WFP Emergency Report - 18: 03-May-02

WFP EMERGENCY REPORT Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme Report No. 18 / 2002 - Date 3 May 2002

This report includes: (A) Asia Region: (1) Democratic People's Republic of Korea (B) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran (C) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories (D) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Southern Africa regional overview, (2) Malawi, (3) Zambia, (4) Swaziland, (5) Zimbabwe, (6) Somalia (E) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola (F) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Guatemala (G) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Georgia, (2) Balkans (H) United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot >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) Asia Region: (1) Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1) Democratic People's Republic of Korea (a) On 30 April, UNICEF, WFP and OCHA warned that the already severe humanitarian crisis in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea would worsen dramatically within weeks unless the international community pledges more aid immediately. Declaring that more than 6 million of the country's most vulnerable ?- primarily women, children and the elderly ?- face acute shortages of food, basic medicines and clean drinking water, WFP, UNICEF and OCHA urged donors to make fresh commitments promptly to prevent a potentially large-scale loss of life. (b) Because donations have been slow in coming this year, WFP has already had to scale down its operations. In May, WFP will not be able to distribute food to more than 350,000 elderly people and 675,000 secondary school children, as priority will be given to orphans, young children and pregnant and nursing women into the third quarter. These groups are most at risk and are entirely dependent on a government-run Public Distribution System already scaling back its very meagre rations. (c) DPRK government statistics indicate that 45 percent of North Korean children under five are chronically malnourished, while a further 4 million school-aged children are also underfed, impairing their capacity to learn. The nutritional status of some 480,000 pregnant and nursing women is poor, and the rate of maternal mortality is increasing. (d) A large segment of the civilian population of some 22 million people is suffering the consequences of inadequate food supplies, compounded by limited access to health, water, sanitation and education services. Last November, the UN appealed to donors for USD 258 million to enable UN agencies and non-governmental agencies to meet the most pressing humanitarian needs in the DPRK during 2002. To date, just USD 23.5 million, less than 10 percent of the total requirements of the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal, have been pledged. OCHA urged the international community to respond urgently and generously. A broadening of the donor base would not only yield more resources, but also facilitate a broader international dialogue with the DPRK government. B) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran 1) Afghanistan (a) Despite the pledges received so far, WFP still faces a staggering shortage of 75,000 tons of food for the Afghanistan operation, worth USD 28 million. WFP appealed for urgent aid, to avoid an almost complete stop of food distribution in June, the most critical period of the year. The period from early May until the harvest starts in July will be the harshest time of the year for nine million Afghans whose meagre food stocks from the bad harvest of last year have depleted. About 40 percent of the population will need about 275,000 tons of food aid until the harvest. (b) With generous and timely donor support, WFP succeeded in averting a famine in Afghanistan this winter. But now with the number of needy Afghans jumping to about nine million people until the end of June, the danger of famine increases if WFP is unable to provide support. Immediate cash donations will help avoid a break in the food aid pipeline to Afghanistan as they could be used to purchase food from the region. (c) WFP has conducted over 60 rapid assessments in the rural areas of Afghanistan over the past few weeks, using helicopters to reach some of the more inaccessible areas in the mountainous parts of the country. Findings indicate an increasing need for food aid in this pre-harvest hunger period. Malnutrition, the continued sale of household assets, and more children being pushed into the labour market to support their families are all indicators that a potentially serious food crisis is in the making. (d) On 1 April, WFP started a nine-month operation whose focus is to gradually shift from relief to recovery with particular emphasis on education, health and the agricultural sector after the harvest. It is estimated that 544,000 tons of food will be required. 50 percent of these needs have to be met by the end of June. About 300,000 refugees returning from neighbouring countries have benefited from WFP support over the past couple of months. WFP will need further donor support to maintain such a project as the number of returning refugees has so far surpassed expectations. (e) WFP is also working with the Interim Administration and rural communities to rehabilitate irrigation systems and reconstruct schools, hospitals, roads and bridges. WFP's school feeding projects, launched in late March with the Ministry of Education to cover up to one million school children, could also be threatened in the absence of additional donor support. 