WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 25 / 2003 - Date 20 June 2003


This report includes:

A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Iran, (3) Afghanistan
B) East and Central Africa: (1) Republic of Congo, (2) DR Congo,
   (3) Burundi, (4) Uganda, (5) Tanzania, (6) Eritrea, (7) Somalia
C) West Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Cote d'Ivoire, (3) Sierra Leone,
   (4) Guinea, (5) Mauritania
D) Southern Africa: (1) Madagascar, (2) Lesotho, (3) Swaziland,
   (4) Mozambique, (5) Tanzania, (6) Malawi, (7) Zimbabwe,
   (8) Zambia, (9) Angola, (10) Namibia
E) Asia: (1) DPR Korea
F) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Nicaragua, (2) Guatemala
G) Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: (1) Russian Federation

>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) Afghanistan

1)  Iraq

(a)  Public Distribution System (PDS) distributions all over the country
are progressing well as the distribution cycle enters its third week. No
major problems have been reported by WFP sub-offices facilitating and
monitoring the distribution process. Cooperation with the Coalition
Provisional Authority (CPA) and the Ministry of Trade (MOT), which is the
main coordinating body for the PDS, continues to improve. Tri-partite
meetings take place twice a week to discuss and find solutions for any
problems that may arise. The main challenge continues to be related to
security for warehouses and silos. In Baghdad ongoing unrest and theft at
Al Hurriya warehouse meant that WFP was forced to temporarily withdraw its
presence until the situation can be stabilised. The CPA is working with
WFP to resolve this issue with the Coalition Forces (military).

(b)  Following wheat-flour distributions earlier in the distribution
cycle, other commodities, such as vegetable oil and pulses, have now been
included in the June PDS basket and have been released to food agents for
further distribution to beneficiaries. Preliminary PDS monitoring in the
lower South and central/southern governorates indicate that food agents
charge additional fees from beneficiaries in order to cover higher
transportation and loading/off-loading fees. WFP is monitoring this issue
and keeps MOT informed. A clearer picture of the problem will be available
once the monitoring cycle is complete and findings are analysed. The
logistics operation and dispatch of commodities from the five neighbouring
countries continues to proceed smoothly. As at Wednesday 18 June, total
dispatches amounted to 418,262 tons of food and the total amount
dispatched since the beginning of the operation in May stands at 902,045
tons. The transfer of ownership for PDS commodities from WFP to MOT
continued during the week. Following Ninewa and Tameem, the hand-over has
now been completed in the central-southern governorates of Babel, Kerbala,
Najaf, Qadissiya and Wassit. In Baghdad, Anbar and Diyala, WFP finalized
the hand-over of stocks to MOT on 15 June. During the past week, twelve
hospitals in Baghdad received WFP food aid through implementing partners.

(c)  WFP took part in an inter-agency mission to the lower southern
governorate of Missan this week to review the situation of the Marsh
Arabs. Preliminary findings include the recommendation that MOT address
the issue of transportation costs for food agents (FA) and beneficiaries
for this group of people. This is particularly important for the
Marshlands as the distance to the nearest collection point of food for
both, food agents and beneficiaries, is far. It is understood that some 50
per cent of Marsh Arabs are obliged to sell part of the PDS food to
generate enough money to cover the ration fees of Iraqi Dinars 250 per
person per month. In light of this, procurement of locally produced grain
is very important, as agriculture is the only employment and
income-generating activity for Marsh Arabs.

(d)  This week, WFP chaired the first bi-weekly NGO-UN Food Sector
Coordination meeting in Baghdad, which was attended by CARE International,
Premiere Urgence, and Enfants du Monde. This is a particularly important
forum for exchange of information and coordination of activities and
resources with a view to assisting vulnerable groups. The meeting was also
attended by a WFP Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping (VAM) expert, who
explained WFP's planned VAM study, which is scheduled to take place in
July/August. It is anticipated that WFP will work closely with, and draw
on the experience of the NGO's for the survey.


2)  Iran

(a)  Tehran remains in Security Phase I, with the seven border areas with
Iraq and Afghanistan remaining in Security Phase II, despite countrywide
unrest in the previous week. WFP is working on setting up an internal
movement tracking system of all international and national staff and WFP
staff have been undergoing additional security training.

(b)  From 13 to 19 June, 5,949 tons of food was dispatched to Iraq,
bringing the total quantity of food to have been dispatched to various
Iraqi destinations since the beginning of trans-border operations on 16
April to 41,397 tons. Dispatch of Oil for Food Programme (OFFP)
commodities into Iraq has been continuing, with the remaining 5,260 tons
of rice from one of the vessels to be fully dispatched by 22 June. WFP is
dispatching its last quantities of food aid from BIK port to Iraq, as BIK
port office is planned to close by early July.

