolonged drought over the last 3 years has depleted assets and alternative food sources of many households. Extremely high malnutrition rates are being provisionally reported by the Food Security Analysis Unit following a nutrition survey in Belet Hawa. Full report is expected shortly. (c) Continuing insecurity in the northeast (Puntland) is putting constraints on livestock movements to trading areas and also transportation of fuel and food commodities in the region. International aid agencies still not present in the area because of insecurity. (d) In response to the current crisis, WFP successfully distributed over 400 tons of food to approximately 35,000 vulnerable people in the districts of Burdhubo and Garbaharey in Gedo region. Another food distribution in both districts is scheduled for third week of December. WFP is assisting malnourished children in Luuq district (Gedo region) through Therapeutic and Supplementary Feeding Programmes managed by Action Contre la Faim (ACF). (e) Although WFP has appealed for 20,000 tons of food under the 2002 Consolidated Appeal, food aid requirements may increase. The pipeline remains fragile, with sufficient food stocks only till March 2002, assuming no sudden increase in caseload. Cash pledges from donors are especially encouraged to enable regional food procurement and hence a quick and effective delivery. (2) Eritrea (a) From 3 to 15 December, the Eritrean Relief and Refugees Commission (ERREC) reported distribution of over 8,600 tons of food to over 531,000 war and drought-affected persons in Gash Barka, Debub, Anseba, Northern and Southern Red Sea Regions. Beneficiaries include 1,900 Eritrean refugees recently repatriated from Sudan by UNHCR. (b) A nutrition survey carried out by the Government and UNICEF found high malnutrition rates in rural Anseba. Malnutrition is also reportedly increasing in urban areas. WFP is currently discussing with ERREC on the appropriate response. WFP increased the ration in certain regions and recommended that Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP) be set up. Further assessments of the health, water and sanitation sectors should also be conducted to identify the causes of malnutrition. (c) WFP carried out post distribution monitoring surveys in the drought-affected Ghel'alo area (Northern Red Sea Region). WFP also conducted post distribution monitoring surveys in various areas of the war-affected Gash Barka Region. Findings indicated that the beneficiaries received 100 percent of their rations. (d) WFP conducted a study to identify ways to enhance WFP contribution to HIV/AIDS prevention, mitigation and care efforts in Eritrea. This could be achieved through various programmes, including providing food assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. WFP is also considering linking HIV/AIDS awareness to SFP for pregnant and lactating women and food-for-training activities targeting out-of-school adolescents. However, WFP is constrained by the lack of partners to work on HIV/AIDS issues. (e) The Ministry of Agriculture is planning to conduct a post harvest crop assessment in early January 2002. The earlier predicted forecast of 210,000 tons of cereal production is likely to be considerably lower due to the irregular and early rainfall this year. (D) West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone (1) Liberia (a) Renewed fighting in Gbarpolu County has resulted in new influxes of displaced people. IDPs in Bopolu and Jennemana camps, along with residents from the surrounding area, have fled towards Sawmill (Bomi County). An estimated 15,000 persons currently require humanitarian assistance in the Sawmill area. An assessment mission is planned in the coming days to ascertain this figure, which could increase depending on developments. WFP has already supplied food stocks to its partner ACF and 5,000 IDPs, mainly women and children have already received WFP assistance. WFP has temporarily suspended its activities in Gbarpolu County. (b) Last week, WFP assisted 142,000 vulnerable people, providing them with over 800 tons of food under various activities, including the School Feeding Programme, nutritional projects, general food assistance to vulnerable groups. This includes the delivery of 160 tons of food to 18,600 Sierra Leonean refugees near Monrovia. WFP also completed the distribution of 270 tons of food to 22,500 IDPs in CARI, TV Tower and Bellefanai camps (Bong County) on 13 December. In addition, WFP assisted over 83,300 students through its School Feeding Project in Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, Maryland, River Gee, Grand Kru and grand Cape Mount Counties. 