WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 3 / 2003 - Date 17 January 2003


This report includes:
(A) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
(B) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Eritrea,
    (3) Kenya, (4) Uganda, (5) Republic of Congo, (6) Burundi
(C) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire, (2) Sierra Leone, (3) Liberia
(D) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho,
    (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe,
    (8) Angola
(E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia
(F) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Pakistan, (2) Afghanistan


>From Francesco Strippoli, Director of the Office of Humanitarian Affairs;
available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page (www.wfp.org), or by e-mail
from Zlatan.Milisic@wfp.org.

For information on resources, donors are requested to contact
Valerie.Sequeira@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 06 6513 2009. Media
queries should be directed to Trevor.Rowe@wfp.org, telephone 39 06 6513
2602. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici,
00148 Rome, Italy.


A)  Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea

1)  DPR of Korea

(a)  The food pipeline for WFP's operation in the DPR Korea is at a very
critical point. There is grave concern that, should new resources not soon
be pledged, the significant gains made over the past several years in
reducing malnutrition amongst young children risk being lost.

(b)  Without immediate, additional contributions WFP will be unable to
reach approximately 2 million of the most vulnerable targeted populations
during much of the first quarter. These include children in nurseries,
kindergartens and primary schools, pregnant/nursing women, elderly
persons, and caregivers in child institutions and hospitals. In addition,
Food for Work activities will have to be drastically curtailed, while
Local Food Production factories, already beginning to slow down
production, will be forced to stop functioning altogether within the
coming weeks.

(c)  Immediate pledges of 110,000 tons are required to ensure continued
implementation of the complete range of WFP's planned activities
throughout the first half of 2003. Commodities most in need through the
end of the second quarter include 88,000 tons of cereals, 10,000 tons of
Corn and Soya Milk and 3,500 tons of Dry Skimmed Milk. The latter is
critical to avoid closing of several LFP factories.

(d)  On 14 January, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Mr
Maurice Strong, arrived in Pyongyang for a four-day visit. WFP arranged
and accompanied him on his visit to a baby home and paediatric hospital in
Sariwon, North Hwanghae province that have been supported with WFP food.



B)  Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Eritrea, (3)
Kenya, (4) Uganda, (5) Republic of Congo, (6) Burundi

1)  Ethiopia

(a)  The WFP Executive Director, Mr. James Morris, is arriving in Addis
Ababa on 17 January for a five-day visit to Ethiopia. During his visit,
Mr. Morris will review the current response to the humanitarian crisis,
which threatens the lives of over 11 million people in Ethiopia due to the
severe drought in many regions of the country. He will meet with
government officials and donors and relief agencies representatives, and
will visit drought-stricken communities. Mr. Morris will continue on to
see WFP operations in Southern Africa on 21 January.

(b)  A number of high-level visitors, including donor representatives,
have arrived in Ethiopia for the Economic Commission for Africa's "Big
Table on Africa". Field visits to drought-affected areas and development
project sites are being arranged for several of the visitors. Confirmed
and unconfirmed contributions currently total over 750,000 tons to
government, WFP and NGOs (this total does not include a recent donation of
around USD14 million for food). If the contributions can be confirmed and
mobilised quickly, the cereal requirements would be largely covered until
June. However, the situation for supplementary food for especially
vulnerable groups is less encouraging, with only around 30 percent of the
annual requirements for fortified blended food covered. WFP intends to
cover about 40 percent of the national level relief food requirements in
2003, through the ongoing WFP emergency operation to the end of March, and
through an expansion of the operation scheduled to start in April.


2)  Eritrea

(a)  In Anseba Region the Government has formed an Emergency Committee,
which reported that the situation in the region is becoming critical.
Entire families are moving out of the area with all their belongings, due
to a lack of water and food resources. Normally only one or two members
per family migrate at this time of the year. People also reported rapidly
decreasing water levels in village wells and the need to walk long
distances in search of alternative water sources. The Ministry of Local
Government has been able to send water trucks to villages near the
regional capital but is unable to cover the needs of other remote sub
regions. Meanwhile, the Regional Ministry of Health noted a deterioration
of the nutritional situation over the past two months, with a significant
increase in the number of severely malnourished children.