(c)  From 13 to 19 June, 5,444 Afghan refugees repatriated mostly through
the Dogharoun border point, bringing the total number of refugees to have
repatriated through Dogharoun and Milak since the beginning of the
operation on 09 April 2002 to 466,966.


3)  Afghanistan

(a)  In the southern part of the country, fighting took place in and
around Spin Boldak, Kandahar province. Attacks against the international
assistance community were reported in Hilmand and Kandahar provinces. All
road missions in the south are suspended until further notice due to the
lack of escort vehicles.

(b)  From 12 to 18 June, 344,978 beneficiaries in Fayz Abad, Mazari
Sharif, Kabul, Kandahar and Hirat received 2,025 tons of food through
various WFP projects, including Food For Work, Food for Asset Creation,
Food For Education, Relief and Resettlement of IDPs and Refugees, Urban
Vulnerable Bakeries and Supplementary and Institutional feeding projects.

(c)  WFP met with NGO partners in Fayz Abad to discuss issues of concern,
including the shortage of labour due to the poppy harvest and the high
wages in the labour market. The Ministry of Education and WFP signed a
Letter of Understanding on the second stage of the countrywide Argos pilot
project beginning in July, in which WFP will train Government
counterparts, implementing partners and concerned WFP staff in the
functions of the school feeding monitoring devices and their appropriate
installation at project schools throughout the country to ensure the
collection of school feeding data. The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation
and Development (MRRD) expressed its willingness to participate in
monitoring and evaluation of WFP-supported activities implemented in
Nangarhar province. A food security meeting was held in the Department of
Rural Rehabilitation and Development (DRRD) office in Hirat during which
WFP activities and the quantity of food programmed in the area were
discussed. DRRD, WFP and other UN agencies are continuing to seek
long-term solutions for the IDPs remaining in camps in Hirat.



B)  East and Central Africa: (1) Republic of Congo, (2) DR Congo, (3)
Burundi, (4) Uganda, (5) Tanzania, (6) Eritrea, (7) Somalia

1)  Republic of Congo

(a)  An Inter-Agency Assessment Mission for the Return of IDPs from Pool
region was carried out. The purpose of the mission was to evaluate the
feasibility of joint and coordinated humanitarian intervention, in order
to support the return of the IDPs from the Pool region to their places of
origin. This was the first time that access was granted in the region
since March 2002. According to the preliminary mission findings, the very
high level of destruction in villages, combined with massive displacements
of population, lack of work in fields for more than a year and the
uncertain security situation will seriously complicate the return of the
displaced population and the resumption of normal life in the region. In
this context, WFP plans to facilitate the return of the displaced
population to their villages with the distribution of "return kits" to
targeted groups. Rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructure will be
supported through food for work activities. Vulnerable groups and the
malnourished people will be assisted through targeted distributions and
supplementary feeding together with the International Committee of the Red
Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières.


2)  DR Congo

(a)  On 12 June, a delegation of Ambassadors from the 15 Member States of
the UN Security Council fielded a mission to Bunia, where the deployment
of 1,500 soldiers from the Multi-national Interposition Forces is expected
to be effective by mid-July. The prevailing insecurity in the eastern part
of the country continues to hamper the humanitarian access and
beneficiaries right to food. Armed solders killed two WFP assisted
beneficiaries who refused to share their rations with the soldiers. WFP
had to suspend the delivery of 240 tons of food commodities to Kitutu, in
Mwenga territory, due to heavy fighting between the combating forces. The
northern part of North Kivu province was affected by violent
confrontations between the armed groups. Massive displacements of
populations between Kanyabayonga, Kayna and Krumba were reported. As a
result of the lack of access, WFP was not able to carry out planned needs
assessments. According to the specialist from Goma Volcanological
Observatory, the Nyiragongo Volcano poses a serious threat to the
populations living nearby in respect to food security and the availability
of drinking water. The alert level remained yellow.

(b)  During the week, WFP distributed 652 tons of food to 58,944
beneficiaries. Due to shortfalls of sugar and corn-soya blend, the two
major commodities for the implementation of nutritional activities are
currently missing from WFP's food basket. Overall, the pipeline remains a
cause of concern. Repatriation of the first set of Angolan refugees
encamped in Bas-Congo and Katanga province is due to start on 20 June.


