WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 16 / 2002 - Date 19 April 2002


This report includes:
(A) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
(B) Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea
(C) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zimbabwe,
    (3) Malawi, (4) Lesotho
(D) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan, (3) Iran
(E) East Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Djibouti, (3) Somalia,
    (4) Tanzania, (5) Rwanda
(F) Central Africa Region: (1) Republic of Congo,
    (2) Democratic Republic of Congo
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Ecuador,
    (3) El Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Peru
(H) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Northern Caucasus, (2) Balkans

>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 intensification of the crisis in the Palestinian Territory since
29 march and the military incursions and siege of towns particularly in
the West Bank have resulted in a serious humanitarian crisis among the
Palestinian civilian population. Severe damage to the infrastructure,
including water, electricity and road networks combined with imposed
curfews have brought to a halt all economic activities and caused a rapid
deterioration of living conditions. For the past three weeks, people 's
access to food and basic necessities has been severely curtailed.
Humanitarian relief workers are only able to reach and assess the affected
population on limited and sporadic basis, as the security situation and
restrictive security procedures by the Israeli authorities allows.

(b)  Of particular concern are some 370,000 vulnerable people already
targeted by WFP assistance prior the current escalation. Ongoing WFP
activities have been significantly restricted. While new contributions
have been confirmed, in-country stocks have been depleted and contracted
local purchases of some 2,300 tons of wheat flour could not be delivered
due to the closure or restricted operation of the mills in both the West
Bank and Gaza, making it necessary to seek alternative suppliers within
Israel to meet the immediate programme needs. In Gaza, the restrictions on
operating hours of the only functioning mill in Khan Younis and its
occupation by IDF forces is affecting bread supply in the strip and
preventing the mill from fulfilling WFP contracts intended for relief
distribution.

(c)  As an immediate response to the affected populations in the West
Bank, WFP resorted to alternative purchases of food from Jerusalem. As of
18 April, 46 tons of food have been delivered as part of UNRWA convoys
into the West Bank and distributed to hospitals and social institutions in
Ramallah, Bethlehem and Nablus. WFP is continuing this week with local
purchases of an additional 180 tons of food to cover the needs of 15,000
beneficiaries in hospitals and institutions in the remaining West Bank
governorates for one month. The first convoy to Jenin is scheduled for 19
April. Meanwhile, a consignment of 40 tons of High Energy Biscuits (HEB)
drawn from WFP stock in Brindisi, Italy was airlifted on 18 April. The HEB
will be distributed as supplementary food to hospitals and social
institutions and for specific vulnerable and displaced populations.

(d)  In Jerusalem, WFP has been requested to act as the lead agency for
the coordination of humanitarian food assistance. A food crisis group
chaired by WFP has been established to enable cooperation between the
operational partners. OCHA and UNDP have seconded staff to WFP to assist
in the work of the secretariat.

(e)  WFP is also preparing a new emergency operation to cover the
increased needs in Gaza and the West Bank arising from the current
situation, covering the period May/December 2002. In addition, WFP is
launching a Special Operation to enhance logistic capacity in storage and
transport. This funding is required in order to deliver relief to the
affected areas and populations within the context of the current crisis
and restricted movement.



B)  Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  The EMOP pipeline continues to be precarious. On 12 April, WFP
stressed that additional contributions were needed immediately in order to
avert a major food crisis in DPRK.

(b)  As the cereals pipeline will break completely by July, measures are
about to be taken to start excluding some beneficiary groups in order to
stretch the food for the most vulnerable groups further into the third
quarter of the year. The sugar pipeline has already broken and is
impacting the WFP/UNICEF Local Food Production activities throughout the
country.

(c)  Pulses and vegetable oil will break in April and May, respectively,
pending arrival of these commodities. Additional pledges of cereals and
sugar, in particular, are urgently needed to ensure continued food
assistance to all targeted beneficiaries.