(b)  WFP field monitors reported population migration from the Debub
region to the eastern escarpment in search of water and fodder for
livestock. The Regional Ministry of Agriculture highlighted an increase in
the quantity of livestock available on the market, pushing prices down by
60 percent compared to six months earlier. In the Gash Barka sub regions
of Gogne and Haikota, local administrators indicated that the small yield
from the harvest had now been consumed; the majority of families are
relying entirely on WFP food aid and other coping strategies such as the
sale of livestock to meet their primary food needs.

(c)  The serious drought in 2002, which affected all regions of the
country, will leave up to 1.4 million people with little or no food up to
the next expected harvest in November 2003. In response, WFP has extended
its EMOP 10049 up to April 2003 in order to support 700,000 beneficiaries
in urgent need of food aid. Due to reduced food stocks and pledges
however, WFP was forced to reduce this number to 400,000 of the most
critical cases. In addition, WFP is currently preparing a new EMOP 10261
to cover up to 900,000 drought-affected beneficiaries between May 2003 and
February 2004 with some 130,000 tons of food.


3)  Kenya

(a)  WFP's support to 226,000 Somali and Sudanese refugees in the Kakuma
and Dadaab camps through its PRRO 6226 is facing a critical pipeline break
starting in March 2003. The shortage of food will begin with maize but
will progressively affect all commodities in the food basket. WFP has for
several months been raising awareness among donors that a humanitarian
crisis is looming in the refugee camps unless WFP urgently receives new
food pledges. In the meantime, WFP has decided to allocate USD 700,000
from multilateral contributions to the operation. A month's supply of
maize will be purchased with these funds.

(b)  In total, the food requirements from February until the end of the
current programme in September 2003 amount to 20,000 tons of food, mostly
maize, wheat flour and pulses. The total value of this food with all
associated costs is USD 10 million. Maize is readily available on the
local market at competitive prices. Cash contributions from donors are
preferred as they would allow WFP to quickly purchase maize in Kenya.

(c)  The WFP/UNHCR Joint Assessment Mission of October 2002 recommended
that in the event of a pipeline break a full food basket is provided to
the most vulnerable families, including new arrivals, female-headed
households and unaccompanied minors. WFP is working with UNHCR to compile
a list of the most vulnerable families. This, of course, implies a reduced
ration for all other refugees.

(d)  Unless WFP receives urgently new food pledges, the daily food ration
of the refugees in Kenya will be progressively reduced from the equivalent
of 2,166 kcal in February to 925 kcal in May (a decrease of 57 percent).
WFP is extremely concerned at the potential serious impact on the
nutrition situation of the refugees, particularly that of children and
pregnant and nursing women. Recent nutritional surveys indicate that 70
percent of children are at the borderline of malnutrition and a shortage
of food will initiate a rapid deterioration in their nutritional
situation. In their 2001 annual report, MSF-B, responsible for the health
programme in the Dadaab camps, established a direct link between a
decrease in the food basket and an increase in the number of new cases in
the selective feeding programmes.

(e)  UNHCR's funding situation further stresses the food basket.
Increasing amounts of the food ration are being exchanged for
complementary food items, firewood and shelter materials that UNHCR is
unable to provide. The result is that lesser amounts of food are available
for consumption. Should there be a break in the pipeline, the only asset
that the majority of refugee families have available to them will be
seriously depleted.

(f)  Finally, with the number of refugees arriving in the camps increasing
steadily, the competition for natural resources, shelter materials and
space has intensified amongst the refugees and between the refugees and
the host community. Food is one of the few assets that the refugees can
count on receiving in adequate quantities and a break in the pipeline
would add to the stress in the camps and is liable to express itself in
demonstrations that could become increasingly aggressive.


