WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 50 / 2002 - Date 13 December 2002


A) West Africa: (1) Cote d'Ivoire
B) East and Central Africa: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Eritrea, (3) Rwanda,
   (4) Tanzania, (5) Burundi, (6) Uganda, (7) Central African Republic
C) Asia Region: (1) DPRK, (2) Indonesia
D) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Pakistan
E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional Highlight, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi,
   (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Angola
F) Latin America: (1) Colombia, (2) Cuba, (3) Ecuador
G) Eastern Europe Region: (1) Albania


>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)  West Africa: (1) Cote d'Ivoire

1)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  Heavy fighting caused thousands of people to cross the Liberian
border this week. As of 10 December, an estimated number of 32,000 people
have fled to Liberia in the past 10 days through 12 border points. 22,000
are reported to be Liberians and 10,000 from Cote d'Ivoire. Another 4,000
people have been reported to flee Cote d'Ivoire for Guinea.

(b)  The Ivorian Government forces continued to attempt to recapture the
four western towns of Danane, Toulepleu, Man, and Touba that were captured
by two new groups of insurgents last week. Government forces have retaken
the city of Man, but the area remains highly unstable.

(c)  WFP and UNHCR are preparing a mission next week to reassess the
number and prepare for the regular December food distribution. The
refugees and returnees that crossed the Liberian border in the west are
reported to be of satisfactory health, despite being exhausted after
several days of walking. WFP and other humanitarian organisations in
Liberia are currently assisting them.

(d)  In Yamoussoukro, a significant increase of IDPs from the western
region - Man, Daloa and Doukué - has been registered during the week. New
arrivals have been registered and assisted in the Mie N'Gou transit
centre. >From receiving and registering about 150 people a day, the last
week has seen between 240 and 390 arrivals daily. Most of the IDPs are
either transported to different coastal regions or settled with host
families in and around the town. Only a small percentage of the newly
arriving IDPs are being registered, as the great majority are directly
hosted by relatives and friends. The IDPs are currently assisted with
registration, basic needs and onward transportation by the coordinated
effort of WFP, local government, Red Cross, and implementing partners
(IPs).

(e)  The NGO Merlin reports that IDPs are fleeing from the fighting zone
all along the axe Daloa to Duekoué (west). The area is currently holding
more than 15,000 IDPs, in at least five different transit centres. The
IDPs are mostly children, women and elderly, and some of them are wounded
with gunshots. Local families are not willing to host all of them, due to
shortage of food resources and shelter. WFP plans to carry out an
evaluation mission starting as of Thursday 12 December, and food
deliveries are scheduled to take place at the end of the week.

(f)  Between 3 and 9 December, 236 tons of food has been distributed by
WFP and IPs through general distribution to about 29,000 families in
Bouaké area. In addition to the general distribution, 22 tons of rice and
2 tons of tinned fish have been delivered to the Monastery in Bouaké, 3
weeks supply for 5,500 beneficiaries, and 6 tons of rice and 3 tons of
tinned fish to St. Camille (amounting to 30,000 daily rations). St.
Camille is preparing hot meals at six different sites. The kitchens are
now reported to be feeding some 50,000 people.

(g)  When the general distribution is over in Bouaké next week, WFP and
partners will assess the food security in the surrounding villages as well
as discussing how to reach the most vulnerable persons in the town.

(h)  WFP is planning a second mission to Korhogo area on 13 December. The
purpose of the mission is to assess the requirements for setting up a
sub-office there to oversee the emergency operations in the north. The
mission will furthermore conduct sensitization regarding who are going to
be targeted within the WFP emergency programmes.

(i)  A one-year pilot proposal to "deworm" school children was approved
this week. A planned caseload of 40,000 children in 170 public schools
will benefit from this project.

(j)  The in-country stocks are sufficient for the planned distributions up
to February, except for pulses. Local procurement is almost completed for
the quantities released in the system. Additional 2,590 tons of various
commodities will be purchased locally.


