WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 15 / 2003 - Date 14 April 2003


This report includes:

A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Jordan, (3) Syria,
   (4) Iran, (5) Afghanistan
B) West Africa: (1) Central African Republic
C) Southern Africa: (1) Madagascar, (2) Mozambique, (3) Zimbabwe,
   (4) Zambia, (5) Malawi, (6) Angola, (7) Namibia, (8) Swaziland
D) Asia: (1) DPR Korea, (2) Cambodia, (3) Indonesia
E) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia,
   (3) Ecuador, (4) Honduras, (5) Venezuela
F) Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: (1) Armenia, (2) Albania,
   (3) Serbia and Montenegro


>From David Morton, Director of the Transport, Preparedness and Response
Division (OTP); available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page
(www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from Carlo.Scaramella@wfp.org, Chief of the
Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (OEP).

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)  Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Jordan, (3) Syria, (4)
Iran, (5) Afghanistan

1)  Iraq

(a)  Contact was finally re-established with WFP staff in Baghdad on 13
April. Two staff members, who had been left as Officers-in-Charge made
their way to the WFP office and rang using a sat phone. They reported that
the office has been looted. It is hoped that more regular contact can be
maintained.

(b)  On 12 April WFP international staff met national staff in Umm Qasr.
The national staff had arranged a meeting with some 40 food agents, a
quarter of which were women. All were eager to resume a distribution role.

(c)  UNSECOORD led security assessments continue into areas that are
declared 'permissible'. Areas surveyed include: Az Zubayr, Safwan and Umm
Kayaal.  A security assessment mission to the northern governorates took
place on 13 April and the mission surveyed the cities of Dahuk and Erbil.
It will travel to Sulaymaniyah today 14 April.  The first wave of 30
international staff (five of whom are from WFP) will return to resume
activities as soon as the security assessment is complete.

(d)  A Working Group on IDP's has been established in Larnaca to monitor
the IDP situation and try to bring clarity to the numbers of IDP's being
reported from various sources. There are reports of a group of up to
30,000 IDP's near Iraq's eastern border with Iran.

(e)  The first trucks carrying urgently needed wheat flour began crossing
the Turkish border into Iraq's northern provinces on 05 April. Cumulative
wheat flour dispatches to Northern Iraq between 03 and 13 April amount to
4,500 tons, out which 1,000 tons were dispatched to Dahuk, and 2,000 and
1,500 tons to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah respectively. As at 13 April 2003,
WFP staff report that the cumulative receipts of Turkish wheat flour in
the three northern governorates amount to 2,862 tons.

(f)  Distributions of wheat flour began 06 April 2003. Some 2,830 tons
were distributed to about 308,000 beneficiaries in the three northern
governorates. Distributions were concentrated in areas known to have a
high number of IDP's staying with relatives. Direct distributions to IDP'
s included six tons of rice, sugar, vegetable oil to 276 IDP families in
Baziyan camp near Sulaymaniyah. A total of 389 families (around 2,334
people) have received some 16 tons of food. Some 374 IDP's in Ashkautwan
camp in Diyana district near Erbil have received about 2 tons of WFP mixed
food commodities.

(g)  Contributions to WFP's Iraq EMOP continued during the week, but
further resources are needed to fulfil requirements.


2)  Jordan

(a)  In Jordan, WFP continued to monitor the Trebil border crossing with
Iraq to gather information on overland transport, border crossing
movements and communications between Jordan and Iraq. The reception of
3,024 tons of wheat flour was completed. WFP continued to provide bread to
third-country nationals (TCN's) living in transit camps. Most of these are
Sudanese, with some Palestinians. UNHCR is in discussion with UNRWA
regarding the status of the Palestinians.


