WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 6 / 2002 - Date 8 February 2002


This report includes:
(A) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Pakistan,
    (3) Tajikistan
(B) Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea
(C) Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of the Congo,
    (2) Angola, (3) Central African Republic
(D) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Uganda
(E) 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)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Pakistan, (3)
Tajikistan

1)  Regional overview

(a)  This week, WFP has been dispatching into Afghanistan an average of
1,800 tons of food per day from up to 7 regional logistics hubs.  During
January, WFP delivered almost 66,000 tons of food into Afghanistan.  Now
that sufficient cereals have been positioned, WFP is concentrating on
providing oil and pulses.


2)  Afghanistan

(a)  WFP Mazar and the Assessment Food Security Unit (AFSU) team have held
discussions with a variety of NGOs regarding collaboration in rapid
assessments.  65 locations have so far been identified throughout the
Northern region (including Faryab, Balkh, Baghlan and Saripul provinces)
as priority areas and a schedule has been prepared.  Populations assessed
will include resident drought-affected; marginal and isolated groups; IDPs
and returnees. Procedures have been put in place to ensure that
helicopter-assisted missions proceed as smoothly as possible.

(b)  The WFP rapid food needs assessment teams have undergone an intensive
week-long training programme in food security analysis and information
gathering.  As part of this training the Swiss Federation for Mine Action
has provided mine awareness training to all AFSU/VAM staff from the Mazar,
Kabul, Kandahar, Hirat and Islamabad Offices.  A further four local
surveyors have also been recruited and trained. A team is leaving for a
two day rapid food needs assessment on 7 February to the rainfed areas of
Aborz in Chimtal District, Balkh Province.

(c)  There have been press reports this week of food being delayed or
failing to reach certain areas. Reports have been made that trucks
carrying humanitarian aid were recently temporarily delayed on the Sabzak
Pass between Hirat and Qala e Naw in Badghis province due to heavy snow.
However, the main pass in Badghis province remains open at this time.  On
8 February, Oxfam had reportedly sent a mission to Qala e Naw to check the
conditions of the roads to ensure that relief, including food aid, gets to
needy people as quickly as possible.

(d)  Food security continues to be precarious in areas of the northwest
such as Siah Sangh in Badghis province, which was the focus of a February
5 BBC story.  Siah Sangh is located in Jawand district, one of the most
seriously drought-affected and in-accessible areas, hence of strong
concern for WFP.  A six-months worth of WFP wheat, (300 kilograms per
family), was distributed in Siah Sangh in early January.  WFP is gearing
up to move in other food items as soon as possible, including pulses, oil
and the highly nutritious Corn Soya Blend.  By early January, 5,000 tons
of food had been delivered to Jawand province, to approximately 90,000
people.  Despite this food positioning, the people have no reserves, heavy
debts and disease, and are hence very weak.

(e)  WFP food distributions in Mazar are now on-going.  In Kandahar, WFP's
implementing partner World Vision is assessing how to implement a one-off
post conflict urban distribution.

(f)  The first snows of winter arrived on 1 February, bringing some hopes
to the end of the dry climate in Kabul.  Winter is setting in and
temperatures plummeting (-30 with wind chill was recorded at Rhodat where
the Canadian snow team are operating on the Faizabad - Ishkashim road last
week).  Air operations are impacted; heavy snow has forced closure of
Kabul 8 February, Faizabad 7 February and Dushanbe since 5 February.
Aircraft re-fuelling facilities remain problematic within Afghanistan and
WFP is exploring ways to address this.  Extreme weather conditions have
held up the arrival of the helicopters from Dushanbe to Mazar.

(g)  Since 22 January, about 25,000 civil servants have been registered in
Kabul city, of which around 20,000 have already received ration coupons
from the Department of Rations.  All of these civil servants have been
registered on a payroll prepared by the Ministry of Finance and approved
by UNDP.

