WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 15 / 2002 - Date 12 April 2002


This report includes:
(A) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
(B) Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea
(C) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan, (3) Iran
(D) East  and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zimbabwe,
    (3) Zambia, (4) Malawi, (5) Burundi
(E) Central  Africa  Region, (1) Democratic Republic of Congo, (2) Angola,
    (3) Namibia
(F) West Africa region: (1) Sierra Leone, (2) Guinea, (3) Cote D'Ivoire
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Ecuador,
    (3) El Salvador


>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)  Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories

1)  Palestinian Territories

(a)  The situation in the Palestinian territories has drastically
deteriorated and the number of people in need has obviously increased
dramatically. WFP is preparing an emergency intervention for displaced
people and institutions who are cut off and unable to prepare food. People
who have escaped fighting are currently hiding in churches or mosques,
where they cannot cook their own meals. It is very difficult to know
exactly how many people are leaving in these difficult conditions until
WFP is able to access the area and evaluate the gravity of the situation.
The major obstacle to this humanitarian operation is the restrictions to
access the victims.

(b)  WFP has locally purchased 46 tons of food to assist 1,750 patients in
hospitals and 1,250 Palestinians in other institutions (orphanages,
clinics, houses for elderly). On 9-11 April, WFP has been successful in
bringing 19 tons of food to institutions in the towns of Ramallah and
Bethlehem. WFP is waiting for clearance to get to Nablus. WFP trucks are
also ready to get into Tulkharem and Jenin as soon as security permits.

(c)  WFP is working closely with UNRWA. Convoys with relief from different
agencies (WFP, OCHA, UNRWA and UNDP, etc) have trucks clearly identified
with UNRWA signs and are escorted by two UN vehicles with two
international staff. Because of insecurity, food is been dropped at one
institution in each specific town. The other institutions are alerted and
come to pick up their share when there is a lifting of the curfew.

(d)  Following the recent confirmation of two additional contributions,
WFP operation of USD 16,7 million is expected to be funded up to USD 13.3
million. However, this operation was planned before the actual events for
371,000 destitute Palestinians, mainly social cases and daily workers who
have lost their job in Israel since the occupied territories have been
completely cut off.



B)  Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  On 10 April, WFP called on the international community to step up
donations for its emergency operation in the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea, warning of a severe food crisis for its 6.4 million
beneficiaries unless new pledges are made promptly.

(b)  WFP's 2002 emergency programme, which primarily targets children,
pregnant and nursing women and the elderly, requires an additional 368,000
tons of food to be fully implemented. The main objectives of the 2002
emergency operation are to: save lives by preventing food shortages from
developing into famine conditions; improve the nutritional status of young
children and other vulnerable groups; and support agricultural recovery
through food-for-work (FFW) projects.

(c)  WFP directs its assistance to those most at risk. About 90 percent of
the recipients are women and children. Acute malnutrition is highest among
infants and young children, who are also the most prone to long-term
damage from poor nutrition. A sizeable proportion of the aid is being
channelled to especially hard-hit urban populations in the northeast of
the country unable to routinely access food outside the Public
Distribution System.

(d)  FFW projects promote local-level agricultural relief and
rehabilitation, while at the same time improve the food security situation
and contain ecological degradation. The most food-deficit areas of the
country receive the largest share of such resources. WFP also supports 18
local food-processing factories that are forecast to produce more than
30,000 tons of blended foods, high-energy biscuits and enriched noodles
this year.

(e)  WFP's appeal comes as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan this week
welcomed an agreement by the DPRK and the Republic of Korea to "bring back
on track the inter-Korean relations." The Secretary-General was
"particularly encouraged by their pledge to actively pursue inter-Korean
dialogue and cooperation, which is crucial to establishing lasting peace
and security on the Korean peninsula," a press briefing in New York was
told earlier this week.



C)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan, (3) Iran

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  WFP Afghanistan operations will come to a halt in June if donors do
not provide immediate further funding to the new nine-month USD 285
million operation for April - December 2002. The new programme that
started on 1 April includes rapid impact programmes targeted at rebuilding
parts of the country's basic infrastructure such as irrigation schemes,
roads, bridges and schools. Afghanistan's recovery from 23 years of
devastating conflict and 3 years of severe drought and famine is cash and
commodity resource dependent. WFP's new programme shift from relief to
recovery is already impacting a recovery process that will benefit over 6
million Afghans.

