WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 18 / 2003 - Date 02 May 2003


This report includes:

A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Jordan, (3) Afghanistan
B) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) Eritrea, (3) Ethiopia
C) West Africa: (1) Cote d'Ivoire, (2) Sierra Leone
D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Comoros, (3) Madagascar,
   (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Lesotho, (7) Zimbabwe,
   (8) Malawi, (9) Tanzania, (10) Zambia, (11) Angola, (12) Namibia
E) Asia: (1) DPR Korea
F) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Regional, (2) Bolivia,
   (3) Colombia, (4) Ecuador, (5) Guatemala, (6) Nicaragua


>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) Afghanistan

1)  Iraq

(a)  Security Council Resolution 1476, extending the provisions of
paragraph 4 of SCR 1472 until 03 June was adopted on 24 April. Resolution
1476 is essentially a technical rollover allowing the UN to identify
approved priority goods for the humanitarian programme in Iraq in the
current Oil for Food Programme pipeline which can be shipped by 03 June
instead of 12 May, the previous deadline. The Resolution may be subject to
further renewal by the Council, depending on the outcome of current
negotiations regarding the possible lifting of sanctions and the future of
the Oil-for-Food Programme.

(b)  The WFP Regional Coordinator arrived in Baghdad on 01 May as part of
an inter-agency mission led by the UNOCHI Humanitarian Coordinator. For
WFP, the priority will be determining the status of the Public
Distribution System (PDS) and meetings with representatives of the
Ministry of Trade (MOT) will take place over the weekend.

(c)  WFP opened the fifth logistics corridor into Iraq this week with the
dispatch from Kuwait of some 880 tons of wheat destined for Nassirya. WFP
now has five corridors operating from Jordan, Iran, Turkey, Kuwait and
Syria, with an average of 4,000 tons of food dispatched into Iraq each
day. As of 01 May, WFP dispatches to Iraq amounted to almost 74,000 tons
of food. WFP will continue to build stocks inside Iraq to have enough food
when the Public Distribution System (PDS) is re-activated some time next
month. Each month, WFP is planning to distribute nearly half a million
tons of food to 27 million Iraqis.

(d)  The first WFP vessel arrived at the Iraqi Port of Umm Qasr on 02 May
carrying 14,000 tons of rice. In preparation for this, the WFP Port
Captain visited the port early in the week and met with senior port
management staff including the Iraqi team and the British Military Port
Administrators. Discussions centred on how the port operated under the
former regime and how it could operate in the post war scenario.

(e)  A WFP assessment team visited Basrah on 26 April. The 7-person
mission split into three groups to visit the silo, mill and warehouse
complex and meet with WFP national staff and MOT officials. The MOT
warehouses were in fairly good condition and are currently under the
protection of the Coalition Forces. Little repair work will need to be
done in order for the warehouses to be ready to receive food stocks. There
are some physical stocks and MOT will recall warehouse workers to clean
the stores and do a stock take in the coming days. The Basrah MOT workers
received their USD 20 'emergency' payment from the Coalition Forces this
week. The mission also visited a market in Basrah. Supplies are available,
including tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, aubergines, onions, potatoes,
pickles and fish, but prices are high. Long lines are still visible at
petrol stations and shops remain closed. Many shops/restaurants have
bricked up their doors and windows to stop looters. The Mine Action
Assessment team will start to assess warehouses and silos. Daily contact
is now established with national staff in Karbala, Najaf, Nassariya and
Mosul, where an assessment of the Public Distribution System (PDS) is
under way, expected to be completed by next week.

(f)  MOT warehouse staff in Najaf reported that the warehouse is in good
condition, with little damage or loss from looting. Three generators and
13 forklifts are in good condition. Stocks are 8,000 tons of sugar, 50
tons of tea, 100 tons of infant formula, 950 tons of detergent and 500
tons of soap. MOT staff in Najaf also reported that they are currently
distributing August food rations to the 40 percent of the population, who
have not received food before the outbreak of war.

(g)  WFP staff in Basra was able to retrieve the records of all 1.8
million beneficiaries of food rations in the province, thus facilitating
the delivery of food rations when the Public Distribution System is
reactivated this month.