3)  Syria

(a)  In Syria, the Government gave permission for WFP to establish offices
at the border crossing points of Yaroubyya, Abu Kamal, Al Tanf and Faysh
Khabour, in order to coordinate humanitarian transit cargo. Hassakeh Sub
Office was reported fully operational on 07 April. The setting up of sub
offices in Tartous and Lattakiah was being finalized. Preparations
continued on refugee camps at Abu Kamal and Al Tanf border crossing
points. El Hol refugee camp remained operational.


4)  Iran

(a)  The situation along the borders with Iraq was reported as quiet.
Tehran is currently in Security Phase II, while western border areas are
in Phase III. There have been reports of up to 30,000 Iraqi IDP's in
Mehran in Ilam province, near Iran's western border with Iraq, but so far
there have been no reports of refugees crossing the border. WFP and other
UN agencies have continued pre-positioning relief supplies in preparation
for a possible outflow of refugees from Iraq.

(b)  WFP continued monitoring all 28 camps under PRRO 10213. The latest
quarterly monitoring results indicate a delivery rate of 95 percent of
planned deliveries for the year 2002, representing a 22 percent
improvement from the previous year.

(c)  WFP preparations to move 50,000 tons of foods into Iraq's 18
provinces under the trans border scheme continue. Transporters are being
prepared to discharge from ships and 10,000 tons of wheat flour is
expected to be bagged by 13 April. WFP is preparing the transportation of
5,000 tons of food to Sulaymaniyah as soon as the border reopens and
security clearance is obtained, starting with a test convoy of 200 tons.
WFP's main hub (EDP) will be Kermanshah, 550 km west of Tehran. Kermanshah
has a 7,000-tons capacity, with a possible additional 20,000 tons as a
stand-by arrangement, followed by Orumiyeh with a 7,000 tons capacity and
Ahwaz with a 5,000 tons capacity. WFP plans to prepare up to 500 tons of
milling with the State Organization for Grains (SOG) in Kermanshah, with
the products later to be trucked into Iraq. WFP has identified two
additional mills in Ahwaz area, with a total potential capacity of 1000
tons per day, as well as a 12,000 tons capacity wheat flour warehouse. WFP
has already pre-positioned 2,800 metric tons of emergency food rations in
the western town of Kermanshah, 550 km northwest of Tehran, while further
10,000 tons of wheat flour are being procured locally.

(d)  WFP met with the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs
(BAFIA) and the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to further coordinate
WFP assistance and trans border operations. The reopening of the Iran-Iraq
border for humanitarian purposes remains the most important topic of
negotiations with local authorities. Iranian borders have been closed to
regular traffic since the war started in Iraq, but humanitarian agencies
have been authorized to send aid convoys in soon. Pending the issuance of
final clearance from Iranian authorities, WFP's first humanitarian convoy
from Iran is expected to cross the border by early next week to carry 200
tons of oil to Suleymaniah in northern Iraq. WFP discussions with key
partners, including UNICEF, UNHCR, IRCS and NGO's, about the likely need
to establish supplementary feeding and/or therapeutic feeding operations
in Iraq continued. Possibilities of fortifying wheat flour were likewise
being explored.


5)  Afghanistan

(a)  The security situation remained volatile, especially in the Southern,
Northern, Northeastern and Eastern provinces, where military operations
continued in several localities. UN missions to various areas in the
north, northwest, east and south remained suspended. In addition, the
Kandahar to Rambasi, Kandahar to Chaman and Gardez to Khost roads were
closed for UN missions. All UN vehicles between Sayed Abad and Gazni
required armed escorts. Several international NGO's have suspended their
operations in Kandahar and in the South.

(b)  From 03 to 09 April, 436,100 beneficiaries received 2,400 tons of WFP
food aid, including 159,858 beneficiaries receiving 1,640 tons of food
under the Food for Work/Food for Asset Creation, 106,236 beneficiaries
receiving 72 tons of food under the Food for Education, 6,055
beneficiaries receiving 161 tons of food under the Relief and Resettlement
of IDP's and Refugees, 139,100 beneficiaries receiving 268 tons of food
under the Urban Vulnerable Bakery Projects, 942 beneficiaries receiving 1
ton of food under the Supplementary Feeding and 23,900 beneficiaries
receiving 256 tons of food under the Free Food Distribution schemes.