280 tons of food, corresponding to a 15-day ration, were distributed. Finally, over 8,200 children attending schools in refugee camps in Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount Counties received 30 tons of WFP food assistance. (2) Sierra Leone (a) The repatriation of approximately 11,000 returnees from Guinea, temporarily hosted at Lokomasama chiefdom commenced on 6 December. A resettlement package composed of food and non-food items was provided by the Government, WFP and UNHCR. The returnees are being resettled in Kambia and Port Loko districts. The exercise is scheduled to finish on 21 December. (b) 120 Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees arrived in Faima, 18 kilometers from the Liberia border (Kenema district) on 14 December, due to renewed fighting in Lofa County, according to UNHCR. On 14 December, the refugees and returnees were relocated to Blama Way where they will receive WFP assistance for about a month before being resettled in the South. (c) WFP is currently distributing over 100 tons of food to 12,800 IDPs in Blama camp. 9,000 beneficiaries have been assisted so far. WFP continues to support over 300 in-patients at the Government Hospital. WFP assisted over 10,600 IDPs in the various camps in Bo area, providing them with 120 tons of food. Additionally, 8 tons of food were pre-positioned for 656 IDP in Mandu (Bo district). (d) WFP prepositioned 22 tons of food for over 2,000 malnourished people admitted in the SFP implemented by the Government hospital and various under-fives clinics in Bo Township. ACF plans to suspend their TFP in Bo by the end of December and will be transferring their patients to the Government hospital. International Medical Corps opened a SFP centre in Nyandehun Kailahun District on 7 December targeting mainly refugees and returnees. (e) WFP recently assessed road rehabilitation projects in Bombali Sebora, Makarie Gbanti and Paki Masabong chiefdoms (Bombali district). On going FFW projects, implemented by ADAMACO were monitored and food was distributed to 36 communities involved in the rehabilitation works. The WFP road engineer also provided technical guidance for communities participating. WFP in collaboration with APEGS and IIRO is currently distributing 75 tons of food to over 1,800 beneficiaries involved in road rehabilitation activities in Ribbi, Bumpeh and Kongbora chiefdoms (Moyamba district). (f) The Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) process is scheduled to be completed by 30 December. The last area to be disarmed is the Kailahun District with approximately 2,200 RUF combatants expected to hand over their weapons. To date, 36,000 ex-combatants have disarmed in the third phase of the DDR process throughout the country. (E) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia, (3) Republic of Congo, (4) Democratic Republic of Congo (1) Angola (a) The security situation was reportedly tense throughout the country last week. Attacks and skirmishes were reported in Bié, Uige, Huíla, Huambo, Benguela, and Malange provinces. As result, About 15,000 new IDPs are reportedly fleeing their villages towards Waku Kungo (Kuanza Sul province). The poor security situation negatively impacted also on WFP's operations in Uíge province, where the road between Uige and Negage remained shut for the second consecutive week, holding back road deliveries from the provincial capital. (b) From 11 to 17 December, WFP assisted approximately 3,000 children through pre-school kitchens in Benguela province. During the same period, approximately 45,000 vulnerable people received 2,800 tons of WFP food in Bié province. Over 480 IDPs fleeing insecurity in Kamacupa and Catabola municipalities were registered in Kuito (Bié province) last week. (c) Last week, 19,200 beneficiaries were assisted in Huambo province with 230 tons of WFP food through general food distributions and FFW projects. In Huila province, WFP distributed over 230 tons of food to 12,200 vulnerable people. Poor rainfall in the northern part of Huila province has threatened the maize crop, which had just begun to germinate. (d) In Kuando Kubango province, over 41,400 people received 720 tons of WFP food last week. In addition, WFP distributed 320 tons of food to 114,800 beneficiaries near the capital of Malange province. Last week, over 900 newly displaced persons, mostly from Lunda Norte and Moxico provinces arrived in Saurimo (Lunda Sul