WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 38 / 2002 - Date 20 September 2002

This report includes:
(A) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho,
    (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe,
    (8) Ethiopia, (9) Uganda, (10) Burundi, (11) Tanzania
(B) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia,
    (3) Democratic Republic of Congo, (4) Republic of Congo
(C) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
(D) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan
(E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Cuba, (2) Colombia,
    (3) Guatemala


>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, (2) Lesotho,
(3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8)
Ethiopia, (9) Uganda, (10) Burundi, (11) Tanzania

1)  Regional overview for Southern Africa

(a)  The SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Vulnerability
Assessment Committee (VAC) released results of the second round of
assessments on 16 September. The assessments confirm the severity of the
regional food crisis and provide compelling evidence that urgent action,
beyond current levels, is required from national governments, regional
bodies and the international community to avert a humanitarian disaster in
the next seven months. The estimates of people at risk in the region have
been revised upwards from 12.8 million to 14.4 million, representing a
12.5 percent increase.

(b)  Upon completion of a two-week tour of the region, the UN
Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern
Africa, James T. Morris, and an interagency team held a press conference
in Johannesburg on 16 September, which had an extensive coverage in
national and international press. The mission called attention to the fact
that southern Africa is being devastated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and that
HIV/AIDS is a fundamental, underlying cause of vulnerability. It was also
noted that urgent response is necessary to avoid a massive deterioration
in the regional situation, and that in particular provision of seeds,
fertilizers, and tools to farmers is required before the planting season
begins in October.

(c)  A stakeholders consultation was held on 17 September in Johannesburg
area, at which a joint presentation of the key findings of the SADC/VAC
Emergency Food Security Assessment mission was presented, as well as a
report on the findings of the United Nations interagency regional mission.
The consultation was attended by 66 persons, including representatives of
ten donor countries, nine NGOs, SADC, and five UN agencies.

(d)  A meeting of SADC Ministers of Transport will be held on 23 September
in Harare to discuss customs clearance procedures, road transport
facilitation aspects, and health and bio-safety procedures. WFP is
assisting SADC in the organization of the meeting. A follow-on meeting
will be held on 24 September to specifically discuss logistics issues
related to Zimbabwe.

(e)  USD 4.4 million in new donor contributions were confirmed during the
week, including an in-kind contribution of 300 tons of dried skimmed milk.
The Emergency Operation is now 36.5 percent funded, with a current
shortfall of USD 322 million. Current WFP food aid shortfalls for October,
November and December are 71,611 tons.  As a consequence of the cash
contributions received over the last few weeks, the pipeline has greatly
improved on the non-cereal side.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  Despite heavy snowfall, which slowed down movement of vehicles, WFP
food was distributed to 33,350 beneficiaries in three districts over the
past week. Food distributions in Mafeteng will begin next week.


3)  Malawi

(a)  So far this month 7,100 tons of food, including pulses and Likuna
Phala, have been dispatched by WFP. Due to the severity of the food
situation and its negative effects on school attendance, WFP will add
100,000 children to its school feeding programme, bringing total coverage
to 150,000 children in eight districts. 1,000 tons of food will be
required each month.

(b)  Following UN/NGO assessments of 83 Nutrition Rehabilitation Units
(funded by the EC and conceived by ECHO experts together with the EC Food
Security Unit in Malawi), WFP will provide food for therapeutic feeding
for 2,130 children and their caretakers and food for supplementary feeding
of 28,100 malnourished children and the same number of malnourished
pregnant and lactating women. UNICEF conducted a three-day workshop for
new supplementary feeding guidelines. This week, Action Against Hunger
began training-of-trainer workshops on therapeutic feeding for staff of
the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and WFP field monitors.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  The estimate of the total number of people in need of food has risen
by 13 percent, from 515,000 (CFSAM April/May) to 587,000 people in 48
districts. This is mainly due to the inclusion of pockets of food
insecurity in two provinces previously not part of the operation, Zambézia
and Nampula. There have been no major changes in cereal production
figures, except for millet in Sofala Province, which has gone down
compared to the CFSAM report. Overall cereal production in 2002 is still
approximately 5 percent higher than in 2001. However, cereal production
was 34 percent lower compared to last year in some areas, particularly in
the south. Cereal food needs in Mozambique are estimated at 49,275 tons
from September through March next year. Emergency provision of seeds and
tools are urgently required in the affected areas.


