WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 44 / 2002 - Date 31 October 2002

This report includes:
(A) Global Funding Overview
(B) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire
(C) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea, (2) Indonesia
(D) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zambia,
    (3) Zimbabwe, (4) Lesotho, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Swaziland,
    (8) Angola, (9) Namibia
(E) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Sudan,
    (3) Uganda, (4) Burundi
(F) Eastern Europe Region: (1) North Caucasus
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region
(H) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan


>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)  Global Funding Overview

(a)  On 28 October, WFP launched an urgent appeal to provide emergency
relief food to countries in the Horn of Africa, where more than twelve
million people are threatened with starvation over the next months. The
food requirements for the two countries for the first year of the
emergency response could approach 800,000 tons. WFP is drafting plans to
assist more than four million people in Ethiopia and a million in Eritrea.
It is expected that the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as
international NGOs will assist in feeding the remainder of those in need.

(b)  The situation in the Horn of Africa is not unique. In southern Africa
drought is also the prime cause of food insecurity, which is now
threatening an estimated 14.4 million people. On the other side of the
African continent, lack of rain is already causing serious hardship and is
spreading in five Western Sahelian countries, affecting up to 1.5 million
people.

(c)  Most of these crises are related to erratic weather patterns. The
statistics point to an alarming trend. According to the World Disasters
Report: 2002, "the past two years have seen the highest number of
weather-related disasters reported over the decade". This has meant that
millions of people, who were already vulnerable, have had to contend with
the destructive power of major natural disasters and it has fallen to the
humanitarian community to assist them.

(d)  In Central America, over 1.5 million people have seen their food
supplies wither because of drought. In Afghanistan, four years of drought
and decades of conflict are still affecting almost 10 million people.
North Korea continues to experience acute food shortages. Insufficient
funding of WFP operations there has led to the suspension of food aid
rations for three million hungry women, children and elderly people - with
a further 1.5 million people likely to be cut off in January.

(e)  Agencies like WFP as well as hundreds of highly effective NGOs - are
finding it increasingly difficult to find the resources to respond
adequately to the growing number of emergencies. Dependent on voluntary
contributions, WFP and NGOs are caught between the rising needs of
millions of hungry people and government budgets that are already
stretched and contending with a global economic slowdown. In this context
WFP is calling for the international community to rethink the way it
responds to the world's growing food emergencies.



B)  West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire

1)  Côte d'Ivoire

(a)  WFP approved a three-month Regional Emergency Operation (1 November
2002 - 31 January 2003) of USD 3,020,824 targeting 94,000 beneficiaries
with 4,145 metric tons of food. This operation will cover Côte d'Ivoire
and neighbouring countries (especially those prone to be the most
affected, such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana). The bulk of the
intervention will take place in Côte d'Ivoire.

(b)  Despite the fragile truce between pro and anti-government forces, the
humanitarian situation in Côte d'Ivoire is more precarious every day, in
insurgent-held areas in Bouake, Korhogo and Odienne as well as in transit
centres for displaced persons.

(c)  ICRC recently indicated that the number of vulnerable people in
Bouake rose from 10,000 to 30,000; this figure includes vulnerable people
within health structures, social centres, children's home and people
living in poor neighbourhoods. This is a result of the lengthy siege of
the city by the insurgents and the closing of all the banks.

(d)  To date, WFP has distributed 180 tons of food to 21,650 displaced
people, including in Man and Duekoue.

(e)  A WFP mission is currently assessing the humanitarian situation in
Bouake and will decide the implementation of emergency assistance
according to the results.



C)  Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea, (2) Indonesia

1)  DPR of Korea

(a)  WFP urgently requires 72,000 tons of cereal to cover needs of
vulnerable people on the west coast during the last two months of the
year. In addition, immediate pledges of 130,000 tons are required to meet
distribution needs during the first quarter of 2003.