province). (e) Approximately 400 IDPs were registered in Uige during the week from Kimbele, Mucaba, Kitexe and Milunga. Rainfall in Uige province was relatively even during the week, and the agricultural campaign continues, despite the unstable security conditions in the province. (f) Distributions of seeds, fertilizers and tools benefiting 406,500 families in 17 provinces continued this week. Rainfall patterns remained relatively stable in the eastern provinces throughout the month of December. However, rainfall has been erratic in the seaboard provinces, and some irregularities were noted in the central and northern provinces during the past two weeks, according to an analysis of FAO/Artemis-EUMETSAT satellite pictures. (g) Following the confirmation of a donation of 11,000 tons of maize, pulses and oil, WFP pipeline for these commodities is guaranteed at least up to the end of February. (2) Namibia (a) WFP regularly provides food to 19,500 people, mostly Angolan refugees in the camp of Osire. Approximately 15,300 refugees received WFP assistance since the beginning of December. WFP expects to face shortfalls of all commodities by March 2002, unless new pledges are made within the next few weeks. WFP held a briefing for donors on WFP's emergency operation in Namibia. (3) Republic of Congo (a) The security situation has been steady throughout the country during the month of September. However, the situation in the Pool region, Vindza district remains unstable. WFP is still facing logistical constraints in transporting food from the port of Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville and Nkayi. (b) From September to November, WFP distributed over 1,260 tons of food to 74,500 vulnerable people in Brazzaville, Pool Niari, Bouenza and Kouilou regions, under various programmes. This includes the distribution of over 570 tons of food in support of rehabilitation and agricultural activities. WFP has also started assisting 50,000 refugees from DR Congo, in the north of the country. (c) Early October, WFP, FAO and government officials jointly assessed a project in the Likouala region. The activities related to the making-up of rivers initiated by the Ministry of Forestry Economy are to benefit 1,500 persons involved in fishing activities and living along the river. (d) Since the launching of EMOP 6109 in 1999, 500 women organized in committees have been involved in food aid management. Over the last months, these women have very active in the planning of the school-feeding project. 1500 women and girls were selected and trained in school canteens management. WFP prepositioned food stocks in regions where the pilot school feeding project is scheduled to start. (4) Democratic Republic of Congo (a) Increasing banditry has been recently reported in Kinshasa and Bukavu (South Kivu province). As a preventive measure, the Government has already reinforced night patrols in the town. General insecurity has negatively affected WFP activities in various regions, including Walungu area where all WFP activities have been suspended. In South Kivu province, WFP has not been able to pre-position sufficient food stocks and as a result the level of WFP food distributions in Bukavu have significantly decreased. WFP continues to operate the cargo aircraft to deliver the remaining 250 tons of food in Northern Katanga through the SO 10117.0. (b) The first humanitarian boat arrived in Zongo (Equateur Province) from Kinshasa with 270 tons of WFP food assistance for Central African refugees in DRC. WFP is targeting 92,000 vulnerable, including 39,000 IDPs and 26,500 malnourished children and their family members in Kinshasa region. 1,400 tons of food aid are expected to be distributed under the EMOP 6110 and PRRO 6274. In addition, WFP has been assisting IDPs returning from the forest in South Kivu region. Due to insecurity, this caseload has increased from 3,500 to 4,660 in Kabare and Walungu. More IDPs are located in inaccessible areas. (c) Under EMOP 6035.01, WFP is targeting 37,000 Angolan refugees for food assistance in Kimpese region. Access to some 3,500 refugees in Ngindinga is still difficult because of bad road conditions. WFP plans therefore to initiate road rehabilitation under FFW activities. Some refugees benefiting from WFP food assistance in Kisenge have reportedly returned to Angola in November, in time for the commencement of the fishing season. (d) From 19 November to 2 December, WFP distributed 840 tons of food to meet the needs of 90,500 persons, including IDPs, returnees, malnourished