C)  Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zimbabwe, (3)
Malawi, (4) Lesotho


1)  Regional overview

(a)  The situation with regard to food shortages in many Southern Africa
countries is far worse than initially anticipated. Zimbabwe, Malawi,
Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland are all suffering from severe
food shortages.

(b)  Projections for cereal production in the region have recently been
revised downwards due to poor weather and other factors. Below average to
poor crop production is expected not only in the traditionally vulnerable
countries but also in the "critical countries" that would typically
provide surplus to the region, for example South Africa. Due to drought,
SADC currently estimates that South Africa production will be below
average having a critical effect on supply in the region and limiting the
possibility of regional purchases.

(c)  While waiting for results from current and planned joint
multi-sectoral needs assessments that will allow for a longer-term
planning, WFP's strategy is to keep current assistance to the concerned
countries going, either through budget revisions to existing emergency
operations or through new "bridging" operations until July. It is expected
that a regional strategy and response will be developed no later than
mid-June.

(d)  A cluster meeting with all WFP's Country Directors in Southern Africa
will take place in Johannesburg on 24-26 April, in order to prepare WFP
operational plans and define a regional logistics strategy. Joint FAO/WFP
assessment missions will be carried out in the coming weeks, in parallel
with assessments focusing on other needs such as nutrition, water etc. An
interagency meeting is scheduled to be held in the region in late May, to
discuss findings from the assessments and agree on the longer-term
response to the crisis, which will be developed by latest mid-June.


2)  Zimbabwe

(a)  FEWSNET reports that food security in all districts has reached
critical levels, except for those districts in the central, eastern and
north of the country that will manage to harvest something. Most
households have run out of stocks from last year. The number of people in
need of food aid is likely to be significantly higher than earlier
estimated.

(b)  As of 12 April, distributions were completed in 7 districts, reaching
over 109,400 beneficiaries. WFP's initial interventions are targeted at
558,000 people in rural areas where food insecurity was initially assessed
to be most serious. Assessments have also recently been carried out in
urban areas and key donors are meeting to seek consensus on the design and
modalities of an urban food aid programme for Zimbabwe.


3)  Malawi

(a)  WFP is currently implementing an emergency operation in 19 districts.
The distribution of the first 3,010 tons is almost complete. Food
distribution centre reports indicate that the beneficiary population
turnover is much higher than planned. WFP is currently preparing an
Emergency Operation Budget revision for the months of May through July
while waiting for the results of the joint multi-sectoral needs assessment
that will run parallel to the WFP/FAO Crop and Food Supply assessment, and
which will determine the scope and nature of longer-term assistance.

(b)  World Vision International has observed an alarming decrease in the
school enrolment figures within its areas of intervention and has made
appeals for WFP to consider an emergency school feeding initiative. The
price of maize has remained high even during the harvest period,
reflecting an acute shortage of food. The consumption of green maize has
also negatively impacted the harvest. This abnormality has had an impact
in terms of household accessibility to food, especially in areas that have
experienced poor crop performance.


4)  Lesotho

(a)  From 13 to 19 April, WFP completed the dispatch of 325 tons of maize
meal for the disaster mitigation and relief food distribution (under its
Country Programme) to the extended delivery points. Food distribution
restarted in three out of five districts. There is a complete pipeline
break for pulses and oil in Lesotho. Food distribution under the disaster
mitigation activity was planned for a duration of four months to cover the
most critical period prior to the harvest in late April /Early May. The
distributions will be completed in the first week of May.

(b)  The WFP/FAO Crop and Food Supply assessment mission will take place
on 25 April ? 4 May. UNICEF and UNDP will join the mission to look at
other humanitarian aspects of the situation.



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  WFP Afghanistan's overall cash and commodity resources remain far
below the immediate requirements. The new nine-month programme (April -
December 2002) has an overall cost of USD 285 million but requires
immediate funding of USD 107.9 million to avoid a major food shortfall in
June. Despite renewed appeals for donor support, few additional
contributions have been confirmed. As of 18 April, WFP received pledges
for 217,938 tons of food, far less than total 544,000 tons required to
sustain operations.

