WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 10 / 2002 - Date 8 March 2002


This report includes:
(A) Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea
(B) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan
(C) Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo, (2) Angola
(D) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Uganda, (2) Tanzania,
    (3) Djibouti, (4) Eritrea
(E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Peru
(F) 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)  Asia Region: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  The earlier forecasted cereals pipeline break continues to affect WFP
operations under EMOP 10141.0. WFP has not been able to provide cereal to
its regular beneficiary caseload on both the west and east coasts. The
first maize shipment is still discharging cargo at Nampo, with deliveries
expected in a week. In the interim, WFP will be distributing wheat from
the Local Food Production (LFP) factories, to the east coast beneficiary
child institutions and paediatric hospitals to cover the gap for the next
few weeks. Cereal contributions are urgently requested to cover needs from
July.

(b)  Sugar stocks are exhausted. This is critical as it is a basic
ingredient in the locally processed, fortified food blends given to young
children. The 500 tons bilateral donation of sugar by Caritas through FALU
(not against EMOP), scheduled to arrive in DPRK on 7 April, will cover
only one month of the LFP requirements. Further and immediate pledges of
sugar to WFP EMOP are urgently required. Otherwise, WFP will be compelled
to scale back rations and reduce beneficiaries during the most difficult
period of the year, i.e. the pre-harvest months before July.

(c)  The first shipment of 20,000 tons of pulses, expected in March, may
be delayed for three months. This could result in a four-month break in
the food pipeline for this commodity, starting in April.



B)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  Security remains an issue for WFP and the rest of the humanitarian
community. The situation in Mazar city has remained calm last week.
However, there have been reports of sporadic fighting between Jamiat and
Jumbish around Sholgara.

(b)  Last week, WFP dispatched 18,460 tons of food in the northern region.
Over 80 tons have been distributed in Keshendeh district of Balkh province
to 6,760 families. Distributions to IDPs and other vulnerable groups in
Saripul continue in collaboration with Peace Winds Japan, SC/US and ZOA.
Distributions in Baghlan continue in collaboration with ACTED and FOCUS
and in Kunduz province in collaboration with IOM and MCI.

(c)  Two Afghanistan Food Security Unit (AFSU) staff members arrived in
Mazar to strengthen WFP ties with other agencies and NGOs in nutritional
activities and to provide support to the Rapid Emergency Food Needs
Assessment (REFNA) team. Helicopter assisted REFNAs were conducted, last
week, in ten villages in Keshendeh District (Balkh Province) as well as
Belcherag, Almar and Kohistan Faryab Districts (Faryab Province).

(d)  Preliminary findings indicate that labour opportunities are scarce
and people have limited similar coping strategies, including the sale of
land, migration of men to neighbouring countries or to the urban areas in
Afghanistan, in order to send remittances back to their families. There
also appears to be an increase in food purchases and reliance on charity
as the drought has resulted in minimal food stocks. In some villages, some
animosity is reported towards the Pashtun community, exacerbating their
vulnerability.

(e)  The AFSU/VAM team is being strengthened with the training and
recruitment of national staff. Last week two AFSU/VAM staff members were
in Kabul and selected four food security monitors to join the REFNA
exercise. Next week they will move to Jalalabad to recruit additional food
security monitors.

(f)  28 Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) personnel are now seconded
to WFP, including a new road assessment team for the North West of
Afghanistan. The SRSA base camp in Mazar is temporarily supporting 6
helicopter crews. The SRSA snow-clearance team reports that the road to
Chaghcharan requires clearance both of snow and mud. The two sub-teams are
currently located in Tarbulaq and Ghok.

(g)  Swiss Federation for Mine Action (SFMA) reports that while statistics
need to be confirmed, over 100 mines have been destroyed this week as well
as over 200 items of UXO. SFMA Kabul ensured that the new Bagram road is
somewhat more secure due to the destruction of munitions along the side.
Kandahar is now up and running and setting out on its first operational
task with WFP and UNHCR.