(b)  Of the total 544,000 tons of food required, only 101,000 tons, or USD
63.9 million have so far been committed. USD 110 million are immediately
required to temporarily bridge the June pipeline gap, otherwise, the gains
made during the emergency phase of WFP operations in 2001 and 2002 will
revert to emergency response proportion.

(c)  In response to the shooting of an IOM national staff in Faizabad, WFP
heightened its security arrangements. WFP met with the Chief of Police
Department and the WAHADAT Party functionaries during the week to obtain
assurances of safety and security of national staff working with aid
agencies. Another shooting resulted in the death of a FAO national staff
in Mazar City on 10 April.

(d)  Tension remained high in Jalalabad after incidents related to the
Interim Administration's plan to eradicate poppy cultivation. WFP
activities have been temporarily suspended in Nangarhar Province. Several
WFP food distributions and food deliveries from Jalalabad warehouse
including 9 WFP monitoring missions were suspended during the week.

(e)  On 9 April, UNHCR reported the return of 200,000 Afghans from
Peshawar and Quetta in Pakistan to Kabul, Nagarhar, Parwan and Uruzgan
provinces in Afghanistan. The exodus from Pakistan's Northwest Frontier
Province (NWFP), of which 46 percent are of Pashtun ethnicity began in
March and represents an unprecedented voluntary repatriation trend.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  Food distributions remained as scheduled in Peshawar and were
completed for in Kotkai 1 & 2, Bagzai and Bassu. Distribution continues as
planned at Shalman, Barkali and Asgharo 1 & 2. CAR reports that 675
refugees of Bagzai, Kotai and Shalman camps are voluntarily requesting
repatriation. Requests are also being received from Nasir Bagh and D.I.
Khan, where over 8,800 families are staying. UNHCR plans to position
mobile repatriation teams to assist the returnees.

(b)  As of 6 April, approximately 158,400 individuals were residing in 9
camps in Balochistan. WFP provides food to over 148,100 refugees while UAE
Red Crescent distributes non-food assistance to the remaining 10,300.
41,000 refugees are still waiting at Chaman camp pending local authority
approval for their registration. WFP is providing them with food. UNHCR
has established water points while UNICEF has carried out vaccination. 250
families have indicated their willingness for repatriation provided a
package is provided by UNHCR.


3)  Iran

(a)  The tripartite negotiations between the government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, the new Afghan authorities and UNHCR concerning the
voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees concluded with the official
signing of a Joint Programme last week in Geneva. WFP and other UN
organizations inside Afghanistan will provide food assistance and tools to
the returnees.

(b)  UNHCR reported the registration and repatriation of 164 persons from
Iran to the Afghanistan border on 9 April. UNHCR and GIRI established
repatriation centres in Teheran, Mashad, Esfahan, Zahedan, Qom, Shiraz,
Kerman, Yazd and Arak.

(c)  WFP is targeting over 81,900 vulnerable people for April's
distribution of 713 tons of food. Beneficiaries include 24,700 Iraqi
refugees, 29,700 Afghan refugees, 5,850 girl beneficiaries in the Oil for
Education scheme. 8,900 Afghan refugees are also covered by the
repatriation scheme.



D)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zimbabwe,
(3) Zambia, (4) Malawi, (5) Burundi

1)  Regional overview

(a)  At the 9 April Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Plenary
meeting, which several Heads of Agencies attended, the emerging crisis in
Southern Africa was discussed. The IASC noted that food security in the
region was at its lowest level since 1992, with around 3 million people
currently affect and poor forecasts for the upcoming harvest. It was noted
that WFP's Regional Bureau for East and Southern Africa, which was asked
by the IASC to take the lead initially in coordination of assistance, is
planning to organize by the end of May a meeting to review assessments
being made in the region and make decisions on the response and
coordination arrangements required to address the situation. IASC members
noted the importance of a regional approach to coordinating response,
identifying and addressing both food and non-food needs, and encouraging
donors to ensure that resource levels are sufficient for assistance
efforts. A statement on the crisis in Southern Africa was also endorsed by
the IASC.


2)  Zambia

(a)  The WFP EMOP has now been extended through July 2002 and refocused to
include districts affected by this year's drought. Only ten of the
original twenty-four districts have been retained while nine new ones have
been added. Eight more may be added when adequate crop production data is
made available.

(b)  As of 12 April, WFP received donor pledges covering approximately 60
percent of the EMOP requirement of 42,000 tons. Following the recent
confirmation of some contributions, food shipments should be on the road
to Lusaka starting in the next week or so. In addition, 2,000 tons of food
will be dispatched from Tanzania by rail in the next weeks. WFP immediate
pipeline is relatively secure over the next two or three months.

