WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 5 / 2003 - Date 31 January 2003


This report includes:

(A) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Malawi,
    (3) Mozambique, (4) Swaziland, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe,
    (7) Angola, (8) Madagascar
(B) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
(C) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Uganda,
    (2) Democratic Republic of Congo, (3) Ethiopia, (4) Eritrea,
    (5) Burundi
(D) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Sierra Leone (3) Guinea
(E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) El Salvador,
    (3) Nicaragua, (4) Peru
(F) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan


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

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


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

1)  Regional overview

(a)  WFP Executive Director and UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for
Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, Mr. James T. Morris, completed his
second mission to the region. He visited four countries affected by the
humanitarian crisis (Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe), meeting with
Government officials, donors and NGOs. On his return to Johannesburg, Mr.
Morris stated that although the international community had so far
succeeded in averting a humanitarian catastrophe in the region, the
HIV/AIDS pandemic is a disaster that "threatens the very existence of
countries".

(b)  The unique and pressing nature of the humanitarian crisis in southern
Africa prompted the inclusion of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy
for HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis on Morris' second mission to the
region. Following their mission to Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia,
the Envoys will pass their findings back to the UN and issue a report
calling for a bold, new approach from the entire international community.
In particular, they will advocate that current and future programmes of
every UN agency be formed through the lens and reality of HIV/AIDS and its
impact on women and children.

(c)  During the week, WFP received confirmation of a donation of
approximately USD 6.3 million. With this contribution, the EMOP is now 66
percent funded with a shortfall of USD 173 million. In addition, the
Government of South Africa has confirmed this week its intention to
contribute 100,000 tons of maize to the regional EMOP.

(d)  The Nacala Railway line reopened on 27 January following repairs to
sections damaged by heavy rains during tropical cyclone Delfina earlier in
January.


2)  Malawi

(a)  WFP dispatched over 5,700 tons of food to its implementing partners
during the week. De-worming treatment will be implemented in conjunction
with School Feeding Programmes, with teachers cooperating with health
personnel in implementation. Two de-worming orientation meetings took
place during the reporting period, involving 33 Lilongwe schools and 83
participants.


3)  Mozambique

(a)  WFP dispatched 850 tons of food to its implementing partners during
the week. WFP accompanied the Minister of Education on a visit to schools
in Massangena and Chicualacuala Districts (Gaza Province). The mission
noted worryingly high school drop out rates of up to 20 percent in
Massangena District.

(b)  Following recent reports of hunger-related deaths in Magoe District
(Tete Province), an assessment of the food security and nutritional
situation was undertaken during the week by WFP, representatives from the
National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) and the Ministry of
Health. The report will be released next week. WFP is currently
distributing targeted food rations through the Lutheran World Federation
in the worst affected localities.

(c)  Nampula, Zambezia and Tete Provinces received rainfall during the
week, while central and southern parts of the country remained with little
or no rain.


4)  Swaziland

(a)  During the week, WFP distributed more than 900 tons of food to almost
38,600 beneficiaries and dispatched 150 tons of CSB to UNICEF for school
feeding and supplementary feeding programmes.

(b)  WFP has so far set up 111 Women's Relief Committees which will
distribute WFP food targeted to the most vulnerable at 179 distribution
points. The committees will empower and enhance women in food management,
targeting, and education of beneficiaries on nutrition and HIV/AIDS.

(c)  Dry weather conditions continue in parts of the Lowveld, and
according to observations by WFP field staff in the area, only 20-40
percent of the farming land has been cultivated this year. Reports from
WFP implementing partners state that crops are wilting due to dry weather
conditions, with Mubutfu, Nsubane, Mhlabeni and Lavumisa being badly hit
areas.


5)  Zambia

(a)  On 25 January, a group of approximately 100 people overpowered the
police and broke into the WFP warehouse at Sinazeze (Sinazongwe District).
The crowd quickly increased to around 3,000-5,000 people and 84 tons of
WFP food plus 55 tons of other donor food were looted. The incident
occurred following a week of tension in the district over GM maize being
returned to Lusaka. The police have so far arrested several individuals in
connection with the looting and are continuing to investigate the
incident.