4)  Uganda

(a)  Northern Uganda is facing the worst humanitarian crisis for years.
Since June 2002, the protracted insurgency of the Lords Resistance Army
(LRA) in northern Uganda (Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts) has
intensified and expanded to affect Lira and Apac Districts. The LRA rebels
continue to attack, ambush vehicles, abduct, kill people and torch huts.
The civilian population has fled to 60 isolated "protected camps" in
northern Uganda with very limited access to arable land and social
services. Over 800,000 people ? in comparison to 522,000 people in July
2002 - are currently displaced and/or affected by crop failure. In
addition, 150,000 refugees in 66 settlements in eight districts are in
need of food assistance. The major humanitarian corridors outside Gulu,
Kitgum, and Pader municipalities are highly insecure and inaccessible
without military escorts.

(b)  While the security situation has worsened, the humanitarian needs
have continuously increased. Prior to June 2002, WFP assistance through
the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO 10121) was programmed
to meet an average of 30 percent of the minimal food requirements of the
IDPs. The remaining 70 percent was met by the IDPs through their own
production and purchase. Similarly, the provision of land to refugees in
Uganda enabled refugees to contribute to their daily food requirement.

(c)  Due to the increasing insecurity, IDPs have almost totally lost
access to the fields and consequently their August/September 2002 harvest.
This and the general disruption of economic activities have constrained
the food acquisition strategies of the IDPs, who now completely depend on
food aid for their survival. During the second week of January, WFP
resumed food distribution to IDP camps, KICWA reception and rehabilitation
centre for former abductees and child soldiers in Kitgum District. WFP had
temporarily suspended distribution of food aid in IDP camps following
increased rebel attacks on IDP camps in Lamwo County, Kitgum District.

(d)  WFP is currently facing a pipeline shortfall of over 87,300 tons of
food from January to July 2003. As a result, WFP has been forced, as of
January, to suspend distribution of cereals to over 800,000 IDPs in
northern Uganda and to reduce cereal rations for refugees by 50 percent
due to the serious cereal pipeline shortfall. To compensate for the gap
created by lack of cereals, WFP supplied pulses, vegetable oil and CSB and
also distributed BP-5 biscuits, targeting one child under five years old
in each household.

(e)  WFP requires 108,000 tons of food commodities valued at USD 59
million to feed over 800,000 IDPs and 150,000 refugees from January to
June 2003. Uganda has the potential for local procurement of cereals and
pulses at competitive prices if cash resources are pledged by donors.
Donors are urgently requested to pledge resources against PRRO 10121.0 to
meet the urgent resource requirements and to prevent hunger and serious
malnutrition among IDPs and refugees.


5)  Republic of Congo

(a)  On 14 January, WFP expressed concern about the increasing number of
people displaced by the current fighting in the Republic of Congo. In
December, more than 1,800 newly displaced people found an escape route
from the conflict area, and arrived in camps to seek safety and
assistance. The influx of people continues on a daily basis. The number of
IDPs WFP is assisting has increased by 100 percent since October 2002,
when fighting resumed near Brazzaville. WFP is currently providing relief
food to 30,000 IDPs from the Pool region.

(b)  WFP urgently needs some 4,000 tons of food to assist the displaced
populations until mid-2003 in Brazzaville as well as in Bouenza Plateaux
and Niari. The living conditions of these people are very precarious and
their survival depends on the provision of relief food. WFP monitors have
already observed cases of malnutrition among children and elderly people.
If no donations are provided urgently, WFP fears that by March 2003, food
rations will be reduced from the standard level of 2,167 kilocalories per
person per day to 1,500 kcal. Further cuts will be imposed until all
stocks are exhausted, at which point the programme will be suspended.

(c)  WFP is also greatly concerned with another estimated 60,000 people
trapped in the forest and inaccessible to humanitarian agencies since
March 2002. So far, all efforts to negotiate humanitarian access to the
Pool region have failed. Even if humanitarian agencies eventually gain
access to them, the lack of funds might prevent WFP from providing
immediate support.


6)  Burundi

(a)  Due to late food deliveries from Kigoma port, planned distributions
could be delayed throughout the country. More timely deliveries are still
necessary to cope with distribution needs in the country. Given the
increasing needs and the current available food, WFP anticipates a
complete pipeline break in cereals, pulses and CSB from March. An urgent
response from donors is required.