(h)  WFP continues wheat flour distribution in the northern governorates.
In Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah some 21,300 tons has been distributed to
approximately 2.2 million people. These distributions are part of the
regular monthly food rations.

(i)  In addition, as part of the Nutritional Programme, WFP supports
vulnerable groups, including pregnant and nursing women, birth attendants,
residents in hospitals and social institutions and health workers.
Distributions to these groups over the past week totalled 651 tons of
assorted commodities to around 74,250 beneficiaries in the three northern
governorates.

(j)  Other food distributions included 269 tons of High Energy Biscuits
(HEB) to 512 primary school students in Dahuk and Erbil under the School
Feeding Programme and 14 tons of food aid to 1,641 IDP's.

(k)  Following a request from the Department of Health in Mosul, WFP has
provided 147 tons of wheat-soya milk, 680 tons of vegetable oil and wheat
flour to some 1,500 hospital patients. WFP national staff in Mosul
conducted a two-day assessment last week to determine the condition of
these patients prior to the provision of assistance.


2)  Jordan

(a)  On 30 April two ships were to dock at Aqaba port with 38,500 tons of
food donated for WFP's operation in Iraq. Grain from the first ship would
be off-loaded and milled and then forwarded to WFP warehouses inside Iraq
for distribution, while 10,000 tons of wheat flour from the second ship
was to be loaded directly onto trucks heading to Iraq.


3)  Afghanistan

(a)  In the North, fighting broke out between local commanders in Khulm
district of Balkh province. All UN missions to Khulm district have been
suspended. A hand grenade exploded in the compound of the United Nations
Office of Drug Control in Jalal Abad, inflicting no casualties. In Jalal
Abad, three National Army soldiers were killed and six injured in a
landmine explosion. In the rest of the country, the security situation
remained calm.

(b)  From 24 to 30 April, WFP assisted 529,200 beneficiaries with 2,200
tons of food through Food For Education, Relief and Resettlement of IDP's
and refugees, Urban Vulnerable Bakeries, Supplementary and Free Food
Distribution, Food For Work and Institutional Feeding projects.

(c)  In Fayz Abad, an inter-agency food needs assessment mission
recommended one-month food assistance to 203 families who fled to Dasht
Rabot village, because of floods at Yakabagh village, Takhar province.
Meetings took place with the Departments of Education of Parwan and Kabul
provinces, to discuss the implementation modalities of the Food for
Teachers programme.



B)  East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) Eritrea, (3) Ethiopia

1)  Burundi

(a)  Insecurity continued during the week with continued shelling in
Ruyigi and Kayanza provinces and in the vicinity of the airport in the
capital, Bujumbura. No loss of human life was reported but offices of 3
NGO's working in Ruyigi province were damaged. Clashes between the army
and FNL and FDD fighters were reported in Kayanza, Gitega, Bubanza and
Bujumbura Rural provinces. Several ambushes of civilian cars were also
reported in different areas of the country. Following insecurity, some
roads were temporarily closed to traffic in Bubanza and Gitega provinces.

(b)  During the week, 125 of the expected 3,500 peacekeeping troops
arrived in Burundi to oversee the cease-fire implementation by
belligerents in the Burundian conflict. On 30 April, the President
relinquished his post to the Vice-President, as mandated in the Arusha
peace agreement on the management of the transitional period. The new
leadership is expected to end the conflict and bring back peace and
stability in Burundi within a period of 18 months as well as to organise
democratic elections.

(c)  WFP distributed 793 tons of food through various activities. However,
387 tons planned for targeted beneficiaries were not distributed due to
lack of military escorts in insecure areas. 1,155 tons of cereals and
107.5 tons of corn-soya blend were received from Kigoma and Shinyanga in
Tanzania. As of 28 April, in-country stocks stood at 3,219 tons. An
additional 1,247 tons of cereals and corn-soya blend are to be offloaded
from trucks and barges and 5,478 tons of cereals is in transit to Burundi.


