WFP EMERGENCY REPORT
Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 6 / 2003 - Date 7 February 2003


This report includes:
(A) Global Resourcing Update
(B) WFP-UNAIDS Partnership against HIV/AIDS
(C) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Western Sahl,
    (3) Guinea-Bissau, (4) Central African Republic
(D) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Eritrea,
    (3) Djibouti, (4) Uganda, (5) Great Lakes Region
(E) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Zimbabwe,
    (3) Lesotho, (4) Malawi, (5) Mozambique, (6) Swaziland,
    (7) Zambia, (8) Angola, (9) Namibia, (10) Madagascar
(F) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia,
    (3) Ecuador, (4) El Salvador, (5) Haiti
(H) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran


>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)  Global Resourcing Update

(a)  WFP is facing a difficult challenge in finding the resources needed
to assist the hungriest people in 2003. WFP needs upwards of USD 2.4
billion this year without taking into account unforeseen emergencies. Food
requirements for Africa in 2003 (USD 1.8 billion) amount approximately to
what WFP received for the entire world in 2002.

(b)  More support is needed from WFP regular donors, but their existing
mechanisms are already stretched. Supplementary funds will have to be
found. So far this year, only 15 of last year's 62 donors have made a
donation. Others are encouraged to give soon. Non-traditional donors
(India, Oman, China etc) went from 1 to 2 percent of overall funds in
2002. Greater public support for WFP efforts will be vital. Almost USD 5
million was received from private donors in 2002.



B)  WFP-UNAIDS Partnership against HIV/AIDS

(a)  On 6 February, WFP and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) signed an agreement at WFP's Executive Board meeting to increase
their co-operation in responding to HIV/AIDS. Seven million farmers have
lost their lives due to AIDS in Africa and that is having a dramatic
impact on food production. WFP and UNAIDS are calling for a radical and
urgent approach to address the fatal links between the disease, chronic
food shortages and malnutrition. AIDS-affected households are often
hungry, farmers are too weak to plant, families do not have the capacity
to produce or purchase food, forcing people to adopt survival strategies
that might endanger their lives. Some migrate, often to urban slums where
they lack access to education and health services; women and children are
forced to barter sex for food, jobs and other basic essentials; and
children leave school to find work or forage for food.

(b)  Under the agreement, WFP and UNAIDS will direct their joint efforts
to emergency situations with a special focus on pregnant women and
orphans, among the most vulnerable to the impact of HIV/AIDS. At the same
time, they will make sure that food security is an integral part of the
response against HIV/AIDS. WFP takes responsibility for the management of
HIV/AIDS-related food programmes, while UNAIDS will offer technical
assistance, promoting access to care including home-based care, impact
evaluation, the reduction of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and the
identification of appropriate local partners.

(c)  WFP and UNAIDS will work to improve the access of orphans and other
vulnerable children to WFP school feeding, vocational training and
apprenticeships programmes. UNAIDS will support WFP in advocating for
research in nutrition and food security issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Finally, WFP and UNAIDS will seek a wide range of partnerships from UN
agencies, governments, bilateral donors and with international NGOs and
civil society groups in order to build a massive global response to
HIV/AIDS.



C)  West Africa Region: (1) Cote d'Ivoire (2) Western Sahel (3)
Guinea-Bissau, (4) Central African Republic

1)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  During the last two weeks, the security situation in Abidjan and
parts of the country has been precarious, disrupting WFP operations. The
WFP operations in the west is being reduced to the absolute minimum, due
to a lack of reliable central command structures necessary to negotiate
safe access. Given the recent developments, the UN agencies decided that
all non-essential UN staff should leave the country.  There are currently
140 international UN staff in Cote d'Ivoire, and a maximum of 80 staff is
expected to remain in the country. Also, specific security clearances will
be needed for any other staff to go into the country.

(b)  WFP continued to provide support to the affected populations in the
Northern areas. In Bouake, over 41,600 beneficiaries have received WFP
support this week. WFP expanded food distributions in early January to
provide emergency rations to 5,500 children previously assisted by St.
Camille. WFP has also included in its beneficiary caseload the persons
accompanying the malnourished children admitted in the feeding centres
managed by Action Contre La Faim, bringing the number of beneficiaries to
11,000.  Finally, WFP supports 9,000 IDPs in Molonou-TieNdiekro and
Sakassou with general rations.