B)  East and Central Africa: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Eritrea, (3) Rwanda, (4)
Tanzania, (5) Burundi, (6) Uganda, (7) Central African Republic

1)  Ethiopia

(a)  The joint Government of Ethiopia/UN "Emergency Assistance
Requirements and Implementation Options for 2003" appeal was launched on 7
December 2002. The appeal documents the major humanitarian crisis facing
Ethiopia as a consequence of widespread and serious drought. Using
findings of the teams who recently conducted assessments throughout the
country, 11.3 million people have been identified as needing more than 1.4
million tons of food assistance in 2003 (1.3 million tons of cereals,
124,400 tons of blended food and 4,140 tons of vegetable oil); an
additional 3 million people will need to be closely monitored. In total,
14.3 million people are affected by the drought, some 20 percent of the
total population.

(b)  The year 2002 was characterized by one of the worst droughts in
recent years. The poor performance of the short rains (belg) and absence
of rain in many lowland areas of the country in April and May
significantly affected planting and early growth of the long-cycle crops
of maize and sorghum, which account for 40 percent of national cereal
production. Poor short rains and associated agricultural performance was
then compounded by the delay of the main rains (kiremt) of between 1 - 1.5
months, which magnified the effects of the drought earlier in the year. As
rains did not continue past their normal cessation date, some areas had a
growing season of less than one month.

(c)  Pastoral areas are also affected, especially Afar Region and Shinile
zone in Somali Region, which experienced the lowest rainfall for five
years for both rainy seasons. As a result, many traditional hand-dug
wells, temporary rivers and ponds have dried up, leading to water
shortages for both the human and livestock population, and shortage of
pasture. Mid-2002 livestock mortality was therefore high and remaining
herds were left in poor physical condition. Water tankering will continue
in Afar Region and Shinile zone and has been initiated in the lowlands of
West Hararghe as well.

(d)  In addition to food aid requirements, the appeal includes needs of
other principal sectors including water, health, agriculture and
livestock, and stresses the importance of transitional asset protection
systems and the need for sustainable solutions to continue to be
identified, resourced and implemented. Food and related costs for 2003
total approximately USD 500 million; a further USD 76.2 million of
assistance will be required to implement water, health, nutrition,
agriculture and capacity building activities

(e)  The cereal food aid needs for the first four months of 2003 are
590,000 tonnes (118,000 tonnes for January for 7.3 million people; 132,000
tonnes for February for 8.1 million people; 161,000 tonnes for March for
9.9 million people and 179,000 tonnes for April for 11 million people).
While donors have indicated that further pledges will be made in 2003, as
of 12 December, only 80,000 tonnes of cereals have been identified from
current contributions for allocations for distributions in January and
about 50,000 tonnes for distributions later in the year. Most of the
original December requirements have been covered, but increased needs in
several areas may require further allocations.

(f)  Shipments of cereals (for NGOs and WFP) expected through Djibouti in
December total 90,000 tons, with a further 55,000 tons of WFP wheat
expected by the end of January, and 57,000 tons of cereals for NGOs and
ICRC by early February. The European Commission is expecting 20,572 tons
of wheat through Berbera port by early January. These arrivals will be
used for repayments to the Emergency Food Security Reserve. Current
supplies of supplementary blended food in country are extremely low. Loans
to NGOs of blended food by the WFP development programme are being
arranged from a shipment arriving soon, for total loans of around 2,550
tons. WFP and NGO blended food arrivals in December for emergency
operations are around 6,700 tons, in addition to 6,880 tons arriving for
development programmes.

(g)  Considering the present limited carryover stocks, immediate pledges
and shipment are required to avert destitution and famine in Ethiopia in
coming months.


2)  Eritrea

(a)  There are mounting indications that the crop failure in 2002 is
already impacting seriously on Eritrea. WFP reports confirm that distress
sales of livestock are on the increase, as farmers fear that a shortage of
fodder and water in 2003 will lead to their inevitable loss. While
livestock prices are falling, cereal and other foodstuff prices are rising
at a time of the year when they would normally be expected to fall.
Availability of some cereals in the local markets is already constrained.
Malnutrition indicators are on the increase, and while there is no
nutritional surveillance system in place, there is enough evidence from
hospitals and health centres attendance registers to indicate a
deteriorating situation, which will require urgent remedial steps.

