WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 47 / 2002 - Date 22 November 2002


This report includes:
(A) Africa Hunger Alert campaign
(B) Consolidated Appeals Launch
(C) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
(D) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Burundi,
    (3) Republic of Congo
(E) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho,
    (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe, (7) Angola
(F) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Sierra Leone (3) Liberia
(G) Mediterranean Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
(H) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan
(I) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Ecuador,
    (3) El Salvador, (4) Nicaragua


>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)  Africa Hunger Alert campaign

(a)  In response to mounting concern about the vast hunger crisis gripping
the African continent, WFP announced on 21 November the creation of a
global campaign to assist more than 38 million food insecure people. The
"Africa Hunger Alert" campaign is in reaction to spontaneous initiatives
originating among students in the United States and Canada and that now
stretch from Europe to Hong Kong. These students and community groups have
committed themselves to help generate an international response to the
catastrophic conditions in Africa caused primarily by shifting weather
patterns, as well as by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and, in some countries,
political instability and failed economic policies.

(b)  By announcing the 'Africa Hunger Alert' campaign, WFP is signalling
its commitment to link up with ordinary citizens to alert the
international community to the enormity of the crisis faced by millions of
food insecure people. WFP appeal to governments, private charities, NGOs,
citizens' groups and everyone who cares about fundamental human decency to
join this campaign. The scope and depth of this crisis is unprecedented
and it will require an unprecedented and urgent response.

(c)  The hunger crisis in Africa has grown particularly acute in the wake
of two major emergencies this year - in the Southern Africa region and in
the Horn of Africa. In the six countries of Southern Africa - Malawi,
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique - almost 15 million
people are threatened by starvation. In Ethiopia and Eritrea an additional
11-15 million are at risk - and the number could go higher. Without a
massive response, the humanitarian community will not be able to counter
these looming disasters.

(d)  WFP is appealing to donor countries to avoid a humanitarian
catastrophe, but additional resources are scarce. Government aid budgets
have been stretched to the limit while at the same time, drought in some
grain producing countries has caused sharp price increases, which means
that today's aid dollar buys even fewer emergency food supplies.

(e)  WFP is just one participant in this global campaign, to be launched
on 16 December and to run for at least three months. Open to everyone, WFP
will provide support, including a special page
www.wfp.org/AfricaHungerAlert on its website. Information on the crisis
and the initiative will be available to lobby governments. Participating
organisations will be able to promote their activities and ideas on a
special "Africa Hunger Alert" bulletin board on the web page. They are
also encouraged to set up web sites of their own and to join in a
coalition effort to generate urgent resources. The web page will also give
updates on how much money has been raised from governments and individuals
and how it is being used.

(f)  WFP Executive Director, James T. Morris said the international
community had a special obligation to respond in the wake of the agreement
by governments to implement the United Nations Millennium Goals during the
special UN summit held in New York City in 2000. Among other pledges,
world leaders committed themselves and their governments to halving the
number of hungry people in the world to 400 million by 2015.



B)  Consolidated Appeals Launch

(a)  On November 19 and 20 the United Nations launched the 2003
Consolidated Appeals (CAP), calling on the international community to
provide over three billion dollars to help fifty million people in thirty
countries and regions of the world.  The humanitarian crises included in
this year's appeals are Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Chechnya and
Neighbouring Republics (Russian Federation), Cote d'Ivoire (and West
Africa sub-region), Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Great Lakes Region, Guinea,
Indonesia, Liberia, occupied Palestinian territory, Sierra Leone, Somalia,
Southern Africa Region, Sudan, Tajikistan, and Uganda.

(b)  The Consolidated Appeals were launched in eight cities around the
world.  The Executive Director of the World Food Programme and Special
Envoy of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa,
Mr. James Morris, led the launch activities in Tokyo and focused on the
humanitarian crisis in southern Africa.

