WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 13 / 2002 - Date 28 March 2002


This report includes:

(A) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Malawi, (2) Mozambique,
    (3) Zambia, (4) Ethiopia, (5) Somalia, (6) Djibouti, (7) Burundi,
    (8) Uganda
(B) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan
(C) West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone, (3) Guinea,
    (4) Ivory Coast
(D) Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo
(E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia


>From Francesco Strippoli, Director of the Office of Humanitarian Affairs;
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)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Malawi, (2) Mozambique, (3)
Zambia, (4) Ethiopia, (5) Somalia, (6) Djibouti, (7) Burundi, (8) Uganda

1)  Malawi

(a)  Food shortages remain critical. An increasing number of cases of
malnutrition particularly among children, and some cases of deaths due to
hunger-related diseases are being reported by the district hospitals. Most
subsistence households are expected to run out of food by September. Many
have already started selling their few assets.

(b)  At least 23 districts are now experiencing a cholera outbreak,
exacerbated by the current food shortage, with almost 25,000 cases
reported and 675 deaths. These figures may represent an under-estimate as
they refer to cases reported at health centres only.

(c)  The Malawi Government continues to import maize into the country at
the rate of 800 to 1,000 tons per day from South Africa. Between October
2001 and 15 March 2002, 83,000 tons have been imported out of the total
planned imports of 150,000 tons. The flow of maize imports has slightly
improved due to the decision of the Government to source some of the maize
from Tanzania (30,00 tons) rather than from South Africa where the high
regional demand and transporters' reluctance to go through Zimbabwe have
created logistical problems. These problems also affect WFP imports.

(d)  The EMOP 10153.0 "Food assistance to people affected by severe food
shortages in Malawi" is targeting 19 districts out of the total 27
districts in the country and at least 301,000 beneficiaries. An Immediate
Response Account for EMOP10153.0 has been approved for USD 1.5 million,
which will cover 3,930 tons of food. An additional contribution of USD
514,000 has been confirmed. A donor is expected to provide 450 tons of
Likuni Phala and UNICEF will support with associated costs. UNDP will
support the food aid monitors.


2)  Mozambique

(a)  Due to the addition of new districts to be assisted by the current
EMOP 6225.2, the number of targeted beneficiaries for March has risen from
the planned 170,000 to 190,000. These new districts are predominantly in
the south of Mozambique and are suffering from the effects of the current
dry spell. WFP is extending the current EMOP until the end of April. WFP
has also expanded the number of beneficiaries being assisted through its
community-based disaster mitigation project, the Food for Development Fund
(FDF). The number of people in need of food aid in the most vulnerable
areas increases as a result of the lack of rain. WFP is currently covering
these districts, supporting food for work (FFW) projects under the FDF.

(b)  Assessments are underway with INGC/MADER/WFP/FAO to assess the crop
yields and the number of people who might require assistance throughout
the country. Partial to total crop failure are already reported in many
areas of south and central Mozambique.


3)  Zambia

(a)  Reports are increasing regarding levels of hunger and failure of, or
significant shortfall in, the current season's crops in some districts.
Since the beginning of the EMOP, approximately 340,000 beneficiaries in 18
districts have already received over 6,150 tons of food. During the
remainder of the month, beneficiaries in an additional 6 districts will
receive a further 2,200 tons.

(b)  WFP will be working with the GRZ to target the most vulnerable and
determine the level of assistance for t he coming months. The EMOP was
initially scheduled to end on 31 March but will be extended to cater for
the pressing requirements currently prevailing in various parts of the
country.


4)  Ethiopia

(a)  Donor contributions that have been confirmed in late March for the
Emergency operation for farmers and drought-affected pastoralists have
greatly improved the relief food aid pipeline. While there have been
breaks in distributions for some districts during the first three months
of the year, overall cereal requirements for the affected population are
now covered until end-June. The outstanding cereal requirements for 2002
are around 150,000 tons.

(b)  5.2 million people need external assistance to meet minimum food
requirements and the gross relief food requirements for 2002 are 557,000
tons of food. WFP's emergency operation plans to meet around 40 percent of
these needs, with the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission
(DPPC) and NGOs expected to cover the remaining 60 percent.

(c)  WFP's gross cereal food aid needs for this operation for 2002 are
some 189,000 tons; with 2001 carryover stocks and 2002 contributions
totalling 116,000 tons, the net cereal requirement to the end of the year
is 73,000 tons. In addition to cereals, WFP has a net requirement of and
7,000 tons of blended food and 5,000 tons of vegetable oil, wich are
crucial for supplementary rations for particularly vulnerable groups.