(h)  The distribution of 246 tons of WFP food to 2,460 IDP families at the
ex-Soviet Compound in Kabul was completed on 5 February.  Following an
assessment of the Women's Bakery Programme in Kabul, the number of
bakeries was extended from 21 overall to 61.  The additional 40 will be
run on a cost recovery basis in Kabul (bringing the Kabul beneficiary
total to around 40,000 families).  In Mazar the 80 bakeries will be
re-opened for 6 months, pending a VAM/AFSU re-assessment in August.  In
Kandahar, 10 bakeries will be opened.

(i)  The installation of the WFP/Ericsson GSM system for the humanitarian
community and the Interim Administration in Kabul was completed on 27
January. This is the first time ever a last response GSM system was
installed to support communications in an emergency.  The system has been
tested and proven to give excellent indoor coverage in the center of
Kabul, but also covered up to 12 km from the center of town on the main
exit roads.


3)  Pakistan

(a)  On 4 February at Wali Khail, in Kyber agency, tribal people
demonstrated against local authorities about water scarcity and
in-adequate electricity supply in the area. Two vehicles from UNHCR on
their way to Shalman refugee camp were caught up in a demonstration, when
the road was blocked to all traffic.  Following an intervention by UN
security and the Authorities in Peshawar, the UNHCR car was released,
after two hours.

(b)  On 2-5 February, over 2,000 people were relocated from Jalozai and
urban Peshawar to Asgharo camp, Kurram Agency.  As of 1 February UNHCR had
registered 8,200 people there.  Relocations for the minority group Shia,
from Peshawar resumed this week. A total of 330 individuals were moved to
Basu camp, Kurram Agency, making a total number of 507 individuals
relocated as of 6 February.

(c)  WFP, in collaboration with INTERSOS is currently distributing food in
Old Bagzai and Asgharo camps, Kurram Agency. In addition, WFP is currently
monitoring the food distribution being implemented by IRC in the Shalman
camp.


4)  Tajikistan

(a)  WFP was expecting to resume the food airlift on 10 February but was
forced to postpone it again due to weather conditions.  Meanwhile, the
C130 continues to be engaged in the delivery of non food items into
Afghanistan. So far, 533 tons of wheat flour were airlifted to Faizabad
with some 400 tons remaining to be airlifted. Food distribution to
approximately 1,700 Afghan IDPs on Island # 14 at the Tajik-Afghan border
started on 7 February providing some 26 tons of food.



B)  Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  WFP EMOP 10141.0 is heavily under-resourced. As of 8 February, just
10 percent of the overall EMOP requirement has been confirmed. WFP was
able to cover core beneficiary needs in January due to some carryover
stocks and arrivals against contributions made in late 2001. However, a
contribution of 100,000 tons of maize for the EMOP 10141.0, to be
confirmed, would enable WFP to address the imminent shortages.
Nonetheless, further contributions, especially for sugar and cereals are
urgently required to ensure continued food assistance to the most
vulnerable populations from April and on-wards.

(b)  The WFP EMOP 10141.0 came into effect 1 January 2002. Under this new
EMOP, and subject to the availability of resources, WFP will assist 6.4
million beneficiaries with over 611,200 tons of food aid at a total
project cost of USD 215.8 million. WFP's activities in 2002 are again
targeted to the most vulnerable groups, especially young children and
pregnant women, with assistance directed to food production deficit
provinces and the more heavily urbanized areas in those provinces.

(c)  Unusually mild winter conditions in January are raising alarms for
2002 early crop production. Low rates of snowfall during the winter season
could have a negative effect on the winter and spring crops and may also
lead to lower water levels.

(d)  WFP is currently reviewing proposals for Food-for-Work (FFW) projects
in consultation with UNDP and NGOs. The proposals include mainly
reforestation activities in counties considered by WFP as the most
vulnerable. Approximately 30,000 tons of cereals have been allocated for
these spring season projects. Seasonal farming activities continued this
week in order to prepare the planting of early barley crop and potatoes in
March and April.