(h)  The Canadian Avalanche Control Unit (ACU) submitted their final
assessment report of the Salang Tunnel on 27 February 2002, in which they
give a number of short and long term suggestions for preventative
maintenance of the area. The team will carry out some of the measures
suggested in the report.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  Last week, 400 individuals were relocated from Peshawar to Bar Kali
camp in Bajaur Agency. Jalozai camp has been closed and the refugees
relocated to new camps. The nine new camps still have the capacity of
accommodating 20-25,000 more refugees.

(b)  The fifteen days food distribution cycle for the relocated refugees
has been replaced by a monthly distribution in many camps, and will soon
be implemented in all. Supplementary feeding is in place at Kotkai, Bagzai
and Salman camps. A screening process for the identification of
malnourished children and other vulnerable groups is ongoing in other new
camps.



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

1)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  The WFP emergency operation for assistance to the volcano victims,
EMOP 10166.0, remains seriously under funded. As of 7 March, only 20
percent of the total resources required have been made available to WFP.
Urgent contributions of USD 9.5 million are needed to continue providing
food assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by this emergency.
If cash resources are made available, WFP can procure some of the required
commodities in neighbouring countries. The Special Operation SO 10169.0 in
support of the humanitarian relief effort requires another USD 561,653.

(b)  WFP Humanitarian Air Passenger Service (CIMAH) will be suspended as
of 10 March due to lack of funding. This free service was meant to
reinforce the capacity of the humanitarian community to field missions
across and within frontlines in a country with a weak logistics
infrastructure. The project was extended till December 2002 for some USD
2,000,000 and incorporated in the CAP document.

(c)  As of 5 March, WFP had distributed over of 3,600 tons of food to
approximately 446,000 vulnerable people since the beginning of the
emergency operations in Goma. WFP has been providing food aid mainly
through general distributions to displaced populations but also under food
for work (FFW) activities, nutritional programmes and institutional
feeding projects.

(d)  The current beneficiary caseload includes over 7,400 displaced
Congolese in Mudende and Nkamira camps (Gisenyi region), 25,800 people in
Bukavu as well as 153,000 persons in Goma region. WFP will provide food to
support various activities pertaining to the rehabilitation of schools and
water system, improving access to hospitals and the neighbourhood of Goma.

(e)  Walungu, Fizi, Barak and Hauts Plateaux regions are still
inaccessible for UN agencies due to increased insecurity. WFP's planned
resettlement programme for the IDPs coming from these areas has therefore
been postponed. On 2 March, tremors reaching a magnitude of 3.5/4 on the
Richter scale were registered. The volcanologists said that the epicentre
was located in the Lake Kivu.

(f)  In Kinshasa region, WFP plans to assist approximately 112,400
vulnerable people in March, including IDPs, malnourished people and
persons involved in Food For Training (FFT) and FFW activities. However,
the implementation of the planned distribution will largely depend on the
availability of food commodities. The low level of WFP food stocks in
Kinshasa was caused by delays encountered in the transportation of
available food stocks from the port of Matadi to Kinshasa.

(g)  435,000 IDPs and 123,185 returnees are currently located in South
Kivu province. However, with the resurgence of insecurity, these numbers
are likely to increase significantly. An estimated 13,000 malnourished
persons will be at high risk if the current security situation persists
for a long period of time.

(h)  A cholera epidemic has hit the province of Katanga. WFP is targeting
4,000 IDPs located in villages around Lubumbashi, where the cholera
epidemic has spread out. In addition, WFP intends to provide continuous
assistance to 8,800 Angolan refugees in Kisenge (Katanga province).

(i)  WFP was planning to assist 3,700 Central African refugees in Zongo
(Equateur province). The majority are settled in the Mole camp against a
fewer number in Bokilio. However, only the most vulnerable groups
(pregnant and nursing women, unaccompanied children and the disabled)
received WFP assistance due to lack of food.