(d)  Relief food needs were relatively small in January and February (10
percent of annual requirements) but have increased for March and April and
distributions are being stepped-up. Food distributions are arresting
outward migration of people in search of food and employment in North and
South Gondar. Distributions have also begun in parts of Central and
Eastern Tigray, including Ofla, where there had been some reports of
out-migration. Afar region has been allocated food for distribution in
April. Several districts in Amhara region are under close surveillance. In
Sidama zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and People's Region, a
district that is not normally food-insecure has been found to have serious
food shortages by a DPPC assessment; cereals and supplementary food have
already been sent. In East and West Hararge zones of Oromiya region, food
distributions were scheduled for March for most of the areas of concern.
Food is also being distributed in several zones of Somali region.


5)  Somalia

(a)  WFP carried out a rapid assessment of the food security situation in
the northeastern region of Bari, which is of great concern. Serious food
and water shortages, due to a prolonged dry spell, have been reported.
Animal carcasses were seen lying on the roads. WFP observed that most
families are facing increasing difficulties, killing their limited
livestock and travelling long distances and paying high prices for water.

(b)  Insecurity in the northeast region has been hampering humanitarian
access, thus hindering WFP from intervening sooner. However, the security
situation has recently improved and WFP is currently planning some relief
food distributions.

(c)  The Somaliland authorities have increased charges on aircraft ground
handling for the Somaliland airport. The United Nations Common Air
Services (UNCAS), managed by WFP and ECHO flights, managed by European
Union, are affected by the new price increase. Negotiations are currently
underway between the UN Resident Coordinator and Somaliland authorities.

(d)  WFP relief intervention in Gedo is still continuing under the PRRO
6073, with the distribution of 650 tons of food to about 60,000 people in
Garbaharey and Burdhubo districts. A fourth successive relief distribution
was scheduled to commence this week, but recent security problems in Belet
Hawa, along the transportation route, have delayed the food convoy. WFP
will be going to the area as soon as the situation returns to normal. WFP
is also continuing FFW activities, MCH, and TB programmes in various parts
of the country.


6)  Djibouti

(a)  On 25 March a joint field mission composed by US Officials, UNHCR,
AMDA (medical partner), WFP and ONARS (government partner) visited the
refugee camps of Holl Holl and Ali Addeh where 24,400 Somali and 1,200
Ethiopian refugees have been receiving humanitarian assistance since 1999.
The mission observed that despite the arid and hot environment, the living
conditions of the refugees and their health and nutritional status are
quite good.

(b)  The mission interviewed the refugees to hear their concerns about the
forthcoming resettlement and repatriation programmes implemented by UNHCR,
in conjunction with ONARS and WFP. Among the camps population, there is a
real willingness to return to Somaliland. However, the refugees requested
that the elders visit the areas of resettlement, receive security
guarantees from the Somaliland Authorities and that minimal services are
in place.

(c)  WFP stressed that the forthcoming break in the food pipeline under
the PRRO 10134 could negatively impact the supply of the nine-month
repatriation package to the refugees who opted for a volunteer
repatriation. The repatriation exercise being due in early May, WFP needs
to urgently mobilize 2,300 tons of food to support the long expected
repatriation plan of about 15,000 Somalis back to Awdal region, in
Somaliland. ONARS pre-positioned 450 tons of food for feeding 25,600
persons for the month of March.

(d)  Under its EMOP 10099, WFP is providing food assistance to 95,900
drought-affected people in rural areas and targeted beneficiaries in urban
areas. During the last weeks, 25 tons were distributed to Djibouti
periphery. Following the confirmation of a contribution for USD 1,500,000
on 22 March, covering the supply of 3,100 tons of rice, the project
requirements for cereals are now fully resourced.


7)  Burundi

(a)  Though figures vary, as of 27 March, up to 80,000 Burundian refugees
in Tanzania may have registered for voluntary repatriation. While UNHCR is
not officially encouraging their return due to insecurity, the first group
of refugees is scheduled to return on 28 March to Muyinga Province. On 4
April, the Tanzanian Minister of Home Affairs will officially launch the
repatriation process for an additional 1,500 Burundian refugees.

(b)  UNHCR will facilitate the repatriation for the Burundian refugees by
providing transport from the camps to the transit sites, and subsequently
to their villages of origin. Once at the transit sites, the returnees will
receive WFP rations for two nights and a three-month ration before
continuing on to their home communes.