(b)  The Government estimates a cereal shortfall of up to 400,000 tons,
which will have to be met through commercial imports or food aid.
Government plans to purchase up to 90,000 tons using scarce foreign
exchange, but is unable to finance the whole shortfall due to the
worsening economic situation of the country. WFP has appealed for about
200,000 tons (140,000 tons for the EMOP and 60,000 tons for the PRRO) in
the Consolidated Appeal and has received confirmation of some response.
However, much more substantial commitments are urgently needed to address
the anticipated need in time. The timely arrival of any assistance is
recommended in order to avoid port congestion, particularly in Massawa
Port. This should also take into account the limited contingency storage
possibilities in the region. Presently, WFP expects pipeline breaks as
early as March/April 2002 and requires at least 25,000 ? 30,000 tons
immediately to avoid a critical break before end of April 2003. There are
as yet no commitments to cover from May onwards.

(c)  WFP is also stressing the urgent need for non-food responses in the
areas of health, water, seeds, tools and fodder for livestock so that the
other basic needs are also covered and that the food impact is not reduced
or even negated by their absence. Government for its' part is also
re-examining current policies and strategies in order to determine what is
appropriate to confront the impending emergency which will enable it at
the same time to maintain its fundamental commitment to self-reliance and
avoid dependency in the long run. WFP has committed itself to support
practical capacity-building interventions aimed at addressing emergency
needs and appeals for the resources needed to ensure timely delivery of
assistance.

(d)  The 2003 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Eritrea was launched on
November 19, 2002. The focus of the humanitarian assistance will be on
mitigating the impact of the drought, which is threatening about 1.4
million people. According to GSE's estimates, 2.3 million Eritreans from
displaced, returnee and vulnerable communities affected by war and drought
will require food and non-food assistance in 2003. The appeal calls for
USD163.4 million, of which, 65.5% is required for food aid. Assistance
programmes in non-food sectors including recovery constitute 36% of the
total appeal.

(e)  During the month of November, 3,351 tons of assorted food, amounting
to 74 percent of the planned distribution, was reported to have been
distributed by the Government to 229,871 beneficiaries in Anseba, Debub
and Gash Barka regions, under the EMOP assisting people affected by
conflict. The distribution target was not achieved because of shortage of
CSB for the EMOP.

(f)  Over the month, WFP allocated about 561 tons of assorted food
commodities for the school-feeding programme in Gash Barka, Debub,
Northern and Southern Red Sea. Over 34,513 school children will receive
cooked meals in school in December 2002.


3)  Rwanda

(a)  During the month of November WFP distributed food to some 89,300
vulnerable persons in Rwanda. In the three camps in the provinces of
Kibuye, Byumba, and Gikongoro, 25,153 refugees were supported, while more
than 8,000 beneficiaries from Kigali/KigaliNgali, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri,
Byumba and Gitarama received a two-month ration in nutrition centres.

(b)  The repatriation of Rwandan refugees has accelerated since the last
sensitization efforts by the Rwandan Government and UNHCR at camps in the
Ngara region of Tanzania. As a result, 1,864 people were received at
Rusumo Nyakarambi transit centre in Kibungo during the repatriation week,
bringing the total number of returnees in Kibungo to 4,644 for November.
Each returnee received a three-month food ration package. WFP is making
preparations to respond to the increased repatriation by supplying the
Kibungo with sufficient food.

(c)  Schools involved in School Feeding activities have seen an increase
in enrolment. As a result, additional non-food items are needed in Kigali
Ngali and Gitarama. The number of students in Bugesera increased in 50
schools from 38,000 to 45,427 students, an increase of some 20 percent.

(d)  Eleven Food for work (FFW) projects, planned for implementation in
Kigali Ngali and Gitarama, were approved in November. The projects will
include swamp rehabilitation for rice plantations, and will supply
portable water to vulnerable families. In Gitarama, projects will involve
land terracing and swamp reclamation and potato producing projects. Some
31,420 persons will benefit from the projects, which will be implemented
in the most food insecure areas.