(c)  The theme of the 2003 Consolidated Appeals, Hope for the Future,
emphasizes the importance of providing hope to communities ravaged by
conflict and other crises.  Yet it also addresses the need to support
countries emerging from crisis or conflict, such as Afghanistan and Sierra
Leone, which require humanitarian aid during the critical transition
period leading to durable peace and sustainable development.

(d)  In developing Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals, the international
humanitarian community seeks to support governments in affected states in
fulfilling their responsibility to assist and protect people in need.  To
this end, United Nations Agencies, NGOs and governments work in
partnership to ensure common analysis and strategy development to promote
efficiency, accountability, and a good use of resources. These appeals are
dynamic; they are reviewed and updated throughout the year, and new
appeals are added as new challenges emerge.



C)  Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea

1)  DPR of Korea

(a)  The DPRK CAP launch took place in New York on 19 November.  A total
of USD 225 million was appealed, of which USD 195 million was for WFP's
emergency operation for 2003. The 2003 EMOP provides for distribution of
512,000 tons of food aid to the most vulnerable groups - children up to
the age of 10, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, care-givers in
child institutions and paediatric wards and hospitals, and with a focus on
the urban populations in the food deficit North and North East provinces
of the country.

(b)  As of November, nearly 3 million nursery, kindergarten, primary and
secondary school children, as well as pregnant and nursing women, all on
the west coast, do not receive WFP food assistance to supplement their
meager government allocations and provide much-needed micro-nutrients.
>From early in the coming year, many more, this time including those living
on the east coast, will also face ration cuts unless additional food is
pledged and shipped immediately.  This will come in the midst of the harsh
winter and at a time when economic reforms in the country have made life
more uncertain for vulnerable groups, such as urban workers and their
families, and especially those in the food deficit east and northeast
provinces of the country.

(c)  WFP urgently requires 26,000 tons of cereals to cover the needs of
vulnerable people on the west coast up to the end of this year.  In
addition, immediate pledges of 100,000 tons, including cereals and other
commodities such as Corn Soya Blend (CSB), Dried Skimmed Milk and sugar,
are required to meet distribution targets during the first quarter of
2003. WFP received a confirmed cash contribution of USD 266,000, which
will be used together with other cash contributions to purchase maize in
the region to supply Local Food Production factories for the production of
CSB.



D)  Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Burundi, (3)
Republic of Congo

1)  Ethiopia

(a)  The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission has announced
that its 2003 appeal, which will be prepared jointly with the United
Nations, will be released in early December. This appeal will be based on
findings of the needs assessment teams currently in the field, covering
most of the affected areas, including pastoral areas in Afar Region and
northern Somali Region. A final version of the Appeal in January will
include details for remaining pastoral areas, which will only be assessed
in December.

(b)  Reports from the assessment teams indicate that numbers in need in
the worst affected parts of the country are tending towards the worst case
scenario. In other drought-affected areas, where some harvests have been
possible, the mid-case scenario applies. Contingency planning had put the
overall number in need for 2003 at 10 million to 14 million, for mid-case
to worst case scenarios.

(c)  Further food aid pledges have been received from several donors,
reflecting widening concern and support for the critically needed drought
relief operations. Some of these will be used towards needs in early 2003,
when at least 100,000 tons a month will be required during the first
quarter.

(d)  In addition to major donor pledges recently announced for
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in various parts of the
country, these and other NGOs are providing food resources from
independent funding channels and are preparing appeals for 2003. The
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has
already issued an appeal for funds, for which response has been
forthcoming. There has also been an encouraging response from the public
who are giving donations for the Ethiopian drought both inside Ethiopia
and abroad through various channels, including the WFP Web site.


2)  Burundi

(a)  A Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for USD 69.7 million for Burundi
was released this week. The CAP indicated that WFP has urgently called for
40,000 tons of food estimated at USD 19 million to cover all its
programmes between November 2002 and April 2003.