3)  Burundi

(a)  The UN Security Council delegation visited Burundi and met with
different political authorities and fighting factions to discuss the
progress of the peace process in the Great Lakes region and in Burundi in
particular. In Dar-Es-Salaam, the delegation met with the fighting wing of
FDD to persuade it to join the Arusha peace process underway in Burundi. A
government delegation left Bujumbura for Dar-Es-Salaam where a session of
talks with FDD was expected to take place. However, it has been reported
that the real talks were not held but rather some preliminary
consultations to facilitate the meeting of both delegates were organized.
Insecurity and looting on roads and in households continued in different
provinces. Attacks and skirmishes between the army and the rebel movements
were reported in Gitega, Muramvya, Mwaro, Bujumbura Rural and Kayanza
provinces while acts of robbery were reported in Bubanza and Bujumbura
Rural provinces. One ambush was reported in Makamba province. During last
week, 13 bombs were launched on Cankuzo province slightly injuring on
person and leaving a house damaged.

(b)  During the week WFP distributed 1,336 tons of food, including 1,033
tons of targeted rations to 63,450 persons in Bujumbura Rural, Karusi,
Makamba and Ruyigi provinces, 122 tons of food to social centres with
HIV/AIDS victims, 56 tons to Food For Work projects, 73 tons for
nutritional and hospital feeding and 52 tons to returnees.


4)  Uganda

(a)  In northern Uganda, WFP food aid distribution continued, albeit
amidst extremely heightened insecurity. WFP was with heavy military escort
able to distribute 1,532 tons of food to displaced persons in six IDP
camps. On 17 June, Lord's Resistance Army rebels attacked Anaka IDP camp,
killed and abducted civilians, and burned over 380 houses, further
traumatizing the displaced population. The civilian population throughout
the northern districts continues to be physically assaulted, tortured and
maimed. In another incident, LRA rebels attacked Katakwi District in
northeastern Uganda on 15 June. The rebels killed and abducted civilians,
torched over 100 houses and looted property. The recent LRA rebel attacks,
coupled with seasonal Karimojong cattle raids, have left over 80,000
people displaced in 58 IDP camps in the District.

(b)  Due to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions within IDP camps in
Katakwi District, WFP conducted a rapid assessment mission from 16 to 20
June. The objectives of the mission were to explore the differences
between IDP camps; establish the degree of access to agricultural land;
assess the acreage cultivated and proximity of fields; establish current
food consumption and analyse the food gaps and requirements. A joint
mission was also conducted, including the Government of Uganda donors and
UN agencies for the relocation of the 16,000 former Achol-Pii refugees to
Arua and Yumbe Districts in northeastern Uganda. The mission recommended
that basic infrastructure should be put in place first and that the
relocation should take place after consultations with the refugees and
after addressing some of the security and transport issues.


5)  Tanzania

Note: Please refer to the Southern Africa section of the Emergency Report.


6)  Eritrea

(a)  The drought situation in Eritrea 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 taken place 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 some 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 pledges for
123,239 tons (49 percent) of the commodities needed for its 2003
operations in Eritrea. However, 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.


7)  Ethiopia

(a)  Responding to the severe drought in Ethiopia and Eritrea, United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 18 June named former Finnish
President Martti Ahtisaari as his Special Envoy for the humanitarian
crisis in the Horn of Africa. Mr. Ahtisaari -who has also served as a
Special Representative to Namibia and the former Yugoslavia - previously
served as Under-Secretary General for Administration and Management.

(b)  The government-led Belg (short season) Needs Assessment will start on
22 June, with the participation of WFP, other UN agencies, NGOs and
donors. The main focus of this seasonal exercise is to analyse the food
security situation in areas, which are dependent on Belg season crops,
harvested by August. The state of long-cycle crops planted earlier in the
year will also be looked at. The fourteen assessment teams will also
report on the state of land preparation and planting of Meher (main
season) crops, which depend on the current rainy season (the Kiremt
rains). A mixed picture for the Belg crops is expected to result in
additional needs among some of the Belg-dependent farming population.

(c)  The UN Country Team has opened a support office in Awasa, the capital
of the badly hit Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region.
Coordination meetings on SNNPR continue in the Region and at the federal
level. With the encouragement of the federal Disaster Prevention and
Preparedness Commission, NGOs are expanding their operations, taking over
further responsibilities for general food distributions in Wolayita and
Sidama zones of the Region. Some 52 percent of the food deliveries in
SNNPR are already handled by NGOs, who also operate targeted supplementary
food distributions at several locations, and most of the fifteen
therapeutic feeding centres currently assisting some 1,050 children in the
Region. Further nutritional surveys are taking place, and Therapeutic
Feeding Centres and targeted supplementary food distributions will be put
in place, as required, based on the findings of these surveys. It is hoped
that wider involvement by NGOs will help to improve targeting of food aid
among the communities.

