WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 24 / 2003 - Date 13 June 2003


This report includes:

A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Iran,
   (3) Palestinian Territories, (4) Afghanistan, (5) Pakistan
B) East and Central Africa: (1) DR Congo, (2) Burundi, (3) Rwanda,
   (4) Sudan, (5) Eritrea, (6) Ethiopia
C) West Africa: (1) Cote d'Ivoire, (2) Chad
D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Madagascar, (3) Lesotho,
   (4) Swaziland, (5) Mozambique, (6) Malawi, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Zambia,
   (9) Angola, (10) Namibia
E) Asia: (1) DPR Korea, (2) Indonesia
F) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Ecuador
G) Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: (1) Armenia

>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) Iran, (3) Palestinian
Territories, (4) Afghanistan, (5) Pakistan

1)  Iraq

(a)  Less than three months after the end of the war, the first
distributions through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Iraq are
well under way. During the second week of distributions, WFP offices all
over the country report that the Ministry of Trade (MOT) has further
enhanced the distribution chain, covering all 18 governorates and the
supply of wheat flour and other commodities pertaining to the June PDS
ration is proceeding without hindrance.

(b)  The five WFP Area Offices are operational and WFP has an established
presence in 17 out of the 18 governorates. Regular reporting on updated
PDS data, however, is at times hampered by various factors, such as the
security situation and lack of reliable communication means.

(c)  Thus far, no major problems with regard to the ongoing PDS
distribution have been observed. It has been reported that in order to
compensate for the higher transport costs, some food agents charge more
than the allowed 250 Iraqi Dinars per person and ration. However, these
charges are not exorbitant and as the situation stabilises it is expected
that these extra charges will no longer take place. WFP will continue to
monitor the situation and report to the MOT.

(d)  A report from MOT outlines that 60 percent of Baghdad food agents
have collected their food ration for the June PDS allocation. This
indicates that over 3 million Iraqis in Baghdad have received or are
receiving their food baskets. Hospital feeding began in Baghdad on 12 June
in coordination with MOT. Food supply arrangements and mechanisms will be
replicated for social institutions such as orphanages, elderly houses,
centres for disabled.

(e)  WFP offices in the Centre and North report overall distribution
coverage for wheat flour of around 39 to 75 percent. In Tameen
governorate, some 39 percent of the June PDS wheat flour requirement -
i.e. 3,014 tons - has been distributed to around 328,314 beneficiaries.
Sulaymaniyah reports having covered approximately 75 percent of the wheat
flour requirement. This means that some 10,620 tons have been distributed
to about 1,540,829 beneficiaries. At the end of the second week of June
PDS cycle, Erbil reports to have distributed around 8,997 tons of wheat
flour and 3,949 tons of mixed commodities - rice, sugar, tea, pulses, and
vegetable oil - to approximately 902,113 beneficiaries.

(f)  The southern WFP offices also confirm that distributions are
progressing well. In Babel, a cumulative of 3,755 tons of commodities has
been distributed through 796 food agents to cover 502,082 beneficiaries.
In Qadissiya, 3,888 tons of commodities were released through 509 food
agents to 398,214 beneficiaries, and in Basrah, some 19,295 tons were
distributed to 1,249,589 beneficiaries. This represents 63 percent of the
June PDS requirement in Basrah. In Missan, 5,744 tons was distributed to
468, 961 beneficiaries, representing 42 percent of the requirement, and in
Muthana some 4,820 tons was distributed to 272, 866 beneficiaries. This
represents 52 percent of the June PDS requirement in Muthana. Collated
countrywide figures will be released in the coming days.

(g)  WFP in cooperation with MOT is also addressing the issue of
population without ration cards. It seems that this part of the population
comprises mainly children of uncertified marriages, returnees, newborn
babies, or people who have not done military service. Through public
announcements the population has been asked to come to Ration Registration
Centres in order to apply for new cards. In Missan - a governorate of the
lower south - the registration of those amongst the population of
Marshland Arabs who did not receive food rations under the previous Iraqi
regime began on 09 June.

(h)  This week was also characterised by the hand-over of commodity stocks
from WFP to MOT. The hand-over is ongoing in Mosul and Kirkuk, and
expected to start in Tikrit in Salah-al-Din governorate on 13 June.

(i)  The WFP Deputy Executive Director (DED), Mr Graisse visited Iraq from
08 to 12 June. In Baghdad, the DED met with senior MOT officials and
representatives from the Office of the Coalition Provincial Authorities
(OCPA). The issue of local procurement of wheat was further elaborated.
The DED also went on a three-day visit to the northern/ central
governorates of Erbil and Ninewa, where he met with officials from OCPA,
Local Authorities, and WFP staff. The discussions focused on the harvest
and procurement of locally produced wheat, the ongoing PDS cycle, and
WFP's future engagement in the three northern governorates, particularly
with a view to phasing-out as required by Security Resolution SCR1483.


2)  Iran

(a)  Transportation and dispatch activities under WFP's Iraqi emergency
operation have picked up speed, with an average daily dispatch of about
1,300 tons of humanitarian aid from Iran to Iraq. On 07 June a WFP truck
driving from Iran to Nassariyah was hijacked 90 km from Basrah. The
truck's 20 tons of wheat flour was stolen, but the truck itself was
eventually found.