(b)  Last week, the security situation was relatively calm in the east and
the centre after almost two months of consecutive attacks and looting.
However, confrontations continued in Bujumbura Rural and armed banditry
was reported to increase in the capital.

(c)  WFP continues to closely monitor, together with UNHCR, the movements
of refugees from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo who recently
fled to the western provinces (Bujumbura Rural and Cibitoke) of Burundi.
Some of these refugees have agreed to be transferred to the northern
refugee site of Kinama, Gasorwe commune in Muyinga province, while some
remained in Gatumba and Rugombo sites or returned temporarily to DRC to
assess the security situation. UNHCR indicated that over 16,700 refugees
were hosted at Gatumba and Rugombo sites respectively in Bujumbura Rural
and Cibitoke provinces.  However, this figure is subject to changes due to
the prevailing security situation in DRC.  WFP will continue to monitor
the situation.

(d)  Last week, targeted and emergency distributions continued to be
affected by food shortages and insecurity. Two distributions planned for
18,050 persons in Isale commune Bujumbura Rural province were cancelled
due to lack of food in Bujumbura warehouse and priority was put on the
emergency distribution to assist people displaced in Kabezi commune. WFP
was only able to supply emergency assistance to half of the targeted
36,300 beneficiaries in Kabezi commune due to insecurity.  The
distribution was postponed to this week security permitting.

(e)  In addition, WFP continued to assist Congolese refugees hosted at
Kinama site, Gasorwe commune in Muyinga province as well as Burundians
repatriating from Tanzania under the facilitated repatriation programmes
coordinated by UNHCR. Finally, WFP authorised dispatch of 234 tons of food
to feed 27,200 malnourished persons in supplementary and therapeutic
feeding centres through the country for the month of November.


3)  Republic of Congo

(a)  A significant number of people have left their homes in Mbandza
Ndunga, Linzolo, Voka (Pool region), following armed groups' threats and
arrived in Brazzaville around 21 October. Five IDP sites have been
officially opened by Government and a total of 5,000 families have been
registered so far. The humanitarian community has started providing
assistance to the displaced population. WFP has expressed concern about
the risk of food shortage, if people continue to arrive and made several
appeals to its traditional donors to contribute to the PRRO 6265.

(b)  Since the first food distribution in September to 23,000 displaced
persons from Mfilou, in south Brazzaville, a second and last food
distribution has taken place during October. Over 100 tons of food has
been distributed to 9,850 households.

(c)  During the month of October, WFP distributed 660 tons of food to
33,700 vulnerable people in Brazzaville, Pool, Bouenza, Lekoumou and
Plateaux regions through its PRRO 6265 and EMOP 6287. In Brazzaville, food
assistance was expanded due to the displacement of people from the Pool
region. In Bouenza and Lekoumou regions, food distributions were not
carried out due to the lack of adequate trucks for the transport of the
food from the WFP warehouse to the distribution sites.



E)  Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho, (3)
Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe, (7) Angola

1)  Regional overview

(a)  In each of the six countries covered by the EMOP, teams are being
briefed for the November/December round of SADC Vulnerability Assessment
Committee rolling assessments. Teams will be in the field starting 24
November. WFP is providing significant technical support and personnel to
each country assessment team.

(b)  A WFP consultant is in the region meeting with UN Country Teams, NGOs
and national authorities to plan the next stage of implementation of the
sentinel site system. Sentinel sites will be established throughout the
region to monitor the effectiveness of humanitarian aid in assisting the
target population and to bolster understanding of how food insecurity
relates to HIV/AIDS, nutrition, school drop-out rates, changing
demographics, and similar social and economic variables.

(c)  As of 18 November, the WFP EMOP 10200.0 was 56 percent funded. There
remains a shortfall of USD 223 million.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  Field reports suggest that the agricultural situation in many
districts is of concern. The area that has been planted is less than
previous years. Seeds and agricultural inputs have been in short supply.
Some crops, planted early in September, have been damaged by November
frosts. During the week, WFP distributed 1,150 tons to 88, 550
beneficiaries.