(b)  A preliminary assessment was undertaken this week in Chal, Takhar
province (Northern Region), which until recently had been inaccessible to
aid workers for a number of years. Substantial depletion of livestock and
other asset bases was reported in the two villages visited. Employment
opportunities being limited, most people plan to move to Kunduz and
Takhar.

(c)  The escalation of inter-factional fighting, vehicle hijackings and
demonstrations against the poppy eradication initiative continue to cause
security concerns in the Southern region, in particular in Helmand, Nimruz
and Farah Provinces. UN agencies relocated staff from Zaranj in Nimruz
province to Kandahar. WFP suspended monitoring activity in the Nimruz and
Farah provinces as well as in neighbouring areas until security improves.

(d)  Voluntary repatriations of refugees from Pakistan to the southern
part of Afghanistan continue. An additional 300 tons of WFP food has been
dispatched to meet the needs of the returnees. UNHCR distributed 150 tons
of wheat from 19 March to 13 April to 12,200 returnees in Kandahar City.

(e)  On 10 April, WFP distributed over 1,900 tons of wheat to 32,500
displaced families at Maslakh camp (Western Region). This was the final
distribution as most families are expected to return to their villages. As
of 14 April, IOM reported the return of over 20,800 IDPs to their places
of origin and forecasted the return of an additional 800 families. WFP
will provide them food assistance.

(f)  The security situation in Jalalabad (Eastern Region) returned to
normal this week and the Jalalabad-Torkham road was reopened to traffic.
However, Khogiani, Shinwar, Achin and Nuristan areas, experiencing
continued tension between authorities and poppy growers are still
inaccessible for UN staff. Several planned food distributions, monitoring
and assessment missions to these areas were suspended.

(g)  This week, WFP in collaboration with its partners distributed 500
tons of food through FOODAC, FFW and Supplementary Feeding programmes in
the Eastern Region. WFP plans to support 72,250 primary school children in
Metherlam (Laghman Province) and is currently assessing other Food for
Education (FFE) projects in the rural areas. Within Jalalabad city, bread
distributions to 11,200 school children continue. The programme resulted
in a notable increase in student enrolment.

(h)  UNHCR reports that 8,500 families arrived in Jalalabad through
Torkham border during the first half of April. UNHCR distributed 1,200
tons of wheat. In Heshershahi camp, UNHCR provides 4,000 IDP families
returning to Nangarhar a package of cash and transportation.

(i)  Following a recent Rapid Emergency Food Need Assessment in the
Central Nuristan province (Eastern Region), food assistance was
recommended for over 103,700 vulnerable people in Want, Vama, Mandol and
Doab districts. In central Noristan, 17,300 vulnerable families require
immediate food assistance for the next three months.

(j)  UNHCR and IOM have thus far registered 31,600 IDP families in the
Bamyan area. 14,000 displaced families have received WFP food as well as
2,500 Hazara families. UNHCR reported the return of 195,000 persons from
Pakistan under the Facilitated Refugee Return programme. Registered
refugees under this programme are issued a 3-month WFP wheat supply.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  Relocation from urban centres to Asgharo, Barkali and Bassu camps in
Bajaur and Kurram Agencies (Peshawar area) continued, with 1,400 people
transferred during the week. They received HEB and food rations from WFP.
The total camp population during the week increased up to 128,350 people.
WFP expects to face a shortage of wheat by May.

(b)  Relocation of people from the urban areas and from the staging camp
at Chaman border (Balochistan area) within Pakistan has stopped. As a
result, the caseload in the camp remained stable for past several weeks.
UNHCR is focussing on repatriation. Between 19 March to 14 April, 8,800
individuals were reportedly repatriated from Balochistan to Afghanistan.