(d)  Grain food aid deliveries to all targeted districts in SNNPR have
been regular and more or less timely since March this year. Some of the
most seriously affected woredas have received the May allocation on the
basis of 15 kg of cereal per person per month. Deliveries of supplementary
food in the months of March and April heavily focused on the most severely
affected woredas of Guraghe, Silti, Sidama and Wolayta zones. In May,
however, the coverage significantly increased and most of the affected
woredas received supplementary food. Vegetable oil dispatches started
towards the end of May and beginning of June to woredas of Wolayta and
Sidama zones.

(e)  Countrywide food aid deliveries in May totalled 153,200 tons
distributed to just over 11 million beneficiaries, 54 percent of which
were covered by NGOs.


8)  Somalia

(a)  The security situation remained fluid in Somalia following the recent
inter-factional fighting that led to the death of 20 people in
Middle-Shabelle Region in Southern Somalia. The fighting was a breach of
the cease-fire agreement reached in October last year by Somali Parties
participating in the peace conference currently going on in Nairobi,
Kenya. Other areas remained relatively calm.

(b)  Malnutrition amongst children and women remains a major challenge in
several parts of Somalia. WFP continues to support Supplementary Feeding
Programmes alongside other partners, to improve the nutritional levels of
the vulnerable groups. A recent assessment indicates that over 80 percent
of those attending the supplementary feeding programme at Belet-Weyne town
in South Somali were residents of the poorer parts of the town. The causes
of malnutrition were related to illnesses such as diarrhoea, malaria,
bronchitis and tuberculosis. Difficulties in accessing adequate food also
contributed to the high levels of malnutrition in female-headed
households.

(c)  WFP is negotiating with authorities in the Northwest region of
Somalia where it intends to launch a school-feeding programme. The
education system in much of Somalia has been left in serious disarray
after over a decade of civil war leading to low enrolment levels over the
years. The first phase of the WFP school feeding programme targets 23
schools in West Galbeed, Awdal and Sahil Districts and intends to reach
about 4,456 school going children, including 3,324 boys and 1,132 girls.
The schools targeted are mainly in the rural pastoral and agricultural
zones where enrolment is highly affected by the large distances from home
to school, greater domestic workloads on family farms and seasonal
migration during the dry seasons. A total of 134 tons of food will be
distributed to the 23 schools. WFP will also spend about USD 44,579 to
cover infrastructure costs such as the construction of kitchens and eating
areas.

(d)  In the month of May, WFP distributed 1,355 tons of food, of which 24
tons was for relief food aid, 454 tons was distributed through the social
sector support and 877 tons to rehabilitation activities.



C)  West Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Côte d'Ivoire, (3) Sierra Leone, (4)
Guinea, (5) Mauritania

1)  Regional

(a)  A joint WFP/UNHCR assessment mission took place from 09 to 19 June in
Guinea and Sierra Leone (Liberia field visit had to be cancelled), aiming
at reviewing food aid strategies and level of food assistance in the West
Africa Coastal region. The conclusions of the mission will be used as the
basis for the year 2004 food aid assistance and related refugee and IDP
programmes in the region.


2)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  WFP has continued distributing food to the new refugee caseloads
through Caritas in southwestern areas. The WFP has carried out
distribution to some 381Guineans still waiting for repatriation. The total
number of beneficiaries assisted since the beginning of the new influx of
Liberians is 9,744. So far 6 of the 8 accessible entry points have been
served and 42 percent of the beneficiaries have received food
distributions. WFP also distributed 212,5 kg of High Energy Biscuits to
425 Third country Nationals who were to be repatriated by IOM.

(b)  From 12 to 18 June, WFP completed food distributions in all primary
schools benefiting some 11,000 children. A FAO/WFP food security
assessment mission visited Man on 13 and 14 June and held meetings with
community leaders. WFP is planning food distributions to 52,000 IDPs in
the western areas. Logistics problems, including insufficient trucks
available, led to a slow-down in food movements out of Yamoussoukro to
Man. As a result the under-five feeding programme in Man implemented by
Action Contre la Faim (ACF) was on hold for over a week and food
distributions to IDPs in Danane and Man were delayed. The problems have
now been resolved and food movements continue with reinforced logistics
capacity to meet increased needs.

(c)  UNHCR assessed the refugee population at the NICLA refugee camp
outside the town of Guiglo to number some 4,575 people. During the week,
WFP distributed food for the month of June to 4,578 people. In Bouaké, WFP
and implementing partners continued distributions this week to some 34,900
beneficiaries. For security reasons, IDP sites in Sakassou and Béoumi were
not served. IDPs supported through Care in rural Bouaké numbers 9,655. WFP
Korhogo has been undertaking registrations of food insecure households
both in Djedana and Nielle. Agreements have been drafted with 5 different
partners. Current caseload in Korhogo is more than 15,000 people.