3)  Malawi

(a)  Four locomotives arrived in the port of Nacala, Mozambique, as part
of the Special Operation to upgrade the Nacala rail corridor into Malawi.
Farmers in the southern region are expressing concerns that seasonal rains
are overdue. Food distributions were launched in four districts under the
"Support to HIV/AIDS Affected and Infected People" programme. Some 324
tons of commodities were distributed under the programme to over 6,100
households.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  Heavy rains in Chinde District caused temporary suspensions of food
distributions and temporarily blocked access to the WFP warehouse.  With
the arrival of rains, farmers have begun planting crops in Sofala and
Maputo provinces. A dedicated fleet of 130 trucks is operating between the
port of Beira and Malawi and Zambia. As a result, off-take capacity in
Beira is expected to increase substantially in the coming weeks.


5)  Zambia

(a)  In some regions, due to the growing numbers of hungry people,
Implementing Partners are under local pressure to distribute already
stretched resources to more beneficiaries than planned. In response, food
monitors have initiated discussions with community-based satellite
committees to refine targeting and registration modalities in order to
reach the most vulnerable people.

(b)  WFP field monitors report an increased number of people eating boiled
mangos and wild fruits in less accessible areas.


6)  Zimbabwe

(a)  There are limited supplies of CSB, pulses, and oil. WFP is therefore
carefully prioritizing distributions to the most vulnerable districts.
Food distributions began for the first time in Nkayi, Matabeleland North,
where food monitors report a deteriorating food security situation and
quickly depleting commercial and government cereals stocks.

(b)  In some districts, dispatches and distributions are being interrupted
by inconsistent access to fuel. In most districts, field monitors have
reported increasing prices of staple commodities.  In Masvingo, field
monitors have reported that some rural families have started migrating to
the city in search of food and employment.


7)  Angola

(a)  From 13 to 20 November, WFP dispatched approximately 4,500 tons of
food to various provinces to cover the needs of the vulnerable populations
until early January 2003.

(b)  Many people in the Family reception Areas (FRAs) seem reluctant to
move currently, due to the difficulty of building houses at this time of
year and the risk of missing the planting season by the time they would
reach their village of origin. It also seems that a significant number do
not want to return to their provinces of origin, and are waiting to see
what alternative will be offered to them. Despite this there has been a
fair amount of spontaneous returnees and the Government has begun to
transport people out of some FRAs to their areas of origin.

(c)  Mine incidents in Huambo and Mavinga have reportedly caused the
deaths of seven people and wounded 14, while attacks on vehicles in
Malange and Lunda Norte have resulted in over 17 fatalities. These reports
have raised security concerns and will hamper humanitarian operations in
some of those areas.

(d)  Provincial vulnerability analysis assessments have been completed for
all provinces and recommendations are being finalized. A public
presentation of the national VA report is scheduled for 11 December.



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

1)  Côte d'Ivoire

(a)  On 21 November, UN agencies launched an emergency flash appeal for
USD 15.9 million to help some 3.9 million people in Côte d'Ivoire and
neighbouring countries. The appeal covers the period November 2002 to
January 2003.

(b)  From 14 to 21 November, WFP, in collaboration with ICRC and CNI
started food distributions for approximately 97,500 vulnerable people in
Bouake area. WFP, CARE and Action Contre la Faim are jointly undertaking a
registration exercise in Bouake to target approximately 160,000 people. A
WFP mission is currently underway in the northern region including Bouake,
Korhogo, Odienné and Man, with the aim of assessing food security, prices
and urgent needs for food aid. In addition, the mission is looking into
possibilities for establishing additional sub-offices.

(c)  In addition, implementing partners are continuing to assist IDPs in
the western part of the country. Arrangements have been made to assist 340
newly displaced persons for a period of one week. In Abidjan, WFP
continues to support 1,040 refugees registered in the UNHCR camp.