(c)  Mercy Corps completed its last cycle of food distribution in Chaman,
where 8,500 families are waiting to be registered by the local authority.
Plan International has shown interest in taking over the distribution of
food and non-food items in Chaman from May. A second round food
distribution to Chaman's waiting area population is under preparation. MSF
curtailed its Supplementary Feeding programme in Chaman after the
nutrition survey revealed an improvement in nutritional status.


3)  Iran

(a)  The repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan continues through the
border exit points of Dogharoun and Milak. UNHCR reported that about 6,000
persons were registered for repatriation to Afghanistan between 11 and 17
April, out of which 3,700 have already left Iran. WFP plans to deliver
three months buffer stocks to UNHCR to ensure timely food supply to the
repatriated refugees. In addition, WFP is currently monitoring the
distribution of over 900 tons of food to about 72,800 Afghan and Iraqi
refugees.

(b)  UNHCR reported that 15,150 Afghan refugees repatriated spontaneously
during the month of February through Khorasan and Sistan Baluchestan
provinces, bringing the total number of returnees since early 2002 to
approximately 34,800.

(c)  WFP still requires over 5,200 tons of food to cover its needs up to
end of this year under the PRRO 6126. This includes 3,900 tons of wheat
flour. No sugar has been distributed in most of the camps since February.



E)  East Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Djibouti, (3) Somalia, (4)
Tanzania, (5) Rwanda

1)  Ethiopia

(a)  The main season "gu" rains have fallen in all parts of Somali Region.
Torrential rain fell in Warder zone, leaving many people homeless and
causing livestock deaths in this zone. However, the overall picture is
very positive for crop and livestock production and food security is
likely to improve from July in this region. Areas of previous special
concern in southern Afder and Liben also report good rain. Preparation for
planting "opportunistic" sorghum crops (only possible some years) is
underway in rainfed areas, and livestock in most zones is reported to be
in good condition. The Wabe Shebelle river has risen significantly, and
flooding is expected in areas that depend on flood recession agriculture
(Kelafo, Mustahil, East Imi). The rains began in some areas of the region
in mid to late March (Jijiga, Fik, Degehbour, Korahe, northern Afder and
Liben zones), and elsewhere mid-April (Gode and Warder zones). WFP food
has been distributed in most parts of Somali region since February.
Transport for May distributions could experience temporary disruptions
caused by the flooding.

(b)  Floods have also affected parts of Afar region, especially the Dubti
district, where the Awash river burst through a dyke. WFP monitors confirm
that 4,000 people have been made homeless by the floods. There are also
reports of cattle killed by the floods and cropland destroyed. WFP relief
food was distributed to flood victims, along with shelter materials by the
government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC). In
Oromiya, floodwaters in Meta and Deder districts submerged villages and
swept 22 people to their deaths. In Southern Nations, Nationalities and
Peoples Region, WFP monitors are investigating flood damage reports from
Konso district and hailstorm damage to crops in Hadiya zone.

(c)  Elsewhere, the minor rainfall season ("belg" rains) is proceeding
well and was, in general, favourable for completing land preparation
and/or starting planting. Belg crop producing areas that received
below-average rainfall in March are South Tigray, the southern parts of
North Shewa (Amhara region), and lowland areas of Arsi, East/ West Harerge
and Bale zones (Oromiya region). Recent rain has alleviated earlier
serious water shortages in Babile, Grawa and Fedis woredas in East Harerge
zone.

(d)  There have been breaks in distributions for some districts during the
first three months of the year for the emergency operation for small-scale
farmers and drought-affected pastoralists. Relief food distributions are
increasing in line with expected requirements; the target population for
March was 3.9 million and for April is 4.8 million. For April and May,
monthly cereal food aid requirements are 60,000 tons; the food available
is expected to be 45,000 tons for April, and 60,000 tons for May. The
outstanding cereal requirements for 2002 are around 150,000 tons
(aggregate needs for WFP, DPPC and NGOs).