(c)  In the central areas, WFP delivered food rations to 1,300 IDPs in the
Mie N'Gou transit centre in Yamoussoukro. Although there were few new
arrivals this week, the centre remains very overcrowded. Transport from
the centre is still a constraint for the IDPs without money, but some
locally based charities are providing some assistance. WFP is planning to
start a Food-For-Work sanitation project for 130 displaced volunteers in
Mie N'Gou. WFP also delivered food to the Catholic Mission in Prikro in
the East, to 1,500 beneficiaries. In addition, over 14,400 IDPs are
supported by WFP in the areas of Yamoussoukro, Daloa, Duékoue, Didievi and
Mbahiakro. However monitoring missions towards Daloa were postponed due to
insecurity.

(d)  The joint FAO/WFP Food Aid Needs and Crop Assessment was completed
this week, and the preliminary results were presented to international
organisations, donors and the Government on 6 February. The main message
is that unless a peaceful solution is agreed upon immediately, the food
situation will become alarming already in two months time.

(e)  WFP's EMOP 10244.0 faces a shortfall of 6,286 tons, or 71 percent of
the total requirements. Pipeline breaks will start in April for cereals,
CSB and vegetable oil. These commodities are critical to the families who
have been displaced, in order to avoid malnutrition, particularly among
pregnant and lactating women and children.


2)  Western Sahel

(a)  On 28 January, WFP launched an appeal to international donors to
provide emergency relief food to five countries in western Sahel, where
hundreds of thousands of people are threatened by severe food shortages.
WFP's assumption for preparing a regional co-ordinated response is that
the current levels of food insecurity, particularly in western Sahel,
could develop into a serious cumulative effect up to the 2003 lean season,
i.e. June to September. It should be noted that Mauritania and Cape Verde
already experienced two to three consecutive years of below average
agricultural campaigns.

(b)  55,365 tons of food are needed for this EMOP (at a total cost of USD
27.8 million), to assist 578,550 people, mostly in Mauritania (around
420,000 people). Some 74,000 people will be assisted with 4,000 tons of
food in Mali, and 84,000 in Gambia, Senegal and Cape Verde with 7,700 tons
of food.

(c)  By launching the operation as early as January 2003 or during the
first quarter of the year for the first group of beneficiaries, WFP will
be able to stop the deterioration of the food situation resulting from an
early start of the lean period. Starting in April and during the second
quarter of the year, the intervention benefiting the second group (free
distributions, food for community activities) will aim at supporting
affected populations during the dry season by preventing migration and
providing them with food supplies.

(d)  Early intervention is crucial. Malnutrition rates in some areas of
Mauritania are already at crisis levels and risk of massive starvation due
to lack of food are very high between June and September 2003, not only in
Mauritania but also in the other countries covered by the EMOP. A lack or
a delay in the response now will lead to a very large-scale famine in
western Sahel, if the 2003 rainy season is as erratic as the previous
ones. All local coping mechanisms will be depleted by September 2003 and
no time will be left to bring food aid from outside the region since
regional purchase will not be feasible due to the scarcity of main cereals
on local markets.

(e)  EMOP 10249.0 is currently facing a shortfall of 54,474 tons, or 97.7
percent of the total requirements. Contributions are therefore urgently
needed to start implementing the regional operation; if contributions are
not confirmed in the near future, the situation may be dramatic for all
the countries covered by the operation.


3)  Guinea-Bissau

(a)  Due to the rainfall deficit registered throughout the country in the
third and fourth trimesters of 2002, the cereal production of the
2002-2003 agricultural campaign is expected to decline by 12 percent as
compared to the last agricultural campaign. WFP is closely monitoring the
food security situation in view of a possible need to increase food
assistance around May/June when households have depleted their stocks of
rice.

(b)  On 1 January, WFP started implementing its PRRO 10148.0 following
arrival of the commodities in the country. During the month of January,
over 22,900 beneficiaries were assisted by WFP and 240 tons of food were
distributed under Food-for-Work, School Feeding (SFP), Health and
Nutrition and Food-for-Training programmes. However, due to the late
arrival of a food shipment, WFP was forced to reduce the number of
children assisted under the SFP programme. Unless the commodities
requested under the second call forward reach Bissau by then, serious
breaks in all food pipelines are anticipated as of 31 June, when the
country is most likely to face food deficits.

