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

This report includes:
(A) Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo, (2) Angola,
    (3) Namibia, (4) Republic of Congo
(B) East and Southern Africa: (1) Zimbabwe, (2) Eritrea
(C) West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone
(D) West  and Central Asia Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Afghanistan,
    (3) Pakistan
(E) Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea, (2) Bangladesh
(F) Latin America and the Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Honduras,
    (3) El Salvador
(G) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Albania


>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)  Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo, (2) Angola,
(3) Namibia, (4) Republic of Congo

1)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  On 17 January, a volcano erupted and devastated parts of the eastern
city of Goma. The following day, WFP was ready to respond to large-scale
food requirements if the situation was to deteriorate. An estimated
caseload of 500,000 people has fled out of Goma and environs towards the
western Rwandan town of Gisenyi and south to Bukavu as well as west of
Goma. Some 400,000 have reportedly reached Rwanda and the remaining
100,000 are said to have fled towards Bukavu.  However, as there were some
concerns about possible lava flow in the direction of Giseyni, many of the
displaced were continuing north toward Ruhengeri. All UN staff evacuated
to Rwanda.

(b)  Before WFP staff left, they reported that the airport was submerged
in lava, setting fuel depots on fire. The Goma town was reported deserted
and the Cathedral and other buildings and houses were burning all over the
city. There is neither electricity nor clean water. WFP commercial
transporters reported that the warehouses and their garage in Goma were
intact.

(c)  WFP in collaboration with the humanitarian community in the town of
Bukavu has opened a reception centre for displaced persons. Two boat loads
have just landed with a total of 900 persons onboard mostly women and
children. 157 of whom need immediate WFP assistance.  The boat has
returned to Goma to pick up more people.  Larger groups are coming on foot
and are expected to arrive in Bukavu within three days. A key bridge on
the way has been damaged by molten lava from the volcano.

(d)  On 18 January a rapid assessment mission led by WFP and composed of
UNHCR, WHO, UNSECOORD and UNICEF was enroute to Gisenyi. WFP has
dispatched 36 tons of biscuits from Uganda to Rwanda to help meet the
emergency requirements of the displaced populations. An additional 9 tons
have been prepositioned within Rwanda to the areas of displacement. A WFP
"crisis task force" was set up at the Bureau for East and Southern Africa
in Kampala to monitor the situation.

(e)  WFP has food stocks in Gisenyi and trucks are also available to
transport food to the affected areas if need arose. Another 1,000 tons of
food had been sent to Goma prior to the volcanic eruption, but it was not
yet clear if it had been affected by the lava flow. Finally, WFP has 7,700
tons of food stocks for Burundi in Kampala, which could possibly be used
to cover the immediate needs of the affected populations, with the consent
of the donors.


2)  Angola

(a)  The security situation from 7 to 13 January was considered stable in
most provinces, despite reports of confrontations in Bié, Benguela,
Malange, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul provinces. A truck convoy, returning
from Zaire province, where it had delivered WFP food was caught in
confrontations between the Angolan Armed Forces and local police near
Caxito (Bengo province). Three persons died in the incident.

(b)  Between 4 and 10 January, the local authorities in Benguela province
registered and relocated to various camps 80 newly displaced persons. In
Benguela, WFP assisted 900 malnourished persons admitted in the
Supplementary Feeding Centre (SFC), managed by the Ministry of Health
(MINSA). Finally, CRS admitted over 800 children under five years in its
community kitchen supported by WFP.

(c)  WFP in collaboration with CARE International distributed 750 tons of
food to 4,500 vulnerable people in Kunhinga municipality (Bié province).
Over 1,400 new IDPs fleeing fighting in Kamacupa and Andulo, arrived in
Kuito from 7 to 13 January. WFP monitored a number of nutritional centres
and FFW projects receiving WFP support near the capital of Huambo
province. Over 200 malnourished persons are currently benefiting from WFP
food in the TFC run by the NGO partner MOLIVSH and the Ministry of Health
in Chiva and Cruzeiro. In addition, 2,200 vulnerable people received WFP
food through a MOLISV project in Huambo.

(d)  From 7 to 13 January, over 200 newly displaced persons were
registered in Matala municipality (Huíla province) where they received WFP
food and blankets. In the capital of Moxico province, Luena, over 1,600
new IDPs were recently registered bringing the total number of persons
registered since 1 January to 2,150. In Saurimo (Lunda Sul province), WFP
assisted approximately 6,200 resettled IDPs as well as newly displaced
persons, providing them with 90 tons of food. Over 3,000 people fled
fighting during the week, taking refuge in Saurimo. These people have
already been registered and provided with a WFP food package.