(b)  The FAO and WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission report,
released on 28 October, highlighted that, despite the recovery in
agricultural production in 2001 and 2002, domestic production still fell
well below the minimum food needs and that the country would again have to
depend on substantial external food assistance as its capacity to import
commercially remained highly constrained.

(c)  The 2002/03 cereal production is forecast at 3.84 million tons, the
best harvest since 1995/96, and larger by 4.9 percent compared to last
year's revised estimate. Factors behind this second year of recovery
include favourable rains, provision of fertilizer and pesticides through
international assistance, timely availability of seeds and mobilization by
the Government of resources on a priority basis to the agriculture sector.
The cereal deficit in the crop year 2002/03 (November/October) is
estimated at 1.084 million tons.

(d)  The report also cautioned that in spite of an increased harvest, a
significant number of families in DPR Korea were still unable to meet
their food needs. While the geographical disparity in food availability
between the food surplus south and west of the country and the food
deficit north and north-east remained a key factor in the food security
equation, urban/rural disparities were more acute and will require
particular attention in food assistance programmes in 2003.

(e)  The Mission also expressed concern about the recent high levels of
inflation in farmers' markets, and the plight of the excess labour force,
which could be created as industries and state enterprises strived to
increase their productivity and efficiency. It recommended close
monitoring of these factors in the coming months in the event programming
changes might be needed.

(f)  In addition, the final results from the joint DPR Korea/UNICEF/WFP
nutrition survey, expected by the end of the year, will further improve
the understanding of the nature and causes of malnutrition and may result
in programmatic changes.


2)  Indonesia

(a)  The Letter of Understanding between WFP and the Government of
Indonesia for the new PRRO 10069 for assistance to IDPs and Urban Poor was
signed on 5 September. Under the operation, 2.1 million beneficiaries will
be assisted for 18 months. WFP operation, which is currently facing a
shortfall of 80 percent urgently requires additional donor support. With
the current resource and pipeline levels, it is estimated that the food
supply will last until February 2003 for cereals and until December 2002
for the other commodities.

(b)  During September, over 1.5 million targeted beneficiaries, mostly
women and children, received WFP food assistance amounting to over 6,800
tons of food through various activities. Most of the beneficiaries were
targeted under the Subsidized Rice programme for urban poor in Jabotabek
and Surabaya. Each beneficiary family continues to receive five kilograms
of rice at approximately one third of the market price. The project has
been especially important for the poor, due to high costs of rice
recently.

(c)  In addition, WFP continues to provide fortified food and nutrition
education to mothers and their children. In September, the programme
covered almost 1,200 feeding centres in 400 urban villages in Greater
Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya. Similar activities are being
implemented in collaboration with UNICEF and CARE in Central and East Java
as well as in West Timor. Finally, WFP assisted 112,400 IDPs or returnees
in North Maluku, Madura, East Java, Central Sulawesi and West Kalimantan
areas.



D)  Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zambia, (3)
Zimbabwe, (4) Lesotho, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Swaziland, (8)
Angola, (9) Namibia

1)  Regional overview

(a)  Climatologists have upgraded the ongoing El Nino event to 'moderate.'
If this weather pattern holds, areas in southern Africa that are currently
vulnerable to food insecurity could face drier than normal conditions in
the early months of 2003. A moderate El Nino event also increases the
probability that November rains could be heavier than normal in parts of
the region, rendering transportation along unpaved roads increasingly
difficult. Ongoing monitoring of the climatic developments will be
critical to the humanitarian community to ensure preparedness to meet any
continuing or additional associated relief requirements.

(b)  FAO and WFP have jointly appealed to the international community to
urgently fund the purchase and distribution of agricultural inputs to
avoid a worsening crisis in southern Africa next year. A large percentage
of farmers in the region report lack of seeds, tools, and fertilizer.

(c)  Private donations of USD 84,400 were received during the week. WFP's
Emergency Operation is currently funded by 50 percent.