(d)  WFP's Logistics Unit is fully functional in Yamoussoukro with a
warehouse of a capacity of 2,000 tons. A WFP light aircraft based in
Conakry is flying twice a week between Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire,
transporting humanitarian personnel and non-food items (NFI).


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  No major influxes of refugees were reported in Kailahun from 4 to 17
November. However a, small number of refugees and returnees reportedly
made their way from Guinea into the two chiefdoms of Dembelia - Sinkunia
and Neya in the Koinadugu District. WFP continued to provide food aid for
new arrivals and for its current caseload of 13,200 refugees in the Jembe
and Gerihun camps.  Repatriation convoys from Guinea have been suspended
by UNHCR due to lack of funds and shortage of NFI for the returnee
package.

(b)  Countrywide, WFP supported almost 128,650 beneficiaries with 933 tons
of food aid from 4 to 17 November, through vulnerable group feeding
programmes (refugees, resettlement, returnees and institutional feeding),
emergency school feeding, therapeutic feeding, supplementary feeding,
mother and child health, food-for-training and safety net programmes.

(c)  Following the closure of WFP's helicopter Operations in October 2002,
the helipad and assets were formerly handed over to the Government of
Sierra Leone on 15 November. This operation was initiated in 1999 and has
benefited to the all humanitarian community.

(d)  WFP's pipeline continues to be well resourced, with the exception of
CSB, for which a break is expected in December.

(e)  The general security situation in the country was calm but the
situation along the border area remained tense as a result of fighting in
the Northern Lofa County of Liberia. UNAMSIL and the Sierra Leone Army
continued to undertake regular patrols along the Sierra Leone/Liberia
border, which helped to provide a visible presence and deter incursions.
Minor disturbances were also reported in Port Loko, which were viewed to
be a result of the forthcoming chieftaincy elections.


3)  Liberia

(a)  WFP does not expect major changes in the number of beneficiaries
targeted in November and December under its PRRO and the caseload should
remain at approximately 223,000 persons. Although, a 5 percent increase of
the IDP caseload was projected in December, the planned verification in
November may result in a reduced caseload, thus prompting adjustment in
the projections.

(b)  WFP is expecting to face breaks in its pipeline for various
commodities: the current stock of pulses can only last for three months
and a rupture is likely to occur beyond January 2003. In addition, the
current stock of vegetable oil can only last for one month and will be
insufficient to carry out distributions in December. 9,800 tons of cereals
are due to arrive within the next four months. Part of this shipment is
scheduled to arrive by the end of November and the balance in February. A
delay in the shipments would lead to pipeline breaks. In addition, similar
breaks are anticipated for salt and CSB.



G)  Mediterranean Region: (1) Palestinian Territories

1)  Palestinian Territories

(a)  Following recently confirmed contributions, EMOP 10190.0 faces a
shortfall of 26 percent. However, further contributions are under
negotiation. Current in-country food stocks in Ashdod, Jerusalem and Gaza
amount to 13,400 tons.  A monthly food allocation plan has been made
taking into account in-country stock and confirmed shipments, up to March.
However, WFP expects to face pipeline gaps for all almost all commodities.

(b)  During the first half of November, WFP, in collaboration with PARC,
Catholic Relief Services, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) and CHF,
assisted 178,400 vulnerable people in Gaza and West Bank areas. 2,460 tons
of food were provided under various programmes, including general
distributions for the most destitute households, FFW, FFT commodities.

(c)  After a brief lifting of the constant curfew imposed on the
inhabitants of Nablus city, the Israeli Defense Forces re-entered the city
for the fifth time during the past 8 months.  In response, WFP has started
an emergency distribution in the city, covering 10,000 families for two
months in collaboration with MSA. Up to date, the MSA has distributed
bi-monthly rations of WFP commodities to 3,000 beneficiary families.