(e)  Food distribution by the DPRK government through the Public
Distribution System for January was 300 grams/person/day for 31 days ?
mainly consisting of rice and maize. This reflects the increased cereal
harvest production in 2001, as the PDC ration at the same time last year
had been 215 grams/person/day.



C)  Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of the Congo, (2)
Angola, (3) Central African Republic

1)  Democratic Republic of the Congo

(a)  As of 6 February, WFP distributed over 1,900 tons of food since the
beginning of the emergency operation in Goma, benefiting over 435,000
affected people in Goma, Ruhengeri, Gisenyi and Bukavu areas. The WFP
Special Operation SO 10169.0 for Logistics Support to the Inter-agency
Relief Effort to Assist Populations Affected by the Volcanic Eruption in
Goma has been approved. This operation requires USD 591,234.

(b)  Following the decision to of the Rwandan Government to close the
Chyumve camp in Ruhengeri on 1 February, over 1,000 Congolese refugees
were relocated to Mudende camp in Gisenyi. The Government's decision was
motivated by the need to consolidate humanitarian assistance and verify
the number of refugees.

(c)  Over 3,000 families have been verified in Nkamira and Mudende camps
(Gisenyi province) during a registration exercise on 4-5 February. 590
families were reported to be in Nkamira camp and 2,420 in Mudende camp.
Following the registration exercise, WFP completed the third weekly
distribution. 57 tons of food were distributed to over 15,000 IDPs. The
next food distribution will begin on 15 February.

(d)  The registration of people eligible for food assistance is still in
progress in Goma. The results will be used to implement targeted food
distributions. WFP and OCHA have received 65 tons of food donated by MONUC
for distribution to the most vulnerable groups. WFP organised the
logistics and monitored the food distribution, which started on 4-5
February. So far, 1,600 persons have been assisted.

(e)  Although markets have resumed activities in Goma, there are still
very few manufactured goods available. Monitoring of the various markets
shows that the price of staple foods tends to stabilize. The price of
petrol has reportedly decreased from FC250 to 200FC a litre.


2)  Angola

(a)  Last week, the security situation remained precarious, in particular
in Benguela, Huila, and Kuito provinces, causing intense movement of
people towards the provincial capitals. Despite a number of incidents
reported outside the city of Benguela and between Ganda and Cubal, the
situation in Canjala (Benguela province) is considered secure, and
humanitarian assistance is likely to resume upon completion of a security
assessment.

(b)  WFP urgently requires additional contributions in order to address
its current shortfall of pulses and avert a break in its CSB pipeline in
April. In addition, WFP expects to face shortages of sugar in May and
cereals in June.

(c)  WFP, ACM, Africare, Movimondo and the European Union undertook a
joint assessment mission in Waku Kungo (Kuanza Sul province). The
humanitarian situation was judged critical due to the concentration of
IDPs and agencies agreed to prepare an urgent intervention. Since October
2001, over 11,600 new IDPs have arrived in Waku Kungo.

(d)  Newly displaced people were registered in Balombo, Ganda and Cubal
(Benguela province). WFP continues to support the Therapeutic and
Supplementary Feeding Centres (TFC and SFC) in Ganda, Balombo and Cubal,
providing assistance to 2,600 malnourished children.

(e)  Last week, WFP assisted approximately 5,900 vulnerable people in
Huambo province with over 100 tons of food. Another 300 persons were
assisted under a Food For Work (FFW) scheme. Following the completion of
part of the Bethania transit camp, 900 IDPs were relocated from the center
of Huambo city to the camp, where they could engage in agricultural
activities. WFP will provide a general food ration for the most vulnerable
in the camp, until the first harvest.

(f)  MSF-S is currently undertaking a nutritional screening of all
children under five in Menongue (Kuando Kubango province). WFP continues
to support the TFCs and SFCs in Menongue, where over 400 children were
treated last week. On 2 January, 400 persons arrived in Menongue from
Cuangar, Cuchi, and Mavinga municipalities. WFP also distributed 49 tons
of food to 3,400 displaced persons in Luhemba camp (Lunda Sul province).