(c)  WFP's PRRO for Afghanistan began on 01 April with total requirements
of 618,989 tons of food, valued at USD 337.5 million for two years. As of
09 April it had been resourced at only 12 percent. WFP's EMOP would
continue until June to facilitate a continued pipeline and smooth
transition to the PRRO. In early April several meetings were organised to
inform implementing partners on WFP's strategy and its new PRRO.



B)  West Africa: (1) Central African Republic

1)  Central African Republic

(a)  The security situation in the country has changed dramatically with
the change of Government and the taking of power by General Bozize in mid
March, which eliminated the occurrence of "occupied zones" in the country.
Nevertheless, armed elements of the former regime are still in hiding,
blocking assessment missions to the most seriously affected areas. The
insecurity, which marred the capital during the coup d'etat on 15 and 16
March, has diminished significantly, and the city is beginning to return
to normal.

(b)  The looting of WFP's warehouses in Bangui on 15 March resulted in the
loss of 80.865 tons of food (31 percent of resources) under EMOP 10194
"Food Assistance to IDP's in northern CAR following events of armed
banditry in January and March 2002" and 419.061 tons of food (18 percent
of resources) under EMOP 10150 "Food Assistance to persons affected by
armed conflict in Bangui". The Government has been requested to recover or
reimburse lost commodities as per the Letters of Understanding for the two
operations. Emergency needs under EMOP 10194 will be assessed as soon as
security permits, and needs will be met through another operation, PRRO
10189.0, until lost commodities are recovered or replaced and
distributions can be reactivated. Any recovered commodities under EMOP
10150 will be distributed along with remaining project commodities. The
limited quantity of remaining commodities will be more selectively
targeted. The Government is currently identifying a new warehouse complex
in Bangui for future use of WFP projects.


C)  Southern Africa: (1) Madagascar, (2) Mozambique, (3) Zimbabwe, (4)
Zambia, (5) Malawi, (6) Angola, (7) Namibia, (8) Swaziland

1)  Madagascar

(a)  During the week, WFP and implementing partners distributed 149 tons
of food for Food For Work, post-cyclone/flood recovery activities and 305
tons of food for drought-related Food For Work projects. WFP met with
donor representatives and the Minister of Education to discuss the
continuing drought and food shortage situation in the south. Discussions
centred on the establishment of a larger social protection network and
current Food For Work interventions. During a recent workshop on short and
longer-term assistance for the south, WFP stressed the need to improve the
quality of education in the south. A site visit by WFP and the Minister of
Education took place on 03 April followed by a working session to identify
concrete and sustainable solutions within the education sector. WFP and
stakeholders are discussing the terms of reference for an integrated dry
lands management strategy.

2)  Mozambique

(a)  During the week, WFP distributed 804 tons of food in collaboration
with implementing partners. A joint WFP and National Disasters Management
Institute team visited the Massinga District in Inhambane Province to
assess the current food security situation. The localities of Nhachengue,
Chicomo and Liuozuane areas, bordering Massinga and Funhalouro Districts,
are among the more seriously drought-affected areas in the district. A
mission report will be released shortly.


3)  Zimbabwe

(a)  From 01 to 04 April, WFP distributed 6,039 tons of food in
collaboration with implementing partners. WFP is currently collecting
agricultural zone and crop harvest forecast data from the government's
Agricultural Research and Extension Service (Arex). This information along
with input from implementing partners, District Drought Relief Committees
and WFP Sub-Offices will be used to formulate a significantly scaled-down
distribution plan for May and June. This follows a March distribution of
some 57,000 tons of food to 4.7 million beneficiaries, and an April
distribution plan of 50,000 tons (no pulses or oil) to 4.6 million
beneficiaries. The reduced May and June distributions are made possible by
the harvesting of the current maize crop.