(b)  During the week, WFP dispatched over 3,000 tons of food to its
implementing partners. An MP from the border town of Luangwa (Lusaka
Province) has expressed concern over the state of crops in the district
due to lack of rain over the past three weeks. In Mazabuka District
(Southern Province), WFP interviewed a number of people during the week.
The participants indicated that the rainfall received has so far been
below normal for the season, affecting the growth rate of the crops, which
are now wilting. Farmers also expressed fear of crop failure due to lack
of access to fertilizers.


6)  Zimbabwe

(a)  This week, WFP dispatched over 15,000 tons of food to its
implementing partners. The fuel shortage is hindering the timely delivery
of food aid from some rural storage facilities to distribution sites. The
food security situation is reported to be deteriorating throughout the
country, with bread queues appearing in some new areas.

(b)  A government report from the Agriculture Extension Services
Department has stated that 75 percent of arable land in Zvishavane
District has not been cultivated, and the harvest expected in the
2002-2003 planting season is about 2,000 tons against a normal harvest of
approximately 17,600 tons. Poor status of crops in Buhera, Chimanimani,
Chipinge and Nyanga Districts is causing concern about possible food
shortages even after the March harvest. Matabeleland continues to receive
little rain, resulting in limited planting, wilted crops and lack of
pasture for livestock. In Gokwe North District, WFP is planning to erect
portable warehouses closer to Gokwe as the road to Nembudziya warehouse
becomes inaccessible during the rainy season.


7)  Angola

(a)  WFP Executive Director James T. Morris arrived on 30 January for a
three-day visit to Angola. He will meet with President Jose Eduardo dos
Santos and government ministers, as well as representatives from donor
nations, other humanitarian agencies and the private sector. Mr. Morris
will also visit the central Province of Bié, where food distributions for
around 80,000 IDPs and returnees are currently underway.

(b)  WFP is currently feeding 1.7 million people, although this figure is
set to rise substantially in the first few months of the year as many
people are resettling in areas without the resources or conditions to meet
basic food and health needs. WFP is estimating that up to 2.4 million
people may need food aid over the coming months. Many of those in need
live in isolated communities, cut off from conventional forms of transport
due to land mines, huge distances and poor roads. This makes the delivery
of food aid a major challenge.

(c)  In July 2002, WFP appealed to the international community for USD 241
million to fund its feeding programmes in Angola until the end of 2003.
Although two large contributions were confirmed during the week, amounting
to USD 27.3 million, more than half of the appeal still remains un-funded.
This lack of resources is threatening WFP's capacity to meet the needs of
the increasing number of vulnerable people across Angola. There are also
serious funding shortfalls to WFP's logistics Special Operations that
provide a vital logistical lifeline to most of the humanitarian community.


8)  Madagascar

(a)  Two weeks of heavy rains have killed 13 people and affected more than
20,000 people mainly in the provinces of Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa.
Over 2,200 people were left homeless. Although heavy rainfalls are normal
during this time of the year, the quantity of rain recorded since the
beginning of January is already twice the monthly average.

(b)  The harvest season (rice) was to begin in a few weeks in the areas of
Antananarivo and the losses are likely to be significant if immediate
harvest is not possible. This would have a negative impact on the food
security situation over the coming months. The situation might become
critical as the country is still recovering from the aftershocks of the
political crisis.

(c)  WFP together with its partners conducted an assessment mission in the
area and noted that the immediate problems are the lack of clean water and
latrines. Despite the flooding, many people refuse to evacuate from the
low-lying areas and the risk for outbreak of epidemics is increasing. WFP
is currently discussing with its partners to identify the most appropriate
response. WFP is envisaging the possibility to target the flood-affected
population through the FFW rehabilitation programme under EMOP 10236.0.

(d)  Delays in resourcing and food commodity availability continue to
affect the implementation of EMOP 10236.0 despite borrowings from
in-country development activity stocks. With no food shipments expected to
arrive in the country, WFP's pipeline situation under its EMOP 10236
remains critical. Additional donor support is urgently required. Drought
continues to spread outside the original 13 communes and is plaguing the
south as a whole. Coping mechanisms of the population are being stressed.



B)  Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea

1)  DPR of Korea

(a)  Without immediate and significant new contributions, WFP will be
forced to continue to suspend assistance or reduce rations to a
significant number of people, including young children, pregnant and
nursing women, caregivers at children's institutions and the elderly. In
the first half of the year, up to 2.9 million intended beneficiaries will
not receive food distributions.