2)  Eritrea

(a)  Water continues to be a critical problem across the country. On 30
April UNICEF and WFP signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to collaborate
in the provision of emergency assistance to HIV/AIDS affected persons and
their families, moderate and severely malnourished children, pregnant and
nursing women and primary school children. In addition to other points,
the agreement emphasized the need for close collaboration in water and
sanitation activities in schools benefiting from the school-feeding
programme, including provision of water containers and if possible water
trucks. UNICEF has delivered 4000 litre water containers in Anseba and SRS
regions, in support of 65 schools benefiting from WFP school feeding
activities.

(b)  WFP has extended support to five hospitals in Debub region to
implement Therapeutic Feeding Programmes (TFP). This brings the total
number of TFP sites to 20, which represent 99 percent of the total
hospitals in the country. WFP plans also to support about 20,000
beneficiaries through the Supplementary Feeding Programme implemented by
the Ministry of Health.

(c)  A rapid assessment on the impact of drought in the Senafe sub region
of Debub was recently conducted. Results showed significant strain on
households' traditional coping mechanisms such as the sale of chicken and
eggs. Villagers were heavily reliant on the limited food aid available,
which was being shared among all community members. The Head of Meseraha
Health Station reported that 52.2 percent of the children monitored under
its Growth Monitoring Programme were malnourished.

(d)  During the week new contributions were confirmed, bringing the total
amount of pledged contributions to about USD 34 million against a total
appeal for the 2003 PRRO of USD 100 million.


3)  Ethiopia

(a)  Floods have hit Kelafo and Mustahil districts in southern Somali
Region along the Wabi Shebelle, a result of very heavy rains in the
highlands since mid-April. WFP is in Kelafo assessing the impact of the
floods, and the regional government is to conduct a survey soon.
Contingency response plans are being prepared. Flooding is needed in the
area for flood-recession agriculture (not possible for the last two years
as river levels were too low) but there will be an immediate negative
impact on the population because of displacement of people from their
homes in villages near the river, submersion of low-lying fields where
some vegetables are grown using small scale irrigation, and increased
health hazards. Food distributions have been taking place in the area in
recent months due to an extended period of drought and are scheduled to
continue, though needs may need to be adjusted in view of the flooding.
UNICEF and the regional government to nearby Gode town are transporting
non-food items including emergency medical kits and shelter material and
jerry cans. The situation in other parts of southern Somali Region, such
as Dolo Bey district on the border with Kenya and Somalia, is being
monitored. Flooding is also a danger in areas downstream in Somalia.

(b)  Recent nutritional surveys in drought-affected parts of Southern
Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region have revealed further areas of
concern in the densely populated Wolayita zone. Preliminary findings of a
nutritional survey conducted by MSF-Switzerland in Damot Gale district
reveal a critical global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 27.1 percent and
severe acute malnutrition (SAM) of 8.2 percent. Therapeutic feeding has
immediately been put in place by MSF-Switzerland and a programme of
blanket supplementary rations to under-five children is being set up. WFP
will be working with the government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
Commission to provide supplies of fortified blended food to the area to be
included in general rations. Damot Gale was one of several districts in
SNNPR recently reassessed by multi-agency teams, and beneficiary numbers
were increased as a result. Increased food allocations for the district
were already made for March, ahead of the recent reassessment.

(c)  Several factors have led to the increase in population in need in
drought-affected parts of SNNPR (up 324,600 from the previous assessment
of approximately 1.1 million, out of a total population in SNNPR of some
12 million). These include underestimation of the crop in the November
assessment; chronic underlying issues of deep poverty and small land
holdings which result in a food gap of several months even in good years;
the cumulative and on-going impact of poor rains in 2002, which led to the
late planting of sweet potato, a crop which would otherwise be harvested
and consumed in February and March; and the delay of the current Belg
rains (which have been falling since mid-April) which mean that vegetable
crops usually planted with rain in February are not yet available.

