WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 2 / 2002 - Date 11 January 2002


This report includes:
(A) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Afghanistan,
    (3) Pakistan, (4) Tajikistan
(B) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Guatemala, (2) Honduras
(C) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia, (3) Democratic Republic
    of Congo, (5) Central African Republic
(D) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Tanzania
(E) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Northern Caucasus

>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 Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Afghanistan,
(3) Pakistan, (4) Tajikistan

1)  Regional overview

(a)  Over 18,000 tons of food were dispatched into Afghanistan from 3 to 9
January, making an average of 2,500 tons per day.

(b)  WFP was planning to deploy helicopters to facilitate rapid
assessments in remote areas towards the end of January when winter
conditions are at their most severe. However, in view of recent reports of
pockets of malnutrition in remote areas, WFP will bring, as soon as
possible, two commercial helicopters to Mazar-I-Sharif. Four more
helicopters will be based in Bamyan and Chachcharan to cover the Central
Highlands, the other area in Afghanistan where access becomes extremely
difficult during the winter months.

(c)  With these helicopters in place, WFP will be in a position to conduct
rapid assessments and respond to acute food needs with small amounts of
emergency supplies to relieve the most immediate requirements while
long-term arrangements are made. WFP also has two C 130 aircraft in the
region that can be used to airdrop food in wide valleys if transport by
truck or donkey is not feasible.

(d)  Snow and avalanche control teams remain in place in Faizabad to cover
the north-east of Afghanistan and in Hirat for the Central Highlands. The
CIDA-funded snow clearance team currently stationed in Faizabad has been
clearing roads and has called forward additional heavy equipment to assist
in the process. In Hirat, after working to clear the road to Chachcharan,
the team from WFP's stand-by partner the Swedish Rescue Service Agency
(SRSA) will rotate this week. Road conditions have deteriorated and the
intervention plan and equipment required are under review.


2)  Afghanistan

(a)  Long-range weather forecasts are for heavy snowfalls in Afghanistan
in the coming days. The amount of snow is directly related to water
availability during the summer and low snowfalls during the winter have
resulted in drought conditions for the past three years. A light
snowfall/drizzle has fallen in Kabul. There has been heavier snow on the
Paghman mountain-side, about 20 km outside of Kabul. Rainfall is reported
in Kandahar.

(b)  In response to recent reports of extreme food shortages in the
village of Bonawash, Zarah District (Balkh northern province), WFP carried
out an assessment to determine the quickest way to assist these
populations. Bonawash is located in Zarah district, a remote area at the
foot of the Hindu Kush mountains.  It has been hard-hit by three years of
drought and was close to the front lines that saw intense fighting in
recent years.  It takes four hours to reach Zarah by car and then another
8 hours by donkey to reach the village itself. On 6 January, WFP NGO
partners started distributing 1,400 tons of food in Zarah district. This
is enough to feed more than 150,000 people for one month.

(c)  WFP has 22 international officers working in Afghanistan this week.
WFP offices are open in Kabul, Hirat, Mazar-I-Sharif and this week the
Jalalabad sub-office was reinforced with the arrival of international
officers. Only Kandahar continues to remain closed to humanitarian
operations due to ongoing insecurity.

(d)  The general urban distribution in Kabul is due to finish by 13
January. In Hirat, the first tranche of the general urban distribution of
food was completed on 8 January. Distributions are being carried out at
the Hirat stadium to facilitate crowd control and regular radio broadcasts
giving clear instructions to beneficiaries are taking place. WFP in
collaboration with World Vision is providing a 50 kg bag of wheat to each
family.

(e)  About 78 percent of the population of Hirat, estimated at 430,000
people, will receive the much needed food assistance. According to WFP
staff in Hirat, people in the city are confronted with very difficult
living conditions. Thousands of people are jobless or are begging on the
streets.  There are also a great number of widows.