(b)  Immediate pledges of 105,000 tons are required to ensure continued
implementation of the complete range of WFP's planned activities
throughout the remainder of the first half of 2003. Commodities most in
need include 84,000 tons of cereals, 10,000 tons of Corn Soya Milk and
3,500 tons of Dry Skimmed Milk. The latter is critical to avoid long-term
closure of most Local Food Production factories.

(c)  With the suspension of cereal distributions to west coast provinces,
nurseries in the concerned provinces have reduced the number of daily
meals. This suspension has reportedly not been compensated by additional
allocation from local authorities. Farming parents generally provide a
daily ration of 100 grams of cereals to the institution for their
nursery-going children, while households relying on the Public
Distribution System (PDS) reportedly contribute 100 grams of cereals for
their children's daily ration at the nursery out of their PDS allocation.



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

1)  Uganda

(a)  On 28 January, the Government of Uganda launched an emergency appeal
requesting USD 59 million through WFP to meet the urgent food requirements
of IDPs and refugees and USD 4 million for non-food requirements. Despite
the receipt of cash donations, which have enabled WFP to make local
purchases, WFP's food pipeline in Uganda remains desperate. An in-kind
donation was confirmed but commodities will only be delivered in June. WFP
still faces a critical shortfall of 41,000 tons through July.

(b)  As a result, WFP reduced the cereal ration by 50 percent for 150,000
refugees and distributed only pulses, vegetable oil and Corn Soy Blend for
children during the month of January. WFP was forced to suspend cereal
distributions for over 800,000 IDPs living in camps in northern Uganda,
relying completely on WFP assistance for meeting their basic food
requirements. Distribution of cereals to these IDPs will resume in
February. In addition, WFP anticipates pipeline ruptures for CSB and
vegetable oil, which will affect IDPs and refugees from March and for
cereals and beans from April.

(c)  Over the past week, the Ministry of Health undertook nutritional
surveillance in two IDP camps in Gulu district in northern Uganda. The
draft report indicates an acute global malnutrition rate among children
under five above 15 percent. Although a blanket supplementary feeding
programme targeting all children under five years would be required, it
will not be initiated over the coming weeks due to lack of blended
fortified food.

(d)  Security along the main humanitarian corridors in northern Uganda
remains poor, and WFP with heavy military escort remains the only
humanitarian agency with regular access to the vulnerable population. No
humanitarian agency at present has access to Pader district.

(e)  The food security situation in the northeastern region of Karamoja
continues to deteriorate due to last year's poor harvest. Areas that had a
moderate harvest are hosting populations from areas with poor harvests.
This has depleted the household food reserves. It is estimated that
current household stocks will not last through March, implying significant
food insecurity problems in the region in the coming months. In response
to projected higher food needs in the region, WFP is proposing to increase
its food assistance to the most vulnerable population groups in Karamoja
from March to June 2003. The security situation in the Karamoja region
remains unsettled due to inter-clan rivalry and continued cattle raiding.


2)  Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)  On 31 January, WFP has begun an emergency operation to airlift food
to 115,000 people in the town of Bunia, who have been displaced by
fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. WFP and its
implementing partner, German Agro Action, expect to deliver almost 900
tons of food, enough to feed the IDPs in Bunia for one month.

(b)  Fighting between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups in Ituri province
has sent large numbers of civilians fleeing towards Bunia, where they also
joined many thousands of people displaced by factional fighting last
October from the towns of Epulu and Mambasa in Orientale province.

(c)  Destroyed roads and bridges and prevailing insecurity have stopped
WFP from transporting supplies by road to Bunia since August 2002, leaving
air transport as the only means of delivering food to the displaced. A
lack of funds and landing clearance from the local authorities prevented
WFP from carrying out any relief airlifts until now.

(d)  Along with Bunia, WFP is also planning to airlift food to other parts
of eastern Congo including the town of Kindu in Maniema province. An
estimated 120,000 displaced people are in need of food relief in Maniema
province, 20,000 of whom are in Kindu town. Following the recent
withdrawal of Rwandan troops, they emerged from their hiding places in the
forest and converged on the town. An airlift operation will begin once the
insecurity in this area improves.