(d)  Another recent nutritional survey, in Fik zone of Somali Region, has
also shown an alarming situation of 33.9 percent GAM and 6.4 percent SAM
in two districts and 31 percent GAM and 3.8 percent SAM in three other
districts. A serious food insecurity situation due to drought has been
exacerbated by delays in distributions by local administration of relief
food provided by SC-UK, the lack of supplementary food, an increase in
beneficiary numbers due to an influx of people from neighbouring zones and
persistent clan conflicts, and a lack of targeting. Security problems have
affected transportation of food and SC-UK's presence in the zone. Cereal
rations are now being distributed and efforts are being made to increase
supplies of blended food to the zone. Current rains in the area will
improve pasture for livestock, but an improvement in milk production,
crucially needed to improve the nutritional status of children, cannot be
expected immediately.



C)  West Africa: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Sierra Leone

1) Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  The current heavy fighting between various armed factions in the
western part of the country is expected to have a serious impact on the
humanitarian situation on the ground. New displaced people, mainly
Burkinabes were registered in Man by ICRC this week. They receive food aid
and other assistance at Sainte Therese Transit Centre. More displaced
people are expected in the near future and WFP was approached by ICRC to
take over any additional displaced people beyond ICRC threshold capacity.

(b)  The first WFP flight landed at Man Airport on 25 April, constituting
a first step for WFP and the entire humanitarian community in Côte
d'Ivoire for better access to Man city and the western part of the
country.

(c)  The UN Consolidated Appeal for Cote d'Ivoire and five neighbouring
countries was launched on 29 April in Abidjan. Representatives from the
new power-sharing government including Prime Minister Diarra, the donor
community, UN & other international organisations, and local &
international media were present. The new appeal for USD 85.8 million
covers the period May to December. WFP's share on Food Security amounts to
USD 15.64 million.

(d)  From 24 to 30 April, WFP assisted more than 70,000 displaced and
other vulnerable people across the country.


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  The security situation across the country, including border areas,
remained calm and stable during the week. The new Bellu/Dandu bridge used
for crossing Sierra Leonean returnees into the country via eastern
Kailahun district was washed away on 20 April by heavy rain. UNHCR has
resolved to re-channel the remaining convoys through the western Port Loko
district until they can repair the bridge. Despite that situation, nearly
5,000 Sierra Leoneans were resettled to their home areas during the
reporting period and they each received a food package of 2 months VGF
ration.

(b)  Repatriation continued along the Kambia/Port Loko axis for those
Sierra Leoneans returning to Kono and other locations other than Kailahun.
WFP provided wet feeding at the Port Loko way station for approximately
500 people. The distribution of Mebendazole and Iron Folate in 94 school
commenced in the Kenema district. This was followed with a sensitization
on de-worming and anaemia preventive treatment. This initiative is a joint
venture with Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WFP and Ministry of Education.

(c)  WFP assisted 83,119 beneficiaries across the country with 834 tons of
food during the second half of April.



D)  Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Comoros, (3) Madagascar, (4)
Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Lesotho, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Malawi, (9)
Tanzania, (10) Zambia, (11) Angola, (12) Namibia

1)  Regional

(a)  The maize harvest has begun in South Africa where a surplus of around
4 million tons of maize is now forecast. This has resulted in very
significant declines in the prices of both white and yellow maize. The
April average monthly price for South African maize fell to the equivalent
of USD 103 ton, a reduction of 40 percent from the corresponding month in
2002. The fall would have been even greater had it not been for the
strengthening of the rand over the same period. WFP expects that this will
present opportunities to purchase significant additional quantities of
maize for its operations elsewhere in Africa.


2)  Comoros

(a)  Torrential rains hit the island of Moheli on 26 April destroying the
island's water distribution system and washing away homes, maize fields
and livestock. Close to 80 percent of Moheli's 36,000 inhabitants make a
living from agriculture and fishing. The Red Crescent has appealed for
potable water, food, clothes and basic medicines. WFP has been in contact
with the Resident Coordinator of UNDP in the Comoros and is awaiting
further news as to the food security situation of the communities
inhabiting the island.


3)  Madagascar

(a)  From 23 to 30 April, WFP distributed 30 tons of food to 2,767 Food
for Work participants in the most severely drought-affected areas. The
General Commission for Integrated Development in the South reported a
distribution of 560 tons of rice from the Government donated 1,000 tons
which was earmarked for free distribution by local NGOS and church
organizations. On 23 April a Government convoy arrived in Ambovombe, one
of the worst affected areas of the south, with relief items including
food, water, blankets and medicine. The items were purchased with funds
from a countrywide telethon, which raised a total of USD 54,000.