(c)  With the end of the rainy season in the southern half of the country,
cumulative rainfall figures since the beginning of the season show about
half of the country with less than 700mm this year. Over half of this area
(Southern and Western Provinces) has received less than 600mm. These areas
are experiencing crop production problems, some worse than others due to
erratic distribution patterns, in addition to lower-than-normal rainfall.

(d)  The Zambian Government is mobilizing to carry out a national crop
production assessment, the results of which should be available by
mid-May. An international NGO forum has embarked on an assessment in
Southern and Western Provinces and should have some results to share by
the end of April. WFP and FAO will carry out a joint crop and food supply
assessment from 6-24 May.


3)  Zimbabwe

(a)  Distributions have been completed in 5 districts, namely Chipinge,
Gwanda, Umzingwane, Chiredzi and Hwange districts, reaching 101,800
vulnerable people. Distributions are expected to start shortly in an
additional 7 Districts, Kariba, Guruve, Mberengwa, Chivi, Matobo,
Tsholotsho, and Masvingo, reaching 256,900 beneficiaries.

(b)  According to FEWSNET, all crops in the southern districts of
Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland, Matebeleland South and North Provinces
were severely affected by the dry spell experienced from January through
to mid March. Preliminary analysis indicates that Zimbabwe will have a
maize deficit of between 1.2 to 1.5 million tons in 2002/03 marketing
season, a deficit similar to the 1992/93 marketing season.

(c)  Food insecurity in more than 50 percent of the districts of the
country has reached critical levels, except for those isolated districts
in the central, eastern and north of the country who will manage to
harvest something. Some farmers started harvesting and drying their maize
since February to feed their families. This will further reduce the amount
of grain available for consumption in 2002/03 marketing season.

(d)  WFP met with representatives of FAO, FEWSNET, Min. of Agriculture,
Central Statistical Office regarding the planned Crop & Food supplies
Assessment starting 24 April to 10 May.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  Field missions by MADER and FAO to assess the crop yields have been
completed in all provinces and inputs have been prepared for the upcoming
FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment, scheduled for 25 April to 10 May.
INGC/WFP/MADER have completed assessments of the food security situation
in Tete and Nampula provinces following requests from local authorities. A
preliminary analysis of results from Tete indicates that several districts
will suffer from food shortages within the next 2 months or so due to the
lack of rainfall. The report on Nampula province is yet to be released by
the Government.


5)  Malawi

(a)  The first distribution of 3,010 tons of maize for EMOP 10153.0 (Food
Assistance to Households with Food Shortage Emergency Operation) is
currently underway. EMOP 10153.0 commenced in April and is targeting over
301,000 beneficiaries in 19 districts. Although an Immediate Response
Account (IRA) advance of USD1.5 million has been used to start the
project, only one donation amounting to USD 513,817 has been confirmed to
date.

(b)  In addition, WFP is assisting the World Bank MASAF programme through
the adoption of 31 emergency road projects, to be implemented using
Food-For-Asset criteria, which will distribute over 1,300 tons of maize to
approximately 31,000 beneficiaries.


6)  Burundi

(a)  The Tripartite Commission, following meetings held on 4 April,
officially launched the voluntary repatriation process, with over 450
refugees repatriated this week. 1,000 persons are expected to return every
week under this programme. Spontaneous repatriates who are able to prove
their status and who register at the transit camps will also receive
assistance.

(b)  The situation in Cankuzo province is still unstable, with attacks in
Gisagara, Cankuzo and Cendajuru communes. The security situation remained
tense in Bujumbura Rural province. While local authorities are completing
a census of all the displaced households, preliminary estimates indicate
that more than 40,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in recent
weeks, primarily to Rushubi and Mont Sion. WFP suspended a food
distribution to IDPs at Rushubi on 10 April, for security reasons.

(c)  A joint rapid assessment was conducted by OCHA, WFP and UNICEF on 5
April to determine the overall situation of the displaced people at
Rushubi. WFP had already conducted its own assessment, and determined that
many of this population had been displaced prior to the most recent wave
of violence, and were already receiving WFP assistance. Other humanitarian
needs such as shelter, and sanitation are also very pressing. However,
access is extremely difficult.