(e)  WFP received recently a pledge equivalent to USD 13.1 million, which
is expected to cover WFP food requirements at least until April for most
commodities.


3)  Namibia

(a)  WFP in collaboration with Africare assisted through a general food
distribution approximately 15,800 Angolan refugees in Osire camp on 10-11
January. However, WFP expects to face shortfalls of CSB and sugar in
February and for all commodities in March.

(b)  On 17 January WFP approved emergency operation Namibia 10145.0
"Assistance to Angolan Refugees in Namibia" for a total cost of USD 2.2
million for the provision of food assistance to 23,000 beneficiaries, from
1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002.


4)  Republic of Congo

(a)  In December 2001, WFP distributed over 670 tons of food, benefiting
30,100 vulnerable people in Brazzaville, Pool, Kouilou, Niari and Bouenza
regions. More than half of the distributions were made in support of seed
protection and agriculture FFW programmes. December corresponds in the
agricultural calendar to the intensification of land preparation and
planting works. In addition, WFP in collaboration with UNICEF delivered 15
tons of food to 4,200 orphans. Other programmes included Food for
Training, School Feeding, SFC and general food distributions.

(b)  EMOP 6287.00, which was initially scheduled to terminate on 31 March
2001, has been extended until 31 May 2002, due to late arrival of
contributions and general insecurity. The EMOP is aimed at assisting
50,000 refugees, providing them with over 4,000 tons of food in Loukolela
and Impfondo. Following an improvement of the security situation in the
Likouala region, an assessment mission was carried out in Betou on 12
December. Over 27,500 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and
the Central African Republic were reported to be in Betou. WFP is looking
into ways to assist them.

(c)  The United Nations Interagency Emergency Initiative on HIV/AIDS was
officially launched in Brazzaville on 3 December 2002 by WFP, WHO, UNFPA,
UNICEF and UNDP. WFP is currently providing complementary food assistance
to 3,500 persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.



B)  East and Southern Africa: (1) Zimbabwe, (2) Eritrea

1)  Zimbabwe

(a)  Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst food crises since independence.
Over half a million rural people are in urgent need of food aid due to a
combination of factors including erratic rainfall, poor macro-economic
performance and the disruption of the commercial agricultural sector due
to the land reform programme.

(b)  WFP emergency food distributions should start in early February, but
will initially only go to a limited number of the most vulnerable
districts because of insufficient food in the pipeline. The food available
for the February distribution will amount to about 5,200 tons of cereals
purchased in the region. As of 17 January, there are no confirmed
contributions for the Zimbabwe EMOP. WFP is actively exploring
possibilities for loans from other operations but confirmations of donor
contributions are urgently required to ensure that essential commodities
are in place for these critical early months of the emergency operation.

(c)  The first of a series of pre-implementation workshops that will
clearly lay out key parameters of the EMOP, procedures that will be
followed and the responsibilities of each partner was held with Government
and implementing partners in Harare on 16-17 January.


2)  Eritrea

(a)  From 1 to 13 January, the Eritrean Relief and Refugees Commission
(ERREC) reported the distribution of over 1,100 tons of WFP supplied food
to 77,100 war- affected people in Debub and Gash Barka Regions.
Beneficiaries included IDPs and returnees from Sudan. WFP and ERREC
conducted a joint post-distribution monitoring survey in the Habero
sub-region (Anseba region) on 28 December 2001 and confirmed that
approximately 29,000 vulnerable people benefited from WFP assistance. WFP
and ERREC also monitored different areas of Debub Region and observed that
beneficiaries consume 90 percent of the WFP food.

(b)  WFP has launched the first Pilot Emergency School Feeding Programme
in Gash Barka Region on 11 January 2002 with the distribution of take home
rations to school children in Barentu, Agordat, Mogollo, and Hykota.
Delivery of food for the school feeding programme was completed for Gash
Barka, Debub and the SRS Regions. In Anseba Region, deliveries have not
been undertaken in Asmat and Seela due to accessibility problems. Delivery
of food for schools in the NRS region is underway.

(c)  Following a report by the Government that over 66,000 people were
likely to suffer from the drought in Ghindae sub zone (NRS Region), WFP
and the Government planned to undertake a joint mission to determine the
food needs of the most vulnerable. However, the assessment team was denied
access at a military checkpoint at Weki village, 30 Km from Asmara. WFP is
following up on this matter.