(e)  A WFP/USAID (FewsNet) Vulnerability Assessment conducted in September
and October in the high altitude regions of Kibuye, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri,
Butare and Gikongoro, concluded that food shortage is likely to occur for
most households due to a poor harvest from the last season, a long dry
season and delayed rains. WFP has responded by stepping up efforts to
implement FFW projects in affected areas, and providing support in
particular to school feeding, HIV/AIDS projects and nutrition centres.


4)  Tanzania

(a)  From 18 of November to 1 of December, WFP distributed about 3,215
tons of food, corresponding to a two-week ration, to over 525,000 refugees
in Ngara, Kibondo, Kasulu and Lugufu camps. WFP supplied 100 percent of
all items in the standard food ration, expect cereals which were
distributed at 72 percent. The cereal distribution had been cut due to
pipeline constraints. Unless pledges are urgently confirmed, WFP will run
out of cereal by February. WFP continued to support various Supplementary
Feeding Programmes (SFPs), benefiting approximately 19,000 malnourished
refugees.

(b)  During the same period, more than 900 new Burundian refugees were
received and registered in camps in Ngara and Kibondo.

(c)  Between 18 of November to 1 December, 954 Burundians were repatriated
to Muyinga and Kirundo Provinces, and some 2,681 Rwandans voluntarily
repatriated in Ngara. A total of 9,182 Rwandans have been assisted to
return home from the beginning of this year, while 26,039 Burundian
refugees have been assisted to repatriate between March 28 and November
30.

(d)  On 18 November, 59 elderly Rwandan refugees from Ngara camps
participated in the cross-border visit to Rwanda. Among the 24 women, 7
went with their children. The objective was to have them see the current
security situation in Rwanda in an attempt to encourage repatriation.


5)  Burundi

(a)  Security situation remained unchanged despite the cease-fire accord
reached by the Government and one wing of the FDD rebels. Attacks were
reported in Kayanza, Muramvya, Bubanza and Cibitoke provinces as well as
in Bujumbura Mairie.

(b)  A joint WFP/OCHA and Catholic Relief Services rapid assessment was
conducted in two communes of Rugazi and Mpanda, of Bubanza province, to
assess the urgent needs of the people recently displaced by fighting.
Looting and robbery perpetrated during the fighting, seriously
impoverished 6,400 households which the assessment teams could reach. Due
to the precarious security situation, these households cannot even access
their fields to harvest their crops. One assessment mission planned in
Mutambu commune, Bujumbura rural province, was not conducted due to
insecurity.

(c)  During this week, planned distribution in Kayanza province did not
take place due to security constraints. However, WFP resumed distribution
of 378 tons of food to 45,770 persons living in two communes of Ruyigi
province that have been inaccessible to humanitarian workers since last
October, due to armed conflict.

(d)  Monthly Food Security Assessment missions conducted in all the
communes of Kirundo, Muyinga and Ngozi provinces, concluded that prices of
foodstuffs were increasing, that the populations had no more food
reserves. Media has recently stated an increase of malaria epidemic in
Kayanza province. Malaria is one of the diseases that can negatively
impact the nutritional situation if it is not properly and quickly
addressed. The assessment confirms that malaria and diarrheic diseases
were noticed in Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga provinces, though not yet at
the epidemic level.

(e)  The lack of rainfall continues to be a problem in Bugabira commune of
Kirundo province and fields are starting to dry out. The same commune was
the worst hit by drought in 1999-2000 and people living in that commune
relied entirely on WFP food assistance. The situation will be closely
monitored.


6)  Uganda

(a)  WFP relief assistance delivery continues to face pipeline breaks,
particularly pressing is the shortage of cereals. WFP delivered under
various activities more than 1,000 tons of weekly rations to 122,035 IDPs
in camps, abducted/returnee children, extremely vulnerable individuals,
children attending school, and mothers and children in supplementary and
therapeutic feeding centres in the sub-region. WFP food aid remains the
major source of nourishment for the displaced population. WFP still
relying on borrowed commodities from in-country sources, Sudan and D.R.
Congo under PRRO 10121.0, in order to meet the increased food requirements
in the Acholi sub-region.