5)  Swaziland

(a)  Deliveries to eleven extended delivery points for September is 70
percent complete, with 1,181 tons of maize and 50 tons of oil delivered so
far this month. Pulses are expected to arrive in time for the October
distribution. Implementing NGOs continue to review and refine distribution
lists.


6)  Zambia

(a)  An allocation plan for distribution of 7,000 tons of white maize has
been agreed by WFP and implementing NGOs, and dispatching has begun (1,475
tons dispatched this week) targeting the southern and south western
provinces and Food for Work projects. Vegetable oil, pulses, and salt have
been dispatched to pilot districts (Katete, Chipata, Lundazi, and Chadiza)
for the Food for Assets programme.

(b)  An OXFAM nutrition survey in Choma, Monze, and Mazabuka indicated a
slight increase in malnutrition levels and crude mortality rate and
under-five mortality rates were found to be high. Reports from WFP
monitors indicate a worsening hunger situation in Chipata in the less
accessible areas. The WFP Chipata sub-office is now fully operational and
warehousing available.


7)  Zimbabwe

(a)  The Government has approved Lutheran World Federation as a WFP
implementing partner, bringing WFP's partners for the emergency to seven.
At a WFP-hosted meeting for donor representatives in Harare this week, the
urgent need for more implementing partners was stressed. WFP and partners
have distributed 37,827 tons of food to 751,952 beneficiaries since 20
February this year.

(b)  UNICEF is procuring 1,200 tons of UNIMIX for supplementary feeding
programmes, targeting 95,000 children under five and pregnant and
lactating women in five districts. 360 tons of this UNIMIX arrived in
country last week.

(c)  Among the findings of the VAC assessment are the following: 68
percent of households are employing multiple distress coping strategies,
18 percent of households have removed children from school during the past
two months, and 94 percent of farmers lack seeds for the upcoming planting
season.


8)  Ethiopia

(a)  A joint Government of Ethiopia/United Nations Flash Appeal for food
aid needs between September and December is under preparation and will be
released to donors before the end of the month. Needs have increased
substantially over recent months and the revised shortfall to the end of
2002 is expected to be over 200,000 tons.

(b)  An inter-agency nutritional team has made a rapid assessment visit to
West Hararghe zone in Oromiya Region to try to establish how widespread
malnutrition is in the zone. In the areas visited (considered those less
severely affected), the team reported that while there is a serious food
insecurity problem, with recent poor rainfall compounded by the cumulative
effects of three to five years of partial crop failures, the result is not
the degree of severe malnutrition reported in other areas of the zone.

(c)  The team confirmed that the findings of the planned nutritional
assessment will be very important to establish the extent and magnitude of
malnutrition in this zone. The nutritional survey began on 19 September
and will last until 29 September. Eight teams are being coordinated by
CARE and led by the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commissioner
(DPPC). WFP is participating and providing logistical support. Data entry,
processing and analysis will be done in the field and preliminary results
are expected by early October.

(d)  A Government-led donor mission visited East and West Hararghe, as
well as the Shinile zone of Somali region, from 17-19 September to review
the situation in these areas. The team, led by the DPPC, included WFP,
UNICEF, donor representatives and representatives from the regional
government.

(e)  There has been no rainfall of any significance for the past two weeks
in central, eastern and southern Tigray. Zone 2 of Afar region has
received practically no rain for the whole of the karan rainy season; the
rainfall situation in other parts of Afar region has been generally mixed
and has been insufficient in some zones. Rain is continuing in the
highland and midland areas of East and West Hararghe and other parts of
Oromiya Region and has also been reported to be continuing in parts of
Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) and Amhara
Region. The overall picture of current meher rain in the eastern part of
the country appears to be erratic and uneven. The rain must continue well
into October for late planted crops to reach maturity. Normal rainfall is
reported in the surplus producing areas of western Ethiopia. Rain has also
been reported in central, southern and south-western parts of Somali
Region; in northern Somali Region, karan rains have insufficient
throughout Shinille zone.


9)  Uganda

(a)  On 16 September, WFP condemned the ambush of a convoy of commercial
trucks transporting food aid to Kitgum, Northern Uganda, where more than
120,000 people are in desperate need of food assistance. In the incident
one person was killed. The convoy, carrying 300 tons of food aid and
clearly marked with WFP flags, came under attack on 14 September while
travelling with an army escort on the Lira - Kitgum road. The convoy was
eventually able to proceed to Kitgum town and no food was stolen. However,
the food has not been sent to the locations within Kirgum district where
beneficiaries fear of further attacks.

