WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 39 / 2002 - Date 27 September 2002

This report includes:
(A) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
(B) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho,
    (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe, (7) Swaziland,
    (8) Ethiopia, (9) Sudan, (10) Uganda, (11) Burundi
(C) West Africa Region: (1) Sierra Leone (2) Guinea (3) Mauritania
(D) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola
(E) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran
(F) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Cuba, (2) Ecuador,
    (3) Guatemala, (4) Nicaragua, (5) Caribbean Region,
    (6) Central America and Mexico
(G) Eastern Europe Region


>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 of Korea

1)  DPR of Korea

(a)  WFP's stocks of blended food have been exhausted since August. A
contribution of 9,000 tons of Corn Soya Milk is expected to arrive in late
October, for distribution beginning in November. WFP cereal pipeline is
breaking in September. To continue its food distributions through the end
of this year, WFP requires urgently 86,000 tons of cereals. Owing to
delivery times, additional pledges are also needed as soon as possible to
cover the initial months of 2003. Pledges for wheat flour contributions
are urgently requested for the Local Factory Productions programme.

(b)  As of September, WFP was forced to stop cereal distributions on the
west coast to about 1.4 million school children and elderly persons. This
number will increase to 2 million by October when cereal rations will be
cut for kindergarten children and pregnant and nursing women in the west
of the country. In November and December, with the halting of cereal
distributions to nursery children, about 3 million persons in the west
will be deprived of their most essential food as the winter sets in.
Prospects for continuing to assist one million targeted beneficiaries on
the east coast from January onward also appear dim in the absence of any
confirmed contributions.

(c)  WFP is currently contributing to the preparation of the Nutrition
Survey scheduled to take place in October. 45 WFP employees will be
involved in this exercise. The FAO-WFP Crop and Food Supply assessment
mission arrived in the country on 24 September and will travel until 5
October.



B)  East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho,
(3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe, (7) Swaziland, (8)
Ethiopia, (9) Sudan, (10) Uganda, (11) Burundi

1)  Regional overview

(a)  A SADC regional logistics coordination meeting in Harare was attended
by representatives of revenue bodies, immigration, customs, railway and
transport associations from Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Issues discussed included road tolls, customs clearance procedures for
cross-border truck movement and rail capacity. WFP held a debriefing for
donors following this SADC logistics meeting and provided an update on the
situation at border crossings and the challenges facing the humanitarian
community in moving food throughout the region.

(b)  USD 1million toward WFP's Special Operation for the
Johannesburg-based Regional Management Coordination Unit was confirmed
during the week. 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.

(c)  UNICEF, in conjunction with WFP and Save the Children, has completed
pilot awareness-raising workshops on the 'Prevention of Child Abuse and
Sexual Exploitation in Humanitarian Crisis' in all six countries. In all
countries, a country coordination group has been established. The three
agencies are finalizing an agreement to move into a second phase which
includes establishment of a regional coordination team, further
development of core materials, employment of trainers in countries, and
large-scale training efforts in countries.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  WFP has distributed over 280 tons of food to 25,460 beneficiaries in
three districts over the week, bringing the total food aid distributed
since the beginning of the emergency operation to 1,379 tons. 25 of the
trucks donated by Norwegian Red Cross/IFRC arrived in country and IFRC is
recruiting and training drivers. The Government confirmed that it will
fund the milling of 10,000 tons of US maize that has arrived in Durban and
is destined for Lesotho.

(b)  Two new WFP sub-offices in Mohoktlong and Mafeteng are now
operational, and food distributions are expected to begin in these
districts this week, bringing the number of districts being reached to
five. WFP signed an MOU with the Lesotho Red Cross to distribute food in
Mokhotlong District, targeting 43,700 beneficiaries, and WFP participated
in the training of Red Cross volunteers last week.

(c)  Weather conditions have improved and farmers are beginning to plant.
However the quality and amount of seeds may not be adequate. UNICEF will
distribute USD 50,000 worth of vegetable seeds to selected households for
promotion of kitchen gardens. FAO continues to procure 260 tons of various
seeds for distribution to the worst-affected areas of the country.