(b)  A Household Food Economy Assessment mission concluded that the
province of Kayanza is highly food insecure. The teams reported a
significant increase in admissions to nutritional centres. After having
exhausted their coping mechanisms, people have reduced their number of
meals to one a day. The youngest family members have started to migrate to
other provinces. The food security situation is also likely to deteriorate
in Karusi province as a result of heavy rain and hail that fell on two
communes damaging beans and cassava fields.

(c)  Last week, fighting was reported in Mpanda and Mutambu communes
respectively in Bubanza and Bujumbura Rural provinces as well as in Ruyigi
province resulting in displacements and cancellation of WFP distributions.
Eight civilians were killed in an attack attributed to FNL rebels followed
by military retaliation perpetrated on Gihosha zone, Bujumbura Mairie.

(d)  A joint Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is currently being
undertaken by WFP, FAO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Agriculture and
Livestock. The mission should complete field assessments in 9 provinces
that are classified as top priority because of their high risk to food
insecurity. The results of the mission, expected by the beginning of
February, coupled with the data from nutritional centres will determine
FAO and WFP planning figures for the Seeds Protection Rations for the
future agricultural season.

(e)  WFP and UNHCR carried out a joint assessment of the needs of the new
Congolese refugees that arrived into Burundi following renewed fighting in
Eastern Congo towards the end of December. The mission visited Rugombo
transit camp and Chishemye refugee camp in Cibitoke province. Both
agencies agreed to conduct a joint verification to ascertain the exact
number of new refugees (initial figures estimate that over 22,000 new
refugees arrived since December). The verification will commence on 15
January.

(f)  Last week, WFP assisted 171,500 vulnerable people in five provinces,
providing them with almost 1,900 tons of food through targeted and
emergency distributions. Planned distributions for 15,700 persons in
Ruyigi province were cancelled for security reasons. WFP also dispatched
over 400 tons of food to nutritional NGOs to assist 36,400 malnourished
persons in January. In addition, WFP provided assistance to some 300
Congolese refugees hosted at Kinama camp in Muyinga province as well as
1,100 repatriates from Tanzania temporarily hosted in transit sites in
Ngozi and Muyinga provinces.



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

1)  Côte d'Ivoire

(a)  The Paris talks on the Ivorian crisis opened on 15 January with 32
participants drawn from seven political parties and the three insurgent
movements. The French foreign ministry said the meeting would take place
in closed-door sessions. This meeting will be followed by a summit of West
African heads of state.

(b)  WFP has continued its efforts to respond to the crisis, and is
steadily obtaining additional information on the impact of the crisis in
the whole country. This week missions covered areas in the north-west of
the country (Korhogo, Touba and Biankouma) and central parts (Daloa,
Bouaké and Yamoussoukro). In addition, a joint mission left on 16 January
for San Pedro, in the south-west. WFP is also planning to participate into
a Rapid Risk Assessment (15-22 Jan) and a joint FAO/WFP Food Security
Assessment (22 Jan- 2 Feb) to assess the needs on a more long term basis.

(c)  In Bouaké, WFP and ACF will target 25,000 children below six years of
age and will start providing a balanced meal for them. WFP will also be
providing food to the 900 most vulnerable families in Bouaké through an
established CARE project.

(d)  In December, WFP initiated a request through the UN Joint Logistics
Center (UNJLC) in Rome and Military Civil Defence Unit in the Office for
the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to assist with the
identification and selection of a Civil-Military Co-ordination Officer.
This Special Operation intends to ensure continuing access to victims of
the civil unrest in the country and secure humanitarian corridors and
repatriation routes for refugees and displaced people.

(e)  There have been large population movements out of Tabou, after the
neighbouring town of Grabo was taken by MPIGO/MPJ last week. About 1000
Liberian refugees are seeking shelter at the UNHCR compound and the
Catholic Mission. More than 62,000 people have fled into Liberia since the
crises spread in late November. That figure includes 35,000 Liberians and
20,000 Ivorians. Many are hosted in three transit centres, but most of the
Ivorians are staying in villages along the border.