(b)  The security situation in the Acholi sub-region, in the districts of
Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, continues to deteriorate. The Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) rebels continue to assault the civilian population. Kitgum
district relatively peaceful over the reporting period, though Pader
district remains insecure due to LRA rebel presence. Continuous LRA
attacks have rendered Pader inaccessible to UN staff. A WFP food convoy
travelling on the Lira-Kitgum road narrowly escaped an ambush.

(c)  WFP food needs assessment planned for the districts of Gulu, Kitgum
and Pader that are affected by the prolonged dry season has been put on
hold due to insecurity in the sub-region. The displaced population expects
to plant the first season crops early March 2003. The food security
situation is expected to worsen before the next harvest in June-July 2003
due to the shortages caused by limited access to gardens and limited
supply of food items in markets.


7)  Central African Republic

(a)  The attempted coup d'état of 25 October and the subsequent fighting
have severely affected WFP operations in the country. The WFP EMOP 10038,
assisting refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo, did received
additional refugee beneficiaries, while activities under the EMOP 10094
were suspended due to lack of access, affecting the assistance to 5,000
IDPs. Assistance will be re-activated once the area becomes accessible
again.

(b)  For the WFP EMOP assisting IDPs in Bangui, some of the planned
distributions were postponed for a month, as planned project
implementation was modified to respond to the needs of the newly displaced
persons. The modified distributions included an immediate response to the
displacement of people in the northern neighbourhoods of Bangui, with 44
tons being distributed to 10,000 people, and distributions of 33 tons to
5,000 IDPs on the first 80 km of the Boali road north. Nine tons of WFP
food was distributed to IDPs in an extremely difficult situation along the
Damara-Sibut road directly north of Bangui. Distributions took place while
the area was actually being occupied by the Bemba Congolese troops called
in by the President of the Central African Republic.

(c)  For EMOP 10038, the number of refugees moving from Bangui to the
refugee camp increased due to fighting in Bangui, and also because
Congolese nationals were targeted for a certain amount of hostilities from
the local population. As a result, some 1,200 Congolese nationals took
refuge in the DRC embassy in Bangui. WFP, with the assistance of an
implementing partner, provided them with prepared meals. Although most of
the Congolese were not officially registered as refugees, the majority
were repatriated through the assistance of UNHCR, WFP and implementing
partner. WFP provided them with a 5 day pre-packaged dry ration, given to
them as they were getting on to the barge to cross the river to Zongo,
DRC. This was a model operation, with both WFP and UNHCR carrying out
their respective roles in an exemplary manner. The prepared meals at the
embassy and the small return packages used a mere 4 tons of food, but
greatly reduced the suffering of these people in duress.

(d)  Food distributions in the refugee camp continued as planned, except
that only 2 of 4 commodities are available. Vegetable oil and salt ran out
in July 2002.



C)  Asia Region: (1) DPRK, (2) Indonesia

1)  DPRK

(a)  Without immediate contributions, WFP will be unable to reach nearly
3.2 million vulnerable people with cereal distributions from early next
year. During November, almost 3 million nursery, kindergarten, primary and
secondary school children, as well as pregnant and nursing women - all on
the west coast - did not receive planned WFP food assistance. Even with
new contributions, distribution will not be resumed at the forecast level
before February, due to a lack of confirmed shipments.

(b)  Immediate pledges of 97,000 tons of food are required to meet planned
distributions during the first quarter of 2003. Commodities required
include over 89,000 tons of cereals, 1,750 tons of Dried Skimmed Milk
(DSM) to enable Local Food Production factories to continue to operate,
5,100 tons of Corn Soya Blend for nurseries, kindergartens and
pregnant/nursing women and 580 tons of sugar, mainly for nurseries.