(b)  According to a local NGO that has operated in the south during the
last 13 years, the current nutritional situation is similar to that during
the drought in 1991 with the death toll from malnutrition exceeding the
figures of the last three years. A WFP needs assessment mission is
currently in the drought affected area and will present it findings in
mid-May. WFP is gearing up to increase its rate of distribution from the
current low levels, which result from resource restraints.

(c)  The EU funded Early Warning System has estimated that 270,200 people
in 18 communes will require some 7,296 tons of food for the period
September to November 2003. In the meantime, they recommend that WFP and
other humanitarian agencies continue to assist people until the next
harvest is expected at the end of June 2003. The Early Warning System also
reported that the cost of potable water is high in most of the communes,
limiting the financial resources people have for food purchases and
dramatically reducing food security in the area. The limited access to
water and poor hygienic conditions associated with this situation make
increasing supplies of clean water a high priority issue.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  During 22 to 28 April, WFP distributed 2,536 tons of food in
collaboration with implementing partners.

(b)  WFP held meetings with FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National
Disasters Management Institute, the Famine Early Warning System Network
and the Vulnerability Assessment Committee to discuss arrangements for the
joint WFP/FAO Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM). The CFSAM
team started work on 28 April, meeting in Maputo with UN agencies,
Government representatives and NGO's. Fieldwork will begin on 01 May.

(c)  FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture have expressed their interest in
rehabilitating the irrigation systems in Mubique and Mucambe in Panda
District, Inhambane Province, through Food for Work activities. A WFP, FAO
and Ministry of Agriculture team will visit both locations from 05 to 09
May in order to obtain a better understanding of the food security
situation in the area.


5)  Swaziland

(a)  Since the beginning of the harvest season, the standard price of
maize set by the National Maize Corporation has dropped by 35 percent from
E115.00 (USD 14.4) to E75.00 (USD 9.4) per 50-kilo bag. The drop in the
price of maize was anticipated and taken into account in the recent
reduction in beneficiary numbers from 265,000 in March to 152,000 for the
period April to June.

(b)  WFP began investigating the theft of 6.2 tons of maize and 650 kilos
of pulses from the Lutheran Development Service warehouse. The theft was
reported over the Easter holidays. Police are conducting a separate
investigation.


6)  Lesotho

(a)  From 23 to 29 April, WFP and implementing partners distributed 1,082
tons of food to 77,249 beneficiaries. In addition, health centres in
Mokhotlong and Thaba-Tseka distributed 55 tons of food to 1,435 HIV/AIDS
and tuberculosis patients and pregnant mothers. Emergency School Feeding
deliveries were initiated in 724 schools for 98,662 pupils in all
districts. In Mokhotlong District, 200 Food for Work participants received
10 tons of food.

(b)  The joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission began on 23
April. Government representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture,
Disaster Management Authority and Ministry of Planning are accompanying
the mission.


7)  Zimbabwe

(a)  Most businesses and industries in the country remained closed from 23
to 25 April as workers heeded a strike called by the Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions to protest the Government's recent increase in the price of
fuel. The opposition media reported isolated incidents of violence. Due to
the mass stay-away, WFP monitoring activities were curtailed on 25 April
due to concerns over securing adequate fuel supplies. Field activities
resumed as normal the following day.

(b)  From 01 to 26 April, WFP distributed 34,800 tons of food to 3.1
million people. Plans are being formulated for a single May/June
distribution of 25,200 tons of food for approximately 1.5 million people
to cover the post harvest period.


8)  Malawi

(a)  A Government assessment of the Salima floods revealed that 307 houses
had collapsed and 1,270 household gardens were affected in Mwanza,
Kuluunda and Maganga in Mzuzu District, Northern Province. The Department
of Poverty and Disaster Management Affairs is distributing relief items in
the areas.

(b)  The joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) has
completed its fieldwork and the dissemination of the report is due in
June.