(f)  For this one-off food distribution, WFP has pre-positioned more than
2,600 tons of wheat. WFP and World Vision have mobilized a survey team of
250 women prior the distribution as well as 500 people to carry out the
distribution. A third urban distribution is currently being planned in
Mazar-I-Sharif. This week WFP held discussions with 10 NGOs willing to
participate in the programme.

(g)  WFP continues to assist IDPs near Hirat, mainly in Maslakh camp.
Every day, WFP distributes 90 tons of food in Maslakh camp, enough to feed
324,000 people for a month. Each family gets a 50 kg bag of wheat per
month. WFP also provides supplementary feeding for highly vulnerable
people, including children under 10 years old and pregnant and
breast-feeding mothers, through 14 community kitchens managed by WFP
partner in the camp. Finally, WFP partners, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
and Medicos del Mundo (MDM) run health care clinics where fortified food
is provided to severely malnourished people.

(h)  Security incidents have been recently reported in the Maslakh camp,
after armed groups repeatedly entered the camp trying to discourage
international aid groups from doing their humanitarian work.

(i)  WFP is now making preparations with NGO partners to assist 9,000 IDPs
in Laghman, north of Jalalabad. WFP is also providing food to over 82,000
people in Nangarhar province.  International staff only returned to
Jalalabad on 7 January.

(j)  WFP is continuing to provide food to schoolchildren in several
districts of Badakhshan, in northeastern Afghanistan under its
Food-for-Education programme. 6,500 children, 200 teachers and service
staff in 17 schools are currently receiving a 4-month dry ration of 50 kg
of wheat flour. This programme helps increase school attendance, reduce
drop-out rates and encourages families to send girls to school. Under this
programme girls receive 5 litres of vegetable oil every month as an
incentive for regular school attendance. WFP provides food to a total of
27,000 children, 1,500 teachers and service staff in 50 schools throughout
Badakhshan province.

(k)  During the month of November and December, WFP, in collaboration with
its NGO partners, distributed 11,000 tons of food to 500,000 people in
Badakhshan and Takhar provinces. Most of beneficiaries received food
through WFP emergency distributions targeting rural populations in
drought-affected areas.


3)  Pakistan

(a)  4,000 people are reportedly camping in the 'no-man's land' between
Pakistan and Afghanistan, waiting to cross to register at the Killi Faizo
staging camp that was established by UNHCR late in 2001. They are believed
to have fled insecurity in and around Kandahar, an area still closed to UN
operations.  WFP warehouses in Killi Faizo contain enough food to provide
assistance if the Government of Pakistan authorize these people to cross
the border. On registration, people receive from WFP a one-time
distribution of high-energy biscuits followed by a dry food ration. In
other refugee sites in Pakistan, the relocation of refugees to more
permanent camps continues.


4)  Tajikistan

(a)  An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit Tajikistan on 9
January, affecting two villages located 140km northeast Dushanbe.
Following a field visit, WFP together with other UN agencies and the
Ministry of Emergency are looking into providing immediate assistance to
the estimated 1,500 affected people. This would include the provision of
tents, heaters, generators, medicines, food and warm clothes (temperature
in this region is some 10-15 below zero with heavy snowing). Initial
reports in Rogun indicate that due to the earthquake, 52 buildings were
completely destroyed, 3 persons killed, 54 people injured and 580 persons
left without shelter.



B)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Guatemala, (2) Honduras

1)  Guatemala

(a)  The nutritional crisis in Guatemala has become acute due to
continuing drought. Guatemala's economy has also been affected by the fall
of international coffee prices, causing the elimination of about half of
the 500,000 jobs that are usually available during the October-February
period. UN agencies and government estimates indicate that at least 7,000
severely malnourished children and 27,000 families with at least one
moderately malnourished child require urgent food assistance. Over 19,500
pregnant women and nursing mothers living in communities with high total
acute malnutrition are also in need of assistance.