(b)  From 05 to 12 June, 9,320 tons of food was dispatched from Iran to
Iraq. From the start of the trans-border operation on 16 April to date a
total quantity of 30,656 tons of food has been dispatched to Iraq, 28,973
tons of which has already been delivered to Basra, Nassariyah,
Suleymanieh, Baghdad, Hilla and Baquba, and 1,683.5 tons of which is still
in transit.  From the 6,234 tons of soya bean oil purchased from Iranian
suppliers, a first dispatch of 100 tons was sent from Kermanshah to Basrah
on 11 June. After the complete discharge of 15,000 tons wheat flour last
week from the vessel "Grand Ocean", all but 3,375 tons of the ships cargo
has been dispatched. The cargo of one of the two oil-for-food (OFFP)
vessels carrying a total of 26,300 tons sugar has been completely
dispatched to WFP's warehouses in Ahwaz and Kerman, but 13,125 tons of
sugar still remain to be dispatched from BIK to the Kermanshah warehouse.
Of the Corali's 16,700 tons of rice, 5,834 tons have been dispatched to
various southern Iraqi destinations.

(c)  As of 12 June, 461,522 Afghan refugees have repatriated from
Dogharoun (northeast) and Milak (southeast) borders since the start of the
operation on 09 April. In the period 05 to 12 June, 3,280 persons
repatriated with assistance, and 1,274 spontaneously. Talks on a joint
UNHCR-WFP programme for the repatriation of Iraqi refugees have been
postponed. However, about 200 Iraqis will repatriate without assistance by
the end of this month.


3)  Palestinian Territories

(a)  On 11 June WFP Executive Director James Morris began a three-day
visit to the Palestinian Territories to review the WFP operation.
Humanitarian needs in the Palestinian Territories have been rising sharply
alongside the rapidly deteriorating economic situation and unemployment
among Palestinians now stands at 67 percent. For the past 12 months, WFP
has brought in some 45,000 tons of food to ensure the basic needs of
nearly half a million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

(b)  The security situation in the Palestinian Territories has continued
to deteriorate. On 11 May, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) imposed a
complete closure of Erez and Kharni access points in Gaza. These closures
affected the movement of commodities and prevented entry and exit from the
area. The ban on international staff movement was lifted on 18 May. Access
in and out of the Gaza Strip was facilitated on 26 May for Palestinians
with permissions and all remaining relief workers. Despite this,
restrictions on movement of people and vehicles within the Gaza Strip were
heightened with additional checkpoints. In the West Bank, the IDF
tightened control of vehicles and people passing through checkpoints. An
increased insistence by IDF to search UN vehicles at checkpoints delayed
field visits.

(c)  During May, a total of 2,600 tons of mixed food commodities was
distributed to some 24,150 families (128,000 beneficiaries) in Gaza Strip
and the West Bank. The purchase of olive oil through the Ministry of
Agriculture continued during the month. A total of 106 tons, amounting to
30 percent of the project's total output, was moved from district
warehouses to WFP's main warehouse in the West Bank and to direct
distribution points. An additional 56 tons was tested, certified fit for
human consumption and is ready for transport. WFP conducted intense
negotiations with the IDF to enable the transport of the locally purchased
olive oil from the West Bank into the Gaza Strip. The transport of oil
from the various warehouses was hindered due to the restrictions on
entering the commodity into Gaza. WFP is still in the process of
discussing the matter. In the meantime, the oil is diverted to
beneficiaries in the West Bank to ease the bottleneck and avoid further
delays in the project's final implementation phase.

(d)  Out of 123 planned WFP field visits to the West Bank and Gaza during
May, 103 missions were carried out and 20 were cancelled, 12 for security
reasons including access denial, curfew and military activities. A total
of 6,239 tons of food commodities arrived in the country during May. The
number of WFP containers allowed to enter Gaza has been reduced from 20 to
15 per day due to the closure and restriction policies imposed by the IDF.
Accordingly, deliveries of food commodities to the Strip were delayed.

(e)  The present Emergency Operation (EMOP) 10190 will end on 30 June.
During May, WFP prepared for the next 2003-2004 EMOP (10289) scheduled to
begin on the 01 July. The balance of food commodities will be carried over
from the present to the new EMOP into July and August. This will enable
WFP to distribute food while soliciting new funds.


4)  Afghanistan

(a)  The southeastern part of the country, including the provinces of
Paktya, Khost, Ghazni and Paktika, witnessed several attacks during the
week and the security situation in the area remains highly unpredictable.
In the south, security restrictions continue to hamper field missions.
Currently, only three joint UN missions are allowed per week, accompanied
by armed escorts and a UN security officer.

(b)  From 05 to 11 June, WFP assisted 453,481 beneficiaries with 2,122
tons of food through various projects, including Food For Work and Food
For Asset Creation, Food For Education, Relief and Resettlement of IDPs
and Refugees, Urban Vulnerable Bakeries and Supplementary and
Institutional feeding projects in Fayz Abad, Mazari Sharif, Kabul,
Kandahar and Hirat

(c)  In Fayz Abad, an assessment undertaken jointly by WFP and the
Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (DRRD) revealed that
floods have damaged 4,290 jeribs (equivalent to 858 hectares) of land
owned by 2,976 households. A one-month food ration was recommended to the
affected families. In Kabul, WFP and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation
and Development (MRRD) invited representatives of the Afghan Transitional
Administration, other UN agencies, NGOs, and donor agencies to a half-day
Food Aid Forum. The preliminary findings of the Pre-harvest Assessment,
conducted by WFP, FAO, MRRD and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal
Husbandry (MAAH) and highlights of the European Commission's analysis on
food utilization in Afghanistan were discussed in the meeting. The
upcoming WFP/FAO Crop and Food Supply Assessment to be conducted in
collaboration with MRRD, was also briefly presented. On 04 and 05 June,
WFP participated in a workshop in Kabul on nutrition education,
communication and training in promoting healthy diets and good nutritional
status. The workshop was organised by MAAH, the Ministry of Public Health,
the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO.