4)  Zambia

(a)  During the week, WFP distributed 4,204 tons of food in collaboration
with implementing partners. WFP and implementing partner Project Concern
International formed an Advisory Committee to assist with the
implementation of the urban intervention programme. The committee is
composed of representatives from UNICEF, the Ministry of Community
Affairs, the Zambian Community Schools Secretariat, the Society for Orphan
Protection and Empowerment and rotating representatives from other
stakeholders. Sensitisation campaigns for the use of bulgur wheat
continued in Lundazi and Petauke districts in Eastern Province. In
addition to demonstrations and distributions of brochures, airtime has
also been purchased on two local radio stations.


5)  Malawi

(a)  During the week, WFP distributed 5,649 tons of food in collaboration
with implementing partners. The World Bank Pre-Identification Mission for
Health and Nutrition Programmes at Schools is in the country for two
weeks. The mission follows an earlier exercise conducted in February and
will review issues relating to cost analysis and sustainability of the
school programmes. A phase-down of EMOP 10200.0 is underway. Informative
leaflets have been developed and handed out at distribution sites in the
three main languages. A radio programme "Story Workshop" is extending its
collaboration until 30 April to support WFP in delivering messages to
beneficiaries regarding ration changes in April to May. WFP will emphasize
HIV/AIDS, school feeding and supplementary feeding programmes in the
future Regional WFP EMOP.


6)  Angola

(a)  The movement of demobilized soldiers and their families from
Gathering Areas (GA) continues at a rapid pace throughout the country, as
the government officially announced the closure of most GA's. Due to a
lack of basic facilities at the transit centres, WFP is carrying out food
distributions for the people in the GA's prior to resettlement. WFP is
also working on a short-term food distribution plan for the transit
centres until the government assumes this responsibility.

(b)  Spontaneous return of refugees from Zambia and the Democratic
Republic of Congo continues with more arrivals registered during the week
in the eastern parts of Moxico and Zaire Provinces. According to the
government, there have been 130,000 spontaneous returns since the
beginning of the year. UNHCR is scheduled to begin a formal repatriation
by June targeting 450,000 Angolan refugees. A total of 424 persons arrived
from Kilweka and Mpete refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo to Kiowa Transit Centre in Mbanza Congo, Zaire Province. A WFP
mission in Sanza Pombo in Uige Province identified 4,914 people returning
to their place of origin in need of food assistance. WFP will provide a
two-month (April/May) food distribution to the returnees.

(c)  Humanitarian operations in Bengo, Bie, Kwanza Sul and Mavinga
Provinces are being hampered by heavy rainfall, which is worsening the
already poor conditions of roads and runways. In addition, the presence of
landmines continues to restrict freedom of movement in certain areas.

(d)  During the week a total of USD 222,419 was received in support of
PRRO 10054.1 "Food Assistance to War Affected People".


7)  Namibia

(a)  The Early Warning and Information System within the Ministry of
Agriculture has released preliminary findings for the 2002/2003-crop
assessment mission conducted in February 2003. The national coarse grain
production is forecasted at 109,300 tons. This production constitutes 81
percent of the normal production realized in 1999/2000 when 135,500 tons
was produced. The forecast cereal production together with operating
stocks gives a total availability of 168,900 tons for the 2003/04
marketing year, while the national cereal demand is calculated at 276,200
tons, leaving a provisional shortfall of 107,300 tons. A second crop
assessment will be conducted in May and estimates revised accordingly.


8)  Swaziland

(a)  During the week, WFP and implementing partners distributed 324 tons
of food to 20,895 people. WFP met with implementing partners to discuss
steps to be taken for an extensive beneficiary targeting review.
Preliminary estimates are for a beneficiary reduction from the current
265,400 to 152,000. The reduction is based on available information
regarding the current harvest and the expected price outlook for the
country. The retargeting exercise should be completed by the end of April.