2)  Angola

(a)  The security situation was considered calm last week in most of the
country's provinces, with the exception of Malange and Bié provinces,
where military activity continued to cause the displacement of populations
from the interior to the provincial capitals and municipal headquarters.
Despite insecurity, WFP transported by road 600 tons of maize from Lobito
to Huambo, and 2,020 tons of maize from Lobito to Kuito.

(b)  Following a contribution of 40,000 tons of food, WFP's requirements
under the ongoing PRRO, ending next June are covered at 71 percent.
Despite this donation, and because other contributions are not scheduled
to arrive in Angola before June or July, there is a need for cash
contributions in order to purchase locally and regionally CSB, sugar and
pulses. Contributions are needed immediately to respond to the expected
increase in the number of IDPs. The IDP caseload is likely to reach
550,000 persons by August, should the ongoing displacement witnessed
during the recent weeks continues. CSB and sugar are crucial for the
assistance to vulnerable groups.

(c)  Furthermore, WFP's humanitarian passenger air service faces a major
shortfall of over 98 percent and funding is urgently needed. The transport
of non-food items Special Operations in Angola is currently 100 percent
under-funded. Both Special Operations are vital to the humanitarian actors
in Angola, since access to most of the country's provinces continues to be
by air only.

(d)  The results of a nutritional survey conducted among resident and IDP
populations in Ganda (Benguela province) show an improvement of the
nutritional situation among IDPs, in comparison to the last survey done
made in May 2001. In Bocoio, German Agro Action confirmed the arrival of
224 persons from surrounding areas of the city. In addition, 500 persons
arrived in Balombo, where they were settled in camps.

(e)  Last week, approximately 1,300 new IDPs were registered in Kamacupa
and Kuito (Bié province). Since January, the number of admissions
increased in Therapeutic Feeding Centres (TFC) in Kamacupa, as a
consequence of the influx of IDPs.

(f)  On 28 February, WFP provided food to over 520 newly displaced
families in Betânia resettlement camp (Huambo province). In the
municipality of Caala, 6,350 families with children admitted in the
nutritional centres of SCF-UK, were assisted with WFP food. Last week, WFP
distributed 100 tons to 1,600 beneficiaries.

(g)  In Cuito Cuanavale (Kuando Kubango province), MOLISV reported the
arrival of 234 persons in February, from Mavinga, Nankova municipalities
and Cuito Cuanavale outlying villages. Last week, the Provincial Sub-group
of Verification and Registration carried out the verification of 225 IDPs
in Zonde, Cuito Cuanavale, and Savipanda camps. Last week, WFP assisted
over 10,600 vulnerable people in Luanda province.

(h)  The Ministry of Agriculture reported that over 8,100 ha of land
allocated to IDPs were planted this year with different cultures in
Malange province. 150 tons of seeds were distributed to IDPs for the
agricultural season. Last week, 315 newly displaced persons, mainly from
Kwanza sul province, were registered in Malanje and received WFP emergency
rations. Last week, 2,250 new IDPs were registered in Luena (Moxico
province), where they were assisted with WFP food through SCF-USA.



D)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Uganda, (2) Tanzania, (3)
Djibouti, (4) Eritrea

1)  Uganda

(a)  The short spell of peaceful coexistence in northern Uganda was broken
on 23 February when 500 troops of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) attacked
the Agoro trading centre. The Agoro trading centre is host to 2,400 IDPs
comprising both Ugandans and Sudanese of Acholi origin. The LRA rebels
looted residents in the camp, surrounding parishes and abducted over 200
people. An estimated 1,000 households were looted of their food stocks and
animals. The WFP Field Office in Kitgum assessed, together with partners
and the local district authorities the need for relief assistance and WFP
provided one-off emergency food ration to households affected by the
recent looting.