(e)  In total, WFP is currently targeting around 1.5 million IDPs
throughout the country, whose living conditions and nutritional status are
extremely precarious. However, there are still significant numbers of
people whom WFP has been unable to reach because of the prevailing
insecurity. WFP will be appealing for further resources to assist these
people once they have been reached and identified.


3)  Ethiopia

(a)  The relief food pipeline has improved greatly in the past month.
Secure contributions channelled through the Government, WFP or NGOs cover
46 percent of cereal 2003 requirements. Though at a reduced ration rate
(12.5 kg instead of 15 kg per person per month), this would meet cereals
needs until end-May. Furthermore, new contributions have been announced
and could, if confirmed, cover requirements for the month of June.

(b)  Fortified blended food and vegetable oil are targeted at particularly
vulnerable groups (children under five, pregnant and nursing women, the
sick and elderly) and are distributed as a take-home ration with the basic
cereal ration. Contributions of vegetable oil have been secured to cover
most of 2003 requirements but are still to arrive in- country. However,
the blended food is only 25 percent covered, and efforts are being made to
mobilize more of this commodity. Blended food is currently inadequate to
reach all the districts in need and allocations are being made only to the
worst hit areas.

(c)  With the increased loans of cereals, the Ethiopian Emergency Food
Security Reserve (EFSR) has been under great pressure. In January, the
stocks have been below the normal minimum operational level of 100,000
tons, with outstanding loans of over 300,000 tons. However, repayments for
loans made in 2002 are scheduled for repayment before the end of March.
Moreover, major donors are making efforts to ensure early shipments of
recently confirmed contributions. If these shipments arrive on schedule,
the stocks in the EFSR should be able to cope with the anticipated
borrowings for March and April.


4)  Eritrea

(a)  The effects of the drought are becoming increasingly evident
throughout the country. In Anseba, grain prices in the local markets of
Hagaz and Gheleb sub regions are up 25 percent compared to six months ago,
while livestock prices are now 50 percent below average. Local authorities
report a continued high rate of migration to Shieb, as people leave in
search of food and fodder. Water is becoming increasingly scarce;
villagers from Shebak in the Hagaz sub region reported walking 16 km to
the nearest water point. In the Debub region, the Hawatsu dam in Adi Keih
is dry. Six villages rely on the dam as their main water source for both
human and livestock consumption. In the Adi Keih sub region, farmers from
the Haynoba village stressed the serious effects on humans and livestock
due to a lack of food, water and fodder. Children are eating only once a
day, and villagers are collecting "kuenti," a wild root, for consumption.

(b)  WFP faces a shortfall of 200,000 tons of food needed to support
targeted beneficiaries in the country until the end of 2003. Despite
ongoing advocacy efforts by both WFP and the Government of Eritrea,
response has been extremely slow. Assistance is urgently needed to avert a
serious crisis in the coming months.

(c)  Over 10,000 tons of cereals donated to WFP arrived in the Port of
Massawa this week. An additional 24,000 tons purchased by the Government
of Eritrea arrived last week. Operational difficulties in the port have
hampered the off-loading process, with discharge taking place at only
two-thirds the targeted rate.

(d)  The Ministry of Agriculture presented to the Food Security Working
Group its Physical Plan for 2003, which included approximately 475,000 Ha
of land allocated for planting. Cereals account for 85 percent of the
crops planned for cultivation, while pulses and oils make up the remaining
15 percent. An estimated 13,000 tons of seeds are required to fulfil the
targets set in the Physical Plan.


5)  Burundi

(a)  Due to increasing needs and low food stocks, WFP Burundi needs new
donations immediately. WFP expects to face pipeline breaks for cereals and
pulses, the two main components of the food rations, in March. Besides the
increasing number of targeted beneficiaries, WFP is preparing the seeds
protection rations programme, which is due to start in February.

(b)  The security situation continued to deteriorate over the last week in
Muramvya, Ruyigi, Bubanza, Kayanza, Bujumbura Rural and Gitega provinces.
Insecurity has forced WFP to suspend the distribution of over 600 tons of
food to 10,300 drought-affected persons in Muramvya and 45,300 in
Bujumbura Rural.