(b)  As a result, WFP has decided to suspend its activities within Kitgum
and Pader districts until further notice. Since July, WFP has delivered
over 8,000 tons of food to the half a million displaced people in the
northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader. The current suspension will
leave about 120,000 people cut off from food aid.  WFP once again appeals
to all parties to guarantee safe humanitarian access within northern
Uganda, to allow the agency to continue with its live-saving assistance to
displaced populations.

(c)  This is not the first time that WFP has been forced to suspend
activities in the area. In June, increased insecurity led to a one- month
suspension that resulted in a dramatic increase in malnutrition rates
among displaced children. WFP is very concerned about the impact of
another interruption in the delivery of food assistance on the nutritional
status of the displaced populations.

(d)  In the northern areas of Uganda WFP is assisting over 500,000 victims
of the conflict between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance
Army rebels. WFP also provides assistance to over 100,000 Sudanese
refugees in northern Uganda, over 30,000 of whom have been displaced by
LRA attacks in recent weeks.


10)  Burundi

(a)  WFP, in collaboration with CARE and World Vision, has started to
distribute 5,800 tons of food aid to assist 535,000 vulnerable people in
the most highly insecure provinces, mainly Bujumbura Rural, Ruyigi,
Gitega, Muramvya, Makamba, Rutana, Kayanza, Karuzi and Mwaro. The food aid
will be given as a Seeds Protection Ration (SPR) together with seeds and
farm tools, provided by FAO. The SPR is designed to prevent the most
vulnerable populations from consuming seeds and is expected to contribute
towards increased agricultural production, which will improve their food
security. The project is planned for two planting seasons, in
September/October and February/March, and is normally carried out every
year in Burundi due to its success.

(b)  Continual fighting in Burundi has resulted in significant population
displacements, erosion of assets, significant livestock theft, as well as
destruction of homesteads. Nearly 1.4 million people in Burundi, mainly
IDPs, do not have adequate access to food and thus depend on WFP food
assistance.

(c)  A sensitisation campaign has been conducted to explain the targeting
criteria to governors and provincial administrators, distribution
committees, as well as partners in the humanitarian sector. Targeted food
aid distributions will then follow after October starting with the
provinces, which did not receive SPR distributions. In June, WFP conducted
a Food and Crop Assessment jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture,
UNICEF and FAO, which determined the number of beneficiaries and the
provinces to be targeted with food aid. With the security situation and
the large displacements in July and August, the provinces targeted have
been reviewed and the caseload of beneficiaries has been increased.


11)  Tanzania

(a)  Facilitation of voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees
continued at a very low pace in Ngara camps. From 28 March to 8 September,
almost 24,100 Burundian refugees were repatriated from Tanzania to
Burundi. In addition, over 500 Rwandese refugees were repatriated during
the last two weeks, bringing the total number of refuges repatriated since
1 January to 3,300. At the same time, about 1,600 refugees arrived in
Tanzania from DR Congo, Burundi and Rwanda.

(b)  From 28 August to 9 September, WFP distributed almost 80 tons through
various Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFPs), benefiting over 19,000
malnourished refugees. No general food distribution was conducted in the
refugee camps as a three-week or four-week distribution targeting around
505,000 refugees took place in August. WFP supplied 100 percent of the
standard food ration to all beneficiaries, except for pulses, which were
distributed at 80 percent of the full ration. A Meningitis outbreak was
reported in Kibondo camps, with Nduta being the most affected.



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

1)  Angola

(a)  An estimated 12,000 people have reportedly arrived in Mavinga town
(Kuando Kubango province) over the last few weeks looking for humanitarian
assistance and medical care. Their status is extremely critical. The total
number of people to be assisted in Mavinga could rise from the current
75,000 receiving WFP assistance to 94,000 during the month of September.
Registration of new arrivals and distribution of food aid are ongoing.
6,400 persons in Capembe Family Reception Area (FRA) as well as 4,000
beneficiaries received assistance in Mavinga town, during the week.

(b)  WFP is reinforcing its capacity in Mavinga through staff,
communications and vehicle deployment in order to expand WFP's programmes
in the area. Measures are being taken to also address the serious
logistical obstacles to the provision of assistance.  An additional
Hercules aircraft to augment WFP's delivery capacity to critical areas
such as Mavinga has been put into operation. Through Swede Relief, WFP has
completed repairs to a critical water-crossing between Mavinga and the
Capembe and Matungo FRAs to ensure that trucks can move food faster.  WFP
is discussing with various humanitarian agencies how to carry out
emergency repairs to the Mavinga airstrip before heavy rains begin. WFP
has engaged four more trucks to distribute food in Mavinga, bringing the
number of commercial trucks available to eleven.