(b)  WFP has started implementing an expanded school feeding project in
nine conflict affected districts of Uganda targeting 258,000 pre-primary
and primary school children with the objective of sustaining enrolment in
schools. School feeding assistance is built on partnership with parents
and the school management committees in target areas. Children in IDP
camps and refugee settlements will be provided hot meals while in school.

(c)  After six years of encampment of over 500,000 IDPs in protected
villages in the north and west of the country, the Government of Uganda
has reiterated its willingness to facilitate the return of IDPs to their
homes in peaceful areas. With the cessation of hostilities in the west of
the country, 80,000 IDPs in camps in Bundibugyo District are expected to
return to their home villages this year. Similarly, a gradual phased
return of half of the IDPs in northern Ugandan to their homes is
anticipated.

(d)  WFP and other UN agencies are now working on plans to facilitate this
gradual phased voluntary return of IDPs. A stakeholder needs assessment
for a phased voluntary return in northern Ugandan was completed in Gulu in
February, co-funded by WFP and OCHA. The findings will be released in
March. A three-month repatriation ration is programmed in the recently
approved PRRO 10121.0. Families in protected camps voluntarily returning
to their homes will be provided with three-month food rations. This will
be supplemented with food-for-asset projects in areas of return and social
support for vulnerable groups.

(e)  Donors are requested to pledge required resources to PRRO 10121.0 to
avoid a break in the pipeline in mid-2002.


2)  Tanzania

(a)  UNHCR has decided to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of
Burundians to safe areas of Burundi, which are Muyinga, Ngozi and Kirundo
provinces. UNHCR has noted that despite the prevailing insecurity in some
parts of Burundi, the refugees continued to repatriate spontaneously
without informing UNHCR offices. 800 individuals have been registered for
the repatriation from Mtabila camp.

(b)  From 11 to 24 February, WFP distributed 3,740 tons of food
(corresponding to a two-week ration) to over 510,000 refugees in Kigoma,
Kibondo, Kasulu and Ngara districts. WFP supplied 100 percent of the
standard food ration to all beneficiaries. In addition, WFP supported
various Supplementary Feeding Centres (SFC), providing over 80 tons of
food to approximately 19,000 malnourished persons. During the same period,
over 140 refugees were assisted in returning to their communities in
Rwanda, bringing to approximately 680 the total number of Rwandese
assisted in returning home since early 2002. Over 760 refugees arrived in
Tanzania from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda during the last two weeks.


3)  Djibouti

(a)  Following the leaking of chemicals from containers, the Djibouti
authorities have taken a quick and efficient action to contain any risk of
contamination in the region. WFP has temporarily stopped activities in the
Port between 10 and 28 February 2002. Operations have resumed upon
confirmation that food stored in the Port warehouse had not been
contaminated.

(b)  Security remains an issue in the northern districts, limiting WFP's
access and severely hampering the implementation of EMOP 10099. WFP is
also closely monitoring the situation, particularly any movement of
population from Somaliland following a sudden deterioration of the
security situation in the area.

(c)  Under the PRRO 6266.00, ending on 28 February 2002, WFP has assisted
24,000 refugees, living in the camps of Holl Holl and Ali Addeh, in Ali
Sabieh district. A new PRRO 10134.0 with a duration of 18 months is
starting in March. Through this phase, WFP will assist 25,600 refugees
although some 23,600 refugees are expected to be repatriated during the
current expansion phase.

(d)  Since November 2001 there has been an improvement of political and
commercial relationships between the Government of Djibouti and the
Somaliland Authorities, with both governments expressing willingness to
resume repatriation. UNHCR Somalia representatives and Somaliland
authorities visited Djibouti in February 2002 in order to finalise the
screening of Somali refugees volunteering for repatriation and finalise
the plan of action of the exercise. A tentative starting date for
repatriation has been set in April 2002.

(e)  Under EMOP 10099.0, WFP is providing food assistance in rural areas
to populations affected by drought, and selective programmes in urban
areas ensure the targeting of the most vulnerable of the affected
population. Some 95,900 persons have been identified as most vulnerable
and in urgent need of WFP assistance under this EMOP.