2) Iran (a) On 24 April, three tremors have struck the areas around the cities of Sahneh and Songhor-e Kolyaie in the western province of Kermanshah, with a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale. 10 villages were totally destroyed and 50 others heavily damaged. Two people were killed and 56 have been injured. About 20,000 families were affected by the earthquake, which also destroyed part of the water, electricity and telecommunication facilities. The Iran's Red Crescent Society has distributed 2,700 tents and food items to the victims. WFP is monitoring the situation in close coordination with the Resident Coordinator's Office. (b) More than 24,000 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Iran since the joint UNHCR/Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) voluntary repatriation programme began on 9 April in cooperation with the Afghan authorities. On 29 April, Milak exit point has been blocked due to internal conflicts between two local tribes in Afghanistan. However, the repatriation continues through Dogharoon. (c) WFP is preparing the distribution of over 900 tons of food for the month of May for approximately 72,800 people. The beneficiary caseload includes 62,200 encamped Afghan and Iraqi refugees, over 5,500 girls benefiting from the "Oil for Education Scheme" and 5,000 non-camped Afghan refugees. WFP is currently visiting all the camps in collaboration with BAFIA and UNHCR representatives to monitor the use of the food distributed in April. C) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories 1) Palestinian Territories (a) Because of insecurity and restrictions on humanitarian access since 29 March, WFP has been unable to reach all of its planned caseload of 370,000 hardship cases and unemployed Palestinians who have lost their daily work in Israel since the closure of the Palestinian territories. Wheat flour has been distributed to only 94,000 of these beneficiaries in the Gaza strip. (b) Since 29 March, WFP has been able to distribute food in hospitals and institutions in Nablus, Ramallah and Bethlehem and plans to go to Hebron, Qalquila and Tulkharem starting 1 May. Food has been distributed in all provinces of Gaza and also positioned in hospitals in case there is a military escalation. (c) WFP is currently negotiating with Israeli authorities to permit the import of additional to trucks to cope with urgent operational needs under a UN convoy delivery system as access improves. In preparation for increased access, WFP is purchasing 2,600 tons of wheat flour locally for urgent distribution to vulnerable Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. (d) The major effect of the crisis, from a humanitarian point of view, is found in the closures and curfews imposed by the Israeli forces on the city and their repercussion on the economy, rather than in the damages causes by the occupation itself. (e) Under the auspices of the food crisis coordination group chaired by WFP, WFP is participating in interagency assessment missions to evaluate the food situation in all provinces. A consolidated report will be issued by WFP. Two assessment missions in Nablus and Qalqilia have already been completed. (f) Preliminary findings indicate that an estimated 40,000 people, excluding the refugee population, are in urgent need of food assistance in the Nablus Governorate, although this number is subject to adjustment. The latest military incursion, the closures of the Palestinian Territories and the loss of income by families already living in conditions of poverty and vulnerability have had a dramatic, negative effect on the ability of people to purchase of food. Since the beginning of the crisis in September 2000, 13,000 heads of family lost their jobs because of the closures of the Territories, among them 8,000 used to work in Israel or in neighbouring settlements. Around 50 percent of those families have remained jobless for at least six months. (g) Between 300 and 400 houses have been damaged or demolished resulting in hundreds of new displaced people in mosques, community centres and with other families. Major destruction has affected the old part of the city, the electricity sector, the infrastructure, the water and sanitation network as well as schools. Without water and electricity people cannot cook. Supplies of food are very low. (h) WFP also estimates that 70 percent of the inhabitants of the city of Qalqilia now fall under the poverty level. Around 20,000 Palestinians in the Governorate of Qalqilia are in urgent need of food assistance. The economy of the city, which is neighbouring Israel on three sides, depends heavily on agricultural exports (mainly citrus), on the wages of daily workers and on commerce with Israel. Since the end of 2000 and the closure of the Palestinian territories, 16,000 daily labourers in Israel lost their jobs and around 7,000 families in the Governorate depending on agricultural exports lost part or the total of their income because of the closure. Land has been lost due to the establishment of a buffer zone around the city, affecting an additional 800 families of poor farmers. D) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Southern Africa regional overview, (2) Malawi, (3) Zambia, (4) Swaziland, (5) Zimbabwe, (6) Somalia 1) Southern Africa regional overview (a) As of 23 April, the SADC preliminary maize balance sheet was showing a deficit of 1,9 million tons for Zimbabwe, 667,000 tons for Zambia, 534,000 tons for Malawi, 148,000 tons for Mozambique, 154,000 tons for Lesotho and 80,000 tons for Swaziland. Also, according to SADC Regional Early Warning Unit (REWU) calculations, South Africa could have only 30,000 tons of exportable maize for the marketing year 2002/2003. (b) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessments are now underway