(d)  Schools in areas not affected by the crisis will close at the end of
June. However, it has been agreed that the school year in the north and
south will be extended until 20 August to allow children to make up for
school days missed because of insecurity. School lunch programmes will
continue in this period. Only 43 percent of teachers remained in areas
affected by conflict and have not received their salaries. They and
volunteer teachers are therefore provided with a food incentive by WFP
pending the normalization of the situation.

(e)  WFP is facing a break in the pipeline for pulses. This will
negatively affect general food distributions to IDPs in the western part
of the country.


3)  Sierra Leone

(a)  The recent unstable security situation in Liberia, despite the
ongoing peace talks in Accra, Ghana, has triggered influxes of both
refugees and combatants into Sierra Leone border towns, particularly
through the Zimmi and Kailahun axes. One influx of Liberian refugees into
northern Kailahun began on 13 June. Several hundred people, mostly women
and children, were transferred from the bush areas to the Kailahun way
station, where they received wet feeding and accommodation.

(b)  Countrywide, WFP supported a total of 154,555 beneficiaries with
1,785 tons of food from 02 to 15 June. WFP continued to provide food
support to returnees at the Kailahun way station. Also, 1,832 returnees
from Guinea received a two-months resettlement ration amounting to 27.81
tons of food. Pre-positioning of food items in various refugee camps
commenced during the first week of June. The monthly distribution began in
the second week for the eight WFP-supported camps and was expected to
provide over 830 tons of assorted food commodities for approximately
48,000 Liberians. Preparations also began for WFP to provide the second
two-month food ration supply to those Sierra Leoneans who repatriated
during the month of April. The majority of the 13,000 Sierra Leonean
returnees, returned to WFP operational areas in Kailahun District.


4)  Guinea

(a)  The security situation was reported as generally calm in Kankan,
N'Zérékoré, Labé and Kissidougou. Repatriation of Sierra Leoneans from
Kissidougou came to a halt last week as a result of a funding shortfall
for GTZ, which manages the logistics of the operation. UNHCR plans to use
the disruption as an opportunity to step up its relocation of refugees
from Kouankan to the Albadariah camps, with three convoys per week. The
relocation of Kouankan continues, with 2,400 Liberian refugees relocated
to the Albadariah camps. Since the operation began on 09 May, 4,066
Liberian refugees have been relocated. UNHCR and its partners plan to
reinforce its operations to relocate 1,500 people per week.

(b)  In the Lainé and Kola camps, 25,138 refugees received 419 tons of
food through WFP's general distribution. 1,324 new arrivals in Lainé and
Nonah were also provided more than 6 tons of food. In Kissidougou, 15,426
refugees in Boréah, Télikoro and Madina received monthly rations totalling
160 tons of food. WFP Kissidougou's partners also distributed 21 tons of
rations to 2,470 new arrivals in these camps.


5)  Mauritania

(a)  Free food distributions, subsidized sales and associated measures
have curtailed the downward trend of many countrywide nutritional
indicators. However, household food security remains poor. Surveys
indicate that severe malnutrition rates remain well above the 10 percent
alarm threshold in vulnerable areas. According to Medecins Sans
Frontieres, acute malnutrition is reappearing in Guidimakha prefecture
despite WFP food assistance there in early 2003. WFP partners report that
cattle in the hard-hit Aftout region are in such poor shape that they have
little market value. This implies that the sale of livestock, a key coping
mechanism for vulnerable households, may no longer be a viable survival
strategy. Many of these weakened animals will die from exposure as the
rainy season starts. The first significant rains have occurred in the
Southeastern corner of Mauritania. The agricultural campaign may be
difficult for lack of seed and other farm inputs.

(b)  A combined tranche of distributions of the last EMOP 10147
commodities of 3,000 tons and the first EMOP 10249 stocks of 9,500 tons
started in late May and will continue for the rest of June. The ongoing
tranche of distributions is intended to reach all 420,000 planned EMOP
beneficiaries. Targeted households are to receive a 2-month ration. In
light of the hardship-induced migration of beneficiaries and even entire
villages, the total number for the operation might be higher, as new
beneficiaries are identified in subsequent food distributions. The
operation is suffering from serious shortfalls in vegetable oil and wheat
soya blend. It is likely that future distributions may go forward without
those essential commodities.


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


1)  Madagascar

(a)  WFP has extended its emergency operation for food aid in Madagascar
until the end of 2003 due to the country's prevailing drought and recent
cyclones that destroyed large tracts of infrastructure and affected
thousands of people. In addition, the emergency operation, which was
designed to help stabilize communities adversely affected by last year's
cyclone season and drought, has not been fully funded.