(f)  Planned for the period from August 2001 to February 2002, the first
food distribution under this EMOP has been delayed following late response
of Donor's contribution and late deliveries. As of 28 February, the EMOP
10099 still required approximately 4,000 tons of food.

(g)  Total food distributions under EMOP 10099 for January and February
amount to over 1,000 tons, benefiting some 8,400 malnourished children in
nutritional centres, 10,900 school children in rural and peri-urban
schools of Djibouti and 22,600 refugees in the camps.


4)  Eritrea

(a)  During the month of February, the Eritrean Relief and Refugees
Commission (ERREC) reported the distribution of over 8,200 tons of WFP
food to 541,500 drought and war-affected persons in Anseba, Northern Red
Sea, Debub and Gash Barka regions. WFP and ERREC staff conducted post
distribution monitoring surveys in Anseba, Northern Red Sea and Gash Barka
regions and observed that beneficiaries received their full food rations.
People in Gheleb sub region indicated that they have no other sources of
food except for the relief food rations supplied by WFP.

(b)  As part of the shift from general to more targeted food
distributions, ERREC has identified 290,600 persons as most vulnerable
representing over one third of the total war-affected population receiving
assistance under EMOP10052. This group will continue to receive WFP
assistance in March. Following an assessment, WFP will assist over 51,850
drought-affected persons in Ghindae and Shieb sub zones, Northern Red Sea
zone, providing them with 1,250 tons of food for two months.

(c)  WFP is currently carrying out an evaluation of the first pilot phase
of the emergency school-feeding programme, which ended on 28 February
2002. WFP is expecting a request letter for extension of the current phase
to continue to support 42,000 children till June 2002. WFP and the
Eritrean Ministry will undertake a detailed analysis and evaluation of the
ESF at the end of March 2002. Generally the programme received support
from the communities, the government in Asmara and the school authorities.

(d)  A joint Rapid nutritional assessment was conducted in Hagaz and Asmat
(Anseba Region) on 28 January by ERREC, MoH, CONCERN and WFP. The
objective of the mission was to identify possible causes of malnutrition
that was reported by NGOs in Anseba region. The results of the survey
indicated that half of the children between 6 and 59 months screened were
severely malnourished. The survey concluded that food aid is necessary but
is not the only solution to the problem of malnutrition. Other activities
such as nutrition education, targeted supplementary feeding through health
facilities, income generation activities for vulnerable families will have
to be promoted in order to improve the nutrition situation in the area.

(e)  WFP briefed the donors that the Government of Eritrea has indicated
an interest in further co-operation with WFP beyond 2002. This
co-operation will include the extension of both 10049 and 10052 EMOP
projects up to the end of 2002 and also exploring the preparation of a
Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) for 2003. WFP will need an
additional 50,000 to 70,000 tons of food for the remainder of 2002.



E)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Peru

1)  Colombia

(a)  On 1 March, the Colombian Government placed six areas in the south of
the country under military rule. The Government's agency "Red de
Solidaridad Social" (RSS) is ready to provide emergency humanitarian
assistance to the affected area in order to prevent possible
displacements.

(b)  Two persons belonging to the communities assisted by WFP were killed
near San Onofre in Sucre Department. Insecurity is increasingly hampering
WFP operations and is likely to result in new displacements of WFP
beneficiaries who had returned to their home villages.


2)  Peru

(a)  As of 1 March, WFP, in collaboration with the Government and PRONAA,
had distributed 330 tons of food to over 21,500 persons. This distribution
represents the two thirds of the programmed schedule. WFP urgently
requires more resources to cover the needs of food insecure people
following the last month's protracted drought. Local authorities have been
contributing to the transport of commodities to the affected areas.