(f)  WFP reports from various sources that there have been instances of
rape and torture at checkpoints en route to the border with Ghana. WFP in
collaboration with UNHCR and UNICEF is planning to distribute 5 tons of
high-energy biscuits to transit passengers at Elobo border. Between 4
October and 1 January, over 33,500 persons crossed the Elobu border post,
nearly half of them Burkinabés.

(g)  WFP has also received reports that as a result of the Côte d'Ivoire
crisis, there is an inflow of 50 to 100 people (Guineans and Ivoirians)
crossing into Guinea on a daily basis. The UN in Guinea has drafted a plan
for how to respond to the Cote d'Ivoire crisis.


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  The movement of refugees and returnees continued to slow down. There
were no new influxes of refugees and returnees at the Zimmi and Blama Way
Stations over the last three weeks. In the UNHCR facilitated repatriation
of Sierra Leoneans from Guinea, WFP provided food aid to 1,500 returnees
during their two-day transit at the Port Loko Way Station and also
supported about 500 returnees from Guinea being resettled in Daru. WFP
supported 13,500 Liberian refugees in Jembe and Gerihun Camps.

(b)  Countrywide, WFP supported over 56,200 beneficiaries with 370 tons of
food from 20 December 2002 to 12 January 2003. Vulnerable group feeding
(VGF) programmes (refugees, resettlement, returnees and institutions)
supported 38,200 beneficiaries with 236 tons of food. The Therapeutic
Feeding Centres/ Supplementary Feeding/ and Mother and Child Health
Programmes (TFC/SFP/MCH) provided 40 tons of food to 5,000 beneficiaries
comprising under-fives, pregnant women, lactating mothers and TFC
caretakers. The Emergency School Feeding (ESF) Programme supported 6,900
school children with 23 tons of food. 260 beneficiaries were involved in
the Food for Work (FFW) programme. The Food for Training (FFT) Programme
assisted 4,500 persons. Safety nets (Institutional Feeding) provided 1,300
beneficiaries with 21 tons of food aid.


3)  Liberia

(a)  WFP continued to assist a caseload of 245,900 persons, mostly IDPs,
but also Sierra Leoneans and Ivorian refugees. Finally a number of
vulnerable people are benefiting from other programme activities such as
therapeutic, supplementary and institutional feeding. WFP beneficiaries
are located in Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Grand
Bassa, River Gee and Maryland Counties.

(b)  On 11 January 2003, WFP led a verification exercise of all population
figures in camps in the suburbs of Monrovia. The exercise aimed to
establish the correct caseloads in each of the camps around Monrovia.

(c)  Continued armed clashes in and the lack of access to the most
agriculturally productive areas of the country and the mass displacement
of people who were largely subsistent farmers have continued to adversely
impact the food deficiency in the country. Further, because commercial
import is also unable to cover the food needs of the country, most of the
population, especially the chronically poor, will continue to live on some
form of assistance including food aid for the foreseeable future. The lack
of arable land for agriculture activities coupled with the unavailability
of farm implements for the internally displaced minimize their chances of
complementing food aid received and sustaining themselves.

(d)  WFP is closely monitoring the situation in Côte d'Ivoire. As a
preparedness measure, WFP has erected temporary warehouses in Zwedru to
facilitate the prepositioning of sufficient commodities to deal with
current influxes and possible increase in the number of those crossing
from Côte d'Ivoire. Facilities in Harper are being upgraded to respond to
the situation in the southeast. WFP plans to set up a sub-office in
Saclepea (Nimba County), where a camp for Ivorian refugees could be
established.



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

1)  Regional overview

(a)  The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in
Southern Africa, James Morris, will embark next week on his second mission
to the region. From 22-29 January, Mr. Morris will visit Lesotho,
Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Johannesburg to review the current responses
to the humanitarian crisis and follow up on the findings of his first
mission in September. Accompanying Mr. Morris will be the Special Envoy of
the Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Mr. Stephen Lewis, the
Assistant/Director Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery UNDP to the
Special Envoy, Ms. Julia Taft, and the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Prega
Ramsamy. The mission members will also include representatives from UNDP,
WFP, UNICEF, UNAIDS, OCHA, FAO.