(c)  Local Food Production stocks of DSM and cereals are running out in
all seven biscuit factories. Production of biscuits will cease in January
if no shipments of DSM are received. This means that 1.3 million primary
school children will lose their daily biscuit snack, and thus the vitamin
A and D supplements (from the fortified DSM) and iodine (from the iodized
salt). In addition, without new contributions all FFW activities may need
to be suspended for the spring season.

(d)  Shortages of continuous power continued to hamper threshing of paddy
in most provinces. Heating in child institutions is a serious problem.
Only one or two rooms per nursery or kindergarten are usually heated. In
provinces where fuel wood and coal are scarce, these institutions use a
mix of rice husk or maize cones, combined with coal dust, for fuel.
Nutritional improvements appear to be at risk as children must stay in
very cold rooms and are restricted in movement and play. In west coast
nurseries and kindergartens, meals have been reduced to one main daily
meal for young children aged six months to six years, due to the halting
of cereal distributions in November.


2)  Indonesia

(a)  During the month of November, WFP provided 1.68 million people with
6,466 tons of food through the Subsidized Rice for Urban Poor (OPSM), the
Nutrition Programme for mother and children, and assistance programmes to
IDPs.

(b)  Implementation of the nutrition projects was adjusted according to
the Ramadhan and the following holiday season. NGOs' pondok (feeding
centre) activity was reduced while the distribution ration of Delvita
nutrition programme increased to allow for households to build some stock.

(c)  WFP has finalised the community level poverty mapping for the capital
Jakarta. As a result, implementing partners in the OPSM have been
instructed to phase out from all heterogeneous areas and only operate in
homogeneously poor areas, by latest the end of January 2003.

(d)  The food pipeline is expected to break in July 2003. The total
shortfall during this period amounts to 32,430 tons. During November,
significant contributions were confirmed from the Netherlands (USD 5
million), and Australia (USD 3.4 million).



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

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  The security situation was calm in most of the country, although
discovery of explosive devices and general criminality were still an
ongoing issue in various areas. Restrictions against day missions to
Shindand district in Hirat were lifted.

(b)  From 4 to 10 of December, WFP distributed 3,223 tons of food to
444,000 vulnerable people through various activities countrywide. The
beneficiary caseload included 175,000 urban dwellers who received bread
under the bakery project, and 133,000 school children targeted under the
Food for education programme. In addition, nearly 67,000 IDPs and refugees
received relief and resettlement assistance, and some 62,448 beneficiaries
received 2,107 tons of food under FFW and food for asset creation
activities. Food distribution continued in Mazari Sharif and Hirat under
the Civil Servants Salary Supplement programme.

(c)  To date, nearly 52,000 tons of food has been delivered for assistance
to 1.3 million vulnerable populations living in rural areas across the
country that potentially will become inaccessible during the winter.
Another 700 tons of food needs to be delivered, specifically to the Mazari
Sharif and Fayz Abad regions.

(d)  The Government of the United States confirmed a new contribution of
30,000 tons of wheat worth USD 12.2 million. Following this contribution,
the cereal requirements for the first quarter of 2003 is now fully
resourced.


2)  Pakistan

(a)  FAO/WFP food and crop assessment mission has recommended emergency
food assistance for at least 280,000 individuals in Balochistan and Sindh,
in the districts which have not received rainfall for the past four years,
and where people coping mechanisms have been depleted. WFP intends to
prepare an emergency food assistance proposal for this caseload upon
receiving the request from the Government of Pakistan.

(b)  Preparations to continue food distribution in Baluchistan and start
in Sindh are underway. A temporary office is being set up in Karachi to
facilitate implementation in Sindh.

(c)  UNHCR in collaboration with Government and other UN agencies,
including WFP, undertook a re-registration exercise of Afghan refugees in
all the new camps of North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The objective of
the exercise is to re-establish the actual population and demographic
profile of the Afghan refugees, identifying the extremely vulnerable
individuals, and to issue new ration cards to eliminate the possibility of
multiple card holding. The same exercise are planned to be conducted in
Balochistan Province in January next year.