3)  Malawi

(a)  During the week, WFP delivered 6,200 tons of food to almost 1,300
final delivery points under the emergency and development programmes. WFP
will undertake school feeding activities targeting 110,000 school children
in Lilongwe, Salima, Ntcheu, Kasungu, and Mangochi Districts. Food
distributions will start once the orientation for teachers takes place
during the first half of October. WFP food distributions targeting 7,500
AIDS-affected households in Lilongwe, Phalombe, Blantyre, and Chiradzulu
Districts will begin the third week of October, following orientation
workshops for implementing partners. These workshops will be organized
jointly by WFP, the National Aids Commission, UNAIDS and UNDP.

(b)  The World Bank announced a USD 50 million loan to Malawi to be used
for agricultural inputs and job creation in rural areas, as well as to
boost foreign exchange reserves.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  The Ministry of Agriculture held an operational meeting with the
administrators of 48 drought-affected districts, WFP, FAO and donors.
Discussion focused on the latest assessment results and the update of the
Ministry's Action Plan for addressing the drought (MADER Plan). The
Ministry presented a draft "Framework Guideline on the Use of Food Aid for
Rural Development." WFP will support the MADER Plan through Food-for-Work
activities. The Government distributed over 30,300 seed kits in the
southern and central provinces (Maputo, Gaza, Manica, and Sofala).


5)  Zambia

(a)  WFP distributed 2,138 tons of white maize during the week. There have
been several incidents of looting of NGO stores containing GM grain stocks
in the Southern Province. The UN Field Security Officer and WFP are
working to ensure the security measures are implemented to prevent further
looting. The Zambian government announced a plan to distribute through
November 40,000 tons of maize meal purchased from local millers. An
increased need for supplementary and therapeutic feeding has been
identified, and WFP and UNICEF are working together to increase capacity
at all levels.

(b)  In response to a Government request for assistance, the World Bank is
proposing a USD 50 million credit to Zambia. Of this, USD35 million will
finance a positive list of imports, USD7 million will be used for local
purchase of seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs for free
delivery to most-affected households, USD7 million for labor-intensive
public works program aimed at supplementing incomes of most vulnerable
populations, and USD1 million for capacity building of public agencies
involved in disaster management and early warning systems. An additional
USD24.75 million may be re-allocated from existing Bank-financed projects
for drought mitigation in specific areas such as school bursaries and
feeding programs, public works, water and sanitation rehabilitation in
schools and railway track bed strengthening.


6)  Zimbabwe

(a)  Between 20 February and 23 September, WFP has reached over 825,000
people with almost 44,200 tons of food. WFP distributions now cover 21
districts, and following current beneficiary registrations, will expand to
28 districts in October.

(b)  The school dropout rate and child labor are on the increase
throughout the country. Some teachers have reported 50 percent of pupils
absent. WFP is planning with implementing NGOs to provide CSB porridge for
pupils at selected schools in Manicaland Province. The British Department
of International Development (DFID) announced plans to fund a meal a day
for 1.5 million Zimbabwean children and vulnerable adults over a six-month
period. The contribution of UK Pounds 14 million will be channeled through
NGOs, and is part of a UK Pounds 45 million pledge made in June to
southern Africa.


7)  Swaziland

(a)  During September, WFP has delivered to 11 NGO extended delivery
points 1,418 tons of maize and 96 tons of oil, representing 95 percent of
available commodities for the month. Pulses are expected to arrive for the
October distribution. The Government is preparing a special budget to
cover 40 percent of the food gap faced by the country.


8)  Ethiopia

(a)  October 7 is the new launch date for the joint Government of
Ethiopia/United Nations Flash Appeal for food aid needs for the period
October to December 2002. It will coincide with the visit to Ethiopia of
Mr. Kenzo Oshima, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Advance copies of the appeal
will be circulated to donors earlier in the week.

(b)  Over six million people are in need of assistance in October, up from
the earlier July revised estimate of three million. The total revised
requirements for cereals between now and the end of December are projected
to be 245,100 tons.

(c)  Two major donors have recently announced additional pledges of
167,000 tons of cereal to Ethiopia, including 100,000 tons channelled
through WFP. Other donors have also indicated pledges to Ethiopia, which
are expected to be confirmed in the near future. Even with these pledges,
there is still a shortfall of approximately 75,000 tons of cereals to the
end of the year.

