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