WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 31 / 2001 - Date 3 August 2001


This report includes:
(A) Latin America & Caribbean Region: (1) Honduras, (2) Nicaragua,
    (3) El Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Ecuador, (6) Peru
(B) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola
(C) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo
(D) West Africa Region: (1) Sierra Leone, (2) Guinea
(E) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan


>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)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) General, (2) Honduras,
     (3) Nicaragua, (4) El Salvador, (5) Guatemala, (6) Ecuador, (7) Peru

(1)  General

(a)  WFP will provide food to 405,000 people who have lost between 50 and
100 percent of their crops due to the severe drought affecting Central
America. WFP and the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua conducted assessments to determine the most vulnerable
population that need to be assisted. Estimates are that 1.4 million
persons have been affected by the drought. Of these, over 775,000 are or
will be in a severe food security situation during the coming weeks.

(b)  WFP is currently able to assist only about 50 percent of that
population due to lack of resources. Therefore, assistance will be
targeted toward those with most urgent needs. WFP beneficiaries are
subsistence farmers, whose crops of beans and corn are mostly for
self-consumption. Their food reserves have been decimated in the past five
years, first by the drought resulting from El Niño, followed by the
flooding from Hurricane Mitch, and again by drought in the past two years.

(c)  WFP has begun distributing food to drought victims, making use of
stocks from ongoing operations, which are however likely to run-out in
about 30 days. In order to respond to this grave situation, WFP's Regional
Bureau has presented a funding request to donors. The intention is to use
regional PRRO 6089 to assist the needs of drought victims. PRRO 6089
presently has a 49 percent shortfall.

(d)  WFP planned intervention is based on the assumption that rains will
normalise leading to a good second harvest. In the event that this does
not occur, the number of affected people and the duration of the
intervention may significantly increase.


(2)  Honduras

(a)  WFP has begun assisting 91,000 people among the 266,010
drought-affected persons in 12 provinces, making use of 2,000 tons from
the on-going development projects. At the present distribution rate,
available food stocks will be exhausted within a month.


(3)  Nicaragua

(a)  WFP supplied 291 tons of food to Acción Médica Cristiana (AMC) on 31
July, to be distributed to 6,480 people living along the banks of the Río
Prinzapolka who lost all their crops due to the flooding that affected the
region three weeks ago. This intervention will last for three months.

(b)  Food has also been rapidly distributed in the northern and
northwestern areas affected by the drought through development programs
and other on-going operations. This assistance will be extended to 45,000
people seriously affected by the drought in 22 districts starting in the
second half of August.


(4)  El Salvador

(a)  The Government's initial estimates are that some 200,000 persons are
seriously affected by drought. On 27 July, WFP completed a food needs
assessment of many subsistence farmers in the eastern provinces. 200,000
affected people in the departments of Usulután, San Miguel, Morazán and La
Union will receive food aid as of 15 August. The existing food stocks will
only cover these people's need for one month.


(5)  Guatemala

(a)  A joint WFP-Government assessment took place on 25-28 July,
concluding that some 63,510 vulnerable persons have suffered major crop
losses in the eastern and southeastern departments. WFP will assist this
caseload for the next three months. From May to July, WFP distributed 850
tons of food in 33 out of the 49 affected districts through the existing
FFW and pre-school feeding projects.


(6)  Ecuador

(a)  In close collaboration with the National Civil Defence Committee, WFP
is providing emergency assistance in the midst of continuous floods and
mudslides, in the central, southern and Amazonian provinces. New mudslides
have taken place in Napo and Loja provinces but no casualties have been
reported.

(b)  As of 2 August, WFP delivered 18,580 food rations, covering the needs
of each family for seven days. WFP is also assisting with non-food items
such as kitchen utensils, 307 families who lost their homes.


(7)  Peru

(a)  As a follow-up to WFP's emergency interventions in the earthquake
affected areas, a three-month EMOP proposal has been prepared. This
operation aims at providing assistance to 30,000 persons with 3,807 tons
of food.



(B)  Central Africa Region: (1) Angola

(1)  Angola

(a)  The security situation remained unstable in most provinces during the
week, with an increase in the number of attacks to villages surrounding
Kuito, and in Bié province in general. Road access remained limited in
most provinces, though with some improvement in Kwanza Sul.

(b)  WFP, the Angolan Ministry of Social Action and Reinsertion (MINARS),
the Technical Unit for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UTCAH),
the Institute for Agrarian Development (IDA) and OCHA undertook a joint
needs assessment mission in Ganda (Benguela province) on 23- 25 July,
where 6,038 IDPs are currently assisted by WFP in collaboration with
CRS-USCC. Local authorities intend to allocate to IDPs, 5,550 hectares of
arable land in the Caxibango area before the next agricultural campaign.
64 families who recently fled insecurity in Tumbulo and Capupa were
registered in Cubal. FASAC assisted 1,289 children with 3 tons of food in
seven Child Community Programmes (PIC) in Lobito. ACF, in collaboration
with WFP assisted 4,023 beneficiaries in three SFCs in Ganda. WFP
delivered 13 tons of food to 90 malnourished cases admitted in the TFC.