E)  Southern Africa: (1) Regional Highlight, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4)
Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Angola

1)  Regional Highlight

(a)  At SADC's pre-rainy season forum held 10-12 December, regional
meteorologists painted a bleak picture of seasonal rainfall to-date, and
predict adverse conditions for the second half of the season. A consensus
forecast along these lines will be formally released later this week. WFP
is continuing its own monthly monitoring of subequatorial rainfall
conditions, in collaboration with colleagues at NASA-GSFC.

(b)  WFP is at present closely monitoring, engaging the Country Offices of
Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, a number of
reported cross-border population movements of Rwandan refugees from camps
in Tanzania. According to UNHCR, Tanzania plans to close the camps that
had been set up for the Rwandans by 31 December 2002, leading to these
initial movements. At present there are 30,000 Rwandans in Tanzanian camps
that will be looking for asylum elsewhere, according to UNHCR estimates.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  In the weekly meeting of the cabinet sub- committee on Famine Relief,
the status of planting on the already ploughed land was reviewed. They
determined that only close to 50 percent of this land had been planted.
District officers complained about the slow delivery of the required seeds
and fertilizers. This will obviously have an adverse effect on next year's
harvest.

(b)  WFP food was distributed to 21,026 households representing 102,624
beneficiaries during this week. 1,051 tons of maize, 105 tons of pulses
and 42 tons of vegetable oil were thus distributed.


3)  Malawi

(a)  The targeted beneficiaries for December under the emergency operation
will be 2.3 million. The January target will be scaled up to 2.8 million.

(b)  The milling of maize jointly coordinated with the government is
expected to start towards the end of this week. Eight mills have been
identified in order to mill a total of 40,000 tons

(c)  Total receipts of food for last week were 6,944 tons and a total of
4,879 tons was distributed.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  No rainfall in large parts of the southern and central regions of
Mozambique are compromising the planting of seeds that rural farmers had
initiated last month. Most seeds may be lost without rainfall the upcoming
weeks.

(b)  Trains continued to transport food aid from Nacala to Malawi. From 22
November to date a total of 3,902 tons of maize was channelled via the
Nacala corridor using the railway. The milling of maize continued in
Palmeira and Chibuto. The total cumulative production amounts to 2,180
tons.


5)  Swaziland

(a)  Over this week, 978 tons of food was dispatched to IPs, consisting of
791 tons of maize, 114 tons of beans and 73 tons of oil.

(b)  WFP met with World Vision this week to discuss improved targeting
mechanisms. A workshop with WVI and WFP was agreed upon to clarify the
targeting criteria.


6)  Zambia

(a)  In Zambia an anticipated shortfall of 20,000 tons for the month will
be covered through an agreement with the Government of Zambia, which will
provide approximately 23,000 tons of grain to WFP for distribution.
Transport costs for this maize will be covered by a bilateral contribution
made by DFID.

(b)  WFP is focused on removing the genetically modified food out from the

districts in which it was previously stocked and getting it out of the
country. Efforts are being made to ensure a coordinated movement of food
in order to ensure the availability of the required storing warehouse
space for the replacement maize that is being moved into Zambia.


7)  Zimbabwe

(a)  With cereal opening stocks of just over 7, 000 tons against the
monthly requirements of 40,170 tons WFP has had to cut rations, providing
full rations to beneficiaries receiving their first rations this month
while previous beneficiaries will receive a half ration of cereals. The
low cereal stocks are partly due to delayed government decisions regarding
the milling of biotech-derived maize grain in the country.

(b)  The rains have started in earnest in most parts of the country,
though later than normal and interrupted by dry spells. A nation-wide
shortage of fuel deepened over the past week, with queues snaking for up
to two km at stations with supply.


8)  Angola

(a)  Despite two new donor contributions, WFP Angola is still facing
shortages in the key commodity, maize, from February. By March 2003, the
cereal pipeline will break affecting food aid distribution around the
country without further urgent donor contributions. Pipeline breaks for
other commodities are expected from April. The two WFP special transport
operations upon which the Angolan humanitarian community relies, are also
seriously threatened by a lack of resources.

(b)  Heavy rains are hampering deliveries of food aid by air to several
dirt airstrips including Mavinga and Cuemba. WFP has commenced, with the
assistance of SWEDRELIEF/SRSA, emergency repairs to the Mavinga airstrip.

