WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 27 / 2002 - Date 5 July 2002


This report includes:

(A) East and Southern Africa Region:
    (1) Regional overview for Southern Africa, (2) Lesotho,
    (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zimbabwe,
    (7) Somalia, (8) Tanzania
(B) West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone, (3) Côte d'Ivoire
(C) Central Africa Region: (1) Democratic Republic of Congo, (2) Angola,
    (3) Namibia
(D) Asia Region: (1) Indonesia
(E) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan
(F) Eastern Europe Region: (1) North Caucasus
(G) Latin and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) El Salvador

>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)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview for Southern
Africa, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6)
Zimbabwe, (7) Somalia, (8) Tanzania

1)  Regional overview for Southern Africa

(a)  On 1 July, WFP launched a massive appeal to provide emergency relief
food in southern Africa. WFP is asking for USD 507 million to fund close
to one million tons of food, enough to feed 10.2 million people until the
next main harvest in March 2003. The humanitarian crisis ? which affects
Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland ? is the worst
that southern Africa has experienced for a decade. WFP's appeal commits it
to providing 67 percent of the region's cereal food aid, which will be
targeted primarily at the most vulnerable households.

(b)  While formulating its emergency appeal, WFP took into account its
capacity, as well as that of NGOs, which also plan to provide food aid.
The ability of the region's commercial sector to import large quantities
of additional food is of paramount importance and governments must
cooperate with the private sector if there is to be enough food to stave
off a crisis.

(c)  Already, from June to September, seven million people need food aid,
rising to just over 11 million from September to November, and peaking at
12.8 million from December until March 2003. Until now, WFP has been
targeting 4.6 million people. WFP warned that these numbers could easily
rise as the crisis becomes more acute, requiring the agency to enlarge its
appeal. Over the next few months, experts will closely monitor the
region's food security.

(d)  Many donors have already recognized this and have contributed to
WFP's previous and current appeals in southern Africa. However, new
donations are urgently required. It is vital to preposition enough
supplies before October when the region's rainy season starts, when many
rural areas will be rendered inaccessible. The July emergency food
pipeline is only half covered, and at present the projections for August
are even lower. For July, the needs are 87,000 tons and at best WFP will
be able to resource half that amount. WFP's strategy of pre-positioning
stocks is in jeopardy without immediate action.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  Government authorities completed targeting exercises in the field and
are processing the data. UN and NGO agencies will validate beneficiary
lists next week, and then issue food cards. MOUs with World Vision and
Dorcas Aid International have been finalized and will be signed next week.
Meetings were held with CRS, CARE, and World Vision to explore
collaboration.


3)  Malawi

(a)  The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation issued a report stating
that the majority of the grain sold from the Strategic Grain Reserve was
sold locally (155,171 tons out of 167,000 tons). The Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation revised production estimates in the third round
for root and tuber crops downwards: 51 percent less for cassava, and 61
percent reduction in sweet potatoes.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  The National Disaster Management Institute (INGC) confirmed
Government commitment to expedite customs and clearance formalities for
EMOP commodities. To this end, vegetable oil has been released and
transported to warehouses. From 3 to 14 July, WFP will participate in an
INGC multi-sector team monitoring affected districts, while at the same
time, WFP teams will be undertaking market surveys in the centre of the
country. WFP has made an agreement with UNV to hire 17 new district field
officers.


5)  Swaziland

(a)  The first WFP commodities are expected to arrive next week in
Swaziland from the port of Maputo (a loan from the Mozambique EMOP). WFP
logistics officer, Government counterparts, and implementing partners are
in Maputo from 3-5 July for training in logistics, warehousing, COMPAS
commodity tracking software, and finance issues.


6)  Zimbabwe

(a)  No or very little food commodities are available on the markets. The
EU has approved funding for several NGOs, and WFP expects the NGO food
pipeline to increase over the coming six months. The main food aid NGOs
are focusing on supplementary feeding for school children in areas where
they have long-standing development programmes.

(b)  There has been no change in Government policy regarding GMO grain. On
3 July, the US Embassy in Harare hosted a teleconference on biotechnology
and agriculture. The Government's Biosafety Board secured funding to
facilitate a scientific and public debate on biotechnology this month. The
debate is expected to help inform an official position on GMO foods.

(c)  The Ministry of Public Works and Social Welfare chaired a meeting
with WFP and partners to review progress of food distributions. It was
agreed to forge closer links between WFP and the Ministry in order to
avoid duplication between WFP's general distributions and the Government's
public works schemes. The Minister said the Government will assess its
drought relief programme and Grain Marketing Board food sales next week.