5)  Pakistan

(a)  The distribution of food to 27, 611families in Sindh and 9,000
families in Pishin has been completed under drought EMOP 10171.0. The
final report for these areas is being prepared. This EMOP is now limited
to two districts, Chagai and Kharan in Balochistan, where 3,000 tons food
would be distributed by end September, although there continues to be a
demand for food distributions to affected families.

(b)  In view of serious security concerns in southern Afghanistan, the
18,000 people in the "waiting area" in Chaman, included in EMOP 10228.0
"Assistance to Afghan Refugees", have reluctantly agreed to move to
Mohammad Khail, following strict orders issued by the Government of
Pakistan that they repatriate or move to other camps. Contributions of
1,100 tons of lentils will only be available in November for distribution
to the Afghan refugees. For the month of June, the ration for pulses has
already been reduced to 50 percent. There is an expected pipeline break in
the supply of pulses for July onwards until the November shipment arrives.
Urgent new resources are required for the continuation of this EMOP beyond
its current termination date at the end of September.



B)  East and Central Africa: (1) DR Congo, (2) Burundi, (3) Rwanda, (4)
Sudan, (5) Eritrea, (6) Ethiopia

1)  DR Congo

(a)  The security situation remained stable in Kinshasa, Equateur,
Bas-Congo, Bandundu, Kasai Occidental provinces, southern part of Katanga
and part of the Oriental province, with the exception of sporadic
banditry. In the East of the country, the security situation deteriorated
significantly in Lubero, where clashes between RCD-Goma and RCD-Kisangani
ML forces have been taking place since 07 June in Kanyabayonga and
Alibongo. Military operations occurred on both sides of Kanyabayonga,
Kayna and Kirumba, keeping the local population caught between the
frontlines. Military observers from the United Nations Missions of
Observers in DRC (MONUC) withdrew from Kanyabayonda.

(b)  A first contingent of 100 French and English soldiers landed in Bunia
airport on 06 June with the mission of restoring peace in Bunia and
securing the town and the airport to facilitate humanitarian assistance to
the affected population. An additional 1,400 UN peacekeeping soldiers
should arrive shortly in Bunia. Although the French interposition forces
have deployed, clashes between forces from Union des Patriotes Congolais
(UPC) and Lendu militia groups were still reported.

(c)  Peasant farmers in Ituri district have fled to safer areas, leaving
behind their fields and cattle and food insecurity has increased in Ituri
due to the insufficient availability of food and resulting high prices. It
is expected that malnutrition will grow accordingly. WFP foresees possible
implementation of income generating activities to provide the affected
population with an access to basic food commodities. WFP in collaboration
with German Agro Action (GAA), has assisted 3,829 IDP families (around
26,800 individuals) in IDP camps in Bunia with 83,7 tons of food, which is
enough food to cover their food needs for 21 days.

(d)  In North Kivu province, over 57,000 people displaced from
Kanyabayonga towards Kayna to escape the recent outburst of violence in
the North of the North Kivu province. Ongoing military operations will
impede access to hundreds of thousands of food insecure IDPs and
malnourished children in Butembo and Beni. From 01 to 08 June, WFP and
implementing partners distributed 59 tons of food to 7,841 beneficiaries
in Goma and environs through nutritional programmes, Food For Work
activities and support to children in training centres. In South Kivu
province, continued pockets of insecurity with looting and sexual abuse,
seriously impaired on food assistance to the war affected population.

(e)  From 01 to 08 June, WFP in collaboration with implanting partners
CEPAC, Malteser, IRC, JTMB/FORSE distributed 111.5 tons of food to 11,784
beneficiaries through nutrition activities for malnourished children and
their families. Needs assessments missions to Walungu, Mushinga, Lubona,
Bunyakiri and Fizi, where humanitarian needs are high, could not be
carried out due to lack of access caused by insecurity. In North Katanga,
new influxes of IDPs continued to be reported. Some 1,600 newly displaced
families were settled in a camp near Nyunzu. In North Katanga WFP provided
12,405 beneficiaries with 153 tons of various food commodities. Most of
the beneficiaries were family members of malnourished children attending
nutritional centres. Out of 153 tons, 32 tons were targeted to 780 IDPs
households in the Makala camp near Kalemie. In Katanga WFP assisted 6,430
beneficiaries, including 1784 people in the remote location of Ankoro,
with 47 tons of food, mainly through nutritional centres.

(f)  In Bukavu, rations for the month of June were reduced to accommodate
the various WFP programme activities. From a planned total of 2426 tons,
rations were reduced to 1218 tons for the month.


2)  Burundi

(a)  Insecurity and looting continued in different provinces. Attacks
attributed to both FNL and FDD rebel movements were carried out in various
provinces and a hydroelectric power dam was damaged in Bujumbura Rural
province. There were reports of systematic road ambushes and robberies
against civilian transport vehicles. The cantonment of the fighting groups
that accepted to be cantoned, disarmed and reintegrated in the community
was expected to start on 06 June. The Head of the African Mission in
Burundi indicated that the preparatory works of the sites were ongoing and
that the cantonment process will start with the arrival of combatants.

(b)  Food distributions were carried out to 16,000 persons in Kabezi
commune, displaced by the fighting. Following improved security in their
hills of origin, many returned home. From 02 to 08 June, WFP distributed
1,981 tons of food including 1,466 tons of targeted rations to 125,495
persons in Bujumbura Rural, Karusi, Makamba and Ruyigi provinces, through
support to social centres assisting HIV/AIDS victims, Food For Work
projects, refugee and returnee assistance and nutritional and hospital
feeding.