(d)  Rainfall data for the NRS Region suggest that the usual winter rains
will be insufficient to support a normal harvest season. Lifestock however
should not be affected. The satellite forecast for this area predicts
below average rainfall for the coming months. The Ministry of Agriculture
is yet to release final production data for the 2001 harvest. Meanwhile,
recent estimates suggest some 150,000 tons of crop production in 2001.



C)  West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone

1)  Liberia

(a)  The general security situation remained relatively calm except in the
northern and northwestern counties of Lofa and Gbarpolu. The situation of
the IDPs from Bopolu and Jennemana in the county of Gbarpolu remains of
urgent concern. The Government officially recognized several displaced
centres in Gbarma and Sawmill, despite their proximity with the areas
where fighting is reported. The humanitarian community continue to urge
the Government to relocate the IDPs to safer areas. WFP in collaboration
with Action Contre la Faim (ACF) assisted 1,150 newly displaced persons in
Gbarma and Sawmill. Those targeted were children under 5 years of age,
pregnant women, nursing mothers, elderly and disabled people.

(b)  From 3 to 16 January WFP dispatched over 600 tons of food in support
of various projects country-wide, which included refugees, IDPs, School
Feeding and TFC. WFP continues to assist 38,300 Sierra Leonean refugees in
Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount counties. Since Sierra Leonean refugees
previously hosted by the communities in Gbarpolu County have been recently
displaced, the refugee caseload is expected to rise. 26,000 IDPs are
currently estimated to be in Bong County. The total number of persons who
fled Gbarpolu County towards Bong County has not yet been verified due to
the fragile security situation and the mobility of the population.

(c)  Under PRRO 10064.0, WFP assisted 16,300 Sierra Leonean refugees in
the Sinje Camps in Grand Cape Mount County on 7 ? 12 January, providing
them with over 240 tons of food. In Montserrado County, over 21,000 Sierra
Leonean refugees began receiving WFP food assistance on 15 January. 300
tons of food have been prepositioned for distribution. In addition, WFP
supported approximately 1,600 malnourished persons admitted in various TFC
run by ACF. Finally, 5,000 students and teachers received WFP support
through the School Feeding Project in Montserrado County.

(d)  Under its development project LIR 6239.0, WFP intends to support
58,660 children and teachers through over 200 primary schools in
Montserrado and Margibi Counties during the month of January. Over 200
tons of food are currently being distributed in collaboration with the
Adventist Development Relief Agency. In Bomi and Grand Cape Mount
Counties, WFP in collaboration with the National Red Cross Society (LNRCS)
and LIURD started assisting 41,600 vulnerable people in January, providing
them with over 160 tons of food. However, food deliveries to some
districts in Grand Cape Mount County could not be effected because of
security concerns. Finally, WFP distributed 35 tons of food to
approximately 9,000 school children in Maryland County.

(e)  The WFP pipeline remains stable. However, if expected consignments
are not received on time, there will be a possible shortfall under PRRO
10064.0 during the first quarter of 2002.


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  Increased tension and fighting in northern Liberia has resulted in a
significant influx of Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees. On 4
January WFP distributed biscuits in support of the relocation of over 250
Liberian refugees from Kailahun town and Daru to safer areas. An
additional supply of biscuits will be pre-positioned for the upcoming
evacuation of over 300 refugees from Buedu, Koindu and Kailahun.

(b)  The disarmament process is to be formally declared completed on 17
January. According to UNAMSIL, 45,500 former combatants handed over
weapons to the authorities between 18 May 2001 and 6 January 2002.
Demobilization will continue until the end of the month. On 9 January, the
UN Security Council reviewed the Secretary General's Report on Sierra
Leone and emphasized the need to focus on the reintegration of
ex-combatants. Low-cost, labor-intensive programmes specifically targeted
at ex-combatants have been implemented particularly in volatile areas. WFP
FFW projects were identified as the major contributor to this pressing
concern.

(c)  From 1 to 13 January, WFP distributed 60 tons of food to over 7,300
vulnerable people under various programmes. This reduced caseload was due
the unavailability of vegetable oil and the subsequent postponement of
food distributions. As a result, 7,500 IDPs that were to resettle in the
western area at the end of 2001 did not receive their two-month
resettlement package. WFP will provide the food package in February while
CARE will provide non-food items.