(g)  Last week, WFP assisted over 16,700 beneficiaries with 66 tons of
food in Malange province. This includes the assistance to 2,450 newly
displaced persons registered in Malange city. Following a survey of the
IDP population in Caculama, WFP decided to suspend general food
distribution for IDPs residing in the camp for over three years, with
effect from the beginning of the harvest, in late February.

(h)  During the month of January, WFP distributed over 1,000 tons of food
to 60,900 vulnerable people in Moxico province. Last week, over 1,300 new
IDPs, including returnees from DR Congo were registered in Luena (Moxico
province), bringing the number of IDPs registered in Luena during the
month of January to 6,200. IDPs received WFP assistance through SCF-US.
Over 300 malnourished children were admitted to the TFC in Luena, under
the supervision of MSF-B.

(i)  Irregular rainfall could compromise the harvest of crops in the first
planting season in some municipalities in Uige and Zaire provinces. But so
far, despite a short break in the rainfall pattern ? traditionally
expected during this period ? the agricultural situation in the remaining
provinces is considered stable.


3)  Central African Republic

(a)  The WFP EMOP for Congolese refugees in CAR has been extended to 15
April 2002. Following a Joint Food Needs Assessment carried out in
December 2001 - January 2002, WFP and UNHCR agreed to continue to provide
food aid to over 5,000 refugees. 2,800 of them are settled in a camp where
they are receiving full rations. The remaining caseload is residing in the
capital. Most of these are self-sufficient, but based on Government lists
of refugees with insufficient means, the assessment mission suggested that
35 percent of them be given a partial ration to supplement their limited
coping capacity, bringing the caseload to 5,030.



D)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Uganda

1)  Ethiopia

(a)  5.2 million people need external assistance to meet minimum food
requirements this year, with the gross needs being around 560,000 tons of
food for 2002. WFP intends to cover around 40 percent of the gross food
requirements, with the remainder covered by NGOs and bilateral donations.
WFP's 2002 requirements for relief to small scale farmers and
drought-affected pastoralists are 200,000 tons of cereals 10,500 tons of
blended food and 11,000 tons of vegetable oil.

(b)  A new contribution of 17,000 tons to WFP will substantially improve
the immediate situation for the drought hit pastoralists in the south. An
expected contribution will be used for the local purchase of around 25,000
tons of cereals. Limited food aid availability for certain areas of the
country has reduced distributions to a fraction of requirements in recent
weeks and these new contributions will ease the immediate difficulties.
While there are almost sufficient cereals available to meet needs
throughout February, there is a shortfall of over 37,000 tons cereal for
March and over 50,000 tons for April, with minimal stocks available to
meet needs for the remainder of the year. Cereal requirements reach a peak
of over 70,000 tons per month between the traditionally lean months from
April to June. With the expectation of a good Belg (small) harvest in crop
dependant areas and good Gu rains in pastoral areas, requirements should
begin to decrease in July, falling to approximately 1,000 tons in
December. However, if the Belg harvest and Gu rains are not satisfactory,
these figures will change.

(c)  For Ethiopians internally displaced by the Ethiopia-Eritrea border
conflict, assistance is being provided on a significantly reduced scale to
about 75,000 beneficiaries. This includes 12,500 people who have been
unable to return to their areas of origin due to landmine or security
concerns, as well as psychological fears; and 63,000 people who have
returned to their areas of origin, but have no access to their cropping or
pasture land due to the presence of landmines or other security concerns.
As there is still some uncertainty regarding requirements in some areas, a
joint Government and WFP assessment will take place in February to
determine the final number of beneficiaries to be supported under this
operation. This will be followed by an expansion of the operation from May
to December 2002. There are currently no vegetable oil stocks, while there
are only sufficient cereals and pulses to end March. The overall shortfall
to year end, based on a caseload of 75,000 people, is almost 10,000 tons
cereals, and about 1,000 tons of pulses and 1,000 tons vegetable oil.