(e)  The findings of the international Boundary Commission on demarcation
of the Ethiopia-Eritrea border were announced on 13 April. WFP offices in
Tigray took appropriate security precautions but the announcement passed
without incident. However, the translation of the findings to demarcation
on the ground will take some time, and therefore, it is too early to
ascertain its possible impact on WFP operations.


2)  Djibouti

(a)  WFP expects to face a break in the food pipeline under the PRRO 10134
at the end of April. This could negatively impact the supply of the
nine-month food package to the Somalis refugees expected to voluntarily
return to Awdal region, in Somaliland. For the repatriation exercise
planned in early May, WFP needs to urgently mobilize 2,300 tons of food to
support about 15,000. UNHCR planning figure for the volunteer repatriation
is set at 2,000 persons per month.

(b)  Under the new PRRO 10134, WFP has distributed about 450 tons of food
to over 25,600 Somalia and Ethiopians refugees in the camps of Holl-Holl
and Ali-Addeh. In addition, over 1,000 tons of food have been
pre-positioned in EDPs for the monthly general distribution under EMOP
10099 to cover the April's monthly requirement for 95,900 drought-affected
people. Given the low level of food stocks in the country, WFP was forced
to reduce by half the rations of pulses for the month of April. In
addition, no CSB and vegetable oil will be supplied through the general
distribution.

(c)  Transportation of food to the northern districts (Tadjoura and Obock)
is still very problematic due the bad roads conditions. The presence of
landmines is also a concern to humanitarian workers.


3)  Somalia

(a)  In response to findings of the Somalia Food Security Assessment Unit
(FSAU) and WFP rapid assessment in Bari and Sanag, WFP distributed
approximately 390 tons of food at the end of March - early April reaching
an estimated 37,000 beneficiaries in the northeast region. WFP is closely
monitoring the situation to determine the need for further relief
intervention.

(b)  Other areas in the north, such as the region bordering Sanag, the
Sool Plateau, are also reported to face severe food insecurity as a result
of a long dry season. FSAU has reported acute water shortages and pasture
depletion, resulting in significant losses of livestock in the Plateau.
WFP is currently assessing the situation. In addition, food shortages have
been reported in the northwest, particularly in Zeila and Lughaya
districts. WFP is assessing the situation to establish the type of
intervention required.

(c)  Relief food aid remains the main source of food in the Gedo region,
particularly in the northern districts. WFP is continuing relief food aid
interventions despite deteriorating security conditions. During the first
week of April, WFP completed the fourth successive distribution of 645
tons of food to about 60,000 people in Garbaharey and Burdhubo districts.

(d)  Food distributions by WFP and CARE have contributed to improving the
critical food insecurity and related high malnutrition rates since
December 2001. However, this is dependent on continued relief
interventions from other sectors. Aid agencies working in Somalia have
been continuously reviewing the humanitarian situation in Gedo with a view
to having a coordinated approach. WFP also continues to support FFW
activities, social projects and TB programmes in various parts of the
country.


4)  Tanzania

(a)  From 25 March to 7 April, WFP distributed almost 3,600 tons of food
(corresponding to a two-week ration) to over 515,000 refugees in Kigoma,
Kibondo, Kasulu and Ngara districts. Due to insufficient food stocks, WFP
reduced by 40 percent the quantity of CSB and salt in the ration provided
to the refugees under the general distribution. In addition, WFP supported
various SFCs, providing over 60 tons of food to approximately 21,000
malnourished persons. UMATI and International Rescue Committee conducted a
quick nutritional screening among 16,000 under five children to assess the
nutritional status in Kibondo camps. The results indicate a stable
nutrition situation.

(b)  During the same period, 90 refugees were assisted in returning to
their communities in Rwanda, bringing the total number of Rwandese
assisted in returning home since early 2002 to 990. At the same time,
about 900 refugees arrived in Tanzania from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda,
far more than the figures for the previous month.