(d)  There has been no rain in most of central, eastern and southern
Tigray for three weeks, leading to increasing concern about the crop
conditions in these areas. Rain continues in various other parts of the
country, but little has fallen on Afar region where rains so far have not
been enough to rejuvenate pasture or significantly improve water supplies
for people and livestock. Very little rain has fallen in Wag Hamra zone of
Amhara region. There are indications of deyr rains beginning in some of
the southern parts of Somali Region, although the northern zone of Shinile
has suffered from insufficient rains and the Fik zone remains of special
concern.

(e)  Intensified relief distributions appear to have stabilised the
nutritional situation in much of West Hararghe in Oromiya Region, where a
nutritional survey is being carried out at this time. The situation of
people remains very serious in the lowlands. Several international NGOs
are now mobilising donor support to increase their food programmes in the
area and the nearby badly affected zones, where necessary expand into
general food distributions or supplementary food distributions and
intervene in other hard hit parts of the country.


9)  Sudan

(a)  On 24 September, WFP warned that it is running out of food aid to
assist Eritrean refugees living in camps in Sudan and appealed to donors
to come forward urgently with new contributions. WFP has already been
forced to cut by almost half the amount of food being distributed, and may
have to suspend the operation altogether if no new donations are
confirmed. WFP is currently assisting 91,000 refugees who are expected to
return home during 2003 as part of a major voluntary repatriation exercise
organized by UNHCR. About 50,000 refugees have voluntarily returned to
Eritrea in the last 18 months.

(b)  Concentrated in 20 camps in the eastern part of Sudan, the Eritrean
refugees live in an extremely impoverished state. Many arrived as early as
1984 and have seen their access to food decline dramatically over the
years. Some refugees were given access to land around the camps in order
to improve their daily existence and to reduce the need for international
assistance. However agricultural production has dropped by nearly half
over the last two seasons, while market prices have steeply increased.
Employment opportunities, such as day labour on nearby farms, have also
grown increasingly scarce.

(c)  WFP needs 9,769 tons of food, valued at approximately USD 5.2
million, to assist the Eritrean refugees until they are repatriated next
year. Many of the high-energy commodities are rapidly running out, and
rations have had to be reduced. This is putting the nutritional and health
status of the refugees at severe risk. Already, malnutrition rates among
children under five, pregnant and lactating women are high amongst the
refugee population, with some 4,500 of the most vulnerable being cared for
through Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFP) in the camps.

(d)  Recent donations amounting to USD 4.4 million have come at a critical
time, but cover only a portion of the food requirements. Food or cash
contributions from donors are urgently needed.


10)  Uganda

(a)  WFP distributed almost 7,000 tons of food to over 585,400
beneficiaries during the month of August under the PRRO 6176.00/10121.00
and the regional PRRO 10062.0. WFP continued to extend food aid assistance
to over 530,400 IDPs and refugees in the Acholi sub-region amidst
deteriorating security in August. WFP will continue to provide a full
ration to IDPs in 40 isolated settlements for the next two months, pending
a review of the food security situation in October. The deteriorating
situation continues to curtail IDPs from accessing their gardens to
harvest and plant for the second season crops.

(b)  Acholpii refugee camp, home to over 24,000 people was closed by the
Office of the Prime Minister following a violent attack by rebels of the
Lords Resistance Army (LRA) on 5 August. The attack resulted in the death
of about 60 refugees, nationals and some government forces, and the loss
of UNHCR and IRC vehicles and assets, refugee's belongings and 70 tons of
WFP food (largely taken by refugees as they fled south to safety). Fearing
another attack, some 24,000 refugees immediately fled to Lira town and to
neighbouring trading centres.

(c)  The refugees were temporarily accommodated in Kiryandongo refugee
settlement in Masindi district where WFP distributed food to 27,000
refugees, including some who had previously been resident in locations
other than Acholpii, but who fled to Kiryandongo to seek safety amidst
increasing attacks by the LRA forces throughout northern Uganda. 8,000
refugees will be relocated to Kyangwali refugee settlement in southwestern
Uganda in early September and the rest are proposed for relocation to
Yumbe and Arua districts.

(d)  Northern Kitgum District received an additional caseload of 4,000
Ugandan returnees (Acholi) from South Sudan who had fled to Sudan in late
1999 as a result of the civil insecurity in Kitgum. They came back
escaping the recent confrontations between the UPDF and LRA inside Sudan.