(c)  Despite security constraints and pipeline breaks, WFP, in
collaboration with CARE, reached over 58,100 vulnerable people through
targeted and emergency distribution in Makamba, Muramvya, Mwaro and
Kirundo provinces. In addition, 661 repatriates from Tanzania temporarily
hosted in transit sites in Ngozi and Muyinga provinces received a
WFP/UNHCR package. An inter-agency evaluation mission is currently
underway in Ruyigi province to determine the number of people requiring
emergency food assistance.

(d)  WFP, in partnership with World Vision, began support to 21 primary
schools in the province of Karuzi under the school-feeding programme. This
programme will initially cover 14,400 pupils in four of the seven
communes. Last week, 5,600 school children benefited from hot meals. WFP
food assistance to schools is an incentive to increase school enrolment.



D)  West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Sierra Leone (3) Guinea

1)  Côte d'Ivoire

(a)  The security situation in Abidjan deteriorated due to demonstrations
and riots following the peace agreement. Reports of ethnic/religious
unrest also contribute to a very unstable situation at the moment. The
crisis in Abidjan is having a negative impact on the humanitarian
situation in the rest of the country, in particular by causing the
suspension of cash movements towards the provincial towns. Although the
situation in Bouaké had started to improve slightly the last few weeks,
due to the resumption of commercial exchanges with the northern area,
people cannot access cash sent by relatives in Abidjan any longer. Should
this situation continue over the next three weeks, populations will face a
sharp decrease of their purchasing power and will again rely on assistance
provided by relief agencies.

(b)  WFP is currently assisting approximately 90,600 vulnerable people,
including 45,900 persons in Bouaké and surrounding villages, 18,600 IDPs
in Daloa and Duekoué and 7,000 IDPs in Yamoussoukro and surrounding
villages. In addition, 11,560 refugees and IDPs currently in the
South-Western part of the country receive WFP assistance as well as 7,500
displaced children enrolled in WFP Emergency School cantines in Abidjan.

(c)  A break in the pipeline for rice, vegetable oil and CSB will occur in
April, unless additional contributions to WFP's emergency operation are
confirmed in the near future.

(d)  During the week, WFP undertook a mission to Bouna in the east of the
country. Urgent provision of medicines is needed, and food will be
targeted to the most vulnerable individuals. In the south-west, 4,000
Liberian refugees are planned to be assisted with high energy biscuits
while in transit. The repatriation exercise has however been put on hold
due to insecurity. Food distribution to the refugees in Nicla camp was
completed on 28 January, where 7,300 refugees received a monthly ration.
This number represents an increase of about 2,000 persons since last
month, due to an influx of Liberian refugees fleeing the fighting in the
West.  Food rations were also delivered to the Guiglo city council for 275
IDPs.


2)  Sierra Leone

(a)  The flow of Liberian refugees into Sierra Leone slightly increased
due to the relaxation of border controls by the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Refugees continued to be relocated from UNHCR entry points and way
stations within Sierra Leone to camps in the Bo and Kenema districts.
Fighting continued in northwest and central Liberia, with some movement
across the Sierra Leonean, Ivorian and Guinean borders. The general
security situation remained stable throughout the country though some
tension did result from an armed attack on a military supply depot in the
east end of Freetown.

(b)  From 13 to 26 January, WFP supported 221,400 beneficiaries with 960
tons of food countrywide, through vulnerable group feeding programmes
(refugees, resettlement, returnees and institutional feeding), emergency
school feeding, therapeutic feeding, supplementary feeding, mother and
child health, food-for-training and safety net programmes. Among the
beneficiaries were 13, 500 refugees in Jembe and Gerrihun camps.
Transparency and efficiency of food distributions in Jembe refugee camp
were greatly improved after the provision by WFP of laminated ration
cards.


3)  Guinea

(a)  From 16 to 23 January, over 2,100 Guinean, Malian and Ivorian
refugees arrived from Côte d'Ivoire in N'Zérékoré region. An additional
600 Malian, Mauritanian and Nigerian refugees fleeing Côte d'Ivoire
through Liberia are stranded by the border in Guinea's Yomou prefecture
with no protection and just some very basic humanitarian assistance.

(b)  People fleeing Côte d'Ivoire also continue to arrive in the Kankan
region. As of 27 January, 640 people, mostly Guineans, had arrived in the
region since late September. WFP is coordinating with local authorities on
the registration and management of refugees and is conducting weekly
missions to compile information on the ongoing influx.