(b)  WFP held a regional strategy meeting in Johannesburg, attended by 60
WFP staff from Headquarters, ten country offices and the regional bureau
for Southern Africa (ODJ). Main strategic priorities that emerged include
integrating HIV/AIDS into all programming, supporting access to education
through school feeding and other activities, and effective response to
crisis and recovery efforts in the region.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  WFP food was distributed to a total of 78,000 beneficiaries during
the week. 865 tons of maize meal, pulses and vegetable oil were
distributed in 8 of 10 districts.

(b)  The lowlands continue to experience heavy rainfall and hailstorms,
which have damaged crops in some parts of Quacha's Nek District.


3)  Malawi

(a)  The President of Malawi has declared a state of emergency in five
areas of the country following flooding caused by tropical depression
Delphina. The floods have swept away crops, homes, household goods and
livestock, affecting over 50,000 families, according to initial reports.
The Department of Disaster Preparedness Relief and Rehabilitation (DDPRR)
is currently carrying out field assessments to quantify the severity of
the disaster. WFP, along with OCHA, UNICEF and NGOs, is assisting in
information gathering and situation monitoring.

(b)  A WFP civil engineer has conducted a preliminary assessment on the
bridges and roads damaged by the floods. The railway bridge in Balata has
been completely washed away while a number of other sections are under
danger. The Nacala railway corridor remains blocked, but is expected to
open late next week.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  WFP travelled to Nampula Province to assess damage from tropical
depression Delfina and estimate with the local authorities the number of
affected people in the province. Nampula province is currently out of
reach for trucks transporting food aid. Repairs of roads and bridges will
reportedly take several weeks. The priority for immediate response is
sanitation as cholera has started to spread in the area.

(b)  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the Mozambique Contingency
Plan for the 2002/2003 agricultural season, incorporating the September
SADC/VAC assessment figures. Due to Nacala railway blockages caused by
flooding, WFP dispatched six trucks during the week carrying 183 tons of
maize.


5)  Swaziland

(a)  WFP instituted weekly operations meetings with implementing partners,
to discuss logistics, programme, finance, monitoring and evaluation
issues.

(b)  In January, there have been rains in the Lowveld, dry Middleveld and
the Lubombo Plateau, and if they continue, there are positive signs that
the maize crop will have a good yield. In addition, cattle are showing
signs of improved health.


6)  Zambia

(a)  In December, WFP food reached 427,300 beneficiaries. In addition, WFP
transported food for the Government of Zimbabwe, bringing the total number
of beneficiaries reached during December to 1.1 million. 2,045 tons of WFP
food was pre-positioned in December for January distributions.


7)  Zimbabwe

(a)  From 20 February 2002 to 6 January 2003, WFP distributed 122,000 tons
of food to 2.8 million beneficiaries in Zimbabwe.

(b)  There has been a steep rise in food prices in most of the northern
districts covered by the WFP Harare sub-office, reportedly resulting in
increasing numbers of people resorting to toxic wild foods, including five
recent deaths attributed to indigestion of a poisonous tuber.


8)  Angola

(a)  With its PRRO funded at only 37 percent, WFP has appealed for urgent
contributions to allow operations to continue. If the next cargo of maize
arrives as expected in the first week of February, pipeline breaks which
were feared for this commodity could be avoided until May. The pulses
pipeline is also expected to break in May without further urgent
donations.

(b)  WFP plans to reach around 1.6 million beneficiaries in January, as in
December. The Bie and Huambo provinces continue to account for around a
third of the total caseload, with over 525,000 beneficiaries, followed by
Benguela, Huila, Kuando Kubango, Malange and Kuanza Sul provinces, each
with over 100,000 beneficiaries.

(c)  WFP is continuing assistance in gathering areas (GAs) around the
country, with verifications underway to take account of population
movements. Of 465,700 beneficiaries in GAs in October, around 398,200
remained by December. Eight GAs in Benguela, Bie, Cunene, Huila, Kuanza
Sul and Malange have been officially closed. Concerns are heightening for
about 600 people moved by the Government from Calala gathering area (Alto
Zambeze), who have been stranded since the end of October 2002 in Cazombo
town awaiting transportation to their area of origin. The suspension of
their evacuation since November, has left these families in extremely
precarious conditions, in an area with heavy rainfall and no proper
shelter, water, or sanitation. WFP is providing food rations to cover
their immediate needs but is concerned at this continuing situation.