(c)  In Huambo, a mine incident and discovery of other mines along main
roads have forced suspension of food distribution to 50,000 people. Four
damaged bridges are putting distribution in jeopardy to another 100,000
people. All Family Reception Areas served by Huambo are either not
accessible (Sambo) or with severe obstacles slowing down and endangering
access (Chiteta, Menga, Lunge).

(d)  The mine incident between Cujamba and Mavinga last week resulted in
closure of several roads in Kuando Kubango. Access to about 10,000
beneficiaries has been cut off.

(e)  In Bié province, a truck returning after delivering a cargo of
non-food items in Kuito hit an anti-tank mine on 7 December, between Kuito
and Huambo. The driver regrettably died on the spot. The road has been
closed for use by UN personnel. This is affecting distributions to
beneficiaries in the Katchiungo area and a safe solution to access these
people is urgently being sought.

(f)  In Kuanza Sul province, a mine incident involving a private vehicle
lead to the closure road from Sumbe-Seles-Ambuiva for UN personnel,
pending a full investigation. A Rapid Assessment in Pambangala commune
showed that the situation of the population is considered critical and an
urgent food intervention is required. During the week, a joint team of
WFP, MINARS and Movimondo began registrations but a distribution partner
has not yet been found.



F)  Latin America: (1) Colombia, (2) Cuba, (3) Ecuador

1)  Colombia

(a)  During the last week, WFP delivered 178 tons of food to FFW
activities and Community Kitchen projects throughout the country.

(b)  Food was reportedly stolen from WFP delivery trucks, clearly marked
with UN/WFP flags, at roadblocks set up as a response to confrontations
between armed groups in the provinces of Choco and Antioquia.


2)  Cuba

(a)  WFP plans to start distribution of food in January under the newly
approved EMOP 10239.

(b)  Food has been purchased locally and is currently transported to the 8
most affected municipalities in Pinar del Rio province, and Isla de la
Juventud. Distributions will consist of a daily ration of 23 gr. of
vegetable oil, 320 gr. of rice and 60 gr. of beans

(c)  According to the Government, these areas are still reconstructing
homes and clearing the damages caused by the hurricanes Isidore and Lili.
Progress has been made in rebuilding houses and restoring the power
supply. Yet, the overall recovery process has been slow due to the lack of
resources.


3)  Ecuador

(a)  WFP, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock,
and Municipalities of the province of Pichincha, is currently providing
2,240 food rations to families affected by the latest El Reventador
activities. The affected families are supported through FFW schemes, aimed
at rehabilitate crop and pasture, and cleaning irrigation canals.

(b)  According to the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic
School, the seismic activities of the El Reventador volcano is currently
low.

(c)  The seismic activity of the Tungurahua Volcano is continually rising.
On 7 December, a vapor and gas column reached approximately 1 km of
altitude above the volcano's summit. On 8 December 83 phenomena of long
duration and 7 vapor and gas associated tremors had been accounted for.



G)  Eastern Europe Region: (1) Albania

1)  Albania

(a)  Over the month of November, 3,720 families were supported under the
communal forestry and pastures management component. WFP also assisted 960
women who participated in the Social Service Assistance Programme, and
1,200 workers engaged in FFW schemes, with family rations. Some 250 tons
of wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses and salt, were distributed under
these programmes.

(b)  Five FFW schemes in Kukes, two in Lushnja, and three in Shkoder
prefecture, implemented in collaboration with implementing partners, have
been completed. The remaining two schemes are expected to be completed by
the end of December. Implementing Partners have submitted proposals to WFP
for new schemes during the first quarter of 2003.

(c)  A WFP assessment mission conducted in November indicated that poverty
alleviation remains the main area of concern for the mountainous region of
Albania, where people have limited access to food and income
opportunities.

(d)  To date, the PRRO has secured contributions representing about 40
percent of the required resources. Donor contributions are urgently
required to ensure continued food distributions to vulnerable people.

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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 50).

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