(c)  Humanitarian operations in Mavinga face serious constraints due to
mine infestation, severely deteriorated roads and bridges, and a lack of
basic social and physical infrastructure.  Many persons among the new
arrivals to Mavinga are suffering from malnutrition, Shigella infections
due to a shortage of clean water supplies and there has been a confirmed
case of meningitis. OCHA is to co-ordinate non-food item assistance and
de-mining operations in the area. Extra seed and tools packages are
urgently needed to ensure that families are able to cultivate in the
upcoming rainy season. For the moment, only 2,700 seed and tool packages
are available through NRC.

(d)  The return of IDPs from Benguela to their areas of origin is
continuing.  MINARS has reported that approximately 12,700 displaced
people currently in Dombe Grande, Damba Maria and Luongo will soon be
transported to other municipalities of Huila and Benguela provinces.  WFP
is providing food assistance for 15 days to these returnees from their
departure point. Once confirmed at their place of origin WFP will provide
food assistance until the next harvest.

(e)  Last week, about 5,300 demobilised soldiers were registered in Ndele
and Gamba FRAs in Bie province. Landmines remain an issue of concern in
Bie province, causing the death of two persons in Kuito town during the
week. Security and road assessments were conducted in newly accessible
areas of Catobola and Kamacupa municipalities. These assessments will
permit humanitarian assistance to reach people in need and encourage the
return of IDPs in those areas. From September, WFP will be providing
assistance in all the municipalities of Bié province.

(f)  According to the Governor of Huambo Province, Huambo FRAs will be
closed from 15 October affecting some 90,000 beneficiaries. Food
pre-positioning for the rainy season will be reduced from three to one
month. This large movement of people towards their area of origin without
pre-planning shelter, food and agricultural programmes, is a major cause
of concern to WFP.

(g)  Pre-positioning of food is underway to areas where access would be
impossible when the rains begin, but insufficient truck availability is
posing difficulties. Broken bridges, derelict roads and landmines also
threaten food deliveries. However, some progress on de-mining has been
reported in Huila province. Delivery of food to the FRAs in Galangue,
Dongo and Km 50 (Huila province) is underway, including pre-positioning of
3 months food rations. Rub-halls will be erected in Galangue and Chipindo
to create extra storage capacity.


2)  Namibia

(a)  UNHCR has reported that about 160 refugees, mostly Angolans have
arrived in Namibia during the month of August. These refugees were
provided with one-month ration at Kassava transit centre on arrival and
later were moved to Osire camp. From 11 to 18 September, 18,300 Angolan
refugees in Osire camp and 400 refugees in Kassava transit centre received
WFP food assistance.

(b)  Discussions were held between WFP and the Government's Emergency
Management Unit on the government's plan for the drought in Namibia.  The
Government is preparing a programme for an estimated 342,000
drought-affected people including both food and non-food requirements.
The Government is allocating its own funds for this programme and may
approach international communities for any shortfall for the relief
assistance to the drought-affected. However, the government is unlikely to
declare the drought as a national disaster or emergency.


3)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  Insecurity remained high throughout the South Kivu province,
especially in the Bukavu area and along the Bunyakiri-Hombo axis, where
human casualties, new waves of population displacements and lootings were
reported. Frequent attacks on civil populations were also reported in the
western areas of the North Kivu province, particularly in Masisi and
Walikale. The security situation remained precarious in Lubumbashi
(Katanga province) in the past weeks.

(b)  The resumption of the rainy season will increase the difficulties to
access certain regions and add to the factors constraining the
implementation of programmes. In some provinces such as South Kivu, roads
rehabilitation under FFW activities has been given top priority to
mitigate the impact of the rainy season. To overcome these access
difficulties, WFP has initiated an airlift operation in Northern Katanga.
Under the third phase of this operation, WFP intends to support a seeds
protection project involving 30,000 families in Kongolo, Manono, Kabalo,
Mpiana, Kiambi and Mulongo, all areas only accessible by air. Together
with their 15 days food rations, the beneficiaries will receive seeds and
tools provided by FHI. Over 1,150 tons of food still need to be airlifted.