(c)  WFP conducted a nutrition profile study, which confirmed that
malnutrition is most severe among pregnant women, lactating mothers and
children under 5 and that the most affected regions are Cacheu, Oio,
Bafata and Gabu. WFP has included among the priority regions for its
operations Cacheu area, which had long been too insecure to enable
expanded WFP assistance.


4)  Central African Republic

(a)  Due to insecurity in the northern part of the country, WFP remains
unable to reach almost 5,400 IDPs targeted under EMOP 10194. Virtually no
information is available from the affected area. The UN system is
negotiating access to rebel-controlled areas; the planned mission includes
visiting Kabo and Batangafo areas to assess the needs of the IDPs. WFP
intends to resume assistance as soon as access is granted.

(b)  The relatively stable security situation in the southern part of
Bangui allowed WFP to resume food distributions under EMOP 10150. Over
44,000 vulnerable people affected by armed conflict have received 226 tons
of food in Bangui during the month of January. WFP assistance is meant to
support these displaced households during their resettlement in southern
neighbourhoods of Bangui. Food was distributed entirely to women, for
themselves and their families.


D)  Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Ethiopia, (2) Eritrea, (3)
Djibouti, (4) Uganda, (5) Great Lakes Region


1)  Ethiopia

(a)  A follow-up nutrition survey was conducted in West Hararge on 24
January - 3 February by CARE Ethiopia with technical and logistical
support from GOAL and WFP. This zone showed serious malnutrition in
September when a previous nutritional survey was done, reflecting
conditions prevailing before food aid deliveries were substantially
increased. The latest survey was conducted simultaneously in the highland
and lowland areas of the zone. The survey data is being processed and a
full report will be out within two weeks. The nutritional status of the
population appears to have improved with regular deliveries of food aid
over recent months, but this will need to be compared to the final survey
results. Recent improvements in water and pasture due to unseasonable
December rains have had a positive impact on the condition of livestock, a
significant element of household food security in the area.

(b)  Donor pledges of relief food to Government, WFP and NGOs have reached
around 770,000 tons, which will cover 54 percent of the 2003 requirements.
Cereal requirements are 55 percent covered while blended food needs are
only around 33 percent covered. For cereals, the contributions will meet
needs until mid-June, though at a reduced ration rate (12.5 kg instead of
15 kg per person per month). In January, dispatches of cereals to final
distribution points reached over 90,000 tons for 7.4 million people; in
February, distributions are expected to reach 100,000 tons for 8 million
people. For fortified blended food, only half of the requirements for
January-June can be covered with current contributions; in January, around
5,000 tons have been distributed. In view of nutritional status concerns
in many areas, agencies are stepping up efforts to resource more blended
food.


2)  Eritrea

(a)  The failure of rains in Eritrea has caused the worst crop failure in
Eritrea since independence in 1993, affecting about 2.3 million or
two-thirds of the entire population. Cereal planting was delayed and was
not as extensive as it is in normal seasons. Three joint Government, UN,
NGO crop assessments, the latest having been carried out in October,
indicate an almost complete loss in cereal harvest. The expected crop
figure is estimated at just over 54,000 tons, about 20 percent of an
average annual crop. The Government has estimated the total cereal
shortfall for 2003 at some 400,000 tons.

(b)  This situation calls for an urgent and immediate intervention in
order to prevent loss of life, destitution, liquidation of minimal
productive assets and distress migration.  Malnutrition levels and
mortality rates especially amongst children and pregnant/nursing mothers
are already indicating a sharp increase.

(c)  Scarcity of water for livestock and moisture for fodder growth has
caused substantial losses in this area. Livestock deaths have been
reported in all regions of the country and normal pastoral migration
patterns have been disrupted. The non-replenishment of the ground water
table also means that critical shortages for human and animal consumption
are already apparent.  Coping mechanisms weakened by the war with Ethiopia
and repeated years of drought are completely failing in some areas.