(c)  The Makamba, Ruyigi and Muyinga provinces where immanent repatriation
activity is being planned have been marked by insecurity. As a result, WFP
planned activities have been periodically cancelled or postponed since
November. Security is also hampering WFP operations in Bujumbura Rural.
This week, a number of civilians were killed in Bujumbura Rural province
and an estimated 15,000 freshly displaced to Rushubi and Mont Sion.
Planned Seeds Protection Ration (SPR) distributions to Isale were
cancelled, affecting 13,800 persons. A rapid evaluation of the situation
is planned.

(d)  6,400 people received WFP assistance under the SPR distributions in
Mutimbuzi and Nyabiraba communes. Targeted distributions were undertaken
in Nyabiraba and Kanyosha communes, where approximately 4,700
beneficiaries received 230 tons of WFP food. SPR were distributed in
Rutana Province to 8,700 beneficiaries. General distributions to refugees
and returnees were also made during the week, for over 5,300
beneficiaries. The Assistance to Vulnerable Persons in social centres
programme served 4,600 beneficiaries with 60 tons of food.


8)  Uganda

(a)  The attack by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda on
the Agoro IDP settlement in Kitgum District on 23 February has been
followed by continuing rebel attacks in Gulu District. The international
declaration of the LRA as a terrorist organization in late 2001 and
improvements in diplomatic relations between the Government of Uganda
(GOU) and the Government of Sudan (GOS) have led to an agreement between
the GOU and GOS to permit Ugandan forces to pursue the LRA within South
Sudan.

(b)  The possibility of intensified civil unrest in Eastern Equatoria
region of Southern Sudan has a number of humanitarian implications within
northern Uganda. This includes the return of 3,000 to 5,000 LRA abducted
children to northern Uganda, the internal displacement of Sudanese
civilians in the Eastern Equatoria region and a consequent influx of
60,000 Sudanese refugees to the northwestern region of Uganda. In
addition, 200,000 IDPs are likely to return from protected camps in
northern Uganda if the threat of the LRA is eliminated.

(c)  Given the above scenario, WFP and partners have developed a
contingency plan to cater for the return of abducted children, possible
influx of Sudanese refugees and resettlement of IDPs in northern Uganda.
WFP has pre-positioned available food stocks in anticipated areas of
impact. The food aid requirement within the contingency plan fits within
the recently approved PRRO 10121.0, framework to provide targeted food
assistance to IDPs, refugees and vulnerable groups.

(d)  The PRRO will be implemented in collaboration with the Department of
Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister and
NGOs in 10 districts of northern Uganda. The school feeding assistance was
officially launched in Kitgum District in February with the participation
of the Minister of State for Education, District authorities, parents and
other stakeholders. This is part of the Expanded school feeding assistance
targeting 280,000 school children in 8 districts affected by the conflict.

(e)  Donors are requested to urgently pledge resources against PRRO
10121.0 to meet the requirements of formerly abducted children, refugees
and IDPs.



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  Central Region

1.  Following a series of earthquake in Nahrin district of Baghlan on 25
and 26 March, ACTED reported 10,000 people homeless, over 1,000 dead and
4,600 houses destroyed. WFP participated on a joint UN mission to Baghlan.
Another mission by helicopter is expected to proceed on 27 March. WFP is
dispatching over 550 tons of food from Mazar towards five destinations in
Nahrin district to cover the needs of 7,000 people for one month.
Additional WFP staff have also been sent to the area to assist with
distributions. A UNDAC team was expected to reach Mazar on 28 March for
dispatch to the emergency area.

2.  Over 5,650 displaced families who returned from Panjher to Shamalli
area have received a WFP resettlement ration for 3 months. WFP, in
collaboration with ACTED, distributed over 850 tons of wheat. In addition,
over 1,200 families staying at the Ex-Russian compound in Kabul have
returned to Shamalli plains and received a WFP resettlement ration.

3.  WFP released 1,900 tons of wheat to UNHCR for families returning from
Pakistan. UNHCR has opened distribution centres for returning refugees in
Ghazni, Parwan and Logar. A fourth centre will be established in Bamyan.

4.  In Kabul, WFP distributed 50 tons of food to 17 hospitals under its
Institutional Feeding programme. WFP is also supporting 21 Women's
Bakeries to produce fortified wheat flour bread. 5,000 school children
will receive this bread six days a week. WFP expects to rapidly expand the
Food For Education (FFE) programme in Kabul, targeting 250,000 to 300,000
students. WFP is also planning to expand its assistance under this
programme into other urban centres and rural areas.