(c)  Preliminary results of a recent study show that the increase in
Pellagra in Kuito (Bié province) is largely due to the absence of dietary
variety. A proposal has been made to increase Vitamin B-value in WFP food
ration. Some 3,100 IDPs arrived in Camacupa from 9 to 23 July, according
to Government's estimates, and are expected to be verified on 1 August.
IDPs in Camacupa are still in great need of shelter. WFP delivered 454
tons of food to its partners to be distributed to 30,873 IDPs and
vulnerable persons in Kuito.

(d)  WFP assisted 9,533 people with 191 tons of food in Huambo, this week.
Following new reports of displacements in Kaála, a total of 16,695 new
IDPs were reported in the area. Insecurity in the region continues to
prevent local authorities from resettling some of these IDPs in Kuima.

(e)  58 new IDPs coming from Longa were reported in Kuito Kuanavale
(Kuando Kubango province) on 26 July. In the Pendera/Menongue camp, 224
IDPs received WFP assistance through MOVIMONDO Molisv.

(f)  Several dozens of new IDPs reportedly arrived during the week in
Lucala (Kwanza-Norte province) from Samaba-Caju municipality. Government
officials estimated the total number of new IDPs in Lucala at 708.
Caritas, in collaboration with WFP started a resettlement project in
Cazengo, targeting 515 displaced families.

(g)  A verification mission to Cambondo (Malanje province) confirmed that
out of the 1,491 IDPs originally registered, only 193 persons remained
there, while most of them returned to Camabole. Meanwhile, 148 new IDPs
arrived during the week, in Cambondo from Quela, Kunda-dia-Base and Kiwaba
N'zoji. The nutritional situation in the province remains unstable.
Concern worldwide registered 66 new malnourished cases in its SFCs from 16
to 22 July. WFP began a food-for-work project for adobe brick manufacture
in Quissol, in order to speed-up the resettlement programme.



(C)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo

(1)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  The security situation remained unstable in Equateur and South Kivu
provinces, during the last week of July. Roads to Kalemie (Northern
Katanga province) remained inaccessible due to the presence of armed
groups.

(b)  WFP assisted 33,974 IDPs, malnourished children and accompanying
families in Bukavu (South Kivu) during the last week of July. 850 families
who have engaged in crop production in the Northern part of Kalemie
(Northern Katanga province) received WFP food assistance through Caritas.
A 118km road in the north of Kalemie to Kabimba is being rehabilitated by
displaced and resident populations receiving WFP assistance. This Food For
Work (FFW) project contributed to facilitate access to cultivating areas.
WFP is also currently assisting 1000 persons, mainly IDPs involved in the
drainage and clearing of Kalemie town. WFP food distributions have
contributed to improve the food security situation and market prices are
expected to reduce over the coming months, increasing access of the
population to food. By the end of August, WFP intends to have distributed
200 tons of food in Kalemie.

(c)  UNHCR in collaboration with WFP, has repatriated 154 refugees from
Bukavu (South Kivu province) to Rwanda. Their numbers are decreasing as a
result of insecurity and long distances to cover. WFP distributed 101 tons
of food to 13,109 refugees in Kilueka and Kimaza camps (Bas-Congo
province). 5382 vulnerable persons, including malnourished children,
pregnant and lactating women received 15 tons of supplementary food
rations. WFP in collaboration with UNHCR plans to distribute 159 tons of
food to 11,344 refugees in Zongo and Libenge (Equateur province).

(d)  WFP undertook an assessment mission in Matadi (capital city of
Bas-Congo province) where a very strong interest in FFW projects was
expressed by the community leaders and Provincial authorities.

(e)  As of 31 July, the PRRO was 60 percent resourced for the first year.
However, WFP expects serious shortages of CSB and pulses from October
onwards. Salt and sugar will also be required for January 2002. WFP
urgently needs to secure new contributions to meet the projected
requirements up to December.



(D)  West Africa Region: (1) Sierra Leone, (2) Guinea

(1)  Sierra Leone

(a)  WFP distributed a total of 319 tons of food to 22,880 beneficiaries,
during the week. This included 8 tons of food provided to 656 IDPs in
Mandu and surrounding villages (Bo Chiefdom), 16 tons of food supplied to
1,584 beneficiaries through various Interim Care Centres in Port Loko,
Makeni, Lungi, and Daru and Institutions in Bo, Kenema, and Freetown.

(b)  45 tons of WFP food were distributed to a total of 7,992 malnourished
children through hospital, SFCs and TFCs in the country. This included the
urgent food delivery to the SFC in Daru where the number of new admissions
is growing significantly, due to the influx of returnees. It also includes
the distribution of 7 tons of food to 2,437 malnourished people in Bo
area. TFCs and SFCs there are managed by ACF, the national Red Cross. CARE
and CRS provided the CSB to cover WFP's shortfall.