(c)  Facilitated voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees from Ngara
camps resumed on 28 March. Approximately 900 refugees were repatriated to
Muyinga, Kirundo, Cankuzo and Ngozi Provinces from 28 March to 5 April. An
additional 51,800 refugees have been registered in Ngara, Kibondo and
Kasulu camps for voluntary repatriation from 25 March to 7 April.


5)  Rwanda

(a)  UNHCR, WFP and NGO partners finalised a contingency plan for the
repatriation of about 15,000 Rwandans from Tanzania within two months.
Over 25,000 Rwandan refugees are estimated to be the Ngara area. WFP has
sufficient food stocks to assist the expected 15,000 returnees.

(b)  During March, WFP distributed over 2,100 tons of food to 120,100
vulnerable people under various programmes. Beneficiaries included mainly
farmers assisted under FFW projects, refugees and returnees. WFP still
requires over 2,300 tons of food to cover its needs under the PRRO 10062.0
up to the end of the year.

(c)  During March, 1,500 Rwandan returnees coming from DR Congo and
Tanzania were registered by UNHCR. This brings the total number of people
who returned from neighbouring countries since the beginning of this year
to 3,200. All the returnees received a 3-month food ration before
departing to their districts of origin.

(d)  WFP distributed 115 tons of food to about 7,200 displaced Congolese
during the month of March. The beneficiaries were displaced from their
homes in and around Goma when Mount Nyiragongo, in the eastern part of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, erupted in January.



F)  Central Africa Region: (1) Republic of Congo, (2) Democratic Republic
of Congo

1)  Republic of Congo

(a)  In late March, an estimated 15,000 people fled Kimba and Kindamba
areas (northern Pool region) towards Boko and Brazzaville, following some
Ninja militias attacks on army positions. On 9 April, following
altercations between Ninjas and army forces in the southern neighbourhoods
of Brazzaville, about 80,000 people have left Makelekele and Bacongo
towards other areas of the city. Numerous incidents of looting have been
reported.

(b)  On 14 April, fighting between the Government forces and the
opposition militia was still ongoing in Pool region (surrounding
Brazzaville). However, as of 15 April, the situation in the southern areas
of Brazzaville had returned to normal and the majority of the population
had regained their homes.

(c)  Humanitarian organizations have not been able to reach and assist
most of the affected population due to insecurity. Therefore, the number
of displaced persons within the Pool region has not yet been determined. A
UN mission (composed of WFP, WHO, UNDP, UNFPA, FAO) was expected to go to
Djambala, Plateaux region on 19 April to assess the needs of IDPs who fled
from Kimba and Kindamba.

(d)  WFP operations have been negatively impacted by the deterioration of
the security situation. On 2 April, the train linking Pointe-Noire to
Brazzaville was caught in crossfire and the railway traffic was suspended.
As a result, no food transfer from Pointe-noire will be possible in the
near future. The school feeding programme mainly in the Pool and Plateaux
regions and in the southern part of Brazzaville as well as all the other
WFP programmes in the affected areas have been suspended. This situation
has also led to a shortage in gas, and the price of locally produced food
items has increased.

(e)  During the month of March, WFP distributed over 480 tons of food to
21,400 vulnerable people under various programmes in Brazzaville, Pool and
Kouilou regions. FFW projects as well as general food distributions and
assistance to HIV/AIDS affected households have been the largest WFP
programmes in March.


2)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  As of 14 April, WFP distributed almost 6,000 tons of food to 448,400
vulnerable people since the beginning of the Goma Emergency Operation,
which is expected to end on 26 April. With the exception of the BP5, all
the remaining stocks are borrowings from other WFP projects. Insufficient
food stocks are very likely to hamper general food distribution to
beneficiaries located in the suburbs of Goma. All general distributions
carried out between 8 and 14 April consisted of cereals only. More
importantly, no general food distribution will take place this month for
the 32,200-targeted people located out of the town of Goma. WFP urgently
needs donor contributions.