(b)  Northeast Region

1.  Food deliveries for drought-affected districts in the Northeast region
continued last week. WFP dispatched approximately 780 tons of wheat to the
districts of Rustaq in Takhar province and Argu in Badakhshan. WFP also
delivered 530 tons of food in Khost Freng district of Baghlan province.
Part of the food was carried by donkeys and horses up to remote villages.
Food will be distributed in collaboration with CONCERN to approximately
63,400 persons to assist them until the harvest in June.

2.  In Faizabad city, WFP supports a FFW project, providing 530 tons of
food to over 1,000 labourers to undertake road and canal rehabilitation.
WFP is preparing the launch of the FFE programme in Badakhshan province,
targeting over 30,000 school children and 1500 teachers.


(c)  Western Region

1.  On 20 March, WFP, in collaboration with ACF, undertook a Food Security
Rapid Assessment mission in Taiwara. The team was also expected to cover
the remote areas of the district. Preliminary findings confirm poor access
to food and signs of malnutrition resulting from an imbalance and
insufficient food intake over a prolonged period. The situation is
expected to worsen in remote and inaccessible areas and where there is
little or no access to irrigated agriculture and milk. The current food
crisis will require a long time before these trends are reversed.

2.  Security remains an issue in the Shaydaee and Maslakh IDP camps,
especially at night. Preparations are already underway to launch 74
bakeries in Maslakh IDP camp, in collaboration with FTCI and ISRA. A
significant of number of displaced women will be involved in the project.


(d)  Eastern Region

1.  Despite insecurity, WFP carried out several monitoring missions in the
Eastern region. Assessments are expected to be undertaken in 10 districts
covering Laghman, Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, starting from 20 March.

2.  WFP provided 3,000 tons of wheat to UNHCR to assist returning refugees
in Jalalabad, Mehtherlam and Assadabad. UNHCR is also distributing
non-food items and cash support. WFP, in collaboration with AGHCO, a
national NGO, intends to assist 11,200 students in Jalalabad city under
the FFE programme. In addition, 400 teachers and support staff will
receive WFP support until Civil Service is in place. WFP allocated 1,365
tons food for the implementation of the project from April to December.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  As of 21 March, almost 150,000 refugees were registered in
Balochistan region. In addition, approximately 15,000 refugees are
reportedly waiting in Chaman pending registration. WFP provided high
protein biscuits for distribution by Mercy Corps and Islamic Relief.

(b)  120,000 refugees are registered in 7 camps and receive WFP assistance
in Peshawar Bajaur Khyber and Kurram areas. Last week, the relocation
process continued in Shalman and Bassu camps in Khyber and Kurram
Agencies. Over 2,000 persons were relocated and 2 tons of High Energy
biscuits were distributed. In addition, WFP supports several Supplementary
Feeding Centres (SFC) in the camps, benefiting some 1,350 malnourished
children and pregnant/lactating mothers.



C)  West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone, (3) Guinea, (4)
Ivory Coast

1)  Liberia

(a)  UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed a panel to verify the
compliance by the Government of Liberia to UN Security Council
resolutions, which were put in place since May 2001. The panel is expected
to submit its findings by 8 April.

(b)  As of 13 March, WFP was assisting 75,000 IDPs in Monrovia, Sinje,
Grand Cape Mount, Kakata and Bong Counties camps. Other displaced groups
were reported in Gbonota clan, Totota and Salala in Bong County. WFP
participated in an inter-agency registration of IDPs in Kakata (Margibi
County). WFP also joined an inter-agency assessment in Haindii and Bong
Mines, the areas, which were recently affected by fighting. The team found
that half of the resident population had returned to both towns.

(c)  The UNHCR repatriation program continued during the first half of
March. As of 13 March, an estimated 6,000 Sierra Leonean refugees had been
repatriated. Meanwhile, WFP continues to assist the Sierra Leonean
refugees located in Sinje and Grand Cape Mount County camps. 12,500
refugees received 185 tons of food. The number of Liberians fleeing
insecurity in the country continued to rise. UNHCR reported that about
10,000 people have fled to Sierra Leone, 2,800 refugees have been
registered in Ivory Coast and over 1,100 in Ghana.

(d)  From 28 February to 13 March, over 800 tons of WFP food were
dispatched to Bomi, Montserrado and Cape Mount Counties for distribution
to vulnerable people. Food was also pre-positioned to Phebe for
distribution in Bong and Nimba Counties.