(d)  WFP, in addition to the on-going PRRO that supports some 528,000
beneficiaries, just finalized a new EMOP to address the needs of
additional 900,000 drought affected beneficiaries starting in May 2003. In
the meantime, the current EMOP 10049 has been extended to initially cover
the needs of some 400,000 of the most affected beneficiaries until
sufficient resources become available to increase to the full caseload.  
The estimated food shortfall in Eritrea, taking into account in-country
stocks and confirmed pledges, will be 200,000 tons.


3)  Djibouti

(a)  An interagency and Government mission visited all Djibouti districts
from 13 to 18 January, with the view to undertake a rapid needs assessment
of the drought-affected population and vulnerable groups. The mission
recommended the continuation of humanitarian assistance to a reduced
number of the nomadic population affected by five consecutive years of
drought. Under the next expansion phase which is due to start in July
2003, WFP will continue providing food assistance to about 50,000 people,
as opposed to a current caseload of 96,000 people through FFW/FFA
programmes.

(b)  Large numbers of pastoralists from Ethiopia have been arriving daily
in Djibouti, in search of fodder for their animals. The inter-agency
mission reported that the health and nutritional situation of the people
arriving in Ali Sabbieh and Dikhil border districts is generally good. WFP
and UNHCR, provided food and non-food items for those who were too weak to
continue their migration towards Somaliland.

(c)  From 19-21 January, an inter-agency Joint Food Needs Assessment
Mission (JFAM), including WFP, UNHC, Government officials and donors, was
conducted in the two refugee camps of Holl-Holl and Ali-Adde. The JFAM
reviewed the implementation of the PRRO 10134 for refugees in Djibouti,
assessed the impact of food assistance on the refugees and reviewed the
necessity of continuing the selective feeding programmes and take-home
ration for schoolgirls. The JFAM also reviewed the progress made on the
repatriation process that was temporarily suspended in November 2002.

(d)  The objective of this joint assessment mission was to have a better
understanding on the needs of the refugees and could lead to an extension
of the current operation beginning in September 2003. It is estimated that
a residual caseload of about 18,000 refugees, would remain in the camps
after the second repatriation phase is completed in December 2003. In
December 2002, UNHCR estimated the total number of refugees at 23,222,
with 10,035 in Holl Holl and 13,187 in Ali Addeh camps.

(e)  During January, under PRRO 10134, WFP delivered 344 tons of food to
20,500 refugees living in Holl Holl and Ali Addeh camps. Additional
distributions were made through selective feeding programmes to 1,000
vulnerable people and 120 undernourished children in the camps and
vegetable oil was distributed to schoolgirls as take-home rations to
encourage school attendance. Finally, WFP distributed over 975 tons of
food to 74,600 beneficiaries, mainly drought-affected people, in January
under EMOP 10099.


4)  Uganda

(a)  WFP's resource situation for February has improved following the
confirmation of contributions from a number of donors for local purchases.
The Government of Uganda (GOU) has also indicated that it will make a cash
contribution to WFP for local purchase shortly.  A large in-kind
contribution for delivery in June has been confirmed.  Distribution of
cereals to IDPs has resumed in Gulu District after a six-week pipeline
break during which only pulses, oil and limited blended food were
distributed to a population totally dependent on WFP rations.

(b)  However, WFP's pipeline situation for its PRRO 10121.0, assisting
800,000 displaced who have lost two consecutive harvests, will break again
for all commodities in April.  Additional cash contributions are still
urgently required to bridge the period from April until June.

(c)  Consequent to the pipeline break in cereals throughout January, a
nutritional survey conducted by the Ministry of Health with WFP in two of
the largest IDPs camps in Gulu District has been finalized, revealing
global acute malnutrition rates of 24 and 16 percent among children under
5 in the two camps respectively.  Cash is urgently required to purchase
blended food in order to begin blanket supplementary feeding.  The
Ministry has warned that additional children will also fall into acute
malnutrition shortly if supplementary feeding is not immediately put in
place.