(e)  After the finalisation of relief food distribution to IDPs in
Bundibugyo District, WFP commenced distribution of a three-month
resettlement food ration to IDPs who have now returned to their homes
after five years of displacement. This distribution was expected to be
completed by 15 September after which assistance will be geared towards
recovery activities through food-for-assets and support to education
through the school-feeding programme. As of 31 August, 60,900
beneficiaries had received their settlement rations. Non-food items
provided by WFP will be distributed immediately after completion of the
food distribution.

(f)  School feeding continued to expand in the West Nile despite the
closure of some schools as a result of rebel presence in the Adjumani
District: Out of a total of 38 nursery schools in Adjumani, ten that are
neighbouring Zoka forest have closed for fear of imminent attack. On the
other hand, 32 primary schools began school feeding in Adjumani District
on a pilot basis and the number of primary schools in Arua has risen to 62
from 42 supported in July. The first indications show positive results in
terms of increased attendance in schools and improved attentiveness in
class.


11)  Burundi

(a)  During the first half of September, WFP started distributing Seeds
Protection Rations (SPR) for the upcoming agricultural season. This
distribution started in Muramvya province, where over 19,800 persons
benefited from 220 tons of food. Beneficiaries are vulnerable people in
the most highly insecure provinces of Burundi that have suffered frequent
displacements and that are facing food shortages either as a result of
looting or poor climatic conditions. WFP and FAO continued the joint
review of the planning caseload based on the results of new assessments,
including the joint FAO/WFP/UNICEF/ Ministry of Agriculture Food and Crop
Assessment carried out in June 2002. WFP planned to reach 534,250
vulnerable persons with 8,855 tons of food.

(b)  Confrontations were also reported in Bujumbura Rural province in the
capital and in the suburbs of Kinama and Kanyosha. An aid worker working
for World Outreach Initiatives was killed in the presumed safest
residential quarter of Kiriri. Fighting intensified in Gitega and Ruyigi
provinces during the first two weeks of September. As a result, WFP
distributions in Bugendana commune (Giteya province) were severally
postponed. 14,400 vulnerable persons could not be reached in Bugendana
commune during the first week of September but WFP was able to distribute
150 tons of food to 18,565 persons in the same area the following week.

(c)  From 2 to 15 September, WFP supplied 956 tons of food to various
vulnerable groups. The beneficiary caseload included 63,000 vulnerable
persons receiving targeted food rations in 3 provinces, 19,800 farmers
involved in the SPR project in Muramvya province, 1,500 Burundian refugees
repatriated from neighbouring countries and other vulnerable groups.



C)  West Africa Region: (1) Sierra Leone (2) Guinea (3) Mauritania

1)  Sierra Leone

(a)  The influx of refugees along the Zimmi axis continued to decrease
from 9 to 22 September. In Jembe and Gerihun refugee camps, WFP supported
8,200 beneficiaries with 95 tons.

(b)  UNOCHA in collaboration with NaCSA officially declared all IDP camps
in Kenema closed. The last batch of 500 IDP students/relatives was
recently resettled in Kailahun. WFP collaborated with UNHCR to facilitate
the resettlement of 343 returnees from Liberia to the Kailahun district.

(c)  The UN expressed its intention to renew the mandate of the United
Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). Citing the improving
security situation in the country, UNAMSIL said that the 17,000- member
strong peacekeeping force will be gradually reduced to 4,500 troops within
eight months. However, UNAMSIL's civilian police force would be more than
tripled to 185 members. For the humanitarian community, this phased
withdrawal of UNAMSIL will help to maintain a stable and secure
atmosphere, vital for humanitarian development work.


2)  Guinea

(a)  Two separate incidents have occurred in the Koyama sub-prefecture
(N'Zérékoré region), near the Liberian border, between the Guinean army
and unidentified armed assailants, apparently from Liberia.  All
humanitarian activity in that area has been suspended until further
notice.  The overall security situation in the rest of the country is
stable and seems not to have been directly affected by the recent events
in Ivory Coast.

(b)  During the last two weeks, a number of incidents were reported at
Kouankan's Liberian refugee camp and are reason for great concern for the
local populations and humanitarian personnel security.  WFP is taking a
strong position within the UN to relocate the Liberian refugee population
from the Kouankan camp, which has reached 33,000 (13,000 above capacity),
to the Kissidougou camps.  With the repatriation of Sierra Leonean
refugees, there is increasing space to host refugees there. However all
transfers from the Koyama/Fassankony area have been suspended due to the
insecurity in the area.  Since the beginning of the year, approximately
20,000 Liberian refugees have been transferred to the Kouankan refugee
camp.