3)  Rwanda

(a)  During May WFP conducted a rapid assessment in Bugesera, Kibungo and
Umutara regions with FEWSNET. During the lean period (March-May), the
three regions were reported to experience food shortage mainly due to the
poor harvest of season "2003A" and the delay of rains. The unit found that
most households coped during this lean period by finding manual labour
opportunities in more food secure districts. The start of rain in mid-May
eased food insecurity for the affected households with the prospect of
crop production and oncoming harvests. While most households appeared to
be coping, the food situation for vulnerable groups such as the elderly,
chronically ill, child-headed households and widows/widowers remains a
concern. WFP will continue to monitor the three provinces that have
pockets of food insecurity.

(b)  Following a request from the Ministry of Local Government and Social
Affairs for increased WFP food-for-work interventions and emergency food
distributions, WFP held a disaster management task force meeting with
partners in May to share and exchange information on the current food
security situation. Participants concluded that existing measures to
mitigate hunger should be maintained and reinforced with continued
monitoring by Provincial authorities and WFP, with support from central
authorities in Kigali. A joint assessment to gather more information on
the status of agricultural production for season "2003B" would be
undertaken and Provincial authorities would carry out a more precise
identification of the most vulnerable, especially orphans, the
handicapped, and elderly.

(c)  During May, 292 returnees were registered in Nyagatare in Cyangugu
province and 746 in Nkamira in Gisenyi province. All returnees received a
three-month ration of food from WFP and non-food items from UNHCR before
returning to their original districts. Food distribution also took place
for 29,756 refugees at three refugee camps, including 564 refugees at
Kigeme camp in Gikongoro province, 15,218 beneficiaries at Kiziba camp in
Kibuye province and 13,974 refugees at Gihembe camp in Byumba province.


4)  Sudan

(a)  Severe flooding in parts of northwestern Kenya washed away the main
bridge on the road to Lokichoggio thus completely cutting off relief
supplies into Southern Sudan. WFP temporarily moved part of its air
operations centre to Eldoret 130 km south of the bridge, in order to avoid
a complete disruption of food aid deliveries. The overall security
situation in Darfur States was reported as tense, following further
attacks by the rebels in the region. Tribal conflict resulted in a
critical worsening of the security situation along the Sobat Corridor in
Upper Nile State. In the Nuba Mountains region an estimated 3,000 persons
have returned to their places of origin.

(b)  On 12 May WFP led the first cross-line barge operation along the
Juba-Malakal river corridor in three years. The first phase of the
operation is expected to be finalised by mid-June and 973 tons of food has
so far been distributed to 121,000 beneficiaries. WFP also led three
convoys by road from Kadugli to Julud area in the Southern Sector to
deliver 175 tons of cereals on the first three weeks of May.

(c)  On 22 May 2003 WFP was officially informed of a ban on imports of
Genetically Modified Food into the country, referring to cereals, pulses
and blended foods for which a GMO free certificate is required. The impact
of this new requirement will be immediate on all WFP operations. WFP is
negotiating with the government a 6 months "period of grace" to allow
entry of commodities already earmarked for Sudan.

(d)  Under Emergency Operation 10048.02, WFP distributed a total of 15,039
tons to 1,218,845 beneficiaries in both Northern and Southern sectors of
Sudan, with 7,459 tons of food aid distributed to 482,205 beneficiaries in
the Northern Sector and 7,580 tons distributed to 736,640 beneficiaries in
the Southern Sector.

(e)  The general security situation remained normal in Eastern Sudan where
WFP conducts its refugee assistance operations. The UNHCR legal status
determination for refugees continued, but the voluntary repatriation
remains suspended due to the closure of the border between Sudan and
Eritrea. A Joint WFP/UNHCR/COR Food Assessment mission was undertaken from
16 to 22 May and WFP distributed 611 tons of mixed food commodities to
91,786 beneficiaries under PRRO 10122 "Assistance to Eritrean Refugees".


5)  Eritrea

(a)  The drought situation continues to have serious consequences
throughout the country. Adequate water sources are becoming increasingly
scarce, with rural populations forced to travel long distances in search
of available water points. In the Gash Barka region, residents of the
former Shelab IDP camp have recently been relocated to the village of
Gerenfit. This influx of 10,000 new people into the community has placed
severe strain on the already scarce water supply. Reports have also been
received from the Debub, Anseba and Northern Red Sea regions indicating
that water tables are exceptionally low for this time of the year.

(b)  Parts of the country are preparing agricultural land in anticipation
of the Azmera (short) rains. The rains should have commenced in April, but
so far the amount received has been well below average. In the Anseba
region, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that it has distributed seeds
to local farmers, but that little planting has begun due to the lack of
rainfall. The Ministry also noted that the lack of fodder over the past
months has left farm animals emaciated, resulting in them being too weak
to effectively undertake agricultural work.

(c)  WFP continues to provide rations to approximately 850,000 drought-
and war-affected beneficiaries. This represents 61 percent of the planned
figure; the gap is due to a lack of available resources. WFP now has
commitments for 123,239 tons (49 percent) of the commodities needed for
its 2003 operations in Eritrea; it still faces a food shortfall of 136,000
tons. Pipeline breaks are already predicted for as early as July, and
could last until August or September 2003. Additional resources and timely
delivery of the pledged commodities are of critical importance.


6)  Ethiopia

(a)  OCHA Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ms Carolyn McAskie, has
been in Ethiopia on an official visit between 11 and 13 June. She was
accompanied by other UN emergency officials from New York and the region,
and by WFP's Regional Director for East and Central Africa. Ms McAskie met
the Prime Minister and had discussions with other representatives of the
government, United Nations agencies involved in emergency operations and
NGOs, about the current situation and prospects for recovery. On a field
trip to Boricha district of Sidama zone in Southern Nations, Nationalities
and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ms McAskie visited a supplementary food
distribution site and a therapeutic feeding centre run by NGOs with the
support of UNICEF and WFP.