(d)  An emergency food needs assessment mission consisting of WFP, GOU and
NGOs to the 20 new camps for the displaced in Pader District will commence
on 17 February.  The security situation throughout northern Uganda remains
fragile, with continuing daily rebel attacks on the civilian population.
About one third of the huts in Pabbo camp in Gulu District, housing
approximately 46,000 IDPs, was destroyed in a fire on 4 February. The fire
apparently started by a cooking fire in the congested area between IDP's
huts.


5)  Great Lakes Region

(a)  Regional overview

1.  Internal and external conflicts in the Great Lakes Region continue to
cause great concern as the number of the displaced and fleeing refugees
continue to increase because of fear and insecurity. A ceasefire agreement
in Burundi is ever elusive and the integration of the army remains a very
sore spot. Moreover, as a result of the growing insecurity in eastern DR
Congo, more than 35,000 refugees fled into Burundi seeking emergency
assistance. Furthermore, a two-month delay in rains plus a poor harvest
from the previous growing season are expected to almost double the number
of people needing relief food from 580,000 to 1.2 million. Finally,
although a repatriation of Burundian refugees from Tanzania was
anticipated, the escalation in fighting in Burundi has instead led a large
influx of over 20,000 refugees in the camps in western Tanzania.

2.  The pipeline forecast under the on-going Great Lakes PRRO shows
insufficient food stocks, especially for cereals and sugar. In
anticipation of the termination of the current phase of the PRRO end of
January 2003, WFP extended the operation for a three-year period, covering
Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.  The total value of the three-year PRRO is
USD 266.7 million and so far no contributions have been confirmed against
this PRRO. Food requirements for 2003 alone amount to 185,078 tons,
covering the food needs of 1.3 million beneficiaries.


(b)  Tanzania

1.  From 13 to 26 January, WFP assisted 517,300 refugees in Ngara and
Kigoma regions, providing them with almost 3,200 tons of food,
corresponding to a two-week ration. WFP supplied the full ration for all
commodities, except cereals, which were distributed at 72 percent of the
regular ration. In addition, WFP assisted around 18,000 malnourished
persons under its Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP).

2.  Due to pipeline constraints, WFP will be forced again to reduce
significantly the food ration for refugees by the first distribution of
February. The cereal ration will be cut by another 22 percent bringing the
total reduction to 50 percent. The CSB component of the food basket will
be cut by 25 percent. However, these changes will not affect 6,650
extremely vulnerable people and malnourished groups assisted under the
SFP. WFP is currently informing beneficiaries of these changes. Urgent
donor contributions are required to continue to provide assistance to the
refugee population.

3.  Almost 2,800 Rwandan refugees, most of whom are protection cases, are
remaining in the Ngara camps after the deadline given by the Government to
repatriate. Kitali Hills camp was officially closed on 17 January,
following the Government instructions to transfer the remaining 3,670
refugees to Lukole B camp. The actual caseload moved was less by 114
individuals. WFP properties, food and non-food items were moved to Lumasi.

4.  While no voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees took place from
Kibondo last week, 1,540 new arrivals were registered and accommodated at
Karago camp. This increase in number is a result of the fighting in Ruyigi
and Cankuzo provinces in Burundi. Over 2,140 persons arrived from Burundi
and DR Congo into Tanzania from 13 to 26 January.


(c)  Burundi

1.  On 27 January 2003, the Government and the fighting movements signed a
Memorandum of Understanding, including the mechanisms of implementing the
cease-fire accord agreed upon last December, and the deployment of the
African Military Observer Mission.  Despite the signature, the fighting
continued in Ruyigi, Gitega and Bujumbura Rural provinces.  Attacks
attributed to FNL fighters on two suburbs of Bujumbura, and Bujumbura
Rural province resulted in 19 persons killed.

2.  WFP participated in a joint inter-agency assessment mission conducted
in Ruyigi province to determine if humanitarian access to beneficiaries
could be granted. Ruyigi and Gitega provinces have been affected by
frequent clashes, resulting in population displacement and thus the
reliance on food assistance. Aid workers has had difficulties in reaching
these groups due to the insecurity.

3.  WFP is facing food shortages at the time when the food security
situation in Burundi is deteriorating. Last week, 64,800 beneficiaries
could not be assisted due to low stock position. WFP expects to face
pipeline breaks for cereals, pulses and CSB from March. Unless additional
funds are mobilized quickly, WFP will not be able to respond to the
increasing needs after that date.