2)  Zambia

(a)  The Government of Zambia announced its decision not to accept
genetically modified (GM) foods and requested that GM maize stocks be
removed from the country. WFP has 11,000 tons of non-GM food available for
pre-positioning to reach the most vulnerable populations in the most
inaccessible districts. The amount of WFP food expected to be available
for distribution in November represents only 13 percent of the country's
total food aid needs as determined by vulnerability assessments. With
recent cash contributions, WFP is purchasing another 32,000 tons. However,
these commodities will not likely arrive in country for distribution until
December.

(b)  40 IFRC trucks that arrived in Lusaka during the week are being
dispatched to the field, prioritising areas in the Eastern Province where
roads will be cut off during the rainy season.


3)  Zimbabwe

(a)  WFP food distributions are expected to dramatically increase in the
coming months.  The November distribution plan calls for approximately
50,000 tons of food to be distributed to three million beneficiaries in 35
districts. WFP plans to feed 5.9 million people by January 2003, provided
donor resources are made available.

(b)  Implementing Partners have now been identified for each of the 57
districts targeted for food aid. WFP's ten implementing partners are
engaged in a massive registration effort nationwide. In the past month,
the number of registered beneficiaries has doubled to over 1.9 million.
Targeting issues are also being increasingly addressed, with an initial
assessment of satellite schools carried out in Masvingo to explore the
possibility of a school feeding program.


4)  Lesotho

(a)  WFP distributed 845 tons of food to 73,550 beneficiaries during the
week. WFP and the Ministry of Education finalized a plan to distribute
food, starting in November to 256 primary schools in the lowlands reaching
27,000 children.


5)  Malawi

(a)  Distribution of Dried Skimmed Milk for supplementary feeding began on
24 October. Truck to truck dispatches are underway as transport corridors
are not yet performing at full capacity. WFP is exploring options for
bolstering primary and secondary transport capacity. This week, WFP
distributed 8,000 tons of food commodities.


6)  Mozambique

(a)  A joint provincial team consisting of Government, WFP and NGOs
re-assessed the food security situation in Zumbo district where
distributions had been temporarily halted. Discussions are underway with a
potential implementing partner for the district. Implementation of Food
for Work activities has been considerably improved in Chinde district with
the arrival of a new implementing partner.


7)  Swaziland

(a)  WFP is facing calls from local populations to increase distributions.
The National Disaster Task Force has been called in to examine the issue.
WFP has signed letters of understanding with its Implementing Partners to
target an increased beneficiary number of 265,400 effective December 2002.
There is a significant need for corn-soya blend to bolster the nutritional
content of the food basket.


8)  Angola

(a)  Despite recently confirmed contributions, WFP operations in Angola
were facing, as of 22 October, a shortfall of 213,438 tons of commodities
valued at USD 161 million, or 67 percent of the total requirements. Maize,
the main cereals component in the food basket, is desperately needed in
order to avoid a break in the pipeline, expected by January 2003. Pulses
and salt will run out by March 2003. Unless these commodities are
resourced, WFP will have to reduce rations for many needy beneficiaries in
the middle of the agricultural lean season, just as they are at their most
vulnerable.

(b)  The Passenger and Non-Food Item Special Operations (SO) are now 61
percent and 68 percent funded respectively. With no commercial air
services to the areas in greatest need, WFP's SOs are vital to the
humanitarian community for the transportation of passengers and non-food
items in Angola. Insufficient funding inhibits WFP's ability to run
passenger flights to some locations where assistance is needed and hinders
the airlift of non-food items. Resources for both the passenger air
service and the Air Transport of non-food items are urgently required.

(c)  Between March and October, WFP has expanded its direct food
distributions to beneficiaries from around 34,500 beneficiaries in three
provinces, to over 163,000 beneficiaries in seven provinces. This is
mainly due to the lack of implementing partners able to undertake food
distributions in newly accessible areas, where people are in urgent need
of assistance.