(d)  Targeted distributions of 340 tons of food to approximately 31,500
beneficiaries took place in Kirundo and Makamba provinces. 22 tons of
Return packages were distributed to 461 repatriates. WFP supplied 48 tons
of food to over 3,000 beneficiaries under the Social Centres quick action
project.



E)  Central Africa Region, (1) Democratic Republic of Congo, (2) Angola,
(3) Namibia

1)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  Since the beginning of the Goma emergency operation, WFP distributed
over 5,600 tons of food to 448,400 affected people. All general
distributions recently carried out consisted of cereals only. With the
exception of the BP5 stocks, all the commodities distributed were borrowed
from other WFP projects. WFP urgently needs additional contributions for
its Emergency Operation in Goma.

(b)  From 6-7 April, 2,600 individuals arrived from Rwanda and Bukavu.
Most of them have been sheltered in the ESCO transit site. The remaining
part settled in host families. World Vision International has already
distributed non-food items (NFIs) while checking the ration cards for
those who were registered in Bukavu or Rwanda.

(c)  Following a decision of the Government of Rwanda to transfer all
Congolese refugees from the Nkamira camp to Mundede camp, UNHCR started
repatriating Congolese refugees from Nkamira camp to Gisenyi, Rwanda.

(d)  In Goma area, WFP beneficiary caseload stands at 142,000 persons,
including 92,700 IDPs in Goma city, 32,200 IDPs on the axis Rutshuru,
Sake, Butembo in addition to non-accompanied children, in-patients in
hospitals, malnourished children and their families as well as workers
involved in FFW projects. As of 8 April, food distributions in Bukavu were
still suspended until Government authorities take necessary measures to
ensure security during all activities pertaining to food distributions to
IDPs.


2)  Angola

(a)  Since the signing of the cease-fire agreement between representatives
of the Government of Angola and the Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA) on 30 March, access within each province have been
improving.

(b)  Heavy rains have caused major flooding in Lobito and Benguela. Floods
resulted in increased logistical difficulties for WFP, access being
minimal. The Lobito airport has been closed and the roads are badly
damaged. In addition, on 30 March, the bridge on Cavaco's river linking
Lobito with Benguela was washed away. Consequently, WFP is using the only
alternative route on the other side of the river (Benguela) to dispatch
food to Benguela, Dombe grande and Cubal.

(c)  WFP is providing food aid to the flood-affected population in Lobito
and Dombe Grande area, while ICRC will contribute tents and potable water.
More than 2,700 people will be assisted with WFP food this week. Five
community kitchens will be opened in Lobito and Benguela, which will cater
initially for 1,000 people who have lost their houses.

(d)  In Balombo and Benguela municipalities, over 800 malnourished
children were assisted with WFP food in Therapeutic and Supplementary
Feeding Centers (TFC and SFC). In Balombo, German Agro Action confirmed
the arrival of over 300 IDPs from Ebanga. In Bocoio, 42 IDPs from
Cangombe.

(e)  Following the cease-fire agreement, an increased number of people in
search of food and health services fled UNITA areas. Over 3,800 new IDPs
were registered and resettled in Kuito, Kunhinga and Kamacupa (Bie
province). They are reportedly in a diminished nutritional condition,
increasing the number of admissions to the TFC.

(f)  Following the arrival of many malnourished people from Bunjei (Huambo
province) to the Cahála TNC, WFP supplied BP5 donated by UNICEF, to MSF/F.
WFP, in collaboration with MSF-F intends to create a community kitchen
after an initial nutritional screening. A joint needs assessment mission
is planned for Bunjei on 18 April. On 2 March, MINARS and Angolan Youth
Association from Zambia distributed 56 tons of food to the population of
Bungei, enough to cover the needs of 15,000 people for 15 days. The
government will contribute with food and NFI items.


3)  Namibia

(a)  WFP, in collaboration with AFRICARE, distributed food for the month
of April to over 300 refugees in Kassava transit camp. The general food
distribution for the refugees in Osire camp is scheduled for 11-12 April.



F)  West Africa region: (1) Sierra Leone, (2) Guinea, (3) Cote D'Ivoire

1)  Sierra Leone

(a)  From 25 March to 7 April, WFP distributed a total of 1,350 tons of
food to 82,300 vulnerable people under various programmes. This includes
35 tons of food supplied under the Emergency School Feeding (ESF)
programme to 10,100 students in Bo District. WFP assisted almost 4,400
malnourished people with approximately 70 tons of food through SFCs and
TFCs.