4.  From 27 January to 2 February, WFP distributed 572 tons of food to
more than 54,000 people, in six provinces, under various activities. The
assistance included a six-day emergency package to 6,900 people displaced
by the recent clashes in Gitega province. The release of 70 tons of food
to 4,500 participants involved in reforestation projects in Mwaro and
Gitega provinces, was also authorized this week.


(d)  Rwanda

1.  On 1 January, the Government confirmed the provisional release of
detainees who confess to their crimes and who may have already served
their expected sentence under law, if convicted. Their release is
conditional, pending judicial proceedings through Gacaca community courts.

2.  WFP and the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) signed
an agreement this week for WFP food assistance to be provided to
provisionally released detainees in solidarity centres. NURC will
coordinate the reintegration and rehabilitation of the provisionally
released detainees through a unity and reconciliation programme with the
support of WFP. Food assistance will be distributed to the provisionally
released detainees while they undergo a sixty-day training on civic
education and counseling on reconciliation, before returning to their
communities of origin.

3.  Under the administration of the NURC, WFP will distribute food rations
to 43,400 beneficiaries, including supplementary rations for lactating
women, through solidarity centres throughout the country. Thereafter, food
assistance is expected to be phased out, following the provisionally
released detainees' reinsertion into their communities of origin. The
assistance is an expansion of WFP assistance to solidarity centres, which
began in 1999.

4.  The food assistance, valued at a total of USD 735,080, will contribute
to the promotion of unity and reconciliation in Rwanda by supporting a key
requirement for the provisional release of detainees. Although WFP has yet
to receive confirmed donor pledges, donor countries are expressing an
interest to support the necessary food requirements. Meanwhile, WFP is
borrowing food stocks intended for other activities to ensure that the
provisionally released detainees get the food they need. Subject to
availability of cash donations, WFP plans to purchase food required for
those provisionally released through local and regional purchases. These
purchases will encourage production and serve as support for agricultural
markets in the country.



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

1)  Regional overview

(a)  The Southern Africa Regional EMOP is approximately 70 percent funded
with a shortfall of nearly USD 153 million against needs through March
2003. The Republic of South Africa has recently contributed 100,000 tons
of maize to the EMOP. To the extent that WFP can resource the associated
costs necessary to mobilize this in-kind contribution, the EMOP would have
met 85 percent of its overall commodity requirements.

(b)  Funding in support of WFP's SO 10204 "Regional Management and
Logistics Coordination for Southern Africa EMOP" is still urgently sought.
Late in 2002, WFP advanced a budget revision to the management special
operation in order to support expanded responsibilities of the regional
management and logistics coordination structure, related in large part to
increased interagency coordination activities and the previously
unanticipated expenses related to the milling, fortification, and
re-routing of GM maize.


2)  Zimbabwe

(a)  WFP dispatched 9,662 tons of food to its implementing partners during
the week. In January, WFP distributed over 42,400 tons of food to over 3.3
million beneficiaries in 47 districts, more than double the previous
highest monthly distribution achieved since the relief programme began
last year.

(b)  Field reports indicate grim prospects for the coming harvest. The
erratic and low rainfall this season has wilted crops in many parts of the
country. Hunger, during the planting season, has led some households to
eat their seeds, which will affect planting outputs. Where some maize is
doing well, households are consuming it green, meaning a lower harvest of
dry grain. Livestock disease such as bovine anthrax and foot and mouth
continue to decimate herds in the southern part of the country. To cope
with the situation, communities in Buhera District (Manicaland Province)
are reportedly illegally selling mopane trees, aggravating deforestation.


3)  Lesotho

(a)  From 28 January to 3 February, WFP distributed over 900 tons of food
to 63,800 vulnerable people in seven districts. Parts of Lesotho continued
to experience periods of good rainfall during the week, with hailstorms
affecting some areas of the country.


4)  Malawi

(a)  Last week, WFP dispatched 5,085 tons of food to its implementing
partners. A report on the flood assessments led by District Commissioners
was submitted to UNDP by the Department of Poverty and Disaster Management
Affairs (DoPDMA) during the week. The report concludes that 81,600
households in 15 districts were affected by crop losses and 6,800 houses
were damaged. According to DoPDMA needs assessment, USD 4.1 million are
required to provide food and non-food assistance to the affected
communities.