(c)  The new Laïné refugee camp has opened and has received over 1,600
Liberian refugees, mainly from the Nonah transit center.  During the last
two weeks, WFP distributed almost 800 tons of food to 49,000
beneficiaries.


3)  Mauritania

(a)  Mauritania is facing alarming food shortages that could lead to mass
starvation unless action is taken, M. Manuel Aranda da Silva, WFP Regional
Director for West Africa, declared during a press conference on 26
September. Around 750,000 of Mauritania's population of 2.7 million are
already affected by food shortages with malnutrition taking on alarming
proportions.

(b)  The distribution of 3,558 tons of wheat under WFP's emergency
operation 10147.0 started immediately after the Government's declaration
of emergency on 1 September and is expected to be completed by the end of
this month. Although six regions are targeted under this EMOP (Hodh el
Gharbi, Hodh el Chargui, Gorgol, Assaba, Tagant, and Brakna), only those
which were targeted to receive a wheat ration alone received WFP's
emergency assistance since the full food basket has yet to become
available due to delayed donor response to this operation. This
distribution will ensure the coverage of 108,500 persons for 3 months.

(c)  Although significant rainfall during the last two weeks has produced
pasture in certain areas, the rain-fed crop forecast remains bleak since
these rains have come too late to reverse drought damage to date. The
rain-fed crop harvest is thus expected to fail.

(d)  WFP received only 30 percent of the USD 7.5 million it asked for its
emergency operation. Donor support is essential for WFP to carry out its
planned activities.



D)  Central Africa Region: (1) Angola

1)  Angola

(a)  WFP's caseload is expected to continue to grow rapidly in October.
Initial estimates indicate that the number of beneficiaries will increase
from 1.4 million in September to 1.8 million in October. This causes
serious concerns as WFP expects to face critical pipeline breaks for
cereals in January 2003. Urgent donations are immediately needed allow
sufficient time to make the commodities available in the country. In
addition, the stock of pulses in southern Angola is exhausted due to the
delay of a vessel expected to deliver 686 tons of peas in Namibe port.

(b)  Road and air transportation of food from the logistics centres have
been increased in order to cope with the growing needs WFP is meeting
throughout the country. Pre-positioning of food is continuing albeit with
some difficulties due to poor condition of transport infrastructure.
During the week, 64 commercial trucks dispatched about 1,800 tons of food
from Lobito to Huambo and Menongue. Air operations are also running at
full capacity with 370 tons of food airlifted to Mavinga, Luena, Cazombo,
Cuemba and Calala from Catumbela airport near Lobito.

(c)  WFP food distributions were resumed in Bunjei (Huambo province) after
temporary suspension. Approximately 17,500 displaced people were assisted
with 288 tons of food. Distributions also took place in new accessible
areas of Katchiungo and Tchicala-Tcholahanga for 4,300 beneficiaries.

(d)  WFP continues to strengthen its operational capacity at Mavinga
(Kuando Kubango province) through deployment of staff and equipment and
has established a sub-office in Mavinga. At present, WFP is providing
general food assistance to approximately 85,000 people in Mavinga and is
also supplying food to the nutritional feeding programmes run by MSF-CH,
where the number of admissions is reportedly rising. A total of 1,740
people from Kueio and Mira-Uria arrived at Dima (20 kms from Mavinga
Sede). Large population influxes are continuing with a further 10,000 new
arrivals to the area expected late in the week.

(e)  Four trucks that were intended to reach Mavinga and strengthen the
current fleet transporting WFP food, could not reach Mavinga due to the
bad road conditions. In order to preposition stock for the Mavinga
operation WFP is now making six flight rotations per day. Alternative
longer-term transport solutions are also being pursued. In order to
maintain WFP's Mavinga operations, around 1,600 tons of food need to be
airlifted before the end of the month. This is threatened by a lack of
funding to WFP's special operation for cargo transport.



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  WFP Afghanistan Emergency Operation as of last week still faces a
shortfall of 22.5 percent, or USD 64.1 million. Breaks in the cereal
pipeline are expected from October onwards, affecting winter
prepositioning plans as well as planned distributions during the last
quarter of 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)  Over the past 3 weeks field data collection and data entry for the
2002/2003 VAM Countrywide Assessment, has been completed. The objectives
of the VAM 2002 Countrywide Assessment exercise was to determine where
food aid is required among the areas assessed, and the type and severity
of food insecurity in the villages visited. In addition by analysing
changes in the sources of food, food preparation practices, diversity of
diet, and evidence of micronutrient deficiency, the study aims to gain a
deeper understanding of which types of food is need to be included in the
food aid basket.