(b)  In the south of the country, consequences of the worst drought in ten
years are still prevailing. There has not been a normal harvest in the
past two years and the number of severely malnourished children arriving
at government-run nutrition centres in the south has increased. In
southern Androy region, cactus fruits, typically eaten as a last resort,
are now exhausted. Harvesting of sweet potatoes is now underway, however
the lack of rain and recent strong winds are expected to adversely impact
maize harvests next month, and any reserve stocks of sweet potatoes could
be quickly eroded.

(c)  The most recent cyclone to hit the country, tropical storm 'Manou'
killed more than 70 people in May, severed roads and bridges and caused
extensive damage to agricultural land. Southern Madagascar has experienced
a chronic food deficit since the major drought of 1992. The country is
wrecked by chronic poverty, with most of the population living on less
than one USD a day.


2)  Lesotho

(a)  From 03 to 10 June, WFP distributed 1,787 tons of food to 115,347
people in collaboration with implementing partners. During the period the
weather was partly cloudy and very cold with frost overnight. Temperatures
as low as minus 3 degrees Celsius have been reported in the mornings.


3)  Swaziland

(a)  From 10 to 16 June, WFP distributed 429 tons of food to 28,015
people. Following a severe water shortage, resulting from the ongoing dry
spell in the Lowveld, the Swaziland Red Cross Society supplied 285
households from Mafucula community with 5,000 litres of water for
household consumption. According to WFP Food Aid Monitor sources, a lack
of school funds is keeping children from school in the Lowveld area. At
Tsambokhulu Primary school 54 children are reported to have dropped out of
school due to a lack of funds to pay fees. This represents 14 percent of
the total enrolment.


4)  Mozambique

(a)  Significant decreases in maize prices are being reported from
Quelimane, provincial capital of maize-surplus producing Zambezi Province.
Maize prices dropped approximately 35 percent between March and June this
year. Nationally, maize prices in the north are below their levels of last
year. In the southern markets maize is only available at prices
significantly higher than in the north. High transportation costs involved
with moving the maize from the North to the South, coupled with reduced
export opportunities, due to improved cereal harvests in neighbouring
Zambia and Malawi, result in larger stocks in the northern and central
regions, compared to last year.

(b)  From 10 to 16 June, WFP and implementing partners distributed 4,051
tons of food to beneficiaries.


5)  Tanzania

(a)  A two-week WFP general food distribution was carried out in all
refugee camps from 02 to 15 June. Cereal rations will be reinstated at 100

percent beginning in July. The message on the change in cereal rations
will be delivered to the refugee leaders in a special meeting to be
organized by WFP and UNHCR during the coming week.

(b)  The second phase of the Food for Training programme ended on 31 May.
The end of project evaluation indicated a 54 percent increase in
enrolment. The number of girls attending increased by 69 percent due to
the continuation of the programme and further community education on the
importance of educating both girls and boys. It has been recommended that
the project be extended for one year with the possibility of extending
similar assistance to other folk development colleges.


6)  Malawi

(a)  From 12 to 18 June, WFP distributed 742 tons of food in collaboration
with implementing partners. WFP and C-SAFE will jointly implement the
Community Household Surveillance system. WFP will conduct interviews in 49
villages in the northern and southern regions and C-SAFE will work in
selected villages in the central region.


7)  Zimbabwe

(a)  The annual inflation rate rose to 300 percent during May, compared to
269 percent in April. The figures were released this week by the
Government and take into account across-the-board price increases as a
result of the 210 percent fuel increase in mid-April. Despite the harvest,
food insecurity continues in parts of Midlands Province. District
authorities in Kwekwe report they receive an average of ten people at
their office each day begging for food. Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots
have scant supplies, often delivering about 30 tons of food every other
two or three months for one ward with thousands of people. For those with
cash, food availability also remains problematic, as almost nothing is
available through formal retail channels. People are relying on the
parallel market where prices are up to three times higher. In
drought-struck Matabeleland, the food security situation remains
precarious. Villagers in Hwange District are eating Tende, a wild plant
known to cause joint problems. In Simanginai, some adults and children
were eating raw corn-soya blend soon after distributions. The GMB is
unable to distribute its limited supply of food to the rural areas due to
transportation problems. The food security situation in Mashonaland West
Province is worsening and the incidence of malnutrition is rising,
according to figures from the provincial hospital. The majority of farm
workers in Makonde District are in need of assistance, as they were not
allocated land when the farms they were working on were resettled. In
Manicaland Province, coping mechanisms have gradually shifted from a
reduction of meals to begging. GMB depots in some parts of the province
have supplies of white maize, but the recent price increase has put the
commodity out of reach for the poor. Incidences of fish poaching in dam
areas have escalated.