9)  Tanzania

(a)  The general bi-weekly food distribution was modified during the
reporting period. The cereals ration increased from 200 to 250 grams a day
for maize grain and maize meal. Rations of pulses and cooking oil were
decreased from 80 grams and 20 grams a day to 60 and 10 grams a day
respectively. Corn soya blend and salt rations remain at 30 grams and 10
grams a day. Overall, the energy content increased from 1,279 to 1,454
kilocalories per person per day when maize grain is provided and from
1,259 to 1,304 kilocalories per person per day when maize meal is
provided. Extremely vulnerable individuals and selective feeding
programmes will be maintained at 100 percent rations for all items. The
revised rations will continue until the pipeline situation for pulses and
cooking oil improves.

(b)  The first beneficiary contact monitoring (BCM) survey for 2003 was
conducted in Ngara Camps from 07 to 09 April, and in Kasulu Camps on 10
April. The survey was organized by WFP and UNHCR and involved participants
from WFP, UNHCR, Camp Management, Community Services and Health Agencies
in all camps. A total of 40 household samples were surveyed in each
district. Additional BCM surveys for Kibondo and Lugufu Camps took place
on 23 and 24 April. The surveyed households were randomly chosen and
interviews were held using structured questionnaires. Data analysis will
commence soon.

(c)  District Task Force meetings for the forthcoming refugee
re-registration process were held in Nagara and Kasulu Districts. The Task
Force comprised representatives from UN Agencies, the Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs and implementing partners.


10)  Zambia

(a)  From 23 to 28 April, WFP distributed 2,365 tons of food in
collaboration with implementing partners. WFP's regional Monitoring and
Evaluation Officer is holding a two-day workshop on targeting criteria,
monitoring formats and reporting procedures. Participants include WFP
programme staff and implementing partners.

(b)  The Vulnerability Assessment Mapping team has completed the third
round of food needs assessments. The information is being processed at the
Central Statistics Office and the findings will assist with further
refinement of the beneficiary caseload.

(c)  Due to an influx of new arrivals from the Democratic Republic of
Congo, the number of food beneficiaries in refugee camps supported by WFP
increased from 114,000 in January to 116,900 in April.


11)  Angola

(a)  WFP's partner dealing with nutritional issues in Huila Province has
reported that the general nutritional situation in Chipindo District has
improved significantly from 30 percent prevalence of global acute
malnutrition in May 2002 to 4.2 percent amongst residents and 3 percent
amongst IDP's and people in the Gathering Areas in February 2003. As a
result of poor road conditions and lack of access to commercial markets,
most of the population in Chipindo remains largely dependent on food aid.
The current agricultural season will not produce a sufficient amount of
food for the population and the large influx of people from recently
closed Gathering Areas is adding to the pressure on the communities'
existing coping mechanisms and resources. WFP is providing assistance to
the Chipindo Supplementary Feeding Centre, Food for Work for 120 community
health promoters and emergency assistance to over 34,000 returnees.

(b)  WFP received six new all-wheel-traction all-terrain trucks for
transportation of food and non-food items for WFP and implementing
partners. Two of the trucks were positioned in Uige, Malange and Saurimo
Provinces during the week. This is in addition to the WFP-contracted fleet
continuing to operate in Mavinga, Kuando Kubango Province. The trucks will
help to alleviate severe logistics bottlenecks caused by the lack of
appropriate commercial transportation and poor road conditions.


12)  Namibia

(a)  UNHCR have reported 113 new refugee arrivals for the month of April.
WFP provided rations upon arrival at the Kassava Transit Centre and UNHCR
later transported them to Osire Camp. In April, WFP distributed food to
19,680 refugees in Osire Camp.