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

1)  Northern Caucasus

(a)  At the end of February, WFP added a hot-meal component to its school
feeding project in Grozny City, Achkhoy-Martan and Sunzha areas of
Chechnya. Baking and delivery of sweet buns, the other component of WFP
school feeding activities, began in mid-December 2001.

(b)  On 28 February, the United Nations Resident Coordinator/Designated
Official, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and several members
of international NGO community visited Grozny City, where they met with
the republican Secretary-General of the Security Council, Military
Commandant, and the mayor of Grozny City. Among other issues, the mission
raised those of access for humanitarian agencies into Chechnya.
Acknowledging the problem, the Chechen authorities proposed organizing a
working meeting with the participation of UN agencies, ICRC and NGOs on 6
March.

(c)  According to DRC, the registered number of IDPs in Ingushetia stood
at 140,609 as of 28 February, increased by 196 persons with respect to the
population on 15 February. Of this total, 23,394 live in camps, 28,766 in
spontaneous settlements and 88,449 with host families.

(d)  In late February, the local authorities of Chechnya announced their
plans to move all IDPs staying in tented camps, located in the territory
of the republic, to Grozny, where the required accommodation facilities
were under construction. As part of the Chechen administration's intention
to relocate the IDPs by the end of spring 2002, as many as 300 IDPs from
tented camps located in Znamenskoye, north-western Chechnya, have been
provided with temporary accommodation in Grozny.


2)  Balkans: Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania

(a)  Kosovo

1.  WFP has started delivering a three-month food supply to its local
distribution partners (LDPs) to cover food Safety Net beneficiaries with a
transitional buffer stock until June 2002, after WFP phases out its
assistance at the end of March.

2.  As part of the phasing-in of LDPs, the framework agreement for the
"Consortium for Inter-ethnic Development (CID)" is ready for signature. In
addition, donor proposals under the auspices of WFP and CARE International
are being finalized. The Mother Theresa Society, an ethnic Albanian local
NGO, hosted a CID working group meeting for proposal preparation, with
representatives of all ethnic groups. This is first such initiative since
1999 and an important step towards community stabilization in
post-conflict Kosovo.

3.  WFP started a food security assessment in ethnic majority areas on 4
March, which will complement the one conducted in ethnic minority areas in
November 2001. The primary objectives are to document improvements in the
food security situation in Kosovo since 1999 and provide baseline
information for future non-food interventions in view of the imminent
phase-out of WFP food assistance.


(b)  Serbia

1.  A joint WFP/UNHCR press conference was held to announce WFP's
Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation for vulnerable refugees in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for the period July 2002 ? December 2003.

2.  In the context of the ongoing phase-down, WFP convened a meeting of
the Task Force on Food Aid, at which the EDP management plan of action was
discussed with all participants (UNHCR, ICRC, IFRC, USAID, ECHO, Serbian
Red Cross and Yugoslav Red Cross).


(c)  Montenegro

1.  January/February distribution to 25,000 social cases and 350
paraplegics is complete. Distribution to participants in the FFW cleaning
activities in the Konik Camp was successful, as shown by improved hygienic
conditions in the camp.

2.  At the Food Aid Coordination Meeting held on 1 March, it was decided
that the planning figures for March/April distribution would be 5,500
refugees and 9,800 IDPs. WFP held several meetings with Montenegrin
Commissioner for Displaced Persons (MCDP) to ensure timely and accurate
updating of distribution lists. In addition, WFP and UNHCR created a
back-up allocation strategy in case MCDP does not provide the lists on
time.


(d)  Albania

1.  WFP distributed food to 4,150 unassisted-unemployed households (20,700
beneficiaries), to 420 households (2,100 beneficiaries) engaged in
Communal Forestry and Pasture Development activities, and to 800
vulnerable women (4,000 beneficiaries) participating in psycho-social
counselling programmes.

2.  WFP gave its contribution for the preparation of "The Albanian
Response to the UN Global Conferences and Summits", as requested by UNDP
to all UN Agencies and development partners.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 10)

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