(b)  According to WFP assessments, maize crops which were planted for the
second time in early January, following the failure of the
October-November plantings, have also failed in Mandlangempisi, Dokolwako
and Croydon Districts in the dry Middleveld, due to hot dry weather
conditions. In other areas of the Middleveld, households are expecting a
harvest of less than 50 percent of normal. Some areas in the northern
Lowveld have experienced zero harvests.



D)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea, (2) Cambodia, (3) Indonesia

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  Concerns over the occurrence of SARS in China and other parts of East
Asia are beginning to affect WFP's activities, including personal travel
in and out of the country.

(b)  Contributions of 2,000 tons of wheat and cash were recently
confirmed. WFP food distributions are currently expected to meet cereal
needs of the most vulnerable beneficiary groups into the fourth quarter,
provided all shipments arrive as scheduled. From this month local food
production activities face shortages in soya beans, needed for the
production of enriched blended foods for young children and pregnant and
nursing women. Additional contributions of 140,000 tons are soon required
to ensure continued implementation of WFP's programme throughout the
remainder of the year, including 105,000 tons of cereals, 15,000 tons of
pulses, 11,000 tons of corn-soya milk, 4,000 tons of sugar and 3,000 tons
of oil.


2)  Cambodia

(a)  On 11 April, WFP announced the creation of a new supply base for
emergency response, located in Cambodia, which will serve WFP and other
aid agencies working in humanitarian crises anywhere in Asia. The WFP Asia
Regional Response Facility will receive store and dispatch stocks that can
be rushed to a humanitarian crisis within hours of its outbreak. The
equipment will include items such as pre-fabricated offices,
telecommunications and computer equipment, forklifts, generators, light
vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, tools, spare parts, and fuel pumps. The
warehouse, launched at a signing ceremony between WFP and the Government
of Cambodia, is the first in a "four corners network" of shared facilities
near the epicenters of likely humanitarian crises. The centres, which are
linked electronically, will cover Europe and the Middle East, Southern
Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Cambodia facility is modelled on what
is currently WFP's only rapid response facility, the WFP warehouse in
Brindisi, Italy. While WFP will manage and initially stock the Cambodia
warehouse, it is expected that other UN agencies and NGO's will take
advantage of the services provided by this facility.


3)  Indonesia

(a)  The security situation in Aceh continues to deteriorate with signs of
increased violence and threats to the peace agreement signed in December
2002. During March, demonstrators continued to attack the JSC (Joint
Security Committee) office in Central Aceh, where 3 cars were burnt. A
shooting incident was reported 15 km south of Aceh Tengah district town,
in which 12 cars and 4 bikes were destroyed and two people were burnt in a
vehicle. An earthquake, which measured 4.8 on the Richter scale, hit
Kuningan in West Java, damaging or destroying around 100 houses. The local
government provided relief assistance. Many areas in Java and Sumatra were
flooded, with Palembang in South Sumatra being the worst affected area. In
NTT, food security continued to be of concern due to the impact of
drought. Fire in a slum in Jakarta affected approximately 1,000 families,
whom WFP assisted through soup kitchens.

(b)  During March, WFP distributed 5,773 tons of food to 1.45 million
beneficiaries, mostly women and children, under its Subsidized Rice for
Urban Poor (OPSM), Nutrition Programme (NP), and Internally Displaced
Person (IDP's) programmes. WFP and OCHA visited Papua in order to assess
the food security situation and carry out contingency planning. The
mission met local government officials and staff member of NGO's. No
significant food insecurity was observed in the area.

(c)  WFP's El Niņo assessment indicated that El Niņo conditions are
weakening and that near-normal conditions are forecast for May-October,
but possibilities remain of la Niņa developments later this year. El
Niņo's impact hitherto has led to lower-than-normal yields being forecast
across the country.