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  The general security situation throughout the country remains stable
and all the chiefdoms where WFP is operating remained accessible. However,
sporadic fighting across the Kailahun border with Liberia and occasional
cross-border raids into Sierra Leonean villages are a cause for concern.
Liberian refugees continue to cross into Kailahun district.

(b)  WFP, OCHA and other agencies are currently organising the
resettlement of over 50,000 IDPs across the country. The inter-agency
registration for voluntary and facilitated resettlement began on 22 March
for all IDP camps in Freetown, Kenema and Bo. Agencies are hoping to
complete at least half of the resettlement before the onset of the rainy
season in May.

(c)  UNHCR also started facilitating the return of 15,000 Sierra Leonean
refugees by road from Guinea through Kambia and expects to complete the
repatriation by the end of April. On 23 March, the first batch of 500
returnees arrived in Port Loko and received a cooked food ration from WFP.
On the next day, the returnees were transported to Daru (Kailahun
District), where they received a resettlement package supplied by WFP and
World Vision. Half of the group continued towards Kono. UNHCR is also
facilitating the repatriation process from Liberia via Pujehun and
Kailahun, Guinea, and returnee camps in the Western Area.

(d)  Between 11 and 24 March, WFP distributed approximately 2,000 tons of
food to 260,100 vulnerable people under various programmes. This includes
the assistance to Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees coming
from Liberia in Kailahun District. 90,000 children also benefited from WFP
assistance under the Emergency School Feeding program. Over 11,800 persons
received 270 tons of WFP food through the Food-For-Agriculture and FFW
projects in the Western Area, Port Loko and Kambia Districts.

(e)  Finally, WFP continued to support Supplementary and Therapeutic
Feeding Centres (SFC and TFC), providing 18 tons of food to over 1,100
under-five children, pregnant and lactating mothers through public health
units. Due to the continued arrival of refugees and returnees from Liberia
into Pujehun and Kenema Districts, with WFP support, the Government
Hospital in Kenema intensified its emergency TFC unit. MSF also operates
an ambulance service from the border to Kenema.


3)  Guinea

(a)  From 11 to 24 March, the overall security situation remained stable
in Guinea despite reports of fighting in Liberia close to the border. The
Guinean border continues to be officially closed.

(b)  WFP assisted 22,600 vulnerable people under various programmes,
providing them with 160 tons of food in N'Zérékoré and Dabola regions.
This includes the assistance to approximately 3,500 primary students in
the Lelouma prefecture and Mandiana region under the School Feeding
programme (Kankan and Labe regions).

(c)  WFP, in collaboration with Organisation Catholique pour la Promotion
Humaine, assisted over 16,000 refugees in the Kouankan camp (N'Zérékoré
region). In addition, approximately 800 Liberian refugees have been
registered and received WFP wet and dry rations, which will last them
until the next general distribution scheduled for mid-April.

(d)  WFP, in partnership with Première Urgence, assisted over 400 newly
arrived refugees in the Sembakounya camp (Dabola region). WFP also
continues to support the Sembakounya SFC managed by MSF. Approximately
1,200 IDPs will be involved in road construction/rehabilitation activities
and will receive WFP assistance early April in Dabola. Finally, WFP
distributed 60 tons of food and kitchen utensils to approximately 2,500
schoolchildren under the School Feeding program in the Dinguiraye
prefecture. This will cover the needs until the end of the schoolyear.

(e)  WFP will require approximately 2,500 tons of Maize Meal, 300 tons of
Vegetable Oil and 130 tons of CSB between April and September. WFP expects
to face shortfalls of 100 tons of vegetable oil and 100 tons of CSB in
April. Arrivals of bulgur, pulses, Vegetable Oil and CSB are expected in
May. If these arrivals are delayed, WFP operations will be seriously
affected.


4)  Ivory Coast

(a)  The overall situation in Côte d'Ivoire and in the areas bordering
with Liberia remains stable. On 15 March, UNHCR had registered almost
2,300 refugees who have arrived since 11 February. The flow has been
slightly reduced in the last couple of weeks. The refugees are reported to
come primarily from Monrovia and Grand Gedeh. They settle in Danane,
Toulepleu and Guiglo (Nicla camp).

(b)  Over 10,300 refugees have arrived in Côte d'Ivoire since May 2001.
WFP assists all those who volunteer to settle in Nicla refugee camp with
food aid under the regional PRRO 6271. Over 2,800 refugees are currently
receiving assistance from WFP at Nicla. On 18-22 March 50 tons of food
were distributed in collaboration with Caritas.