(b)  While conditions are gradually improving for most of the affected
population in SNNPR, the need for therapeutic feeding for large numbers of
acutely malnourished children continues, and the number of therapeutic
feeding centres (currently fifteen) is to double in the coming weeks.
Longer-term solutions to the underlying causes of food insecurity, such as
the massive population pressure on the land in this part of the country,
will need to be found in order for future relief/recovery and development
interventions to have a meaningful impact. The area, which rarely required
food aid in the past except in periods of severe and widespread drought,
as in 1984-85, is now experiencing the worst child malnutrition rates of
the whole country. This nutritional crisis, sometimes limited to only the
younger children in a household, does not affect neighbouring areas of the
same district equally, and is of a complex nature, with medical and social
issues (including the malaria epidemic and general child feeding
practices) contributing to the problem

(c)  In northern Somali Region, a pre-assessment in Shinile zone by WFP
and regional authorities ahead of the mid-year needs assessment mission,
has confirmed that there has not been any improvement in the emergency
situation caused by four consecutive bad rainy seasons. No milk production
because of the poor state of livestock, as pasture and water are
insufficient, and no crop production, together mean loss of income as well
as continuing lack of normal food supplies at the household level. Relief
operations to flood victims in the southern zone of Gode continue;
improved access to East and West Imi meant that ICRC food and non-food
items have been reaching the flood-affected populations in these
locations.

(d)  Resources are needed for the on-going WFP refugee operations. Despite
some donor response, the pipeline for this operation, PRRO 10127, expects
a pipeline break for cereals in September if additional pledges are not
received. A break in the pipeline would jeopardize the repatriation of up
to 25,000 Somali refugees and the general ration for the Sudanese and
Eritrean refugees. The recent WFP-UNHCR joint nutrition survey in the
refugee camp for Eritreans, Walahniby in Tigray, indicates improved but
still high malnutrition levels with global acute malnutrition (GAM) at 14
percent. Results of recent nutrition surveys in the Sudanese refugee camps
are currently being compiled. The food aid needs of the refugees in
Ethiopia total 30,634 tons a year.



C)  West Africa: (1) Cote d'Ivoire, (2) Chad

1)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  Further to the recent massive influx of Liberian refugees, the
tension amidst the local population in Tabou and surrounding areas
persists. WFP staff are no present at night in Tabou due to lack of secure
accommodation. However, secure office/lodging space has now been
identified, to which WFP will move on 16 June. Areas around and north of
Grabo are now accessible. However military and civil authorities recommend
no travel beyond Neka, which is one of the remaining strongholds of LIMA
fighters in the area. The population is returning to Guiglo, and many
businesses have resumed their operation. However the disarmament in the
camp of Nicla has not begun. According to military authorities,
humanitarian organizations can go to Taï without problems, but are
discouraged from going to Toulepleu as the town is controlled by LIMA
forces. The buffer zone north of Daloa is still insecure. Looting and
killing of civilians by an unidentified group was reported during the
week. In Duekoue, the security situation is calm, but a curfew is
maintained from 2200 to 0600 hrs.

(b)  WFP conducted assessment missions in San Pedro, Tabou and Grabo to
evaluate caseloads and needs of IDPs living with host families. Food
assistance to 11,300 IDPs will be urgently implemented: 600 families in
San Pedro, 500 in Tabou, and 400 in Grabo. The mission found that the
displaced communities have been cut off from their traditional sources of
livelihood. No farming has taken place this season and there will be need
to provide seeds and food to them through to the next harvest season.
There are increasingly frequent and alarming reports of the unacceptable
living conditions of IDP families without shelter and no access to medical
and sanitation facilities in San Pedro. The need for food and medical
assistance is increasing among the 9,000 vulnerable IDPs in the buffer
zones in Bedialla, Zahibo, Gamina, Belle Ville, Bobonoussoko, Bonoufla and
Duekoue. Also thousands of IDPs and vulnerable host families seek food
assistance in Daloa city and surrounding villages. In Duekoue, many cases
of malnourished children were reported. Prices of many local food products
have increased considerably due to the lack of supply during the lean
season: Yam prices have increased with 50 percent, beans with 23 percent
and onions, potatoes, tomatoes with 14 percent. Prices of imported or
products such as rice, concentrated tomato, vegetable oil and sugar,
remain stable.

(c)  WFP in collaboration with CARITAS has distributed general rations for
two weeks to 6,089 refugees in Prollo and Nero. Beneficiary lists have
been obtained from SAARA on a daily basis, and the caseload has now been
increased from 15,000 to 23,245. Food distributions to a total of 11,300
registered IDPs living with host families in San Pedro, Tabou and Grabo is
being planned for the coming week in collaboration with the local Red
Cross and the Catholic Missions. WFP assisted 1,000 Burkinabé, Ghanaians
and Malians with 4 days worth of high-energy biscuits. IOM is facilitating
their repatriation. The repatriation of 500 Guineans has been postponed,
and WFP has given them two weeks worth of dry rations. In the three IDP
camps in Duekoue, 2,908 IDPs benefited from WFP food assistance through
the NGO Solidarités this week. Four supplementary feeding centres and one
therapeutic feeding centre implemented by WFP and Action Contre la Faim
are operational in Duekoue. From 05 to 11 June, WFP provided food to
approximately 16,000 beneficiaries in Man, Danane and Teapleu. Of those,
11,000 are children receiving school lunches, and 3,000 are children under
5, that are being fed through canteens run by ACF. WFP delivered food to
Koni and Komborodougou health centres, which will help to set up
therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes in favour of 205
malnourished children and 231 adults. Following the closure of ACF
programmes in Bouaké, arrangements have been made for MSF-France to
continue to manage the supplementary feeding programme. A total of 45,809
persons will be assisted by WFP in Bouaké during the month of June, with a
total food basket quantified at 264.5 tons. WFP continues to support an
estimated 30,000 IDPs in the central region, most of who live with host
families.