E)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia, (3)
Ecuador, (4) Honduras, (5) Venezuela


1)  Bolivia

(a)  According to the latest information provided by the National Civil
Defence Service 21 people died, 194 families lost their homes, 53 children
were orphaned, and 43 persons remain missing after the landslide in Chima
on 31 March. More than 100 homeless people have been transferred from the
makeshift shelter in a school to a camp, in order to allow for school
activities to recommence. Both the Government and the international
community continue to provide aid to the victims. WFP is sending
additional shipments of food and non-food items to Chima to support relief
operations, and a second WFP mission is now in Chima to supervise food
distribution and assess future needs.


2)  Colombia

(a)  900 people, mostly women and children, have been displaced from the
municipalities of Tibu and Surata in the Norte de Santander Department.
WFP has been asked to provide food for the children of Tibu. WFP continues
to work with returnees from the municipalities of Bojaya and Vigia de
Fuerte. Food deliveries are expected to reach 550 families during the next
two weeks.


3)  Ecuador

(a)  WFP is organizing/monitoring a food distribution to Colombian
refugees in Sucumbios.


4)  Honduras

(a)  WFP completed the first phase of the base line study of the
Nutritional Feeding Surveillance System in conjunction with the Health
Ministry, Pan American Health Organization/WHO, UNICEF, and INCAP. The
objective is to create a Nutritional Surveillance System in areas affected
by natural disasters, in particular drought.

(b)  Heavy rains over the last two weeks damaged 220 blocks of coffee and
plantain plantations in the department of El Paraiso, forcing some 65
families in the most affected areas to evacuate their homes.

(c)  Distribution of de-worming tablets through school-feeding activities
has begun in the Departments of Valle to 25,000 children and in Santa
Barbara to 50,000 children.


5)  Venezuela

(a)  WFP is monitoring the ongoing situation in Venezuela and some 200
persons, including more than 90 children, have fled the remote Rio de Oro
area of northwestern Venezuela due to armed clashes between Colombian
guerillas and paramilitaries in the border zone with Venezuela. UNHCR has
also received reports of some 600 persons, including indigenous Bari
people, fleeing into the mountainous region near Rio de Oro. UNHCR has
requested the Venezuelan government to provide the necessary security
guarantees to allow humanitarian staff to undertake an assessment mission
to the area as soon as possible.



F)  Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: (1) Armenia, (2) Albania, (3) Serbia
and Montenegro

1)  Armenia

(a)  The incumbent President was re-elected for a second term in a runoff
on 05 March. Both election rounds were marred with numerous
irregularities. Mass rallies and marches by thousands of protesters in
support of the defeated opposition candidate were daily events in the
centre of Yerevan throughout March. Supporters from the regions arrived in
buses to participate. The Council of Europe expressed a negative opinion
on the presidential elections. The Employment Centre reported that 127,979
people out of 155,607 seeking jobs countrywide, were registered as
unemployed, amounting to 82 percent. Almost 67 percent of all unemployed
people were women.

(b)  The winter frost, the harshest in decades, with temperatures falling
to 30 degrees below zero, has reportedly caused significant damage to
crops across the country. FAO is carrying out a preliminary needs
assessment in the affected areas to formulate profiles for assistance, in
close consultation with WFP.

(c)  During March, WFP distributed 1,368 tons of food at 132 destinations,
including 901 tons of food to 29,952 beneficiaries identified by the
Government's vulnerability index in Yerevan and the country's four most
vulnerable provinces. WFP also distributed 352 tons of food to 3,198
participants under its Food-for-training (FFT) sessions in 72 communities
and 115 tons of food to 956 participants involved in food-for-work (FFW)
projects, which included hospital, school and kindergarten repair works.
The school-feeding programme continued for 10,599 children with combined
inputs from the Government, UNHCR, World Vision and the benefiting
communities.

(d)  WFP's relief and recovery operation in Armenia is currently 38.79
percent funded. Closing stocks as at end of March were at 812 tons. New
donations of 1,108 tons of wheat flour and 498 tons of vegetable oil are
scheduled to arrive at the end of April. The pipeline break will continue
until their arrival. Projected food shortfalls until September amount to
8,093 tons, including 7.031 tons of wheat flour 572 tons of pulses and 489
tons of vegetable oil.