7)  Somalia

(a)  Fighting between different members of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army
(RRA) that controls much of the Bay and Bakool regions of southwestern
Somalia started at the end of June. As a result, the UN Agencies suspended
the travel of international staff to Baidoa and are closely monitoring the
security situation. WFP has one international staff currently in Baidoa
sub-office.

(b)  Gedo region continues to face an acute food crisis, particularly in
the north. The renewed political instability has exacerbated the food
insecurity by hindering access of humanitarian assistance to the region
since May. WFP is awaiting a UN security assessment of Gedo in order to
resume emergency food distribution in the districts of Garbaharey and
Burdhubo. WFP has now pre-positioned 1,500 tons of food in two Kenyan
border towns (Elwak and Mandera) to expedite the delivery of food to Gedo
as soon as security clearance is granted. Commodities are sufficient to
cover the needs of about 60,000 beneficiaries in the two districts for two
months.

(c)  Despite recent discussions between authorities in Puntland and the UN
Humanitarian Coordinator, international staff of aid agencies are still
not allowed to enter Puntland. Two airfields, however, remain open to UN
and ECHO cargo flights only. A UN team is scheduled to travel to Puntland
next week to continue discussions with authorities.


8)  Tanzania

(a)  The UNHCR-facilitated voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees
continued in Kibondo and Ngara camps. No repatriation took place in Kasulu
camps during the second half of June. By 30 June, about 15,200 Burundian
refugees had repatriated from Ngara, Kibondo and Kasulu camps, while over
84,200 persons registered since 19 February.

(b)  From 17 to 30 June, WFP distributed 3,620 tons of food (corresponding
to a two-week ration) to over 505,900 refugees in Kigoma, Kibondo, Kasulu
and Ngara districts. WFP supplied 100 percent of the standard food ration
to all beneficiaries, except for CSB, which were distributed at 60 percent
of the full ration. In addition, WFP supported various Supplementary
Feeding Centres (SFC), providing over 80 tons of food to approximately
20,000 malnourished persons. As of 30 June, over 1,600 Rwandan refugees
had been assisted to return home voluntarily since early 2002. 180
refugees arrived in Tanzania from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda from 17 to
30 June.



B)  West Africa Region: (1) Liberia, (2) Sierra Leone, (3) Côte d'Ivoire

1)  Liberia

(a)  On 20 June, following an attack in Sinje area, thousands of Sierra
Leonean refugees and internally displaced Liberians who were residing in
camps in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County were forced to flee. Some crossed
into Sierra Leone, while others fled towards Monrovia. WFP food
distributions in the area were suspended.

(b)  Prior to the attack, Sinje camps hosted 10,300 Sierra Leonean
refugees and 13,460 IDPs. Taking into account the residents of Sinje area,
about 40,000 people are estimated to be on the move. However, due to lack
of access, humanitarian agencies have not been able to locate this new
caseload of displaced people and assess their needs. The western counties
of Lofa, Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount are inaccessible to
humanitarian agencies. From 21 June to 3 July, WFP distributed over 800
tons of food to 56,850 beneficiaries, mainly IDPs.


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  From 17 to 30 June, WFP distributed about 2,660 tons of food to
193,000 vulnerable people, under various programmes. WFP closely monitored
the recent influx of people from Liberia. An estimated 5,500 Liberian
refugees and Sierra Leonean returnees have fled to Sierra Leone, following
a rebel attack on 20 June in Sinje, northwest of Monrovia. The number of
refugees crossing the border into Sierra Leone peaked on 26 June, with
about 1,700 crossing.  By 30 June the refugees were arriving in steady
numbers, 300-500 a day. As of 30 June, over 25,000 refugees have been
settled in six camps.  However, an estimated 3,800 people waiting are in
the eastern district of Kailahun to be relocated to camps where assistance
can be provided.

(b)  In order to meet the expected increase in food needs in Sierra Leone,
WFP may have to reallocate food commodities from other countries part of
the regional PRRO.  WFP has narrowly averted a pipeline break for pulses
in July through the transfer of 300 tons of lentils from Conakry and
future shipments of a similar nature may be required in August. WFP and
the other food pipeline agencies operating in Sierra Leone are prepared to
provide food for up to 50,000 refugees. However, if this target is reached
in August or September, WFP will be forced to scale down some activities
such as FFW and agricultural projects. The inter-agency team recommended
that the planning scenario be upgraded so that responses can be activated
for 75,000 refugees.