(d)  WFP recently dispatched approximately 500 tons of food to various
camps in the Western area to be distributed to over 33,000 IDPs and
returnees. Since five chiefdoms have been declared safe in Tonkolili
district, 4,600 IDPs currently in the western area and over 700 returnees
are expected to be resettled in these areas in mid-February. Finally, WFP
provided 8 tons of food to 3,150 malnourished people through various TFCs
and SFCs in Freetown area as well as in the provinces of Bo and Kenema.



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

1)  Regional overview

(a)  WFP dispatched approximately 9,600 tons of food into Afghanistan
between 10 and 16 January, making an average of 1,370 tons per day. The
Salang tunnel which links Kabul with the northern provinces, in
particular, Mazar-I-sharif, was opened on 15 January.  The use of this
corridor will cut the time between Kabul and Mazar from almost five days
to 15 hours and reduce the transport costs by half.

(b)  Further streamlining its logistics arrangements, this week WFP
received 260 trucks to be deployed in Pakistan and Afghanistan. These
trucks will help WFP to overcome periodic shortages in the local transport
market.10 temporary storage tents Government were also delivered from
Termez to Mazar-I-Sharif, where WFP storage facilities had been damaged.
Each tent has a capacity of approximately 500 tons.

(c)  Air operations into Afghanistan have been interrupted this week.
Flights into Kabul and Mazar-I-Sharif have been turned back as weather
conditions did not permit the aircraft to land.  This will become an
increasing problem over the next weeks as winter conditions are at their
most difficult.


2)  Afghanistan

(a)  Some incidents involving the misappropriation of WFP food were
reported.  A consignment of food unloaded by the transporters during the
retreat of the Taliban in November was stored in private homes at Landi
Kyber.  With the full support of the local authorities 400 tons have been
recovered and two people have been detained.  Finally, two trucks carrying
WFP food from Turkmenabad en route to Pul Kumri were stopped by gunmen on
15 January at Aybak.  The food from one truck was distributed to people on
the street. The local authorities have promised to replace the WFP food.

(b)  The first two helicopters to enable rapid assessments in areas where
there may be acute food needs are expected to arrive in Afghanistan within
10 days.  The helicopter teams will identify isolated or remote areas and
groups in need of assistance and assess the progress of food distributions
through WFP implementing partners. The teams will be made up of WFP Food
Security Unit/VAM, a nutritionist as well as programme and logistics
officers capable of assessing airdrop potential. WFP will invite other UN
Agencies and partner NGOs to participate, depending on the availability of
seats. WFP has identified the provinces where vulnerable groups are likely
to be concentrated. In particular, WFP will focus on remote, isolated
districts, those at a high altitude and areas closed to the front lines.
WFP will also be looking at regions where partner NGOs have only just
deployed and resumed operations.

(c)  During the week WFP staff from the office at Mazar-I-Sharif travelled
to Zara district where there had been reports of extreme food shortages.
WFP staff reported that the situation is extremely grave.  Temperatures
are well below 0 degree centigrade, causing the death of people and
livestock.

(d)  By 14 January WFP staff had arrived in the area on horseback and
reported that food distributions were ongoing in Zari and 660 tons had
already been distributed.  An additional 380 tons will be moved to the
area on an urgent basis in order to supplement the food already earmarked
for this area.  Additional staff are being deployed to support staff
already there in monitoring the situation.

(e)  The urban food distribution in Kabul was completed this week.  In
Hirat, despite three days of rainfall, WFP's implementing partner World
Vision continued to distribute food.  Final preparations for the
distribution in Mazar-I-Sharif are underway.

(f)  International staff returned to Kandahar sub-office this week.  This
means that all WFP offices in Afghanistan are now staffed with
international officers.  The Kandahar office complex had been hit by a
stray bomb during the bombing raids and sustained considerable damage.
It was also looted of its food stocks. WFP began investigating the
modalities of a distribution in Kandahar.

(g)  Winter conditions began to be more noticeable this week with the
amount of snow and rainfall making food deliveries more difficult to some
parts of Afghanistan, especially in the north. In Faizabad, it snowed and
was raining almost non-stop for several days.  It is anticipated that snow
will start accumulating on the road between Faizabad and Iskashem, a vital
route for WFP food aid deliveries from Tajikistan to Faizabad.  The WFP
snow clearance team from Canada is working on the road to keep it open.
They have mobilized the help of the local population and converted a truck
into a snowplough using locally available material.