(c)  The preliminary findings of this assessment were released last week.
The results are consistent with those of the Crop and Food Supply
Assessment. Increased precipitation in the north and west of the country
has resulted in increased production and an improvement in overall food
security in those areas. The main areas of concern are the southern and
eastern provinces as well as Uruzgan, Bamyan and Wardak provinces where
the drought continues to have a negative impact on food security and
livelihoods. Furthermore, the assessment has identified pockets with acute
levels of food insecurity, most notably in the northeastern provinces of
Badakhshan, Baghlan and Takhar. The Central Highlands and the provinces of
Ghor, Sari Pul, Faryab and Farah continue to experience high levels of
food insecurity, despite an overall improvement of the general food
situation from last year.

(d)  The results of the assessment also indicate that not more than ten
percent of the irrigated land has been cultivated in the northern part of
the central area. Food crops will not be able to cover the minimum food
requirement for more than five months and main coping mechanisms include
displacement, wage labour, migration, loans, selling livestock and land
and joining the military.

(e)  In the southern area, the drought-affected populations (including
subsistence farmers and the nomadic Kuchi pastoralists) are considering
migration to other areas in search of job opportunities and other sources
of income and food. Some 26,900 households are food insecure in Lashkargah
city. Local authorities expressed the need for immediate food intervention
for 8,500 families in Mukthar and Lashkargah camps.

(f)  The eastern area was relatively quiet during last week, but UN
missions to Kunar province continue to be suspended due to insecurity.
Following inter-factional fighting in Nangarhar province, 500 houses were
burnt, leaving 3,000 people homeless. All the missions to Kohistanat
district in Sari Pul province (northern area) remain suspended, and
caution is required when travelling in Jawzjan province where tensions are
still high. Incidents also continue to be reported in the southern area.

(g)  From 18 to 24 September, more than 368,300 beneficiaries received at
least 7,000 tons of food through various WFP activities. The beneficiary
caseload included approximately 99,700 IDPs and refugees, 153,600 people
involved in the urban vulnerable bakery projects, 1,800 malnourished
people admitted in SFP as well as civil servants, workers involved in Food
for Asset Creation and Food for Work projects and school children enrolled
in the Food for Education programme.


2)  Iran

(a)  As of 22 September, over 202,900 refugees have repatriated from Iran
to Afghanistan since the start of the UNHCR assisted Voluntary
Repatriation Programme on 9 April 2002. In March 2001, 2.3 million Afghans
took part in the registration exercise carried out by the Iranian
authorities. They have been settled mostly in Tehran, Sistan-Baluchistan,
Esfahan and Khorassan provinces. Reportedly up to two-thirds of the
Afghans arrived in Iran during the Taliban era.

(b)  Food distribution to 25,000 victims of earthquake in Qazvin province
under WFP EMOP 10227.0 is expected to commence on 2 October.

(c)  A joint WFP/UNHCR screening mission to Be'sat camp in Khuzestan
province took place on 15-17 September. The mission identified 760
vulnerable refugees who are in need of WFP assistance. Be'sat camp
(Iraqi/Arab) is going to be the 29th refugee camp in Iran to be assisted
by WFP. In line with WFP's Gender Policy, only women will be registered as
representatives of a refugee family in Be'sat camp. In addition, a women
food committee in the camp will plan and manage the food distribution in
the coming year.



F)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Cuba, (2) Ecuador, (3)
Guatemala, (4) Nicaragua, (5) Caribbean Region, (6) Central America and
Mexico

1)  Cuba

(a)  Hurricane Isidore crossed over the Island of Youth and the province
of Pinar del Rio on 20 September, causing major flooding and damage.
Isidore was the second hurricane to hit the Caribbean this year.
Approximately 292,000 persons were evacuated of which 31,300 remained in
temporary shelters as of 24 September. In the Island of Youth, reports
indicate that 756 houses were damaged, of which 77 are completely
destroyed. The floods and heavy winds also affected schools, hospitals,
electricity and communication buildings. Plantain and basic crops were
also damaged. No human lives were lost.