(d)  All WFP food was released from Angolan ports following discussions
with the Customs authority last week. WFP is still seeking a longer-term
solution to the problem of delays in payment by the Government of customs
and clearing fees for WFP food consignments. This week, around 24,100 tons
of WFP food arrived in Angolan ports.

(e)  A joint rapid assessment of critical needs in Cassongue municipality,
Kuanza Sul province, found a critical humanitarian situation with urgent
humanitarian interventions required in almost all sectors, including food.
Preliminary nutrition screening revealed alarmingly high levels of child
malnutrition and WFP has approached potential implementing partners to
assist the returnees through urgent nutritional interventions.


9)  Namibia

(a)  Food distributions by the Namibian Government to around 345,000
drought-affected people in the north of the country have been delayed.
However, the Government has reassured that distributions will begin this
week. Around 18,500 refugees in Osire refugee camp and 400 refugees in
Kassava transit centre benefited from WFP food assistance during the week.



E)  Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Sudan, (3)
Uganda, (4) Burundi

1)  Ethiopia

(a)  There has been no improvement in the drought situation. Reports
continue to come from many parts of the country where there had been hope
that late rains would improve conditions, indicating that crops have
failed. The drought conditions have been created by the long dry period
between mid-April and late July, when main season rains arrived four weeks
late.

(b)  Few pledges have been received towards the needs for the first three
months of 2003, when requirements will substantially increase. Donors are
urged to consider not only pledging urgently needed food for this period,
but expediting emergency shipments as soon as possible, to avoid excessive
demands on the Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSR) which would lower
the stock below the recommended minimum level. The EFSR currently stands
at 131,650 tons, before a loan of 48,000 tons is taken out by WFP to cover
part of the distribution needs of November. A minimum of 70,000 tons of
cereals is required to cover needs of 5.6 million people in November at
reduced rations of 12.5 kg. Confirmation of announced pledges are required
for further loans to be made from the EFSR to cover remaining November and
December needs.

(c)  A WFP shipping and procurement coordination meeting has been
re-established to look at contingency plans for handling very high levels
of food aid imports through Djibouti and alternate ports in 2003, and to
jointly manage with donor representatives the issues of local and regional
purchases.

(d)  Among the emerging areas of concern are the lowlands of Arsi and East
Showa zones of Oromiya Region, where urgent new food needs have been
identified ahead of the formal government-led annual needs assessment. As
many as 450,000 people (of a total rural population for both zones of 1.9
million) are suffering from critical food shortages, with children under
five at high risk and in need of supplementary food. A nutritional survey
is currently taking place in these areas to target currently very limited
supplies of blended food. Crops have failed in spite of repeated
re-planting, and livestock is facing a severe shortage of pasture. Water
supplies are also under pressure. Elderly members of the community equate
current conditions to a time of massive suffering forty years ago.

(e)  Elsewhere in Oromiya region, widespread crop failure is reported in
East and West Hararghe zones, except for some highland and midland areas.
Farmers who own livestock are responding to the prospect of no remaining
pasture in the near future by selling cattle and purchasing goats, which
are more likely to survive the drought. Fortunately, further south in
Oromiya Region, Borena zone has been receiving good rains, which mean that
the pastoral population in this area are enjoying a continued period of
recovery, except in pocket areas of Moyale and Dire districts which have
been getting insufficient rain during the current rainy season. The rains
usually last until mid-November in this part of the country.

(f)  Local officials in Tigray region are gearing up for major increases
in food distributions needed in 2003 in large parts of Southern, Eastern
and Central Tigray zones. Parts of Amhara region will produce normal
crops, while other areas, including the hard hit western lowland part of
Wag Hamra zone and the Abaye (Blue Nile) River gorge area, are expected to
produce almost nothing. Afar region is suffering from increasing pasture
and water shortages after insufficient rain, as is neighbouring Shinile
zone of Somali region.  In Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples
Region, crops in Hadiya zone depend on rains continuing into November, as
is also necessary in nearby Wolayita, Gama Gofa, Gedeo and Sidama zones.
In southern parts of Somali Region, recent deyr rains have replenished
water sources and improved pasture, but deep concern continues for the
seriously drought-affected Shinile zone in the north of the Region.