in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. The Swaziland assessment ended 24 April and the Zambia assessment will take place from 6 to 24 May. Assessments focusing on other sectors such as water and health are running parallel with the FAO/WFP assessments. Preliminary results from the assessments are expected by mid/end May, and the WFP regional emergency operation will be drafted by early June. 2) Malawi (a) The situation in Malawi continues to be very alarming. Preliminary findings from the ongoing FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply assessments indicate that some vulnerable populations require food immediately and throughout the harvest, which is not bringing them any relief. Because of continuing drought conditions, food distributions should not be interrupted. Other households are employing coping mechanisms such as dimbo (river bed) gardening, diversification of diets and strengthening of family and community networks. (b) A WFP "bridging" EMOP is under preparation. This operation will target a monthly average of 1.7 million persons. The operation starts in June, but is expected to phase into a larger regional EMOP once this becomes operational. (c) An NGO consortium will be responsible for the food distribution, preparing distribution plans, organising secondary transport, monitoring and compilation of distribution information, while WFP will be in charge of managing the Extended Delivery Points. On 3 May, WFP and NGOs agreed that immediately after the results from the assessment are known, the NGO consortium will formulate distribution plans to cover the immediate needs for the first three months. 3) Zambia (a) The ongoing EMOP in Zambia has been refocused to include districts hit by this growing season's drought, and cover the southern areas of the country from the Angolan border area in the west through to the eastern border with Malawi. (b) The Government announced, last week, that Anglo American Investments, the largest copper mining operation and source of over 75 percent of Zambia's foreign exchange, plans to leave the country. This places a heavy burden on a new government already facing a wide range of development challenges. The mining area is largely urban and is considered one of the wealthier areas of the country. While current emergency operations do not envisage providing assistance to this part of the country, WFP's development programs, valued at 36 million USD over 5 years, could be redirected should new needs appear. The evolving situation and its impact on food security will be monitored closely. (c) Some 350 women who had left their families and villages and were living in deplorable conditions on the border with Zimbabwe, making a meagre living from selling water to truckers, were offered food rations and transportation back to their villages by WFP. Their situation will be closely monitored by WFP's implementing partner in this district in order to see whether the food rations are adequate to keep them at home. 4) Swaziland (a) The FAO/WFP assessment mission completed its work last week, and although no official figures have been released, preliminary estimates show that the numbers of persons considered to be food insecure (moderate and severe) could be as high as 200,000. (b) The Government has been undertaking some food purchases, but will not be able to meet the shortfalls, which are mainly caused by erratic rainfall. In the event of a government request for WFP assistance, the necessary minimum operational structure will be established in the country. 5) Zimbabwe (a) On 26 April, the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, declared a state of disaster in all communal lands, resettlement and urban areas as a result of the drought that has hit the country. (b) According to reports from WFP food monitors, livestock sales have now started in most districts, but prices are low. In all WFP target districts, maizemeal, the staple food, is currently unavailable in the markets. The food security situation is deteriorating, and is expected to become critical in 6 to 8 weeks when people have exhausted their stock from last season. (c) Joint assessment missions in Zimbabwe are ongoing from 24 April to 8 May and based on the results, the current WFP emergency operation will be revised to address the expected additional needs. An urban intervention is also under preparation. 6) Somalia (a) Heavy rains have been reported around the country except for Gedo region, which continues to face a dry spell. Flooding has been reported in some parts of the south and northeast, as a result of the rains in Somalia and Ethiopia. WFP is closely monitoring the situation. WFP's relief food interventions under its PRRO 6073 are likely to be reduced due to the rains. The rains have also made the roads inaccessible. (b) Inter-clan fighting in Gedo region is ongoing, resulting in large displacements of people. Thousands of people are reported to be crossing the border into Kenya. WFP and UNHCR are monitoring the situation. WFP's relief distribution for Gedo is ongoing with the next scheduled for mid-May, if security allows. (c) On 28 May, a UNDP staff member was kidnapped by gunmen in southern Mogadishu. The UN Country Team for Somalia is working to establish contact with the kidnappers in order to ascertain his condition and whereabouts, and to ensure his safe release. E) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola 1) Angola (a) WFP expects to face shortfalls for most food commodities in September and November, unless further donor contributions are confirmed in the coming weeks. Supplies of maize and salt are expected to completely run out in September, oil in October and CSB in November without further urgent donor contributions to WFP's Angola operation. (b) Despite the recent signing of a cease-fire agreement between representatives of the Government of Angola and the Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), population displacements continue to be observed in various provinces. It is generally believed that a number of the newly displaced people are leaving their homes to seek humanitarian assistance in other areas. (c) Heavy rainfalls and the continuing delay in the repair of the bridge over the river Cavaco, which links Lobito to Benguela, are hampering deliveries and IDP movements in Benguela province. Commercial convoys between Lobito and Huambo are also delayed. Following flooding in Senje (Dombe Grande), WFP distributed food to the most affected people, based on a recent vulnerability assessment. 