(h)  In western Afghanistan, WFP partners continue daily distributions of
90 tons of food to displaced people in the Maslakh camp, near Hirat. IOM
has also started distributing non-food items to the IDPs to help them cope
with the harsh winter conditions. Food distributions are ongoing in
Baghdis province in the central highlands. More than half of the 7,500
tons of food dispatched there has been distributed. A WFP team surveyed 18
villages in the province from 2 to 11 January and found out that the
population's main concern is access to clean water and the lack of
humanitarian supplies other than food.

(i)  Within its role of coordination and provision of technical assistance
for the communications sector in Afghanistan WFP has this week facilitated
the installation of a mobile telephone network, which will be used by
humanitarian workers and key government officials.  This Ericsson system
will greatly facilitate the work of the humanitarian community. All the
equipment, with a market value of USD 5 million, has been loaned, free of
charge, by Ericsson for six months.  The GSM system can host up to 5,000
subscribers, and it will initially provide communication for 200 users.
The system is now in the first test phase and will go into full operation
within the coming few days.


3)  Pakistan

(a)  On 16 January the Government of Pakistan gave access in the country
to some of the 4,000 people camped in no man's land near the border
crossing of Chaman.  2,000 people crossed and were registered at the Killi
Faizo Staging Camp.  Should the remaining 2,000 be permitted to cross WFP
has food pre-positioned to accommodate them. Part of the newly registered
refugees immediately received at the staging centre high-energy biscuits
from WFP, which is then supplemented by a full ration. In other refugee
sites in Pakistan the relocation of refugees to more permanent camps
continues.



E)  Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea, (2) Bangladesh

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  The imminent break in the WFP pipeline at the beginning of 2002 has
been averted due to a timely contribution of 105,000 tons of food. As of
31 December, WFP requirements in cereals were covered until March 2002.
However, WFP expects to face shortfalls of sugar in February, pulses in
April, oil in June and Dry Skimmed Milk in August. A second break in the
WFP pipeline would affect vital distributions during the lean season
(April-June). Additional food donations are therefore urgently required.

(b)  Harvesting of the main crops was completed at the beginning of
December 2001, with production figures reported to be significantly better
than last year, confirming the earlier estimates of the joint FAO/WFP Crop
and Food Supply Assessment Mission. However, the extremely cold
temperatures and the snow are currently affecting the preparation of the
land for the next crop.

(c)  A monthly food ration equivalent to 250 gm per day and per person was
distributed through the Public Distribution System in December 2001. One
year before at the same period, the ration distributed amounted to 200 gm
per day and per person. WFP has observed an improvement of the overall
nutritional situation compared with last year. This improvement was mainly
attributed to the availability of regular meals. However, cases of
malnutrition continue to be reported among young children during visits to
children's institutions. Although high attendance rates in kindergartens
continued to be reported, harsh winter conditions sometimes prevented
children from going to school.

(d)  During the year 2001, WFP implemented over 200 projects including
rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructures, flood control,
reforestation, rehabilitation of fishponds and saltpans and reconstruction
of rural roads. These projects involved the distribution of approximately
114,300 tons of food and the participation of 1,350,000 workers. Overall,
4,050,000 vulnerable people benefited WFP from projects.


2)  Bangladesh

(a)  On 16 January, WFP launched a USD 2.1-million appeal for 21,500
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar depending almost entirely on food aid in
south-eastern Bangladesh. The refugees, who are confined to camps and have
no access to official employment and domestic farming plots, have suffered
from chronic malnutrition since they arrived as part of a wave of 250,000
people fleeing the North Rakhine province of Myanmar in 1991-2.

(b)  Surveys show unacceptably high malnutrition rates: 56 percent of the
refugee children under five years of age are underweight and 52 percent of
the women have a body-mass index indicating moderate malnutrition. The
agencies involved in the camps have forged a clear and effective strategy
to end malnutrition among these long-term refugees. WFP has undertaken, in
collaboration with the UNHCR and its NGO partners (the Bangladesh Red
Crescent Society, CONCERN and MSF-H), a series of FFW programmes designed
to mobilize the camp population. 3,000 refugees are engaged in skills
training, small income-generating activities and projects to improve camp
conditions. To allay tensions between the host and the refugee
populations, 4,500 Bangladeshis from nearby villages are involved in
community-oriented FFW projects.