(d)  The repatriation of Somali refugees from camps in eastern Ethiopia
resumed in December. UNHCR, in co-operation with the Ethiopian
Government's Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs, repatriated
the last group of Somali refugees from Daror camp to north-west Somalia. A
total of 26,000 persons were repatriated from Daror camp to north-west
Somalia since August 2001. WFP provided a nine-month allowance of food as
part of the overall reintegration package. Close to 67,000 refugees are
left in the five eastern camps of Hartisheik, Kebribeyah, Camaboker,
Rabasso and Aisha. The pipeline for this operation will break as early as
March for some commodities. In order to continue to support the
repatriation of refugees to Somalia, pledges for 1,200 tons pulses, 1,500
tons vegetable oil, 1,300 tons famix and 600 tons sugar are urgently
required.


2)  Uganda

(a)  Under its PRRO, WFP is facing serious commodity shortages, which will
make it difficult to meet the basic nutritional needs of refugees and IDPs
with effect from April. Donors are urgently requested to contribute to
PRRO 6176 .00 to assist the large IDP and refugee caseload in northern
Uganda, bordering southern Sudan and eastern DR Congo.

(b)  In January, WFP distributed over 2,700 tons of food to approximately
337, 700 IDPs and refugees in seven districts of northern Uganda. The
security situation remained mostly calm during this period, although SPLA
troop movements on the border with Sudan are reported.

(c)  In the southwestern district of Mbarara, WFP is providing a one-month
food ration for 2,800 Ugandans expelled from Tanzania's northern region of
Karagwe and Kagera provinces. WFP has further committed a three-month
resettlement ration to complement the Government's effort to resettle the
deportees. Most deportees cannot trace their home areas as they were born
in Tanzania. They have been camped in a flood plain on the Ugandan side of
the Kagera River since their expulsion one year ago. Until recently, they
had been working for food in exchange for labour on local plantain farms,
but employment has become almost impossible to find since the dry season
commenced. Over 40 expellees, mostly children have died in recent months
of malaria in the temporary settlement while awaiting resettlement.

(d)  A small increase in the number of Sudanese refugees to a monthly
average of 50 people is reported in refugee settlements in Arua. This
trend is expected to increase with further deterioration in the security
situation in South Sudan. An emergency food needs assessment in the Keyo
refugee settlement in Adjumani has revealed a net food gap among refugees
already phased-out of general food distribution due to lack of land and
income earning opportunities.

(e)  The Government of Uganda reiterated its commitment to resettle IDPs
in their homes in northern Uganda. An interagency team in partnership with
local authorities is currently mapping resettlement capacities and needs
in Gulu District. Under the Uganda PRRO 10121.0 submitted for approval,
WFP intends to provide a three-month resettlement food ration to an
estimated 465,000 IDPs voluntarily returning to their homes.



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

1)  Northern Caucasus

(a)  Regional overview

1.  In consultation with the Government of Georgia, the Ministry of
Emergencies and Natural Disasters is planning to resettle about
6,000-7,000 Chechen refugees from the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia to the
Republic of Chechnya. In addition, the Chechen Administration, UNHCR and
WFP in Nazran, Ingushetia, recently discussed the mechanism for the return
of 6,000 IDPs to Chechnya over the coming months. UN agencies emphasised
the principle of voluntary return as well as the protection of IDPs inside
Chechnya. The Chechen Administration is planning to reconstruct temporary
housing for returning IDPs.

2.  From 16 to 31 January, WFP, in collaboration with its NGO partners,
distributed 1,955 tons of food to about 231,800 vulnerable people in
Ingushetia and Chechnya. This brings the total number of beneficiaries for
the month of January to approximately 256,000.  Reduced access due to
security conditions and low food stocks have prevented WFP from assisting
all the targeted 310,000 IDPs and vulnerable persons; the food ration for
most beneficiaries had to be reduced because of low food stocks. Donors
have so far pledged a total contribution of about USD 25.5 million (91
percent), out of the revised requirements of USD 27.9 million for the
current operation in the Northern Caucasus.