(b)  During 26 and 27 September UN agencies including WFP, will be
carrying out a rapid assessment in the affected sites and collecting
information on damage. A joint UN document will be subsequently issued on
actions to be taken by each UN agency.


2)  Ecuador

(a)  Last week, the monitoring system of the Tungurahua Volcano
Observatory registered a significant increase in the volcano's activity.
The mayors of Quero, Penipe, Guano and Cevallos, as well as the emergency
operations committee of the provinces of Tungurahua and Chimborazo were
warned of the volcano's activity, and the possibility of ash emissions in
the coming days. The constant ash emissions have considerably reduced
livestock production. Production costs for crops such as potato, onion and
peas have sharply increased. The impact of this situation is increasing
the food insecurity of families.

(b)  WFP is jointly working with other UN agencies, Civil Defense, COPEFEN
(Emergency Programme Coordination Unit for El Niño Phenomenon), Red Cross,
scientific institutes, Ecuadorian Navy, National Emergency Operations
Committee, to prepare for the El Niño.


3)  Guatemala

(a)  A red alert was declared nationwide as a result of the Hurricane
Isidore. Heavy rains and flooding are expected during the next days.
Flooding is being reported in the river basins of Coyolote, Guacalate,
Nahuatan, Samala and Sis in the provinces of Retalhuleu, Suchitepequez,
Escuintla and Costa de San Marcos. Approximately 300 families were
evacuated and accommodated in temporary shelters.

(b)  Hurricane Isidore also left behind agricultural damages in the
region. Maize, beans, plantains and sesame are the most affected crops. A
joint assessment mission, coordinated by WFP, Ministry of Agriculture,
UNDP, UNICEF, CONRED and FIS will begin on 26 September.


4)  Nicaragua

(a)  The government of Nicaragua has lifted both the yellow alert for the
Pacific Region and the green alert for the rest of the country. The
evacuation in Managua of 300 persons, of which 182 are children, was
carried out in view of the flooding caused by Hurricane Isidore on 21
September. The affected families remain in 4 temporary shelters but expect
to return shortly to their homes.

(b)  Last week, a second distribution of WFP food was expected to benefit
subsistence coffee farmers in the northern province of Matagalpa.  250
tons of food will be delivered to 5,300 heads of households.


5)  Caribbean Region

(a)  On 18 September, Isidore hit Jamaica causing major flooding. No
further information was available as of 25 September. Tropical storm Lili
is slowing down over the eastern Caribbean Sea. A tropical storm watch is
in effect for the southern coasts of Dominican Republic and Haiti. Some
forecasts indicate that Lili could become a hurricane. In Haiti, the Civil
Defense has asked for UN agencies to be on alert in view of possible
damages.


6)  Central America and Mexico

(a)  In El Salvador, 100 families were evacuated in the province of
Ahuachapan due to major flooding caused by Hurricane Isidore. Along the
Yucatan region in Mexico, also hit by the hurricane, approximately 70,000
persons were evacuated to temporary shelters. Classes were cancelled for
480,000 students.



G)  Eastern Europe Region

1)  North Caucasus

(a)  On 26 September military operations began in the Galashki village of
Ingushetia, bordering with Chechnya and Georgia (about 30 km distance).
One military helicopter was shot down and casualties among the soldiers
were reported. Most of the village's 6,000 inhabitants fled to other areas
of Ingushetia. The IDP camps in Sleptoskaya and UN offices in Nazran are
about 20 km away from the Galashki village. This is the first time in
three years that such fighting erupted in the Republic of Ingushetia.

(b)  According to Danish Refugee Council (DRC), 110,800 Chechen IDPs live
in Ingushetia, which up to now has been considered a 'safe haven'. The
majority of IDPs interviewed by WFP monitors was reluctant to consider
returning to Chechnya in the foreseeable future for security reasons.
According to UNHCR, 100 IDPs returned to Chechnya while 439 people came
out of Chechnya during September.

(c)  For the month of September, WFP allocated a total of 3,880 tons of
food for about 290,000 beneficiaries in Ingushetia and Chechnya. With the
opening of schools this month WFP resumed its school feeding programme in
Chechnya, expanding its operation to two more districts. WFP allocated 228
tons of food for 42,600 school children in Grozny City, Grozny Rural,
Achkhoy-Martan, Sunzha and Gudermes districts of Chechnya.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 39).


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