(d)  In retaliation to a Palestinian attack on Israeli Defense Forces and
settlers on 15 November in the city of Hebron, the IDF imposed a strict
curfew regime on the city. Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, confirmed
that the curfew is expected to continue for a few weeks. In addition to
regular incursions and air strikes against Gaza City, the Israeli Defense
Forces continued to destroy agricultural land, including citrus fruit and
olive trees as well as vegetable crops in the Gaza area.

(e)  The olive harvest season in the West Bank is about to finish. As a
result of strict closures, Palestinian farmers are facing difficulties in
marketing the olive oil and the price of olive oil has subsequently
dropped. In Jenin city, the humanitarian situation remains critical.
Strict curfews were imposed on the city for more than two weeks,
throughout which a shortage in most of the basic food commodities was
reported.  The IDF's partial withdrawal from the city, where the curfew is
only lifted during the day, is however combined with a strict closure
around the city, preventing the movement of civilians and commodities. In
Qalqilieh, semi-constant curfews imposed for the past month has prevented
the distribution of WFP commodities from PARC's warehouse.

(f)  WFP was able to monitor distributions in the North, Middle and South
areas of the Gaza Strip during the first half of November. However, WFP's
monitoring activities in the town of Rafah were halted due to nearby
incursion by the IDF and staff were obliged to return to Gaza City. Access
was also restricted to UN personnel in the southern town of Khan Younis
mid-November due to insecurity. WFP staff cancelled planned monitoring
activities during this period.



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  From 13 to 19 November, WFP assisted 500,000 vulnerable people,
providing them with over 4,500 tons of food through various programmes.
This caseload includes 98,350 vulnerable people who were assisted under
general food distributions and a further 23,350 through Food For Work and
Food For Asset Creation projects. In addition 165,900 school children
received food assistance through the Food For Education programme and
66,000 IDPs and returnees received food assistance. Bakery projects
assisted over 147,000 beneficiaries with fresh bread and the supplementary
feeding programmes covered over 5,500 malnourished persons.

(b)  For those living in areas potentially inaccessible over winter WFP
has delivered some 40,000 tons of food or 90 percent of winter period food
requirements. In Kabul, WFP has completed winter pre-positioning for the
highlands, with a total of 20,300 tons of food in place to assist around
15,800 beneficiaries.

(c)  The security situation is stable. However, clashes between
demonstrating students and government troops were reported in Kabul as
well as some fighting between factions in the Helmand province (Southern
area). UN missions are restricted to daylight hours and must be concluded
by 17h30.

(d)  Due to a number of new contributions, the resourcing situation of
EMOP 10155.0 has greatly improved during the last month. Cereal and
non-cereal requirements for the last quarter of 2002 are now fully
resourced. Following the results of the WFP VAM assessment, the
requirements for the last quarter of 2002 and first quarter of 2003 have
been adjusted and amount to some 273 000 tons of cereals, against which
237 000 tons are expected to be available. Provided all expected
consignments arrive as planned, WFP will have sufficient cereals to cover
its requirements through February 2003.  No cereals will be available as
of March 2003.

(e)  The Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) that will succeed
the EMOP in April 2003 is being finalized and will be submitted to the WFP
Executive Board in February 2003. To ensure a smooth transition between
the two operations and prevent a break in the pipeline to occur during the
pre-harvest period when food needs are highest, donors may consider
contributing an additional 48,000 tons of cereals and 4,800 tons of
pulses. These contributions could still be made under the unresourced
balance of the ongoing EMOP.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  WFP plans to extend its emergency operation for Afghan refugees (EMOP
10043.1) until December 2002 in order to provide continuous assistance to
235,000 beneficiaries. A new emergency operation (EMOP 10228) for Afghan
Refugees has recently been approved by the WFP Executive Director and FAO
Director General.  Under this new EMOP, expected to commence in January
2003, WFP will continue to provide food aid to 288,000 Afghan refugees at
the new camps in the North West Frontier Province and Balochistan Province
in Pakistan. A Letter of Understanding, to be signed between WFP and the
Ministry of States and Frontier Region, is under preparation.