3)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  As of 1 July, UNHCR had registered a total of 15,287 refugees who
have arrived in Côte d'Ivoire since 1 January 2002.  Refugees are mainly
settled in Toulepleu, Danané, Guiglo, Bin-Houyé, Bloléquin-ville,
Zouan-Hounien and Nicla. For the period 1 May-29 June, about 5,300
refugees have entered Côte d'Ivoire. The rate of weekly arrivals of
Liberian refugees entering Côte d'Ivoire has been decreasing since 25
June. WFP assists all those who volunteer to settle in Nicla refugee camp
with food aid under the regional PRRO. 3,800 refugees are receiving a full
general ration.



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

1)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  On 3 July, WFP announced the resumption of an emergency airlift
operation to reach at least 24,000 people who remain cut off by war in the
northern Katanga province. The current WFP airlift will provide 1,100 tons
of food to feeding centres a cost of USD 950,000. This WFP airlift to
northern Katanga will provide enough food to last until September. With
the farming season currently in progress, WFP and NGOs will also airlift
agricultural tools and seeds to enable families with access to their
fields to cultivate them.

(b)  WFP is deeply concerned about hundreds of thousands of people still
living in isolated villages without food. As frontline fighting in the
area continues, the villagers' fields are regularly plundered by various
armed forces operating in the area. Many more people suffering from
malnutrition are likely to continue to hide in the bush.

(c)  General insecurity in the area is the main reason why WFP must resort
to a costly airlift operation. However, in its search for finding
long-lasting solutions, WFP has launched a reconstruction project that
will allow for an easier flow of commodities and people in the province.
The project, which will take about 10 months to complete, and for which
WFP needs USD 1.4 million, consists of reconstructing the Niemba rail
bridge linking Nyunzu and Kalemie. Reconstruction of the rail bridge can
only begin once pledges from donors come in.

(d)  WFP continues to assist 1.4 million people in DR Congo. As of 3 July,
WFP received 66 percent of the USD 116 million it appealed for to cover
its operation.


2)  Angola

(a)  A total of 83,900 family members of UNITA ex-soldiers have now been
assisted by WFP in Family Reception Areas (FRAs) around the country.
Registrations have been completed in an additional 11 FRAs and food
distribution will start in coming days.  In a further 6 FRAs registration
is planned within days.

(b)  Emergency food assistance has been provided in 15 out of 21 newly
accessible areas indicated by the rapid assessments following the
ceasefire.  Registrations have been completed in two areas with food
distribution to begin within days.  WFP is working actively to overcome
logistical difficulties to bring food into the remaining four areas.

(c)  Following the confirmation of a new contribution of USD 18.5 million,
critical pipeline breaks which were previously expected in October, are
now expected in December. During July, WFP plans to provide 14,800 tons of
food assistance to more than 1.14 million beneficiaries in 17 provinces.
About 70 percent of the beneficiaries will receive emergency assistance,
while the other will be assisted through nutritional and social programmes
as well as FFW schemes. Provinces with the largest beneficiary caseloads
include Bié, Huambo, Huila, Malanje, Benguela, Kwanza Sul and Kuando
Kubango.

(d)  The WFP/FAO Joint Crop and Food Assessment mission conducted from 15
My to 6 June released its final report this week. The mission noted that
as a result of the cease-fire agreement, increased access to rural areas
has revealed the extent of the humanitarian crisis. Large numbers of
malnourished people have since made their way to reception and transit
centres and up to 500,000 are reported to be in a critical nutritional
situation. However, the mission concluded that the peace agreement came
too late to make a significant difference to the area planted to food
crops in 20001/02.

(e)  The drought, which affected much of southern Africa in 2001/02, has
not affected Angola greatly, although rains were late. The 2002 cereal
harvest is estimated slightly down compared to last year's 549,000 tons.
Cassava production is estimated at some 5.6 million tons, 7 percent higher
than last year. Cereal import requirements for 2002/03 are estimated at
725,000 tons, of which 504,000 tons are expected as commercial imports and
221,000 tons as emergency food aid.

(f)  The number of people in urgent need of food assistance is estimated
at 1.4 million. WFP plans to assist 1.24 million people, including IDPs
with insufficient or no access to land, the families of UNITA soldiers,
the vulnerable population in previously inaccessible areas and refugees
returning to Angola. Of the estimated 4 million people displaced from
their homes since 1998, around 2 million have been allocated land and no
longer depend on food assistance.  The mission found that some IDPs had
already started to return to their homes to prepare land for the next
season and to plant dry season crops in the wetland areas.  Food
assistance and agricultural inputs are urgently required for farmers
returning to their home areas.