(c)  Camps and transit centers in N'Zérékoré remain overcrowded. From 13
to 27 January, 330 Ivorian refugees were transferred from Lola Prefecture
to Nonah transit camp and 800 Liberians from Lola to Lainé camp. During
the same period, 55,900 persons have been targeted with 900 tons of WFP
food.

(d)  The pipeline breaks in cereals and pulses expected by June will make
the distribution of a full ration to some 100,000 refugees impossible.
Unless new contributions are confirmed and commodities reach Guinea by
April, WFP will be forced to reduce the basic food ration to less than
1500 Kcal as of April.



E)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Colombia, (2) El Salvador, (3)
Nicaragua, (4) Peru

1)  Colombia

(a)  Last week, attacks by Colombian paramilitaries on villages close to
Panama forced hundreds of indigenous people to flee their homes. Four
community leaders were killed and three journalists kidnapped. UNHCR's
implementing partners reported that in recent days, almost 500 indigenous
people, mostly children, have sought refuge in Boca de Cupe (Central
Darien, Panama). According to UNHCR, Panama hosts over 1,500 registered
refugees and persons under a special humanitarian protection status,
mainly in the Darien region. Most of them are Colombian citizens.


2)  El Salvador

(a)  WFP continues to provide immediate relief assistance to families
affected by the coffee crisis in El Salvador. Monthly food rations are
being distributed to 11,400 vulnerable people, all belonging to families
with a child suffering from severe malnutrition in the provinces of
Ahuachapan and Sonsonate. WFP is also analysing the data related to other
affected areas to identify the pockets of severe malnutrition.

(b)  WFP is developing work plans with prospective partners such as
Catholic Relief Service, OXFAM, World Vision and Fundacion Maquilishuat.
These partnerships will allow for the provision of food for training
assistance focused on health issues, income generation and agriculture.


3)  Nicaragua

(a)  On 29 January, a fire at the counterpart's warehouse in the city of
Leon destroyed WFP commodities. It is difficult to estimate the losses
until the separation and selection of commodities is completed.


4)  Peru

(a)  The Government of Peru declared a state of emergency in the provinces
of Puno and Madre de Dios as a result of flooding that severely affected
5,000 families. Reports indicate that more than 2,300 houses, 35,000
hectares of agricultural land and 7,000 heads of cattle were also
affected. The Government distributed 25,000 food rations to the people
living in Puno, as well as 4,000 house modules, 15,000 blankets and 5,000
light bedspreads. WFP will carry out an assessment mission on 30 January
to evaluate the situation.



F)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  Last week, the security situation was calm across the country with no
major outbreaks of factional violence. However, an incident took place in
the Nangarhar province, East of Kabul during which the car escorting a
UNHCR mission was ambushed and two armed escorts were killed. As a
consequence, all UN missions have been suspended in Hisarak, Sherazad and
Khogiani districts of Nahgarhar province.

(b)  From 22 to 28 January, nearly 400,000 beneficiaries received almost
3,300 tons of food through various WFP activities. This includes 253,500
people involved in Food for Work and Food for asset creation projects,
130,000 school children assisted through the Food for education programme
as well as 38,300 beneficiaries of WFP urban vulnerable bakery projects.
WFP assistance was also targeted to 8,800 IDPs and refugees and 4,600
malnourished persons. Finally, WFP has dispatched all food commodities as
planned under its winterisation programme. As of 26 January, nearly 25,500
tons of food or half of the amount dispatched had been distributed to the
beneficiaries.

(c)  An inter-agency team composed of the Ministry of Health, UN and NGO
health experts has successfully concluded a mission to North East to
prevent the spread of whooping cough outbreak, which broke out in October
in the North of the Badakhshan province. The outbreak is being controlled,
and over 20,000 children have already received a preventive course of
antibiotics.

(d)  The United Nations Joint Logistics Centre reported that the Salang
Tunnel, which received significant amount of snow, was closed on 26-27
January for safety reasons and due to necessary snow clearances
activities. Heavy snowfall was reported throughout the Central Highlands
and four monitored passes of Hajikak, Shibar, Shatu and Farsi were closed.


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

(End WFP Emergency Report No 5).

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