people and vulnerable groups in the North Kivu province. WFP plans to assist 3,000 displaced families who reportedly fled insecurity in Walikale and Lubero and are now in Kikuku (Territory of Rutshuru). Over 1,750 displaced families are reported to be in Ngungu, after fleeing fighting in Ufamandu and Ziralo and missed the planting season and are now. WFP has undertaken a mission in Ngungu to assess their needs and organize emergency food assistance. (e) New cash contributions to the PRRO 6274.00, amounting to approximately USD 1,500,000 have been programmed to purchase various commodities. Additional contributions of pulses, maize and CSB are still required. (F) Northern Caucasus: (1) Regional overview, (2) Ingushetia, (3) Chechnya (1) Regional overview (a) The Chechen Administration reported that electricity and gas were being restored and houses built. However, the precarious security situation in Chechnya is considered to be a determining constraint to the return of IDPs. A number of security incidents were recently reported in Ingushetia and Chechnya. Some relief workers from international organizations were targeted inside Chechnya. With the onset of winter, living conditions in IDP camps are worsening. (b) WFP is assisting 270,000 beneficiaries: 150,000 IDPs in Ingushetia and 120,000 IDPs and vulnerable people in Chechnya. The ration of wheat flour for IDPs in Ingushetia was reduced from 13.5 kg to 10.0 kg due to the low level of WFP stocks. Donors have so far provided a total of about USD 23.5 million for emergency food assistance to the Northern Caucasus, channelled through WFP. (c) From 1 to 15 December, WFP distributed over 1,800 tons of food to about 119,000 beneficiaries in Ingushetia and Chechnya. WFP has been regularly monitoring food distribution as well as the end-use of food assistance. (2) Ingushetia (a) Since 1 September, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has registered about 2,000 new IDPs, bringing the total number of IDPs in Ingushetia to 147,200. Most of them are staying with host families, although many IDPs lacking resources to pay rent to host families were forced to move in camps and spontaneous settlements since September. Swiss Disaster Relief is planning to distribute for the second time cash allowances to about 16,000 host families (USD 100 per family) to cover their expenses in hosting IDP families. (b) WFP provides basic food commodities to all registered IDPs, and ICRC and Islamic Relief (IR) distribute complementary food. However, both agencies have reduced the scale of complementary food for this month due to lack of resources. (c) WFP distributed over 1,000 tons of food to 79,000 IDPs through DRC and IR. During the last two weeks, WFP monitored food distribution in 12 distribution centres and interviewed beneficiary households. Beneficiaries expressed concern over the reduction in the wheat flour ration for this month but were satisfied with the quality of the food and the support it represented. (3) Chechnya (a) From 1 to 15 December, WFP, in collaboration with People in Need Foundation (PINF) and Caritas International - assisted 40,000 vulnerable people; these included 200 pre-school children. Over the next weeks WFP, in collaboration with NGO partners, intends to supply food to about 120,000 beneficiaries, including 20,000 primary schoolchildren. (b) A joint UN monitoring mission composed of WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and Swiss Disaster Relief visited Grozny on 7 December. WFP monitored food distribution in a centre managed by PINF as well as other programmes implemented by IR, Caritas International and PINF. WFP's implementing partner for monitoring in Chechnya (Vesta) visited all distribution centres in four districts of Grozny city. Distributions in Lenisky and Staropromiskovsky districts were interrupted due to the late delivery of food supplies from Ingushetia, attributable to insecurity in Grozny. (c) ACF distributed basic food rations to about 22,000 beneficiaries in the southern districts of Itum-Kali and Shatoy. ACF is conducting a survey to target food assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable persons in its operational area. Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons (End WFP Emergency Report No 51) distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Center for International Disaster Information Volunteers in Technical Assistance web: www.cidi.org listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Food Program Reports www.cidi.org/humanitarian/wfp