(b)  From 01 to 17 June, WFP and implementing partners distributed 4,876
tons of food to 387,942 people. Beneficiaries include 4,760 malnourished
children below the age of five receiving food rations at clinics in Harare
and Bulawayo cities. The urban supplementary feeding programme for
under-five children is progressing well and has been expanded to cover
three additional clinics. The majority of children referred for
supplementary feeding at the clinics are orphans left in the care of
elderly grandparents. Food distributions are ongoing in all six districts
of Masvingo Province, where WFP is covering 59 wards and targeting 234,362
beneficiaries this month. The GMB has stocks of yellow maize in Zaka,
Chivi and Bikita Districts, but has recently increased grain retail prices
five-fold. The GMB has no stocks in Mwenezi and Masvingo Districts.

(c)  WFP held a two-day workshop with implementing partners to discuss
planned activities under the new WFP emergency operation. The discussions
focused on programming, targeting and an evaluation of operational
procedures. Participants highlighted the need for increased monitoring to
avoid possible political interference in the distribution process. A
HIV/AIDS presentation was given, as the new EMOP will pay increased
attention to this aspect of the crisis in Zimbabwe.


8)  Zambia

(a)  As reflected in the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission
report, the recent harvest has improved the food security situation.
However, small pockets of food vulnerability remain in certain districts
and continued food assistance, monitoring and contingency planning will be
necessary. Districts, which will continue to require food assistance, are
Chama, Itezi-Itezi, Kazungula, Luangwa, Monze and Sinazongwe. Districts,
which will require monitoring and contingency planning are Gwembe, Kalabo,
Shangombo and Zambezi.

(b)  From 12 to 18 June, WFP and implementing partners distributed 1,369
tons of food to beneficiaries. A WFP/Ministry of Education pilot
school-feeding programme will commence on 01 July in 30 schools in three
districts. A total of 8,694 children will receive nourishing mid-morning
snacks. As an additional incentive for girls and vulnerable children, a
monthly take home ration of 4.5 litres of vegetable oil will be given to
those pupils who have attended a minimum of 20 days during the month.


9)  Angola

(a)  In Moxico Province, the road between Cazombo and the Zambian border,
which was closed to all UN personnel last week following the discovery of
an anti-tank landmine, was re-opened following an assessment of the road
by the humanitarian demining NGO Mine Advisory Group. WFP has
pre-positioned over 320 tons of food in Cazombo and Luau for the organised
repatriation, and 170 tons in Lumbala N'Guimbo in case of spontaneous
returnees. In total, in Moxico Province, WFP has pre-positioned food for
an estimated 6,500 returnees. In Bie Province, approximately 34,000 IDPs
in Kuito and Camacupa were phased out of general food assistance based on
results of the food vulnerability assessment finalised in May. The people
were assisted for two harvest seasons and have developed separate coping
mechanisms. Based on vulnerability indicators, in Cunje commune, emergency
food assistance for 7,200 returnees in remote areas has been phased out
after three months of food assistance. Monitoring of the nutritional
situation will continue through nutritional screening.

(b)  In Benguela Province, the preliminary results of a nutritional
screening exercise of almost 200 children in Elongo (Balombo
Municipality), undertaken during a joint WFP, Ministry of Social Affairs
and Reintegration and German Agro Action returnee registration mission,
reveal that children are in poor health and at risk of malnutrition. Most
of the children surveyed are suffering from scabies, intestinal parasites,
whopping cough and malaria. The malnourished are receiving supplementary
feeding rations through mobile teams supported by WFP. In Bengo Province,
the NGO Instituto Portugues de Medicina preventive (IPMP) reported that
Caculo Cahango area (Caquengue commune) has approximately 8,000 vulnerable
people at risk of food insecurity. The situation is reported critical and
warrants urgent humanitarian intervention. Due to poor road conditions,
access to the area was not possible in the rainy season. WFP is planning a
food security assessment to identify the vulnerable and determine what
form of food assistance may be needed. In Huila Province, WFP, Norwegian
Refugee Council (NRC) and the local government administration registered
18,820 internal returnees in Chicomba Municipality from 11 to 18 June.
This brings the total number of people being assisted by WFP through NRC
to 29,000 in the municipality.


10)  Namibia

(a)  The monthly WFP food distributions for June to 19,800 refugees in
Osire refugee camp were completed. UNHCR has reported that the first pilot
repatriation of around 150 Angolan refugees from Namibia is now scheduled
for 01 July. As per WFP's agreement with UNHCR, WFP will provide food to
UNHCR's implementing partners for distribution to the refugees in transit,
both in Namibia and upon their arrival in Angola.