(b)  In Gisenyi, 5,600 IDPs currently located in the Mundende camp
received WFP food assistance. The Nkamira Camp was closed on 8 April,
becoming only a transit centre for Rwandan returnees. Almost all the
Congolese refugees returned to Goma. WFP has planned to provide them with
a one-month food ration under the PRRO.

(c)  In Goma, the total caseload of target beneficiaries stands at 141,000
persons, including 92,700 IDPs in Goma city, 32,200 IDPs on the axis
Rutshuru, Sake, Butembo as well as non accompanied children, in-patients
in hospitals, people involved in FFW projects, malnourished children and
their families. In Bukavu, WFP food distributions are still suspended,
pending measures from local authorities to ensure security. WFP normally
targets 15,000 people in the town and 15,900 in the suburbs.



G)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Ecuador, (3) El
Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Peru

1)  Colombia

(a)  Violence continued to affect Colombia, in particular in Barranquilla
and Bogota where various bombings took place, forcing the evacuation of
Government offices. WFP's Bogota office continued to function normally.

(b)  A joint government-WFP mission took place to assess the situation in
the Santander province. The mission detected an alarming increase in the
number of displaced families to over 7,500 IDPs. According to NGOs, about
12,000 families are blocked in rural areas by armed groups. Reports
indicate that these families have health and nutritional problems as well
as limited access to food. A humanitarian UN/Government mission is being
organized this week to the area, pending security clearances.

(c)  Last week, the WFP sub-office in Medellin continued to report
restricted access to the San Carlos municipality (Antioquia province),
causing the cancellation of WFP food deliveries. 120 tons of food will be
delivered this week, benefiting to 11,450 children under the Pre-school
project and 3,400 people under the Nutritional recovery project.


2)  Ecuador

(a)  According to the Civil Defense, recent heavy rains and floods have
caused the death of 25 persons and have been affected 35,900 people of
which 2,500 people considered to be seriously affected. 2,100 families
have been evacuated from their homes. Also, 6,500 homes have been damaged,
including 333 houses totally destroyed.

(b)  The situation continues to worsen, especially in the coastal
provinces. Much precipitation is foreseen for the rest of April. The
health and sanitation situation continue to be the main problem. A WFP
team visited the provinces of Manabi, Guayas, Los Rios and El Oro, to
evaluate the situation in the worst affected areas and distribute
emergency food rations. WFP will be visiting the province of Esmeraldas
this week to evaluate the situation.

(c)  Last week, WFP distributed 2000 emergency food rations in the
province of Manabi, as well as 1,000 rations in the provinces of El Oro
and Los Rios. Distribution of 1,200 rations in the provinces of Guayas and
Bolivar is pending.


3)  El Salvador

(a)  Unexpected rains hit El Salvador last week, causing floods in the
capital and other parts of the country. WFP made a rapid assessment and
concluded that long-term solutions need to be found for the extremely
difficult conditions in which most of the affected population lives in.
There is an urgent need to continue the reconstruction efforts that began
after the 2001 earthquake. Even though thousands of families have received
assistance under the EMOP, thousands more remain in precarious conditions,
living under temporary' shelters, which are very vulnerable in case of
storms.


4)  Guatemala

(a)  During the first half of April, WFP and the Ministry of Public Health
assessed 27 municipalities with high prevalence of acute malnutrition. WFP
finalized the implementation details for the EMOP 10174 with World Vision,
Action Against Hunger and other partners. The first food distribution is
expected to take place toward the end of April, targeting 400 children and
their families in nutritional centres, as well as 10,400 children and
their families in open or communal centres. Commodities will be borrowed
from PRRO 6089, since EMOP 10174 has only received to date USD 1.4
million, with a 69 percent shortfall. WFP urgently needs additional donor
contributions to cover the needs of 155,000 people, including
approximately 60, 000 children suffering from acute malnutrition.