2)  Sudan

(a)  By October, WFP's operation in Sudan faced a cash shortfall of 39
percent in food. This translates into 50,661 tons, which needs to be
pledged immediately. Critical pipeline breaks for vegetable oil, pulses
and CSB are expected in November, December and February respectively.
These commodities are particularly needed to support nutritional needs of
the affected population, the absence of which can exacerbate increase in
malnutrition. Pledges are urgently requested.

(b)  In September, WFP distributed a total of 13,600 tons of food aid to
1,267,450 beneficiaries in Northern and Southern sectors under its EMOP
10048.01. Out of this amount, 7,750 tons of food aid were supplied to
about 866,255 beneficiaries in Southern Sudan and Nuba Mountains.

(c)  On 27 September, the Government of Sudan (GoS) imposed a flight ban
to any location in East and West Equatoria until 6 October. This flight
ban hampered all air operations from Lokichoggio into Southern Sudan.
Three evacuation flights were carried out during the period of the ban.
Flight denials for humanitarian activities left an estimated 61,500 needy
people completely cut off from food aid because of GoS flight clearance
denials. An estimated 40,000 were from Western Upper Nile.

(d)  Security status in Mayom (Unity State) remains tense. IDP camps were
attacked twice during the month. Consequently, high magnitude of
displacement was recorded where 34,000 IDPs were forced to settle in the
open without shelter. IDPs in Mayom were not allowed to go out of the town
for their cattle grazing because of the insecurity. Malnutrition in the
camps is reported on the increase. Mayom was no go by GoS during the month
of September.

(e)  The security situation in Bieh State and Western Upper Nile remained
tense. In Bieh State, factional fighting is still on going thus limiting
WFP's access to the most needy populations. In spite of this unpredictable
and volatile security situation, WFP carried out several food aid
intervention targeting over 39,400 beneficiaries in Bieh State. A total of
560 tons of food aid were delivered. The fourth phase of the Nuba
interventions was completed on 21 September. A total of 194,000
beneficiaries were served with 2,600 tons of food aid out of which 502
tons were from Euronaid.

(f)  Preliminary indications from the ongoing WFP-led Annual Needs
Assessment generally indicate poor crop performance, with a significant
reduction in yields expected in most parts of south Sudan. This is a
result of erratic rains in the July-August period when the main crop,
sorghum, was flowering. Areas deemed critical in terms of the poor state
of crops so far are in Upper Nile region, specifically the Pibor, Budi,
Pochalla and Shilluk areas. This is also where households are highly
dependent on own crop production to meet their food needs. Other areas
expected to have poor harvests are Aweil West, Bieh, and Torit due to
effects of continued insecurity, further complicated by erratic rains.

(g)  Prospects of a poor harvest in most areas suggest that food
interventions may continue to be required in the most affected areas even
after the harvest is concluded. WFP expects to scale down food aid
interventions as of November when the harvest is concluded. WFP has
appealed for 93,278 tons of food for an estimated 1,390,000 beneficiaries
for the year 2003. This is significantly more food for fewer recipients
than this year's 63,104 tons for 1,558,545 beneficiaries. The rationale
for the increase requested is delivery cost effectiveness for both WFP and
the beneficiaries, who must walk further to collect food as access to many
areas is increasingly denied.

(h)  Although WFP has requested food for fewer recipients in 2003 compared
with this year, it is likely that the figure will increase to include
areas that are affected but were previously food secure. This will be more
conclusive when the Annual Needs Assessment is completed in November.