(b)  The findings of a joint WFP-Government assessment of the 2001 second
planting season indicate that agricultural losses are in specific areas.
Food scarcity will continue in these areas to negatively impact the
nutritional situation at the household level, particularly among children
under five. Recent UNICEF and Ministry of nutrition reports confirm the
WFP-Government findings. A nutritional survey (height/weight) has been
carried out among 33,300 children in the provinces of Chiquimula, Jutiapa,
Zacapa, Jalapa y Baja Verapaz. Results indicate a global acute
malnutrition rate of 19.4 percent, varying from 32.4 percent in part of
Zacapa province to 5.3 percent in areas of Baja Verapaz province.

(c)  Estimates are that some 20,000 families in 200 communities are in
need of food assistance. WFP will target in priority communities living in
the provinces that suffered the largest amount of losses during the second
planting season, which have the highest levels of malnutrition and the
weakest coping capacity.

(d)  WFP is working closely with the Government institutions that are
analyzing the probabilities of drought during 2002 and developing an early
warning system. WFP, together with UNICEF and Government institutions, is
also reviewing the nutritional data regarding the 102 prioritized
districts.


2)  Honduras

(a)  WFP continued to assist drought-affected populations in the Francisco
Morazan and the Choluteca provinces. Approximately 4,800 tons of food have
been distributed to 30,000 families. In addition, WFP in partnership with
World Vision is presently assisting in the rehabilitation of roads,
houses, aqueducts and agricultural land affected by tropical storm
Michelle in late 2001. 1,500 families have received 240 tons of food in
the districts of Morazán, Jocón, Yoro y Yorito, in the province of Yoro.



C)  Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia, (3) Democratic
Republic of Congo, (5) Central African Republic

1)  Angola

(a)  The security situation from 24 December 2001 to 6 January 2002 was
considered calm in most provinces, despite some security incidents
reported in several provinces. Due to renewed hostilities in the eastern
part of Bié province, many IDPs continues to arrive in Kunhinga and Kuito
(Bié province). Following increased insecurity in several municipalities
of the capital of Moxico province, many IDPs have been resettled in Luena.

(b)  Between 29 December 2001 and 3 January 2002, WFP, in collaboration
with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and German Agro Action, assisted
approximately 2,500 vulnerable people through community kitchens in Ganda
and Balombo (Benguela province). Another 1,300 children attending Child
Community Programmes received WFP assistance. 33 newly displaced families
have been registered and relocated by German Agro Action in Caala and
Hungulo camps.

(c)  5,100 new IDPs coming from Kunhinga area have been officially
registered in Chicala II and Chissindo camps (Bié province). WFP assisted
over 13,900 vulnerable people in the town of Huambo during the last week
of December, with approximately 200 tons of food. This includes over 1,400
persons involved in food for work (FFW) activities, who received 80 tons
of food. WFP is currently evaluating a FFW project aiming at planting over
56,600 trees on 50 hectares of land near Huambo.

(d)  WFP together with OCHA, UNICEF, Movimondo and Africare intend to
assist jointly 6,500 newly displaced persons in resettling in the Waku
Kungo area (Kuanza Sul province). WFP will provide food assistance to the
IDPs for three months, while they will be in transit centres waiting for
their resettlement.

(e)  Over 500 new IDPs, including 70 returnees from DR Congo were
registered in Moxico Province between 29 December 2001 and 3 January 2002.
Norwegian People's Aid reported to have cleared 225,046 m² from mines in
the municipalities of Sacassange, Sangondo and Canhengue (Moxico
province).

(f)  Although WFP has received sufficient contributions to continue its
operations until the end of March, new pledges will be necessary to ensure
that food needs will be met in April.


2)  Namibia

(a)  WFP is currently finalizing a new Emergency Operation for Namibia.
Unless new pledges from donors are confirmed, WFP expects to face
shortfalls of CSB and sugar in February and shortfalls of all commodities
in March. WFP has deployed staff in Osire refugee camp, in order to
monitor food distributions through its implementing partner.