(c)  The massive return of Congolese Banyamulenge refugees in North and
South Kivu areas has caused concern among the humanitarian community. In
South Kivu, over 100 families who had sought refuge in Burundi have
gathered in the Ruzizi Plain, waiting for assistance. 5,000 returnees from
Rwanda were reported in North Kivu. It is estimated that around 32,000
people may be forced for repatriation from Burundi to Eastern DRC.

(d)  In Kinshasa area, 10,000 people affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic or
living with the virus have been targeted by WFP. Following sensitisation
campaigns, the number of people registering to HIV/AIDS centres has been
increasing. As a result, WFP's major NGO partner in this sector reported
an increase of food requirements of almost 20 percent.

(e)  In South Kivu region, WFP distributed, from 26 August to 8 September,
114 tons of food to about 15,750 vulnerable people, mainly IDPs through
general distributions, food for training activities and other projects.
Beneficiaries also included 4,000 malnourished people admitted in
nutrition programmes and their families as well as 500 women involved in a
Food for Asset activities.

(f)  From 26 August to 1 September, almost 200 tons of food was
distributed to 39,000 beneficiaries in North Kivu province. Some 8,000
IDPs who fled the confrontations in Bunia also received WFP food
assistance, in collaboration with World Vision.


4)  Republic of Congo

(a)  Two rebel attacks were reported on a train west of Brazzaville,
causing some casualties among the passengers. Humanitarian access to the
Pool region is still limited to Kinkala by road and Kindamba by air.
Humanitarian agencies are discussing with the authorities to access the
areas most affected by the recent conflict in the Pool region.

(b)  As of 31 August, WFP had assisted almost 38,400 displaced people from
the Pool region. Assistance was supplied in Brazzaville and in the regions
of Pool, Boueanza, Lekoumou and Plateaux. During the month of August,
WFP's food assistance has been mostly targeted towards displaced groups
who settled in Bouenza region, as the area became easily accessible by
road. Following a needs-assessment carried out in the Bouenza region, a
second delivery of relief food has been made in favour of 2,275
households. The nutritional situation of these IDPs has been stabilised
through the regular delivery of food aid.

(c)  In addition, WFP is providing food to 5,350 displaced households
currently in Brazzaville. Over 300 tons of food were supplied following a
re-evaluation of their needs. In Lekoumou region, a food distribution for
400 households has been made in Zanaga after a UN assessment mission was
carried out on 29 August. This was the first distribution to the Pool IDPs
in this locality.

(d)  The first two rounds of the National immunisation campaigns were held
from 25 July to 3 September. Health officials were able to reach the
conflict affected Pool region on this occasion, except for the towns of
Kimba, Vinza and Mayama.



C)  Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories

1)  Palestinian Territories

(a)  Nablus has been under curfew for more than 84 days, resulting in a
sharp increase of prices of basic food commodities and a deterioration of
the humanitarian situation. The Ministry of Health reported that all its
programs including the childhood and women care programs were frozen due
to the lack of access. Several diseases, such as dysentery, are being
discovered and are rapidly spreading.  Bethlehem city remains under
closure and access for inhabitants from rural areas to the city is
restricted by road blockades. The Israeli Forces are not imposing curfew
on Ramallah city between 7-8 am and 1-3 pm in order to enable students to
reach their schools and homes. However, commercial shops and offices are
not allowed to work during the release hours.

(b)  WFP, in collaboration with PARC, CRS and MSA, has distributed over
1,500 tons of food to almost 21,800 vulnerable families during the first
half of September. Targeted areas include both southern and northern
Governorates in the West Bank as well as the Gaza strip. In addition, PARC
has completed food distribution for almost 1,300 families in Gaza city and
north, 2,000 families in the south and 1,100 families in the middle area
of Gaza. CRS has also started its distribution in Gaza city on 5
September. WFP staff in Gaza visited Mawasi Khan Younis. WFP is the second
humanitarian agency, with ICRC, that has successfully crossed the
Al-Toufah checkpoint into Mawasi.

(c)  Monthly food allocation plans have been prepared up to December. WFP
intends to target between 350,000 and 540,000 vulnerable people on a
monthly basis. However, shortfalls in pulses, sugar, WSB and HEB are
expected.



D)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  As of 5 September, Afghanistan EMOP 10155.0, with a total requirement
of 543 837 tons of commodities, had a shortfall of 23 percent or USD 64.1
million. WFP will be facing breaks in the cereal pipeline from October
onwards and will thus not be able to meet its pre-positioning plan as well
as its other requirements for the last quarter of 2002.  Cereals will be
unavailable after December 2002. Donors are encouraged to make cash
contributions that will be used to purchase food in the region to cover
the cereal needs of 84 500 tons and ensure delivery of food into
Afghanistan before winter sets in.