3)  Uganda

(a)  On 30 October, WFP warned that unless donors come forward with urgent
contributions, the victims of fighting in Northern Uganda would soon face
severe food shortages. WFP urgently needs 18,000 tons of food to help feed
over half a million people until the end of the year. Most of those in
need are displaced people or refugees, affected by the prevailing
insecurity in Adjumani, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts.

(b)  There has been a sharp increase in fighting in the northern part of
the country since June, resulting in almost daily raids on displacement
camps and refugee settlements. Thousands of people have already lost their
homes and belongings. Crops across the region have been destroyed and the
majority of the August harvest has been lost. Most communities were also
unable to plant in September, leaving hundreds of thousands of people
dependent on food assistance for the foreseeable future. All the stocks
from the previous harvest have been exhausted, and no additional food
production is expected during the following year.

(c)  WFP - the only humanitarian agency with access to camps and
settlements beyond the two main towns in the region ? does not have the
necessary resources to continue providing all the urgently needed
assistance. WFP has already been forced to reduce the food rations in Gulu
district by 30 percent. If the funding situation does not improve, further
cuts are envisaged in Kitgum and Pader districts during November,
resulting in complete lack of food security for the vulnerable. Of the
9,241 tons of food aid required each month, WFP only has 1,321 tons.

(d)  The shortfall has occurred at the worst possible time - just when
household food stocks are finishing. Due to insecurity, WFP was forced to
suspend food distributions from 18 June until 15 July, which resulted in a
rapid increase in malnutrition among children. Any further disruption of
the food aid programme could result in hunger-related deaths.


4)  Burundi

(a)  Security remained a concern in Ruyigi and Bujumbura Rural provinces
over the last weeks. The repeated attacks carried out on the capital
Bujumbura town, launched from the hills overlooking the town, also
threaten the urban population.

(b)  WFP, in collaboration with CARE and World Vision, has finalized food
distributions under the Seeds Protection Rations campaign, to over 496,100
beneficiaries (90 percent of the planned beneficiary caseload). Almost
5,500 tons of food were distributed for the next agricultural season.
However, agencies fear that a delay of rainfall could produce adverse
effects on the crop. WFP, UNICEF and FAO met with the Early Warning Task
Force to prepare an alert on the food security situation, which could be
alarming from December to April 2003. In addition to the lack of rain, a
combination of indicators, such as deteriorating health indicators and
population displacements, could lead to an increase of people in need of
food aid. Planning figures for November to May 2003 are being revised
accordingly.

(c)  From 21 to 27 October, WFP provided 135 tons of food, corresponding
to a 15-day ration, to 15,150 refugees who fled Ulvira District in DR
Congo. As the situation in eastern DR Congo remains fragile, WFP together
with UNHCR and other partners, is closely monitoring the flow of refugees
and is preparing for the possibility of a higher influx.

(d)  In addition, WFP continued to provide support to vulnerable groups
through the distribution of targeted rations. Last week, over 13,500
people living in Kivoga displaced site, recently devastated by fire and
flood-affected populations in Buterere zone, benefited from WFP food
assistance.



F)  Eastern Europe Region: (1) North Caucasus

1)  North Caucasus

2)  On 29 October, WFP announced that it will continue its emergency food
assistance to over 290,000 internally displaced and economically
vulnerable people in Chechnya and the Republic of Ingushetia. The new
operation, valued at around USD16 million, will provide 34,000 tons of
food over a period of 12 months, starting 1 January 2003.

(a)  WFP has been assisting displaced and impoverished Chechens since
January 2000. To date, the Programme has provided 90,000 tons of
commodities, valued at some USD 43 million. In September this year, WFP
doubled its school feeding programme in Chechnya. Launched last year, the
school feeding component of the EMOP fed 20,000 primary schoolchildren. As
of 29 October, WFP's hot lunches reached 47,000 students in 165 schools in
the most conflict-affected districts in the Republic.