(b)  Ingushetia

1.  According to the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), 141,000 IDPs, most of
them hosted by resident families, were registered on 31 January. Ongoing
verification of IDP numbers in Ingushetia and Chechnya has resulted in a
slight reduction of this caseload compared to the previous month. In order
to avoid double registration, the Ministry of the Interior of Ingushetia
is planning to carry out a new registration of IDPs in the republic and
distribute non-duplicable ID cards.

2.  WFP, in collaboration with DRC and Islamic Relief (IR), assisted over
112,000 IDPs, providing them with 750 tons of food. WFP has been regularly
monitoring the food distribution and the end-use of the distributed
commodities by beneficiaries. During the month of January WFP monitors
visited 34 distribution centres managed by DRC and IR.


(c)  Chechnya

1.  WFP dispatched 1,130 tons of food to the People in Need Foundation
(PINF), DRC and IR to be distributed among 106,100 vulnerable people in
Chechnya during the second half of January. WFP's bread distribution to
about 3,500 vulnerable persons continued over the last two weeks, as well
as the daily provision of snacks to around 9,600 primary schoolchildren in
Grozny. Food-for-work activities, such as reconstruction of schools and
cleaning the streets of Grozny, involving 260 persons, were implemented
through PINF. Caritas Internationalis, with WFP support, continued to
provide food assistance to 250 children in day-care centres in Grozny.
WFP's implementing partner for monitoring in Chechnya (Vesta) visited
distribution centres in Grozny city.

2.  WFP continued to convene coordination meetings with other agencies
involved in food assistance programmes both in Ingushetia and Chechnya,
including the Government, ICRC, Islamic Relief, Saudi Red Crescent Society
(SRCS) and ACF.


2)  Balkans

(a)  Kosovo

1.  WFP has delivered the monthly food rations to 9,500 refugees from
FYROM in January. A further 1,000 refugees, living in inaccessible areas,
received five-month winter food stocks during November and December 2001.
WFP food monitors, together with CARE International, are undertaking a
head count in order to obtain the exact number of refugees remaining in
Kosovo. WFP will conduct a survey in late February with a view towards
reassessing the eligibility of remaining refugees.

2.  CARE International continues its cooperation with local distribution
partners (LDPs) to prepare for phasing in after termination of WFP
assistance. Strategic planning workshops were held with LDPs; these
resulted in framework agreements on next steps in the development of
inter-ethnic funding proposals. Over the next month, a working mechanism
will be finalized for collaboration among LDPs. A consortium model is
being negotiated.


(b)  Montenegro

1.  January/February distribution to 14,300 IDPs and 6,400 refugees is
complete in most municipalities. The distribution was delayed due to
logistics problems and bad weather conditions. Since sugar stocks were
low, the ration for the current distribution cycle was halved.

2.  WFP and Intersos signed a three-month extension of the Agreement on
the FFW Project for Roma IDPs in the Konik settlement. Activities will
include cleaning of the Konik camp and the surrounding area; they will
engage ten workers selected among vulnerable families for a three times a
week cleaning cycle.


(c)  FYROM

1.  As of 1 January, WFP handed over responsibility for providing food aid
to refugees to UNHCR. WFP continues to monitor and coordinate food aid
needs, in cooperation with sister UN agencies, NGOs and donors.

(d)  Albania

1.  WFP food was distributed to 4,500 unassisted-unemployed households
(22,700 beneficiaries), 755 participants (3,800 beneficiaries) in Communal
Forestry Project and to 770 vulnerable women (3,900 beneficiaries)
participating in psychosocial counselling programmes. In addition, WFP
assisted 2,300 vulnerable people facing severe food shortages in isolated
areas recently affected by a snowstorm.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 6)

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