(c)  A UNHCR mission is currently visiting Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory
Coast to assess the capacities of these countries to receive major
influxes of refugees. In Ivory Coast, a major concern is the urgent need
to identify new sites for refugee camps.



D)  Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo

1)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  Between 4 and 16 March, resurgence of insecurity in various areas of
the country has seriously hampered WFP's activity. In the North Kivu
province, insecurity caused massive displacements of populations from
Walikale and Masisi to Kikuku, Nyanzale and Kanyabayonga. In Walungu,
Fizi, Baraka and Hauts Plateaux region, the planned resettlement of IDPs
has been postponed in view of persistent insecurity.

(b)  In South Kivu province, growing insecurity has caused the suspension
of food provision in Mwenga. WFP's implementing partners in charge of the
supervision of the nutritional centres in this area have withdrawn all
their staff. As a result, the food security situation in the area is
expected to worsen, with thousands of malnourished and IDPs left without
assistance until security improves. 435,000 IDPs and 123,200 refugees are
currently located in the province.

(c)  On the Kanyabayonga-Kayna-Kirumba axis (North Kivu province), over
525,000 IDPs, fleeing the insecurity have been registered. WFP plans to
provide 161,350 people with food rations under a seeds protection
programme in partnership with German Agro Action. Food distribution should
begin this week.

(d)  WFP continues to assist 8,800 Angolan refugees in Kisenge (Katanga
province). Populations affected by the cholera epidemic are still targeted
by WFP through ACF and MSF-B in Lubumbashi. In Northern Katanga province,
WFP supports nutritional centres in Kalemie and Manono, targeting
malnourished children and their families.

(e)  In Equateur province, over 56,600 people, mainly IDPs, have been
targeted for food assistance in Mbandaka, for the month of March. In
Zongo, the targeted number of refugees from Central African Republic in
the Molé and Bokilio camps increased slightly to 3,700 people.

(f)  Out of the total requirement of 134,565 tons to cover the needs of an
average 1,2 million people for two years, 75,614 tons have already been
resourced and programmed, leaving a balance of 58,951 tons. WFP has
planned to distribute over 60,900 tons in 2002, provided that security
conditions and commodities are available at WFP EDPs on time.

(g)  As of 22 March, 4,750 tons of food have been distributed since the
beginning of the emergency operations in Goma to some 447,900 vulnerable
people, of which 429,900 were in DRC and 18,500 in Rwanda. All the
commodities that have been distributed so far were borrowed from the WFP
Rwanda and DR Congo's ongoing projects. Shortages of salt and oil have
necessitated putting various FFW activities in Goma on hold. WFP is
preparing an exit strategy, reducing the number of beneficiaries from
180,000 to 23,000 persons from April to June, when the project is schedule
to end.



E)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia

1)  Bolivia

(a)  La Paz is in the process of recovering from the 19 February rain and
hailstorm. Most of the emergency activities have concluded. Resources and
activities are now focused on reconstruction. International contribution
for this phase is estimated in 8 million USD, mostly for reparation of
major drainage systems, dykes and houses. Reconstruction will introduce
mitigation elements to assure risk reduction of new disasters. WFP-donated
gabions have been installed through a FFW scheme in Carreras and Mecapaca
communities.

(b)  The Chaco Region (southeast part of Bolivia) is being affected by a
severe drought. After a crop failure of 50 to 90 percent (basically corn
and peanuts), a large part of the rural population became food insecure.
The National Civil Defence Service has launched an appeal for
international aid to help victims of the drought.

(c)  WFP has programmed 65,700 rations (about 150 tons). However, since
the situation in the region has worsened, the number of rations is likely
to rise above 100,000. These commodities will be distributed through the
counterpart agency "Participative and Integrated Rural Development in
Marginal Areas". WFP's support to the Chaco Region will be provided
through a FFW intervention using regular programme resources.


2)  Colombia

(a)  Armed groups continue causing major damages. The army intervened to
restore the water supply to some 300,000 people in the city of Pasto. WFP
reported various security incidents in Medellin area, including a car
bombing. In view of the coming presidential elections, coordination among
UN agencies is being reinforced.

(b)  WFP is concerned about the security situation in the country, which
is constraining the implementation of its operations. 12 tons of food
relief for over 1,000 persons in Bolivar were distributed, after its
delivery had been postponed on 11 March.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 13)

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World Food Program Reports                www.cidi.org/humanitarian/wfp