1,200 IDP families in Senje and Bandeira municipalities will receive WFP assistance together with blankets and kitchen sets donated by UNICEF. (d) In Balombo, German Agro Action confirmed the arrival of 144 persons from Chindumbo commune. They were relocated in the Caala IDP camp in Hungulo and the Elongo resettlement area, and were assisted with WFP arrival kits. Last week, approximately 2,560 children were assisted in Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC), Supplementary Feeding Center (SFC) and Community Kitchens with WFP food in the Cubal municipality in Balombo. (e) Last week, 1,900 IDPs arrived in camps in Kamacupa, Kuito and Kunhinga (Bié Province). Many of them being reportedly in extremely poor nutritional conditions, MSF-B is preparing to open a second nutritional centre at Kamacupa. (f) Last week, WFP assisted 43,200 vulnerable people throughout Huambo province, supplying over 600 tons of food under general distributions and Food For Work (FFW) programmes. Over 17,800 new IDPs were found in urgent need of food assistance in the municipalities of in Tchicala-Tcholoanga and Katchiungo, some 40-60 kilometres from Huambo capital city. WFP intends to assist this caseload with emergency food rations. (g) Following a recent rapid needs assessment confirming widespread malnutrition in Bunjei (Huambo province), WFP intends to undertake shortly a general food distribution. Newly arrived IDPs are currently being registered in Bunjei locality. (h) From 22 to 28 April, WFP, in collaboration with various partners, distributed 200 tons of food in Gabela, Sumbe, Conda, Porto-Amboim and Seles municipalities (Kwanza Sul province). WFP continues to provide assistance to IDPs involved in resettlement projects in Cuacra. (i) Last week, WFP assisted 1,800 vulnerable people with over 80 tons of food through various programmes in Malange province. About 460 IDPs arrived at Cambondo camp from the former UNITA base of Kifukusa-Kiwaba Njozi and more people are still coming. Among the displaced population in Cambondo, many individuals are reportedly suffering from severe malnutrition and cannot be supported through FFW projects. In response, WFP distributed emergency food rations together with blankets and soap. The lack of shelter at Cambondo is of serious concern. (j) Last week, WFP distributed 35 tons of cereals to almost 3,000 beneficiaries in Uige province. Movements of people to their areas of origin, mainly to Puri and Cangola municipalities, were observed recently. F) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Guatemala 1) Guatemala (a) The situation in Guatemala is rapidly deteriorating. With the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in Latin America (affecting 47 percent of children under five years of age), Guatemala experienced a drought in 2001 that pushed over 31,000 families to the limit. Up to 80 percent of crops in many provinces were affected causing food scarcity and lack of employment. Most vulnerable are children under five years of age, with 59,635 suffering various degrees of malnutrition. Lacking food and adequate medical attention, pregnant and nursing mothers are also particularly susceptible. (b) In March, WFP launched a new emergency operation (EMOP 10174.0) at a cost of USD 4.88 million. Under this operation, WFP plans to distribute 8,553 tons of food to 155,000 beneficiaries in 88 drought-affected municipalities. Despite the recent confirmation of two donations amounting to USD 378,765, WFP emergency operation remains considerably under-resourced. Therefore, the objectives initially set are likely to be compromised unless new contributions are confirmed in the forthcoming days. Additional donations are needed in particular for therapeutic milk to save lives and prevent further deterioration of nutritional levels of those most at risk. Due to the late arrival of products, a first distribution using food borrowed from the development project is under consideration. (c) Under its development project, WFP is currently distributing 480 tons of food in 45 communities, where families are being resettled. These areas are located in the southern coast, north and west parts of the country and are characterized by high food insecurity due to the lack of access to basic services. G) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Georgia, (2) Balkans 1) Georgia (a) On 25 April, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 on the Richter scale hit Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Five people were killed and many suffered injuries. The extent of damage to buildings was substantial, especially in the older parts of the city, and the costs of repairs are estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars. (b) On 29 April, the Government formally requested international agencies to provide additional assistance for relief and to rehabilitate infrastructure, including