(d)  A private truck transporting WFP food detonated a landmine on the
road between Huambo and Kuito in Bié province. The trailer was damaged but
there were no injuries. The incident occurred in the same area where two
mine accidents took place last month. The road is already closed to UN
personnel. FAA teams, incorporating ex-UNITA engineers, have initiated a
de-mining operation in the area. Close to 10,000 people have been cut off
from assistance since December due to the mine incidents on this road.

(e)  WFP is renewing mine-awareness of staff working in mine-infested
provinces. This week, drivers in Bie participated in training conducted
locally by Halo Trust for UN and NGO drivers based in Kuito. WFP staff
will also participate in a UNICEF-sponsored mine awareness training
programme next week.



E)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia

1)  Colombia

(a)  The province of San Luis (east of Antioquia) continues to be affected
by armed groups who blew up two main bridges, causing food shortages and
new displacements. As a result, WFP was unable to deliver food to the
area. WFP's Bogota office continues to be under police protection.

(b)  According to the latest report of the Consultancy for Human Rights
and Displacement (CODHES), the IDP caseload in Colombia increased by
350,000 during 2002. WFP received USD 2 million as the first contribution
to the new 3-year PRRO 10158.0. Funds will be used for school feeding
activities.



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

1)  Pakistan

(a)  On 13 January, WFP took over responsibility from UNHCR for the
distribution of food aid to 288,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Working
relations between UNHCR and WFP have long been seen internationally as an
effective collaboration between UN humanitarian organisations. This new
step, under which WFP will handle the final distribution of food aid in
Pakistan, is designed to further improve the efficiency of WFP/UNHCR joint
operations. WFP will explore alternate methods to reach beneficiaries and
improve strategies. The operation will be jointly monitored during the
year and evaluated when it ends.

(b)  More than 64,500 tons of food is needed by WFP to feed 288,000 Afghan
refugees and provide supplementary feeding to 23,000 of the most
vulnerable Afghan women and children in these new camps. The two agencies
call upon the international community for donor contributions to support
the victims of a five year drought and the war in Afghanistan

(c)  UNHCR assists Afghan refugees, who have been in Pakistan for up to
two decades because of a succession of wars in Afghanistan. The most
recent arrivals are those in the new refugee camps, which received WFP
food

assistance. An estimated 1.8 million Afghan refugees now live in Pakistan
after UNHCR assisted more than 1.5 million to return to Afghanistan during
2002.


2)  Afghanistan

(a)  The security situation remained calm, except in Kunar province in the
Eastern Region and the Kahmard district of Bamyan province where UN
missions were suspended due to the tension between local commanders and
the Coalition Forces.

G)  Last week, WFP assisted 260,200 vulnerable people, providing them with
1,200 tons of food through various activities. WFP's beneficiaries have
included 41,300 persons involved in Food for Work and Food for asset
creation (FOODAC) projects as well as 3,300 school-children benefiting
from the Food for Education programme. In addition, 130,000 IDPs and
refugees received WFP assistance and 84,300 people were reached through
urban vulnerable bakery projects. Finally, as part of the winterisation
programme, 21,000 tons (44 percent of the food dispatched) were
distributed to beneficiaries as of 12 January. Food distributions will
continue during January and February 2003 by implementing partners, in
accordance with the agreed plans.

(a)  In Kabul, the community in Ander district of Ghazni province had
improved access to potable water, after cleaning 70 underground irrigation
channels. Through the two FOODAC projects recently completed in Nangarhar
province, physical community assets of 23 km of road, 37 km of canal and 4
springs were rehabilitated.

(b)  In Kabul, according to hospital sources, the morbidity rate of
in-patients at three hospitals in Ghazni province, has reduced from 30 to
15 - 20 percent, since the commencement of a hospital feeding project in
March 2002. The project has been implemented by WFP, in collaboration with
MSF.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 3).

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