(b)  After various delays, including the recent elections, the first
distribution of WFP food to 15, 300 drought affected persons under EMOP
10171.0 was made on 9 November in Pishin District of Balochistan. This
distribution was done in collaboration with the UNDP- sponsored Area
Development Programme which has helped to organize the communities to
identify the most affected persons and take responsibility for the
distribution of food commodities. Preparations are underway to start
distributions in three other districts of Balochistan and Sindh through
the elected representatives of the newly established District Government
system under the devolution plan of the Government of Pakistan.

(c)  Upon the request of the Government of Pakistan, a joint WFP/FAO Food
and Crop assessment mission has been fielded to assess the impact of
drought in 2002, which has persisted for past four years. The mission will
present its findings to donors and the government at the end of this
month. A joint UNICEF /WHO mission is also looking at the non-food items
requirements in the drought affected areas.



I)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) Ecuador, (3) El
Salvador, (4) Nicaragua

1)  Colombia

(a)  WFP, UNDP, UNHCR and ICRC in coordination with human rights
organizations and local and national authorities recently met to agree on
an assistance plan for more than 2,000 IDPs who found refuge at the
University of Antioquia, Medellin. The majority are coming from La Honda
province where WFP is providing food support to over 1,000 children under
its PRRO 6139.0.

(b)  Heavy rains caused floods in the municipality of Tierra Alta, in the
province of Cordoba where WFP has complementary feeding projects,
affecting 1,025 persons of which 85 were displaced. Although no loss of
life was reported, these families have lost their crops and belongings.

(c)  WFP food deliveries continue to be affected by armed groups'
activities. In the western Antioquia, the provinces of San Luis, Cocorna
and Granada are isolated preventing IDPs from receiving food assistance.
In the Santa Ana province, beneficiaries of WFP FFW projects could only
receive part of the rations due to threats from armed groups.

(d)  On the way to the Choco province, a WFP truck supplier was shot at by
an armed group. The driver and the load were unharmed. However the
incident caused delays in deliveries and fear among the transport company.
WFP held a meeting with national authorities to discuss security measures.

(e)  Last week, WFP delivered 125 tons of food to 35 projects in 24
municipalities. This week, WFP was planning to deliver 140 tons to 189
projects in 10 Colombian provinces.


2)  Ecuador

(a)  Last week, the activity of the El Reventador Volcano has been
characterized by columns of ash and vapour that, in some cases, have
reached 5 kilometres of altitude. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
requested aid from the international community on 14 November. This
assistance would be aimed at short and medium term projects.

(b)  WFP monitored food distributions in the affected communities and
submitted an IRA request for the families experiencing food insecurity
caused by the volcano's eruption. WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture and
Livestock performed an assessment of the damages caused in the livestock
and agriculture sectors in the affected provinces.


3)  El Salvador

(a)  WFP is carrying out its second food distribution to children
suffering from severe and moderate malnutrition residing in areas affected
by the prolonged coffee crisis. Mothers are being trained in the
preparation of CSB, a major component of the ration, by WFP and the
Ministry of Health staff.  In addition, WFP will be distributing one-month
family rations to 1,400 families in the municipalities of Ahauchapan and
Sonsonate.

(b)  WFP's response in the northeast of the country under its PRRO 6089.0
continues to reach families without significant delays or problems.


4)  Nicaragua

(a)  WFP completed the delivery of 90 tons of food to 8,000 expectant and
nursing mothers and 7,160 children in the province of Matagalpa. A food
distribution was carried out on 15 November, assisting 364 heads of
households whose livelihoods were affected by the May 2002 floods in
Managua.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 47).

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