(b)  On 6 April, 1,250 IDPs from the Western Area began to be resettled to
the Tonkolili and Bombali Districts. IDPs also started to be resettled
from the Bo District camps, east to Kono and Kailahun. For those
participating to the UNHCR facilitated resettlement, ICRC or UNHCR
provided NFIs, while WFP provided the food packages. Starting from May,
WFP will then suspend food assistance in the displaced camps and continue
to assist IDPs by providing them resettlement food rations in their place
of origin. WFP food aid will continue for the refugees and returnees in
camps.

(c)  UNHCR is now accelerating the repatriation of Sierra Leoneans from
Guinea. Starting from 6 April, convoys carrying 500 people each transited
daily through Port Loko, before heading towards Kailahun, Kono or other
parts of the country. UNHCR has plans to bring back 65,000 Sierra Leoneans
from Guinea over the course of the year. WFP dispatched food to 1,500
returnees for a two-month resettlement package. In addition, UNHCR
continues to organize convoys of returnees from Liberia. Since 25 March,
WFP assisted over 2,200 Liberian refugees.

(d)  As the requirements for the resettlement process increase, WFP is
concerned by the level of its food stocks. WFP expects a shortfall of
pulses during July, a crucial month for Food For Agriculture activities.
Despite the confirmation of contributions made to the Regional PRRO, WFP
Sierra Leone still requires over 13,100 tons of food to meet its
requirements until the end of the year.


2)  Guinea

(a)  From 25 March to 7 April, WFP assisted 34,200 vulnerable people under
various programmes, providing them with 460 tons of food. This includes
assistance to refugees, IDPs as well as school children. In the Gueckedou
prefecture (Kissidougou), over 4,500 children received WFP food under the
ESF programme. In addition, about 2,500 children in the Dabola prefecture
received WFP food and kitchen utensils, which will cover their needs until
the end of the year.

(b)  From 25 March to 7 April, approximately 1,700 newly arrived Liberian
refugees have been registered in the Kouankan refugee camp, bringing to
4,800 the total number of Liberian refugees registered since January.
UNHCR is continuing its repatriation campaign of Sierra Leonean refugees.
>From 25 March- 7 April, 2,000 Sierra Leonean refugees were repatriated,
bringing the total since 27 September 2001 to 8,450.

(c)  The International Red Cross Federation, in coordination with WFP and
UNHCR, has started a sensitisation campaign on HIV/AIDS at the refugee
camps in N'Zérékoré. These sensitisations take place at the same time as
the WFP general distributions.


3)  Cote D'Ivoire

(a)  2,500 Liberian refugees have been registered by UNHCR since 11
February. However the flow is gradually decreasing. Over 10,500 refugees
have arrived in Côte d'Ivoire since May 2001. 2,900 refugees at Nicla camp
are currently receiving assistance from WFP, in partnership with Caritas.
An extra distribution to 84 new arrivals was arranged on 27 March.



G)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Ecuador, (3) El
Salvador

1)  Colombia

(a)  In Norte de Santander, all roads for Alto Bobali, an indigenous
territory, are blocked, restricting economic activities, and leaving some
12,300 people without health and education personnel since December 2001.
Over 2,000 people fled the area to the municipalities of Ocańa, Convención
and El Tarra. WFP Sincelejo reported that approximately 150 families have
been forced to flee their homes from Isla del Coco and Santiago Apostol in
Bolivar due to clashes between armed groups. There are reports on
continuous displacements of indigenous people in and out of Venezuela. WFP
Medellin reported that access to San Carlos municipality, Antioquia
Department, was restricted, due to roadblocks and riots in the area. This
caused delays in food distribution.


2)  Ecuador

(a)  In co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP will deliver
1,000 take-home rations to some 561 IDPs affected by the violence in the
northern part of the border. The Human Mobility Service Program (PSMH) of
the Sucumbios San Miguel Church (ISAMIS) will be responsible for the
distribution of these take-home rations.


3)  El Salvador

(a)  With the first distribution of the emergency operation, over 420 tons
of food items were distributed to 8,300 families through house
re-construction projects. For those families who lost all or a great part
of their harvests in 2001, the next four months will be very difficult
because of the impending drought. WFP, in collaboration with Catholic
Relief Services, plans to supply 178 tons of food to 3,500 families in the
most affected areas of La Union, St. Miguel and Usulutan. CARE
International intends to distribute 172 tons of WFP food to
drought-affected families in Usulutan and St. Miguel.

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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 15)


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