(b)  Chechnya has been affected by an internal conflict since December
1999, which has resulted in large-scale displacement. Out of a total
population of nearly one million, 110,000 Chechens have fled to nearby
Ingushetia. In addition, over 160,000 people are displaced within Chechnya
itself. Impelling humanitarian needs are compounded by the growing poverty
in the region. According to a recent WFP survey, over 40 percent of the
population in Chechnya live below the poverty line.



G)  Latin America and Caribbean Region

(a)  On 25 October, the WFP's Executive Board has approved a new USD 66
million relief operation in Central America to serve an additional 690,000
people who have become food insecure as a result of recent droughts and
the region-wide coffee crisis. Regular droughts combined with the recent
coffee crisis have affected millions of people over last five years. WFP
currently assists 1.575 million people in Central America and has been
responding recently to nutritional crises in Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador and Nicaragua with emergency programs for acutely malnourished
children and their families.

(b)  Under this new relief operation, WFP will have to raise USD 66
million through donations and private contributions. Individuals who would
like to help food insecure families in Central America can go to the WFP
web site (www.wfp.org) and click on "on-line donations" to make a credit
card donation to any of the four countries.

(c)  If fully funded, the new WFP relief operation will assist 240,000
people in Honduras; 200,000 in Guatemala; 150,000 in Nicaragua and 100,000
in El Salvador. The operation would start in March 2003 and cover a
three-year period. Last month, WFP announced that more than 8.6 million
people live in a "drought corridor" in Central America, with many becoming
food insecure every year.

(d)  Results of recent nutritional surveys in Central America demonstrate
that acute malnutrition is higher among people living in drought prone
areas, with poor access to food and water. Income disparities in the four
countries are among the highest in the region and chronic malnutrition
rates in Central America range from 23 to 48 percent.

(e)  According to WFP, natural disasters will be the norm in Central
America for the foreseeable future. Families living in drought zones face
food deficiencies. Despite government, donor and NGO human and financial
resources, capacity is lacking while many assistance programs are ending
at this time.



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  Some 1.3 million people living in areas that will become inaccessible
during the winter have been identified as vulnerable by WFP's
Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping Unit. For these rural inaccessible
areas, WFP is planning to deliver approximately 45,000 tons of food, and
is pre-positioning emergency stocks in the affected provinces such as Ghor
and Badghis. From 23 to 28 October, WFP dispatched some 15,500 tons of
commodities for pre-positioning.

(b)  Food for Work (FFW) and Food for Asset Creation (FOODAC) projects
have made a clear impact in Paktika province, where a number of karez,
ponds and canals were cleaned and rehabilitated between May and July 2002
enabling over 14,700 persons to access potable water and increased
quantities of water for irrigation of agricultural lands. Food
distributions also contributed to the reduction of the price of wheat in
the local markets. Access to the Logar province has improved between April
and July 2002 by graveling 6 km of the main road. Many returnees from
Pakistan are now using this road with reduced transportation fares.

(c)  In Jalalabad, WFP staff monitored 15 schools in which 10,200 students
received WFP food assistance under the Food for Education (FFE) programme.
The number of students has reportedly increased by almost 50 percent since
the inception of FFE projects in the eastern region in April/May 2002. In
Mazari Sharif, 120,000 beneficiaries received bread and 231 tons of wheat
flour was confirmed distributed through the urban vulnerable bakery
project.

(d)  In Kabul, UNHCR has reportedly facilitated the return of 100 returnee
families (from Pakistan and Iran) and 82 IDP families in the central
region (Wardak, Parwan, Kapisa, and Kabul provinces). The families
received food from WFP as well as non-food items from UNHCR. The number of
returnees has dramatically reduced because of the upcoming winter.
However, some families continue to leave their homes mostly due to the
lack of employment opportunities but also as a result of the drought and
the insecurity.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 44).


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