(b)  The security situation in the eastern area (Jalalabad) deteriorated
during the previous week. On 15 September, an explosion occurred on the
road between Jalalabad and Assadabad, involving six vehicles of the
Coalition Forces.  On 17 September, two mortar bombs hit UNICEF Regional
Office in Jalalabad, injuring one duty guard and damaging the building.
Movements in Jalalabad have since been restricted.

(c)  From 11 to 17 September, over 517,000 beneficiaries received at least
7,000 tons of food through various WFP activities. This includes the
dispatch of around 3,400 tons of food for the Food for Asset Creation
(FOODAC) in Hirat. In Kandahar, WFP supported 20,000 persons involved in
FOODAC projects with 1,000 tons of food. In Mazar, WFP suspended four
projects due to food shortages, reducing the total number of on-going
FOODAC projects to 13.

(d)  Last week, approximately 60,000 IDPs received WFP food assistance at
Maslakh and Shaidayee camps in Hirat.  WFP supported some 19,000 returnees
(former IDPs and refugees) in Kandahar with 1,900 tons of food.  Some
6,900 IDPs in Panjwai camp also received 460 tons of food, while 6,700 IDP
families in Mazar received 670 tons of food.

(e)  In Mazar, 120,000 beneficiaries received bread through the Urban
Vulnerable Bakery Project.  Also 230 tons of wheat flour were distributed
to vulnerable people in Mazar. The Afghan Ministry of Women Affairs
Committee trained women bakers on financial management of the bakeries in
Mazar.

(f)  WFP in Kabul made its fourth release of food for the Civil Servant
Salary Supplement programme to cover the period of May to August for some
provinces, and July to August for Kabul. According to UNDP figures, dated
June 2002, over 251,400 people have benefited from WFP assistance through
this programme. In addition, WFP supplied over 800 tons of food for Ghor
province. The number of beneficiaries in Jalalabad increased by 40
percent, reaching now almost 18,000 persons. Approximately 5,000 civil
servants in Kandahar received 170 tons of food.

(g)  20,300 labourers in Kandahar received 1,020 tons of wheat, while
participating in Food for Work projects for rehabilitation and cleaning of
karezes, canals and ponds, road gravelling and well digging. 840
beneficiaries in Mazar received 100 tons of wheat, for some sanitation and
road rehabilitation projects.

(h)  Under the Food for Education programme, WFP supported 75,700 students
in Mazar, providing them a daily ration of fortified bread. Over 24,600
girl students received an additional take-home ration of oil. Some 37,200
beneficiaries in Kandahar received about 240 tons of food, while in
Jalalabad, 27,000 students were targeted.  Through a recently completed
WFP Non-Formal Education project in Jalalabad, over 4,300 beneficiaries
have received health education and training from a local NGO. In Faizabad,
some 3,800 students received 125 tons of food.



E)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Cuba, (2) Colombia, (3)
Guatemala

1)  Cuba

(a)  Hurricane Isidore is expected to hit Cuba on 20-21 September. WFP is
in contact with the UN Resident Representative and Coordinator of the
Disaster Management Team. Preventive measures are been taken for the
passing of the hurricane through Cuba. Although it is still uncertain, the
city of Havana could be affected.


2)  Colombia

(a)  Under the state of unrest declared by the Government in early August,
"Rehabilitation Zones" have been established in 14 out of the country's 32
provinces.  The government has granted broad authority and controls to the
military forces, including travelling restrictions within the country.
Governors and mayors within the Rehabilitation Zones can restrict travel,
impose curfews and issue special identification cards to local residents.
They can also restrict travel of foreigners within the zones and request
the use of vehicles and other assets. The Rehabilitation Zones include
Choco, Antioquia, and the Catatumbo regions, where WFP has sub-offices and
ongoing projects under its PRRO 6139.0.


3)  Guatemala

(a)  On 12 September, a landslide in the San Lucas Toliman district killed
30 persons. While 7 persons are still missing, searches continue. WFP
carried out a rapid assessment of the food security situation in the
affected area. 460 people are living in temporary shelters near the
disaster zone.  WFP is providing assistance to malnourished children,
using food stored in the municipal Nutritional and Recovery Centres. WFP
in cooperation with other UN Agencies, particularly UNICEF, will continue
to monitor and evaluate the situation.  Further actions will be determined
as needs arise.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 38).

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