3)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  During the first week of January, confrontations between armed groups
and government soldiers were reported in Malemba-Nkulu area (Katanga
province). Insecurity continues to prevail in many areas near the town of
Bukavu (South Kivu province). Many cases of looting have been reported on
the road along the Virunga national park.

(b)  WFP carried out an assessment mission in the Kasaï Oriental province,
which reported widespread malnutrition. The land-locked situation of the
area, coupled with the migration of agriculture manpower to others areas,
food taboos and lack of education on nutrition are all factors, which are
negatively impacting the nutritional situation. Furthermore, this rice
harvest season is expected to be poor because of the ravages caused by the
Mombolenge (Sogatela virsifera) in Tshumbe.

(c)  Approximately 1,800 vulnerable people in Lodga (Kasaï Oriental
province) will be targeted for 13 tons of food assistance under nutrition
programmes. Food commodities will be airlifted by CIMAH flights (Centre
d'Information et de Mouvements Aériens Humanitaires) from Bukavu. WFP
identified other vulnerable groups, including handicapped and in-patients
in the Kole Hospital and leprosy affected people. Finally, 2,250 IDPs from
Katakokome living near Katako were found at risk of malnutrition. In order
to provide further support to nutritional centres and encourage resumption
of agricultural activities, WFP is planning to dispatch additional amounts
of food by barges in February.

(d)  WFP distributed approximately 360 tons of food in the South Kivu
province in December, benefiting mostly malnourished people. Efforts to
reach IDPs and returnees scattered in the province were hindered by
persisting insecurity in the region. WFP in collaboration with NGO partner
Human Dignity in the World assisted 3,300 street children in Lubumbashi
(Katanga province), providing them with 27 tons of food. WFP continued to
support nutritional centres as well as various vulnerable groups in Kamina
and Malemba Nkulu.

(e)  WFP and UNCHR have identified 1,700 particularly vulnerable people
among the 5,000 Central African refugees living in Zongo (Equateur
province). They will be targeted in priority for food assistance, once
transferred to the camp of Mole. A first group of 370 refugees was
transferred on 8 January in the camp of Mole, where they will receive WFP
assistance.

(f)  The humanitarian air service managed under WFP supervision (CIMAH)
carried an increasing number of passengers and freight from August to
November 2001. Over 350 passengers and 11,000 tons of food and non-food
items were transported to remote areas during November 2001. WFP has
approved an extension of the air operation until the end of February 2002.
Additional funding will be required to maintain the operation beyond that
date.


4)  Central African Republic

(a)  Under EMOP 10038, WFP, in collaboration with COOPI, assisted
approximately 2,300 refugees (mainly children) from DR Congo, providing
them with 40 tons of food during the month of December. Food assistance is
currently provided only to refugees residing in the Molangué camp. COOPI
reported only a few individual cases of malnutrition in the camp,
indicating that food aid is having a positive impact on the refugee
population.

(b)  No repatriation is envisaged by UNHCR in the immediate future. The
Government has made available some agricultural lands to the refugee
population. However, the parcels allocated are too small to enable the
refugees to become self-reliant.

(c)  Refugees living in Bangui continue to arrive in Molangué camp as
their economic resources decline. Between 100 and 200 refugees arrive in
the camp every month. Following a UNHCR's proposal, WFP is considering the
possibility of assisting refugees located in Bangui, bringing the new
beneficiary caseload to 5,000 refugees. WFP and UNHCR are currently
undertaking a Joint Food Needs Assessment to estimate the new caseload and
determine the needs of the refugees for the coming months.



D)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Tanzania

1)  Tanzania

(a)  From 17 to 30 December, WFP distributed over 5,300 tons of food
(corresponding to a three-week ration) to approximately 500,000 refugees
in Kigoma, Kibondo, Kasulu and Ngara districts. WFP supplied 100 percent
of the standard food ration to all beneficiaries. Out of this caseload,
over 2,400 extremely vulnerable refugees (pregnant and lactating mothers,
children under 5, malnourished persons and in-patients) received a special
ration containing fortified food.