E)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  The Government has adopted stringent measures to minimize the risk of
a SARS epidemic in the country. The Ministry of Public Health will
quarantine all persons arriving from both SARS affected countries and
those countries where SARS cases have been recorded. All incoming
passengers from these countries will be kept under observation and
isolation in North Pyongyang Province for 10 days. Passengers arriving
from other countries will be medically assessed at the airport, and if
found to display no symptoms, will be allowed to go to their residences
and work as normal. All those displaying any SARS symptoms will be taken
to the isolation ward of the People's hospital in Anju city. Air Koryo
flights to and from Beijing will from 06 May be suspended for at least one
month and travel in and out of DPRK has consequently been limited to one
weekly flight via Vladivostok in Russia. In an effort to limit the entry
of foreigners with SARS symptoms into the country, authorities will grant
only single-entry visas to humanitarian workers after the expiry of their
current visas. The DPRK Humanitarian Coordinator and the in-country
Security Management Team are in continuous negotiation with the government
on the visa and quarantine issues, as these impact very strongly on
humanitarian operations in the country. WFP is also taking up the issue
with the DPRK representation in Rome.

(b)  With warmer weather conditions and good rainfall, local officials
report that the wheat and barley crops and the spring vegetables are
growing well. Maize and rice transplanting continue. The PDC ration for
May was reduced to 250 grams/person/day from the April ration of 300
grams/person/day as the lean season begins.

(c)  A recent contribution of 5,863 tons of wheat is expected to arrive at
Nampo port on 03 May. However, due to shortfalls, WFP cereal distributions
in May will not reach some of the vulnerable groups, including elderly,
caregivers, and some child institutions on the east and west coasts.
Cereal distributions to all targeted groups should however be restored in
June with the expected arrival of new donations. Further cuts in cereal
distributions will begin again in the fourth quarter unless new
contributions are confirmed. Pipeline shortfalls of 125,000 tons in the
May to December period are expected if new contributions, including 95,000
tons of cereals, 15,000 tons of pulses, 9,000 tons of corn-soya milk,
3,500 tons of sugar and 3,000 tons of oil, are not received.



F)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Regional, (2) Bolivia, (3)
Colombia, (4) Ecuador, (5) Guatemala, (6) Nicaragua

1)  Regional

(a)  INETER and the University of Colorado estimate that the year 2003
will present an active hurricane season. They predict 12 storms (seasonal
average is 9.6), of which 6 will be hurricanes (seasonal average is 5.9),
with 3 of them considered intense (seasonal average is 2.3). Above-average
rainfall is also expected.


2)  Bolivia

(a)  WFP continues to provide food and non-food items to families affected
by the 31 March landslide in the town of Chima, with overall assistance
coordinated by the Departmental Government. A total of USD 218,937 has
thus

far been provided through the government, WFP, other UN agencies and
donors.

(b)  WFP is participating with USAID, UNDMT and others in the follow-up to
a geomorphologic study, which concludes that Chima should be relocated
immediately.


3)  Colombia

(a)  Heavy rains and river flooding in the city of Cali caused several
deaths, affected more than 600 persons and destroyed 90 houses in the
municipality of Venadillo in Tolima. Victims are being assisted by the
Directorate for the Prevention and Response to Natural Disasters.

(b)  Deliveries to 174,588 beneficiaries in the Tibú area were delayed as
a result of the theft of 2,500 cases of vegetable oil by armed groups,
which prevented the timely packaging of rations for distribution last
week. The area remains prone to attacks. Trucks carrying government food
for preschool activities were burned and two ICRC trucks with food and
non-food items were stolen.

(c)  As a result of a massive displacement at the beginning of the month,
288 persons were settled in schools and the coliseum in the town of Tibú.


4)  Ecuador

(a)  The development of the Regional Inter-Agency Initiative for Colombian
Refugees is progressing. A coordinating session took place among the three
Regional Directors of WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR, who met in Panama City on 28
April.


5)  Guatemala

(a)  A landslide on 23 April claimed the lives of 22 persons in Aldea Chim
in the Municipality of San Pedro Sacatepeque in the Department of San
Marcos. Over 200 people, or 65 families, were evacuated due to unsafe
conditions of their dwellings. Given the isolated nature and scale of the
landslide, WFP assistance was not deemed necessary.


6)  Nicaragua

(a)  During April there was an important increase in forest fires,
destroying 29 thousand 'manzanas' of forest and pasturelands in the
departments of Nueva Segovia and the Bosawa Biosphere Reserve.

(b)  WFP is working with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health in the opening
of six community centers for the provision of health and nutrition
education to mothers and early and active stimulation for children.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 18).


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