E)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  Heavy rains in Rakwon County, South Hamgyong province, destroyed
infrastructure, crops and houses on 15 June, when more than 90 mm of rain
fell in one half hour. As reported by provincial authorities, 5 bridges,
portions of a main road, water pipes, electric poles and 137 hectares of
planted fields were damaged, while 230 families were affected due to
damage to their houses. On request from the provincial Flood Damage
Rehabilitation Committee (FDRC), WFP visited the county to assess the
damage and food needs for the affected families. The WFP response is now
being formulated. Reports have been received of similar damage in Kowan
County.

(b)  Almost 3 million beneficiaries will not receive cereal distributions
in July due to the delay in the arrival of the recent maize contribution
of 100,000 tons. This distribution gap will affect children in nurseries,
kindergartens and primary schools, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly
and caregivers in child institutions in most provinces. Children in
orphanages and paediatric hospitals across the country will be covered
during July. The second 50 percent instalment for Food For Work projects
completed in the spring will also be delayed.

(c)  Pipeline shortfalls of about 84,000 tons are projected for the
remainder of the year. Expected arrivals include afore mentioned 100,000
tons maize, 11,000 tons of rice and 40,500 tons of wheat. Commodities yet
to be resourced to avoid pipeline breaks include 63,000 tons of cereals,
7,000 tons of pulses, 7,000 tons of corn-soya milk, 3,000 tons of sugar
and 3,000 tons of oil.



F)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Nicaragua, (2) Guatemala

1)  Nicaragua

(a)  The first delivery of food assistance under PRRO 10212.0: "Targeted
food assistance for persons affected by shocks and the recovery of
livelihoods" took place during the first week of June. Some 59 tons of
food was delivered through 20 health units of the municipalities of
Matagalpa, San Ramon, El Tuma-La Dalia and Rancho Grande. Food rations
included maize, beans, corn-soya blend and vegetable oil. A total of 2,996
expectant and nursing women and 2,511 boys and girls between the ages of 6
months and 2 years received 30-day rations and in a nutritional recovery
centre 60 days rations were distributed to children below the age of 5.
This food assistance is being complemented with training to women on
topics related to nutrition, hygiene, breast-feeding and reproductive
health. WFP is working in joint coordination with the Ministry of Health
and UNICEF, which provides the technical assistance.

(b)  WFP opened a sub-office and warehouse in Matagalpa in order to more
efficiently respond to the deteriorating nutritional situation of the most
vulnerable groups in this Department.


2)  Guatemala

(a)  On the night of 13 to 14 June, a landslide was reported in the area
of San Lucas Tolimán. No injuries or casualties have been reported, but
there were material damages. On 15 June, six tremors with magnitudes
between 1 and 4 degrees on the Richter scale were felt in Guatemala. The
epicentre was located in Retalhuleu, near Guatemala City. There are no
reports of material damage or injuries. Also, heavy rains during the
weekend caused several accidents, tree falls, and floods in the interior
and some areas of the capital. It was reported that floods and tree falls
obstructed access to the municipalities of Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez,
and San Marcos. Heavy rains and weak tremors are expected to continue for
the next days.

(b)  On 12 June, a truck with 25 tons of beans for PRRO 10212.0 was
assaulted on its way from the port to the warehouse in Chimaltenango. The
truck was found empty the following day. Action is being taken to follow
up on the incident, including follow-up on the police report and on
reimbursement.



G)  Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: (1) Russian Federation

1)  Russian Federation

(a)  The security situation in Chechnya continues to be tense. Since the
beginning of June, there have been 49 fatalities (civilian and military)
in several attacks by rebel forces, including suicide attacks, landmine
explosions and an ambush on a government convoy. The military has carried
out sweep operations and bombing raids. Amnesty was approved for rebels
who gave-up their weapons and renounced armed separatism. Due to security
issues, UN agencies have very limited access to Chechnya.

(b)  The escalation of violence in Chechnya continues to adversely affect
the return of IDPs to Chechnya. According to Vesta/UNHCR, 157 IDPs
returned to Chechnya during the first half of June. Danish Refugee Council
(DRC) registered 87,246 IDPs in Ingushetia. There are 138,562 WFP
beneficiaries in targeted areas of Chechnya. The total distribution in
Ingushetia and Chechnya during the first half of June was 1800 tons of
food. Due to summer vacations, School Feeding has been temporarily
suspended.

(c)  WFP has resumed the distribution of the full basic food basket for
relief distribution in Chechnya and Ingushetia, including 10 kg wheat
flour, 1 litre vegetable oil, 0.6 kg sugar and 0.15 kg iodized salt. 1515
tons edible oil and 537 tons white sugar were delivered and 700 tons
sugar, 589 tons edible oil and 559 tons rice have been dispatched for
Nazran. Some 754 tons of sugar is undergoing customs clearance.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 25).

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