(b)  In addition, WFP supported various Supplementary Feeding Centers
(SFC), providing 65 tons of food to 13,800 malnourished persons. During
the same period, over 270 refugees were assisted in returning to their
communities in Rwanda, bringing to approximately 4,600 the total number of
Rwandese assisted in returning home in the year 2001. Over 1,800 new
refugees arrived in Tanzania from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda from 17 to
30 December.

(c)  The second round of a nutrition survey in Kigoma and Ngara camps was
concluded. Overall results in all camps show that the prevalence of global
malnutrition (Weight/Height <-2 z scores) has decreased from 7.4 percent
in December 2000 to 3.1 percent in December 2001. Similarly, the
prevalence of severe malnutrition has reduced from 1.7 percent to 0.9
percent during the same period. In general, the global malnutrition level,
while improving, will still require attention.

(d)  An outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera was reported in the surrounding
villages of Uvinza. Five cholera cases were reported in Lugufu camp. A
meningitis outbreak was also recently reported in Mtendeli and Karago
camps.



E)  Eastern Europe Region: Northern Caucasus

1)  Regional overview

(a)  WFP, in collaboration with its NGO partners, distributed
approximately 1,800 tons of food among 153,400 vulnerable people in
Ingushetia and Chechnya during the last two weeks of December 2001. This
brings the total number of beneficiaries for the month of December to
272,500. Security concerns, lack of access and low food stocks have not
allowed WFP to assist all of the targeted 335,000 IDPs and vulnerable
groups in the North Caucasus. 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 23.4 million for
emergency food assistance to the Northern Caucasus, channelled through
WFP.


2)  Chechnya

(a)  WFP, in collaboration with its NGO partners, assisted 127,200
vulnerable people in Chechnya, providing them with 1,900 tons of food
during the second half of December 2001. Beneficiaries mainly included
IDPs, other vulnerable groups and pre-school children assisted through
emergency food distributions, food-for-work, and supplementary feeding in
Day Care Centres and primary schools. WFP's implementing partner for
monitoring in Chechnya (Vesta) visited all distribution centres in Grozny
city.

(b)  In December 2001, WFP and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) completed a
joint household survey in the rural areas of Grozny district. Various
household surveys were previously conducted in Achkoy-Martan, Gudermes and
Sunzha districts and Grozny city during the period May-December. The
recent survey in Grozny district was carried out among 80,100 persons.
Results show that 44 percent of the population were found to be
impoverished and relying partly on humanitarian assistance. 92 percent of
the working age population are unemployed.

(c)  The results of these surveys provide a basis for targeting emergency
food assistance to the poorest and needy people. At the same time, it also
helps in determining the exact number of IDPs in Ingushetia and Chechnya.


3)  Ingushetia

(a)  According to DRC statistics, the number of registered IDPs in
Ingushetia has decreased from 147,000 to 141,200 during the month of
December. This reduction was the result of household surveys jointly
conducted by WFP, UNHCR and DRC inside Chechnya. IDPs who were found
registered both in Ingushetia and Chechnya were taken off from the
beneficiary list in Ingushetia. Most of the IDPs in Ingushetia are staying
with host families.

(b)  From 16 to 31 December 2001, WFP, in collaboration with DRC, Islamic
Relief and Saudi Red Crescent Society, assisted over 145,300 IDPs in
Ingushetia, providing them with 1,750 tons of food. WFP has been regularly
monitoring food distributions and visiting beneficiaries for end-use
monitoring.

(c)  In Ingushetia, the Government distributed bread to 120,000 IDPs
during the month of December. ICRC distributed complementary food in
Malgobek and Sunzha regions. Islamic Relief and Saudi Red Crescent also
distributed complementary food in Alina, Sputnik and Satsita IDP camps.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report Nso 2)

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