(c)  85 tons of WFP food were distributed to 2000 families in Port Loko
North and Kambia districts, under a Food For Agriculture project (FFAg).
WFP also provided 45 tons to 1,050 farmers in Dodo Chiefdom.

(d)  UNHCR has repatriated 794 Sierra Leonean returnees to the Gerihun
settlement camp from 19 to 29 July. In response, WFP pre-positioned 3 tons
of food to be distributed by International Rescue Committee. WFP assisted
5,221 returnees from Guinea and Liberia in Daru, during the month of July.
An average of 50 to 100 returnees are reported to arrive on a daily basis.

(e)  WFP is currently supporting over 3,000 ex-combatants in seven
disarmament camps throughout the country. Following an assessment of the
DDR camps in Koidu and in view of the high numbers of ex-combatants
expected to arrive in the coming weeks, WFP intends to deliver 22 tons of
food. Disarmament in Kabala and Moyamba is scheduled to start early
August. 1,400 ex-combatants have been disarmed in Kono district since 24
July.

(f)  WFP expects shortfalls of 1,250 tons of pulses and 275 tons of sugar,
over the coming months and urgently requires new contributions to meet the
projected requirements up to December.


(2)  Guinea

(a)  The security situation is relatively calm apart from an incident
reported on 27 August in Kouankan camp (N'Zérékoré region) where the
Liberian ULIMO fighters threatened to destroy ACT camp facilities.

(b)  WFP in collaboration with Première Urgence is currently distributing
130 tons of food to 6,416 IDPs and vulnerable residents in the Languette.
WFP distribution for 24,676 beneficiaries in the Faranah region, which
started last week is on-going. 20,538 IDPs have been registered in Mamou
and are expected to receive food assistance by mid-August. WFP in
collaboration with OCPH distributed food to approximately 3,000 IDPs and
vulnerable residents in the Siguiri Prefecture (North of Kankan).

(c)  Following verification, 12,912 refugees were registered in the Boreah
camp (Kissidougou region). A verification of the refugee caseload started
in the Telikoro camp on 27 August. WFP is currently distributing 372 tons
of food to 16,920 refugees in Kountayah camp. UNHCR intends to relocate
7,000 refugees from the overcrowded Kountayah camp to different locations,
including Telikoro camp.

(d)  Preparations are in progress for the August food distribution to
7,434 refugees in the Sembakounya camp (Dabola region). UNHCR plans to
transfer 200 refugees from Kissidougou township to Sembakounya camp.

(e)  WFP assisted 543 people, providing them with 17 tons of food, under
various Development activities in Labé area, including natural resources
management, infrastructure and gardening projects.



(E)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan

(1)  Afghanistan

(a)  WFP distributed 407 tons of wheat to 8,137 beneficiaries through Food
for Work, FOODAC and general feeding programmes in Takhar and Badakhshan
provinces. WFP VAM Cereal Value Survey was completed in the Takhar and
Keshem districts but is still in progress in other parts of Badakhshan
province.

(b)  WFP completed the general food distribution in five IDP camps in
Herat area, providing 302 tons of food to 43,085 people. WFP is currently
distributing food in Maslakh IDP camp, near Herat. As of 26 July, 38,643
displaced families have been assisted with 1,450 tons of wheat. Food
distribution in Jawand and Qadis districts (Badghis province) and in
Saghar district (Ghor province) have been suspended by local authorities,
as a preventive security measure.

(c)  WFP distributed 644 tons of food in Jalalabad area during the last
week. On 26 July, WFP completed the distribution of 108 tons of wheat to
719 families returning to Afghanistan under the UNHCR repatriation
programme.

(d)  10,449 families received 1,045 tons of WFP food in Kandahar and
Zabul. In addition, WFP in collaboration with CARE, distributed 59 tons of
food to 712 families through a FOODAC project in Zabul.

(e)  44 tons of food were distributed to malnourished children and
lactating mothers in Maiwand district through an institutional feeding
project implemented by MSF-H.

(f)  WFP is currently assisting 10,000 displaced families under a general
feeding programme in the Registan Desert. WFP intends to provide them with
3,000 tons of wheat over the next 6 months.

(g)  The transportation of food from Tajikistan to Afghanistan has been
hindered due to a border dispute between Russia and the Rabbani government
as well as a plan by Tajikistan to establish a customs office in
Ishkashem. Currently, WFP is transporting 50 tons of food every day,
against a normal average of 75 to 100 tons.


(2)  Pakistan

(a)  WFP is assisting flood victims in Dadar village (Mansehra district,
NWFP province) and Rawalpindi near Islamabad, with 16 tons of food. WFP in
collaboration with Shelter Now International (SNI) completed the
distribution of 835 tons of food to 49,215 people in Shamshatoo camp on 25
July. WFP in collaboration with SNI is currently assisting 11,500 families
in Jalozai refugee camp with 678 tons of food. The distribution is
expected to be completed by 13 August.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 31)

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