(d)  There are serious shortfalls for oil and pulses starting this month.
>From July onward, there will in addition be a serious pipeline break for
cereals, including maize meal and bulgur wheat, followed in August by
other commodities such as corn-soya blend and salt. New contributions will
only be available around October.


2)  Chad

(a)  Insecurity caused by fighting between rebel and government troops in
the Central African Republic (CAR) from October 2002 to March 2003 led an
estimated 40,000 persons to flee to villages and cities in southern Chad.
Most fighting in CAR took place in the north of the country, close to the
Chad-CAR border, and the security situation in southern Chad remained
volatile due to the presence of armed bands. The 40,000 refugees in Chad
were in dire need of security, food, water, shelter and medical assistance
and the Government of Chad (GoC) subsequently launched an appeal to the
International Community for urgent assistance. Following a Rapid and Joint
Food Needs Assessment mission with GoC, UNHCR, Chadian Red Cross (CRC) and
NGOs, WFP supplied 324 tons of food aid in early June, after the approval
of a one-month Immediate Response Emergency Operation (IR-EMOP). A
tripartite agreement was signed between WFP, UNHCR and the implementing
partner CRC. During the distribution, UNHCR provided beneficiaries with
basic Non Food Items.

(b)  Food procured under the IRA-EMOP will last until end of June and a
pipeline break will occur in early July. A six-month EMOP starting 01 July
is now being prepared. Estimated food requirements for this operation
amount to 4,345 tons. Beneficiaries include 40,000 people for full rations
and 3,000 malnourished children and 1,036 pregnant and lactating mothers
for complementary feeding.



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

1)  Regional

(a)  Findings of the recent FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment
Missions (CFSAM) indicate that southern Africa still requires substantial
food aid. According to the assessment missions undertaken in Lesotho,
Malawi, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia, the general food
security situation has improved regionally, helped by increased crop
production in Zambia and Malawi. However, Zimbabwe faces acute food
shortages with up to 5.5 million people in need of food aid. In
Mozambique, food production surged in the north of the country but parts
of the south and central region continue to face serious food shortages
affecting 949,000 people in 40 districts. Some areas of Swaziland and
Lesotho also face shortages. Over the next year, the six southern African
countries will need to import at least 2.6 million tons of food to meet
their minimum needs. Food surpluses in South Africa will exceed this
amount and some cross border trade among other countries will continue to
take place. For the region to assume agricultural growth, increased and
carefully targeted support will be needed for the agricultural sectors of
the six countries. The CFSAM findings were presented at a recent
stakeholder meeting of UN Agencies, government representatives, Southern
African Development Communities (SADC), donors, and NGOs in Johannesburg.


2)  Madagascar

(a)  WFP will resume Food for Work distributions for the drought-affected
population in the south following the recent arrival of 1,606 tons of
maize. Despite an increased level of food supply in the local markets,
food prices remain high and inaccessible for the majority of people.
Health workers have not reported any hunger related deaths, however many
people, mainly children, are believed to be at risk due to a combination
of disease, inadequate diet and unsafe drinking water which prevails in
the area. Staff working at the nutrition centre in Amboasary have reported
an eight percent mortality rate among children during March and May. Aid
workers in the south have noticed an increase in deforestation as trees
are being cut down in order to produce charcoal for sale in the local
market. Funding for urgently required seeds has not been forthcoming,
which will serve to exacerbate the crisis.

(b)  WFP's implementing partner CARE has initiated Food for Work
activities with communities affected by cyclone 'Manou'. Currently, 17
tons of rice and 11 tons of pulses have been distributed in the Vatomandry
area.


3)  Lesotho

(a)  From 03 to 10 June, WFP distributed 457 tons of food to 33,468 people
in collaboration with implementing partners. During the week weather was
unusually cold with frost overnight and temperatures as low as minus 3
degrees Centigrade were reported. WFP's development project 10266.0
'Support to Free Primary Education' was approved by WFP's Executive Board.
The project will provide school feeding support to 1,281 primary schools,
representing 95 percent of the schools countrywide, over a three-year
period.


4)  Swaziland

(a)  From 03 to 09 June, WFP distributed 452 tons of food to 29,464
beneficiaries. During this period, the dry Middleveld received an average
of 19 millimetres of rain while the Lowveld and Lubombo Plateau received
an average of 5 millimetres of rainfall. The rains are expected to improve
the grazing situation for livestock in the areas.


5)  Mozambique

(a)  From 03 to 09 June, WFP distributed 2,842 tons of food in
collaboration with implementing partners. WFP staff conducted an
exploratory visit to Quelimane, the capital of maize-surplus Zambezia
Province, and to Nampula to meet with maize suppliers and review the
prospects for local purchases in the north to supply the central region
food aid needs.

(b)  WFP and Save the Children US signed an emergency school feeding
Letter of Understanding (LOU) to provide 30,000 children in four districts
in Gaza Province with take-home food rations. WFP is also finalizing a LOU
with Jesus Alive Ministries to reach an additional 70,000 children in
Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala and Manica Provinces and is planning to reach
150,000 children in these provinces by December.