3)  Namibia

(a)  About 17,600 refugees received WFP assistance in June in Osire camp.
The caseload has reduced by around 1,000 persons since May, possibly as a
result of some spontaneous returns of refugees to Angola.
WFP/UNHCR/AFRICARE are planning a registration/verification exercise in
Osire camp, starting on 15 July.

(b)  WFP's VAM unit is closely monitoring the food situation in Namibia.
If the Government Needs Assessment requests external food assistance, then
WFP/FAO will launch an independent rapid assessment to confirm the needs.
A logistics assessment for assistance to Namibia is already completed.



D)  Asia Region: (1) Indonesia

1)  Indonesia

(a)  On 1 July, WFP launched a USD 65 million relief operation, running
from 1 July to 31 December 2002, to help 2.1 million Indonesians who face
the highest risk of hunger and malnutrition because of the spiralling
costs of food, petrol and other commodities during a period of slow
economic recovery.

(b)  In the four major cities where WFP works, half of the children under
five years of age are stunted and 30 percent are underweight, as a result
of acute and widespread malnutrition. Wages for unskilled urban labourers
are half what they were before the 1998 economic meltdown and a large
proportion of WFP's target group has no access to government social safety
nets because they are illegal settlers.

(c)  Through the relief operation, WFP will enable 1.5 million urban poor
to buy subsidized rice at a fraction of the normal price. WFP will also
give rice to 300,000 IDPs as well as blended food to children under two
years of age and their mothers. Assistance to IDPs has taken on a new
urgency in Indonesia now that a WFP study, preliminary findings of which
were released in May, showed that poverty levels among the IDPs are three
times higher than the average rate in Indonesia of 19 percent. The
approximately 26,000 IDPs surveyed have an average unemployment rate of 54
percent. In Aceh province, unemployment is 100 percent for IDPs.



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  Insecurity continues to impact WFP operations particularly in the
northern region, hampering the movement of WFP staff. Last week,
international staff were evacuated from the Maimana sub-office (Northern
region) but operations are being maintained by national staff. On 27 June,
an ammunitions depot blew up in southern Afghanistan at Spin Boldak in
Kandahar province, slightly damaging WFP offices, warehouse facilities and
vehicles.

(b)  WFP plans to provide food aid up to 1.5 million returnees in the
assistance package provided in conjunction with UNHCR. Due to resourcing
constraints, WFP and UNHCR have agreed that the returnee ration
entitlement be reduced to 100kg per family (from the previous 150kg).
Similarly, UNHCR has reduced its cash and non-food support.

(c)  As of 3 July, nineteen donors have responded to the funding needs of
the current WFP emergency operation. This response, combined with
carry-over stocks from the previous operation, covers 64 percent of the
requirements. The shortfall amounts to over 175,000 tons of food worth
approximately USD 102 million. Because recently confirmed contributions
are not expected to arrive until later in the year, and the first three
months require over 51 percent of the overall nine-month requirements,
food availability has fallen critically short during the April to June
pre-harvest "hunger" period. A pipeline break for cereals is expected in
August. Food shortage have caused difficulties in the approval of project
proposals as well as release of food for ongoing projects.

(d)  In the Central region, WFP, in collaboration with its partners,
dispatched 4,500 tons of food under various strategies, including Free
Food Distribution, FOODAC, Civil Servants, Returnees, Bakery, Food for
Work and Food for Teachers. In the Northeastern region, WFP dispatched
1,420 tons of food under FOODAC and Food for Education (FFE) projects.
Areas targeted included Baghlan and Badakhshan provinces. The FFE
programme has had a significant impact on students' enrolment,
particularly that of the girl students.

(e)  In the Western region, WFP provided assistance to IDPs, returnees,
civil servants and people involved in FOODAC projects. About 4,600 tons of
food were dispatched last week in the region. In the Eastern region, WFP
delivered about 300 tons of food to be distributed under FFE,
supplementary feeding, and returnees activities. As of 30 June, 47,500
students were benefiting from the FFE programme in the Eastern Region.