5)  Peru

(a)  Last week, heavy rains caused overflows of the river Piura affecting
4 towns. Over 1,000 families have been affected and hundreds of houses
flooded. A large number of farm animals were killed and thousands of
hectares of crops were destroyed. Due to the rains, major roads such as
northern Pan-American Highway have been interrupted, complicating the
delivery of government assistance.

(b)  Despite its limited resources, the Government sent 50 tons of food
and 340 housing modules to assist the most affected people. The Emergency
Committee of the Department of Piura has been activated. There has not
been a request for WFP emergency food assistance from the Government.
However, if the situation continues to deteriorate WFP is considering
different options, among them triggering an IRA-EMOP.



H)  Eastern Europe Region: (1) Northern Caucasus, (2) Balkans

1)  Northern Caucasus: (a) Regional overview, (b) Ingushetia, (c) Chechnya

(a)  Regional overview

1.  As a result of the late issuance of permits by the military
authorities of Chechnya, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the People
in Need Foundation (PINF) postponed their first convoys of WFP food until
8 and 10 April, respectively. About 3,200 tons of food was distributed to
a total of 291,250 beneficiaries (138,730 in Ingushetia and 152,520 in
Chechnya) for the month of March.

2.  The movement of international staff to Ingushetia and Chechnya was
restricted from 29 March to 8 April and will be restricted again from 22
to 29 April due to the presidential election in Ingushetia.


(b)  Ingushetia

1.  As of 15 April, DRC registered a total of 139,800 IDPs in Ingushetia.
Out of this caseload, over 87,400 IDPs are hosted by resident families.
During the month of March, WFP provided food to over 138,700 IDPs in
Ingushetia. In addition, ICRC distributed 11,300 food and non-food parcels
to IDPs in Nazran and Sunzha districts of Ingushetia.


(c)  Chechnya

1.  DRC reported that some 785,000 people are currently living in the
Republic of Chechnya, of whom about 138,000 are registered as IDPs. WFP,
in collaboration with Islamic Relief (IR), DRC and PINF, targeted over
152,000 people for food assistance: over 19,300 pre-school and school
children and 132,000 food-insecure people. Food rations were also supplied
to 300 participants in food-for-asset-creation activities.

2.  In addition, other agencies, such as ICRC, DRC and IR, continued to
distribute food in other districts of Chechnya, which are not covered by
WFP. However, ACF had to suspend its food distribution in Chechnya due to
permit and access problems.


2)  Balkans: (a) Kosovo, (b) Serbia, (c) Montenegro, (d) Albania

(a)  Kosovo

1.  All WFP food commodities have been delivered except the food for
public health institutions in northern Mitrovica, which is currently
inaccessible because of security concerns. A remaining stock of 370 tons
of vegetable oil will be shipped within the region.

2.  On 4 April, WFP formally presented The Consortium for Inter-ethnic
Development (CID) to the international donor community in Kosovo. At that
time, CID outlined its joint proposals for inter-ethnic project
interventions. As a follow-up to the presentation, WFP, CARE
Internationalis and CID are currently meeting with individual donors.


(b)  Serbia

1.  WFP was recently confirmed a contribution of about USD 778,500 for the
purchase of 2,100 tons of wheat flour for PRRO 10116.0. Following a
pipeline break in the supply of sugar, which lasted from mid-January until
mid-April, WFP received 870 tons of sugar in Bar on 9 April. This amount
of sugar will cover distributions to all beneficiaries in Serbia for the
period April-June.


(c)  Montenegro

1.  Following March/April distribution to 5,500 refugees and 9,800 IDPs,
WFP monitors visited the Red Cross final distribution point to verify
distribution documentation.


(d)  Albania

1.  WFP distributed food to 3,100 unassisted-unemployed households (15,600
beneficiaries), and to 354 households (1,800 beneficiaries) engaged in
Communal Forestry and Pasture Development activities and FFW projects. WFP
is fully involved in field surveys at the Forestry Project Impact
Assessment Study.

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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 16)


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