equipment for the seismological centre. An initial inter-agency needs assessment was conducted on 30 April. Among the people who were forced to leave their homes and are currently accommodated in temporary shelters, approximately 1,100 persons were identified as being in need of food assistance. The number is likely to increase as more temporary shelters are set up for additional homeless people. (c) On 1 May, WFP, in partnership with World Vision International, started distributing food to earthquake victims. WFP is currently identifying bakeries that will provide bread, using WFP-supplied wheat flour, for the increasing number of beneficiaries who do not have cooking facilities. (d) Under EMOP 6302, 141 (out of 180) community-based food-for-work (FFW) projects have been completed since October 2001 in six drought-affected regions of Georgia. The majority of the projects focused on rehabilitating irrigation systems and feeder roads. As a result of unfavourable weather conditions, which delayed the completion of some projects, the operation was extended until 30 June. By that time, an estimated 37,370 project participants will have received 7,600 tons of food. (e) Under PRRO 6122.1, WFP has been providing food assistance to Chechen refugees and other vulnerable people hosted in social institutions. During the last round of distribution, covering the period April - June, 11,950 beneficiaries in 109 institutions received 380 tons of food. In April, WFP, in collaboration with UNHCR, distributed a two-month ration, consisting of approximately 250 tons of food, to 7,800 Chechen refugees in Pankisi valley, East Georgia. (f) Under the recovery component of the PRRO, WFP is supporting FFW activities in Guria, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kakheti regions. Twenty-eight new FFW projects, involving an average of 5,850 daily workers, started in Kakheti region in April. Additional project proposals are planned to start in May. (g) Early warning monitoring in West Georgia showed that long rains in spring have resulted in delays in the sowing process. The fact that lowlands, which are the main corn-producing areas, have not been sown yet can have serious repercussions on this year's corn harvest. 2) Balkans: (a) Kosovo, (b) Serbia, (c) Montenegro, (d) Albania (a) Kosovo 1. WFP is in the process of dismantling its warehouses and relocating commodities within the ODR region. WFP and CARE International are continuing their efforts to ensure that social services will continue to be delivered to the most vulnerable populations through the Consortium for Inter-ethnic Development (CID). Meetings with donors have resulted in great interest in CID as well as an indication of willingness to fund some of the proposed projects. (b) Serbia 1. WFP's refugee recategorization process is in the final stages. Data collection is complete in nearly all municipalities. The revised beneficiary information will be applied for May distributions to refugees wherever the data were collected. Following a meeting between WFP and UNHCR on 17 April, it was decided that WFP would continue to assist a small caseload of FYRoM refugees and returnees from Kosovo in southern Serbia for the months of May and June. (c) Montenegro 1. March/April distribution covered 25,000 social cases. WFP asked the Montenegro Commissioner for Displaced Persons to remind beneficiaries that May/June would be the last distribution for social cases and IDPs, in view of the termination of EMOP 6136.2 on 30 June. Distribution from July will cover only 4,000 refugees under PRRO 10116. (d) Albania 1. WFP supported 5,200 unassisted-unemployed households (26,000 beneficiaries) in the northern prefectures of Albania, 700 households (3,500 beneficiaries) engaged in Communal Forestry and Pasture Development activities and 770 vulnerable women (4,000 beneficiaries) undergoing in psychosocial counselling. H) United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (a) As of June 2000, the management of the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), originally established in Pisa and managed in collaboration with the UN Office of the Co-ordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and the Government of Italy is carried out by WFP in the UN warehouse in Brindisi, Italy. (b) UNHRD is a humanitarian response facility, which provides storage for both programme and operational support supplies for UN humanitarian agencies and NGOs. It is crucial for quick response in meeting the needs of victims of disasters and emergencies in the initial first phase until additional food aid can be resourced and mobilized. Since its inception, it has been active in supporting a variety of operations both by air and land. Significant savings can be made through cost sharing of aircraft and land deployments, and in addition the facility will be used for joint training. (c) Recently the warehouse has been utilized as part of WFP's emergency response in the Palestinian Territories and Afghanistan. On 17 April, the UNHRD organized an airlift of 40 tons of high-energy biscuits to Tel Aviv in response to the critical situation in Palestine. On 23 April, a further air shipment of WFP prefabricated buildings to Jerusalem was undertaken upon request of Italian Government. On 16 April, a further air shipment to Kabul has been finalized to support WFP activities in Afghanistan. Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons (End WFP Emergency Report No 18) distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Center for International Disaster Information Volunteers in Technical Assistance web: www.cidi.org listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Food Program Reports www.cidi.org/humanitarian/wfp