6)  Malawi

(a)  From 05 to 11 June, WFP, in collaboration with implementing partners,
distributed 1,129 tons of food.

(b)  WFP will hold two workshops for implementing partners on Food for
Work and Food for Training projects. The discussions will focus on
programming, targeting and standard operating procedures. An HIV/AIDS
workshop is scheduled for later in the month. In an effort to strengthen
the capacity of implementing partners in the HIV/AIDS project, the
National AIDS Commission organized a five-day Training of Trainers course.
The training content included discussions on HIV/AIDS prevalence in
Malawi, an overview of community home-based care, an introduction of WFP's
HIV/AIDS project, teaching and learning methodology, community development
and traditional healing activities.


7)  Zimbabwe

(a)  Due to the one-week mass action called by the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change and in consideration of subsequent security concerns,
WFP field activities were at a minimal level during the week. Food
distributions were resumed following the cessation of the MDC called
activities.

(b)  The food security situation in Matabeleland remains serious. Food
availability appears to have eased on the parallel market but not through
formal trade channels. The current price of maize meal on the parallel
market is three times above the Government-controlled rate.

(c)  In Mutare District, humanitarian organizations providing home-based
care and other assistance to HIV/AIDS affected households are reviewing
their beneficiary lists in order to avoid duplication. NGOs involved in
therapeutic feeding programmes report increased admissions mainly as a
result of HIV infections. WFP is working with several implementing
partners in the area in order to provide food assistance to affected
HIV/AIDS households.


8)  Zambia

(a)  WFP will provide food for 500 Angolan refugees in transit from Meheba
refugee camp to the reception centre in Cazombo, Angola. WFP will also
provide transportation of a two-month reintegration package for the
returning refugees under the repatriation exercise. A total of 20,000
refugees are expected to repatriate in 2003. Due to the recent discovery
of a landmine on the road between the Zambian border and Cazombo, onward
transportation of commodities from Meheba refugee camp in Zambia to the
reception centre in Cazombo has been suspended until security clearances
are received.

(b)  From 04 to 09 June, WFP distributed 2,278 tons of food in
collaboration with implementing partners. WFP's implementing partner CARE
has begun Food for Work projects in Kalomo in Southern Province, in
preparation for the post June recovery programme. This is in line with the
Government's decision to halt general food distribution in order to avoid
creating dependency in the post-emergency phase. The projects include a
crop diversification programme in which root crops like cassava are
introduced into the area. CARE has provided 56 farmers with a half-hectare
cassava plantation each for the purposes of plant multiplication.


9)  Angola

(a)  In Moxico Province, WFP cross-border operations to bring food from
Zambia for distribution to refugee returnees in Cazombo, under the
imminent official repatriation programme were suspended when an anti-tank
landmine was discovered on the road between Cazombo and the Zambian
border. The road, which has been heavily travelled by WFP staff in recent
weeks in preparation for the repatriation exercise, has now been closed to
UN personnel. WFP is currently undertaking final food pre-positioning for
this operation using cargo flights from Luanda.

(b)  In Kuando Kubango Province, the displacement of people from Likua,
Luengue, Neriquinha, Rivungo and Jamba areas continues. Since the
beginning of the month, approximately 4,000 people have arrived in Mavinga
in search of humanitarian assistance. WFP is very concerned as the
humanitarian situation in Likua, Rivungo and Luengue Plains is reported to
be critical and people arriving from these areas have caused a sharp
increase in hospital admissions. The Mavinga-Cuito Cuanavale road has been
closed to UN personnel since November 2002 following a mine incident that
killed 12 people.

(c)  During June 2003, 1.46 million people are expected to receive WFP
rations, compared to 1.53 million in May. Of these, 24 percent will
receive food under emergency programmes, including nutritional support for
malnourished children and emergency rations for displaced individuals. An
additional 76 percent will be included in recovery-oriented activities,
such as distributions for vulnerable returnees and support to
reconstruction of community infrastructure, like schools, irrigation
canals and health posts in isolated rural areas through Food for Work
programmes. These figures compare to 62 percent for emergency and 38
percent for recovery programmes in January, demonstrating a dramatic shift
of focus of WFP's activities towards recovery-oriented activities.

(d)  Donations are urgently needed for the transportation component of
WFP's Special Operation 10149.1 'Logistic Services to the Humanitarian
Community'. The operation is currently critically under-funded with USD
2,432,768 still required against a total cost of USD 6,877,902. WFP's
transportation of seeds, tools and materials to support the repatriation
of Angolan refugees is crucial at this time.


10)  Namibia

(a)  June food distributions for 401 refugees in Kassava transit centre in
northern Namibia have been completed. Distributions for 20,500 refugees in
Osire refugee camp are underway. WFP has provided 127 tons of food to the
Government for distribution over the next three months for approximately
12,000 people affected by the floods in the Caprivi region. The food is
currently being stored in a government-arranged warehouse in Katima Mulilo
in Caprivi and distributions are expected to begin during the third week
of June.

(b)  A WFP assessment mission to the flood-affected areas in Caprivi
indicated that the floods have affected approximately 12,000 people living
in 22 villages in Kabbe constituency and part of Katima. Agricultural
fields have been flooded and grain stores have been damaged. Croplands
that were planted late were completely destroyed. Grazing land for
livestock is underwater resulting in the drowning of cattle and other
livestock. Some farmers are feeding their cattle roof thatches in the
absence of proper feed. Most of the 22 flooded villages are inaccessible
by road and can only be reached by helicopter and boats. While health
officials have not reported any increase of diseases, there is a growing
concern over malaria and other water borne diseases.