(c)  Additionally, WFP will provide a snack to some 4,000 children in
schools that were recently opened in the camps. WFP experience has
demonstrated that such meals foster attendance and enrolment rates. The
WFP operation runs from January to December 2002. The Rohingyas are due to
be sent back to Myanmar but remain in Bangladesh because of reluctance to
leave on their part and a protracted repatriation clearance process by
Myanmar authorities. In July, WFP started a year-long operation in Myanmar
to feed some 260,000 returnees to North Rakhine.



F)  Latin America and the Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Honduras,
(3) El Salvador

1)  Colombia

(a)  Colombian President Andres Pastrana and the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia ? FARC - have agreed to resume talks a few hours before
the set deadline. Government and FARC will intensify negotiations during
the next week to consolidate the peace process. The UN Special Envoy
played an active role in mediating between the sides. He indicated that
the agreement has the full backing of the UN.

(b)  WFP's private sector suppliers continued delivering food for work
(FFW) rations as planned despite tensions over the possible break of
negotiations. Communities under the supervision of Governmental and church
partners continued to receive WFP food. A travel ban, particularly
affecting WFP field staff, was lifted on 15 January by UNSECORD.

(c)  Over the last 15 months, WFP, under PRRO 6139, assisted more than
129,000 beneficiaries in 620 projects promoting the recovery of displaced
families, creating new social networks and economic options. Food
deliveries to pre-schoolers as well as for nutritional recovery programmes
for children will continue. School feeding is scheduled to restart on 11
February.

(d)  Increased violence is causing new waves of displacements towards
urban centres and could significantly add to the approximately 500,000
families that are already displaced. The displaced survive by reducing
their food-intake and getting into debt. Their coping mechanisms are not
sufficient to match the high costs of living for families coming from
rural areas that suddenly have to buy food, water and fuel, find schooling
for their children and new jobs when the unemployment rate is already 20
percent.


2)  Honduras

(a)  As of 14 January, persons affected by the drought as well as the
floods caused by tropical storm Michelle continued to receive WFP
assistance. Analysts are now warning that the El Niño phenomena will again
cause a drought, particularly affecting the central and southern regions.


3)  El Salvador

(a)  WFP is consolidating the results of the Emergency Food Needs
Assessment and finalising plans for the first half of 2002 with the
Government and NGOs. WFP and the Government's Department of Food
Assistance reviewed requests from NGOs for FFW activities. Based on
available stocks, allocations have been made to the main NGOs partners for
the two operations (EMOP 100220 and PRRO 6089). A family food ration will
be distributed every 45 days in return for a total of 80 hours of work on
personal or community reconstruction activities.

(b)  Under PRRO 6089, resources have been made available for the
participation of 8,000 families in FFW activities. The first FFW
distributions will begin in early February. Activities will include
community reforestation projects, crop diversification and disaster
management projects. UNICEF donated 54 tons of fortified cereals for
affected families with children under 6 years old to be supplied along
with WFP regular food distributions. Due to limited resources, WFP intends
to distribute 1,630 tons of food to 4,000 families through its partners,
CARE, the American Red Cross, Christian Relief Services (CRS) and World
Lutheran Federation.

(c)  The EMOP 10022 has been extended until July 2002 in order to respond
to the continuing hardships of the earthquake-affected communities.
Thousands of families are still living in very difficult conditions
throughout the country without basic services. During the coming 6 months,
WFP and the Government's Department of Food Assistance are planning to
provide FFW assistance to only 13,500 families due to limited resources.
The actual number of people in need of food aid is much higher. Over 2,750
tons of food will be distributed in collaboration with CARE, FUSADES, CRS
and the World Lutheran Federation.



G)  Eastern Europe Region: (1) Albania

1)  Albania

(a)  WFP prepared a helicopter airlift to reach on 12 January over 140,000
people stranded in northeastern Albania and facing severe shortages of
food, electricity and water following the worst snowstorm in over two
decades. In many areas access has been completely blocked by snow and ice
and five people have died in this isolated mountainous region, which
includes Dibrell, Chukkas, Shkodra and Lezha. Weather conditions
permitting, the emergency aid, totalling 350 tons of wheat flour, will be
delivered using Albanian military helicopters in order to meet the urgent
food needs of the affected population.

(b)  In response to the natural disaster, the Government declared a state
of emergency on 7 January. The latest tragedy comes at a time when Albania
is already struggling to overcome high unemployment and an economy that is
still largely dependent on agriculture.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 3)


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