(f)  In the Northern Area, over 8,100 tons of food were dispatched under
various programmes, including civil servants, FOODAC, FFE, Food For Seed,
IDPs/Returnees, Supplementary Feeding and bakeries projects.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  The moratorium on refugee relocation to new camps continues till
September 2002. The total camp population reported by UNHCR stands at
107,500 individuals. 240 families reportedly repatriated from Shalman
camp.

(b)  The delivery of over 800 tons of food for July distribution to
Asgharo, Bagzai, Bassu, Shalman, Kotkai and Barkali camps was completed.
Food distribution has started in the camps targeting 63,000 refugees. Food
distribution for 46,000 beneficiaries in Shamshatu camp was completed for
the month of June.

(c)  WFP continues to support the Supplementary Feeding Programmes
implemented in six camps benefiting to 3,500 vulnerable lactating/pregnant
women and malnourished children.



F)  Eastern Europe Region: (1) North Caucasus

1)  North Caucasus

(a)  Heavy rains in the southern region of Russia from 26 to 29 June have
caused extensive damages. The most affected areas are Krasnodar, Stavropol
and Karachayevo-Cherkessia, in the bread basket region of Russia. Latest
reports from the Government indicated that about 100 persons died, over
335,500 people have been affected by the floods, 7,500 houses were
completely destroyed and 45,700 houses damaged. The total damages are
estimated at USD 443 million. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that
the floods have destroyed only 0.1 percent of the cereal crops expected
this year.

(b)  The Federal Government has released USD 32 million to support relief
activities. EMERCOM has started rehabilitation of roads, bridges, water
and gas pipelines, railway lines. The Government of Russia has not
requested international assistance to the floods victims as yet. However,
in response to the request from local authorities in the North Caucasus
UNHCR, ICRC and Islamic Relief have provided food and non-food items.
About 100 IDP families in Ingushetia have requested food assistance. WFP
will start monthly food distributions early July. In addition, 200
flood-affected families will be supported through FFW projects in Grozny.

(c)  During the month of June, about 1,200 IDPs returned from Ingushetia
to Chechnya and 300 people left Chechnya due to insecurity. As monitored
by UNHCR, this is the second month that more people have returned to
Chechnya than left. The Ingush President stated that more than 10,000
IDPs, out of the total population of 118,000, have expressed their
willingness to return home.

(d)  As of 29 June, 117,800 IDPs were registered by DRC in Ingushetia.
Most of them are living with local host families. WFP distributed 2,230
tons of food to 108,400 IDPs through DRC, IR and SRCS during June.

2)  According to DRC, 784,500 people were residing in the Republic of
Chechnya as of 29 June. Of them, over 140,000 are registered as IDPs and
some 122,700 as vulnerable persons. In June, PINF, DRC, IR and Caritas
Internationalis distributed over 2,215 tons of food to 119,300
beneficiaries in Chechnya. In addition, over 36 tons of food were utilised
by IR to produce daily 5,000 loaves of bread and about 115 tons of food
was distributed by PINF through WFP FFW activities in Grozny.



G)  Latin and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) El Salvador

1)  Colombia

(a)  National weather reports have warned of landslides, strong winds,
floods and fire hazards that could possibly affect the eastern Colombia.
WFP's sub-office in the northeast region of Barrancabermeja reported that
the people involved in 7 FFW projects lost their entire rice and corn
harvest due to overflowing of the Magdalena River.

(b)  Through its PRRO, WFP dispatched last week, 160 tons of food in
support of FFW projects in 19 municipalities in 8 provinces. 164,750 food
rations were distributed.


2)  El Salvador

(a)  Seasonal rains continue to fall throughout the country, alleviating
concerns of a continued drought. However many people still suffer from
last year's weak harvest. Despite the rains, the outlook for the first
harvest continues to be bleak as many rural farmers were urged not to
plant by the Ministry of Agriculture, fearing a strong El Nino year.

(b)  The selection of communities for food aid in the drought-affected
eastern provinces continues in collaboration with new NGO partners. WFP is
planning to distribute 700 tons of food in the worst affected
drought-areas during the coming month. Under its PRRO 6089, WFP continues
to forge new agreements with NGOs to coordinate actions and divide work
areas in the affected eastern provinces.

(c)  Action is being taken to avoid an anticipated pipeline break for
pulses in August. A confirmed contribution of 200 tons of CSB will allow
the PRRO to focus on vulnerable groups over the coming months. After some
delays a much-needed contribution of 2,000 tons of rice is on route to El
Salvador. The rice will be distributed to drought-affected populations and
utilized to repay loans received from other WFP operations.



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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 27).

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