2)  Albania

(a)  The political situation remained stable but potentially volatile. The
main opposition party and its alliance arranged demonstrations in protest
against increased prices and alleged inefficiency of the ruling party.
Elections for local government councils are scheduled for October 2003.
Albania has opened negotiations with the European Union for the
Stabilization Association Process, but the annual report of European
Commission stressed that corruption and organised crime continued to
represent a serious threat for stability and development in the country.
During a meeting of the National Security Committee, the President of
Albania asked all concerned institutions to fight against organised crime
and promote institutional reforms and an anti-terrorism campaign. The
cities of Tirana, Durres, Kravaja and Kruja remained under Security Phase
I, while the rest of the country remained under Security Phase III.

(b)  In March, WFP's operational activities under PRRO 10165.0 "Assistance
to Vulnerable Groups in the Construction Of Community Assets" included
Communal Forestry and Pasture Management, Social Sector Assistance and
Community Asset Building through Food-For-Work activities, including
reconstruction of roads, de-silting of irrigation channels, installation
of electric lines and poles and installation of water pipelines. WFP
distributed 587 tons of wheat flour, vegetable oil and salt to 3,768
beneficiaries under the Communal Forestry and Pasture Management scheme,
1,510 beneficiaries under the Social Sector Assistance scheme and 2,036
workers under the Food-For-Work schemes. Complementary cash from the World
Bank loan to the Communal Forestry and Pasture Management scheme has been
minimal. The Forests and Pastures Department (DGFP) has requested WFP to
support additional communes with food assistance. WFP is currently
reviewing the request, together with the resource situation. During March,
WFP and implementing partners organized training activities on nutrition
and health care education, social awareness, legal aspects and
counselling.

(c)  The current pipeline situation covers food requirements until June. A
break in the pipeline is anticipated after that date if new resources are
not allocated. PRRO 10165.0 faces an overall shortfall of USD 4.69 million
and urgent additional resources are required.


3)  Serbia and Montenegro

(a)  On 03 April, Serbia and Montenegro became the 45th member of the
Council of Europe. A State of Emergency was introduced in Serbia on 12
March following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. Mr.
Zoran Zivkovic was appointed new Prime Minister. As of 31 March, 1984
individuals had been detained in relation to the assassination and in an
attempt more generally to curb the problem of organised crime, partly a
legacy of the Milosevic era. UN Security Phase I was introduced following
the declaration of a State of Emergency, which is expected to last until
Orthodox Easter on 27 April.

(b)  Cereal production statistics for Serbia were not available as of late
March. However, the first estimates indicate that this year's food
production will be lower than normal. It is also estimated that the wheat
reserves of the Government have gone down to around 80,000 tons from the
usual levels of 200,000-300,000 tons. Consequently, the wheat flour price
has increased significantly and wheat is being imported from Russia to
stabilize prices on the local market.

(c)  Following the recommendations of the WFP/UNHCR Joint Assessment
Mission 2003 for a more stringent targeting of beneficiaries, WFP has
reduced the number of planned beneficiaries from 119,264 in March to
109,469 in April. Further reductions are planned throughout the year. In
preparation of WFP's planned closure of activities next year, WFP is
preparing a capacity building programme for local Red Cross staff, who are
currently responsible for all WFP food distributions. Training will take
place from April to June.

(d)  January and February distribution statistics indicated that 93
percent of planned wheat flour, pulses and vegetable oil was distributed,
while only 39 percent of planned sugar was distributed due to the gap in
the pipeline for sugar in January. A pipeline gap in PRRO 10116.00 for
wheat flour is anticipated in September. Recent cash contributions have
been used for international purchase of sugar and local purchase of wheat
flour.


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

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Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
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World Food Program Reports                www.cidi.org/humanitarian/wfp