(c)  A new Namibia EMOP 10145.1 "Assistance to Angolan Refugees in
Namibia", covering the period from June 2003 to May 2004, was approved.
The new EMOP will provide food assistance for an average of 16,000 people
throughout the period reflecting the expectation that approximately 7,000
Angolan refugees will be repatriated in 2003. Donations for the operation
are urgently needed.



E)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea, (2) Indonesia

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  WFP-staff returning from Bangkok during the week were not subject to
quarantine. The DPRK government has reduced its initial all-encompassing
list of SARS-affected countries. According to unofficial reports, staff
will be quarantined if they visit China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore,
United States, Canada, Germany and Russia.

(b)  Wheat, barley and potato harvests began in some monitored counties
during the week, while rice transplanting is in progress. Reports of a
limited area of pest infestation of so-called " water elephant" were
received from the South Hwanghae province. Rainfall during the March-May
period has been substantially greater than the 50 year mean for most of
the country. The exception is the western part of Kangwon Province and the
eastern part of North Hwanghae Province.

(c)  Cereal distributions will remain suspended in June for the elderly,
caregivers in child institutions and primary school children to ensure
continued assistance to the core beneficiaries - young children and
pregnant and nursing women. Distributions to all targeted beneficiaries
are expected to resume from July, and will continue through the third
quarter of the year as confirmed contributions begin to arrive.

(d)  The second quarterly Food Aid Coordination meeting, chaired by WFP,
was held during the week. Participants included UNICEF, IFRC (Federation
of Red Cross), FALU, GAA (German Agro Action), ADRA Switzerland and
Triangle (French NGO).

(e)  Pipeline shortfalls of 82,000 tons are projected for the remainder of
the year. Expected arrivals include 100,000 tons of maize, 11,000 tons of
rice and 40,500 tons of wheat. Commodities yet to be resourced to avoid
breaks in the food pipeline include 61,000 tons of cereals, 7,000 tons of
pulses, 7,000 tons of corn-soya milk, 3,500 tons of sugar and 3,000 tons
of oil. Recent cash contributions will be used to purchase sugar for the
local production of enriched blended foods for children and pregnant and
nursing women.


2)  Indonesia

(a)  A last attempt to salvage the peace agreement for Aceh through a
two-day meeting in Tokyo on 17 and18 May failed. The President issued a
decree on a state of emergency, with the status of martial law. The
security situation is very tense with hundreds of schools burnt and
frequent shooting incidents. UN staff movements in Aceh are limited to
Banda Aceh. Approximately 20,000 people are reportedly displaced in the
worst affected districts. WFP has an agreement with the Indonesian Red
Cross (PMI) under which emergency food assistance can be provided to
people affected by conflict in the province. Up to 2,000 tons of rice is
immediately available for release. In May an earthquake measuring 6.4 on
the Richter scale hit Morotai Island, North Maluku. 200 houses collapsed,
9 people were injured and one dead. WFP's El Niño assessment indicates
enhanced probabilities for below normal precipitations over NTB and NTT
until August. Findings of the recent WFP mission to West Timor suggest
that there is global acute malnutrition among children under five years.

(b)  During May 2003, WFP distributed 6,171 tons of food to 1.47 million
targeted beneficiaries, mostly women and children, under its Subsidized
Rice for Urban Poor (OPSM), the Nutrition Programme (NP), and Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) programmes. A joint FAO/WFP Food Needs and Crop
Assessment Mission was conducted in Timor Leste (former East Timor). The
Mission forecasts that, after two consecutive years of drought, basic food
supplies at household level in the highland areas are likely to reach
critical levels and about 150,000 people could be in need of basic food
assistance. WFP is closely monitoring the situation.

(c)  With no new contribution from donors, the current operation PRRO10069
has a 47 percent shortfall.



F)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Ecuador

1)  Ecuador

(a)  The Tungurahua volcano began a new eruptive process with seismic
activity, explosions, and ash fall. This process marked the end of a
period of relative calm. The Civil Defence and the Geophysical Institute
recommend that nearby residents protect drinkable water, the livestock's
food, and their own health. A marked presence of sulphur in the atmosphere
is expected in the coming weeks. Loud rumblings could be heard during the
night and it was possible to observe incandescence in the crater, produced
by the magma located in the higher part of the volcano; as a result, there
was moderate ash fall on the western side of the volcano.

(b)  A small increase in the number of long duration events and signals of
tremor were registered at Cotopaxi Volcano this week. The long duration
events are characterised by frequencies between 0.9 and 1.9 Hz,
sporadically localised in the volcanic edifice and some can be registered
by remote stations.



G)  Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: (1) Armenia

1)  Armenia

(a)  Unusual winter frost and floods from heavy rains and melting snow
have significantly reduced wheat and potato yields and damaged fruit
orchards. Wheat harvest is estimated at 260,000 tons compared with 340,000
tons last year.

(b)  With the end of the 2002-2003 school year, WFP completed its
school-feeding programme covering approximately 10,600 children in the
four most vulnerable provinces. A recent baseline/evaluation survey shows
that school meals provided under the programme have helped to relieve
hunger. For many children, the school lunch was their only meal taken
during the day. The programme has also contributed to higher attendance.

(c)  WFP food-for-training sessions were held for 11,050 participants in
425 groups in 182 communities. Some 80 food-for-work (FFW) projects,
including establishment of orchards, seed multiplication, school and
irrigation system repair continued throughout May, with some projects
carrying over into June.

(d)  WFP's Armenia operation is less than 48 percent funded. Closing
stocks on 31 May stood at 1,900 tons and following distributions in June,
there will be a pipeline break until the arrival of new donations expected
in September.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 24).


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