5)  Mozambique

(a)  WFP dispatched 445 tons of food to its implementing partners from 28
January to 3 February. An additional 2,700 tons of maize are expected in
Maputo from South Africa, which will be dispatched directly to extended
delivery points.

(b)  The health authorities in Sofala Province have reported outbreaks of
cholera from Beira city and Caia and Maringue Districts. WFP is looking
into possible ways to provide suitable assistance to cholera patients.

(c)  WFP, in collaboration with the National Institute for Disaster
Management and the Ministry of Health completed a joint food security and
nutrition assessment in Magoe and Zumbo Districts (Tete Province). The
assessment found that Chinthopo, Marere and Chioco areas are facing
extreme food insecurity and recommends three months of free food
distribution and supplementary feeding for children and vulnerable groups.
WFP and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) have jointly registered
beneficiaries.

(d)  High temperatures and little rainfall continue to affect the southern
parts of the country. Severe loss of maize crops was reported from Manica
Province (Central Region). WFP signed Letters of Understanding with three
implementing partners during the week to commence work in three new
districts.


6)  Swaziland

(a)  WFP dispatched 567 tons of food to its implementing partners during
the week. WFP has so far formed 174 Women's Relief Committees which will
distribute WFP food targeted to the most vulnerable, especially female and
child-headed households and HIV/AIDS affected, at 179 distribution points.
The committees will also be trained in basic nutrition and corn soya blend
(CSB) recipes. WFP is looking to train a counsellor's group on sexual
exploitation within the committees. WFP Food Aid Monitors reported poor
and erratic rainfall affecting most parts of the Lowveld during the week.


7)  Zambia

(a)  WFP dispatched 1,773 tons of food to its implementing partners during
the week. By 1 February, WFP had dispatched 5,722 tons of GM food out of
Zambia to Malawi and Mozambique. Seven IFRC/WFP long haul trucks arrived
from Malawi to assist with the transport. Meanwhile, WFP continues to
dispatch sorghum and yellow maize arriving from South Africa. The
distribution of donated sorghum has started, and the commodity is being
well received by beneficiaries.


8)  Angola

(a)  During his visit to Angola last week, the WFP Executive Director, Mr
James T. Morris, urged key Government figures, donors, other humanitarian
agencies and the private sector for increased cooperation to meet the
humanitarian immense needs and stressed that food aid is crucial to peace
consolidation and recovery in Angola. WFP operations in Angola were less
than 50 percent funded, with a shortfall of 168,415 tons of commodities
valued at USD 124 million. Urgent cash contributions are needed to avoid
partial, but serious pipeline shortfalls for maize - the main cereals
component in the food basket - in May and June 2003. Unless new
contributions are confirmed, there will be no cereals from July and WFP
will have to reduce rations to many beneficiaries at the height of the
lean season. Salt will last until June while pipeline break for Pulses and
Sugar are expected in July.

(b)  WFP's special operations in Angola for provision of logistic services
to the humanitarian community faces shortfalls ranging from 32 percent to
82 percent. With no commercial air services to the areas in greatest need,
WFP's special operation is vital to the humanitarian community for the
transportation of passengers and non-food items in Angola. WFP will also
carry out emergency bridge repairs and provide special full-traction
trucks to facilitate access for humanitarian agencies to reach
beneficiaries with needed assistance. Insufficient funding inhibits WFP's
ability to run passenger flights to some locations where assistance is
needed and hinders the transport of non-food items for the humanitarian
agencies.  Resources for the WFP Special Operations are urgently required.

(c)  WFP has resumed flights into Mavinga (Kuando Kubango province)
following emergency repairs on the airstrip but heavy rains are continuing
to threaten access. In Bengo province, extremely poor road conditions
exacerbated by heavy rains have cut of tens of thousands of beneficiaries
from assistance.  Closure of the route linking Kibaxe to Santa Cruz
prevented the distribution of WFP food for January and over 30,000
beneficiaries in Nambuangongo municipality are currently inaccessible for
WFP humanitarian assistance.


9)  Namibia

(a)  UNHCR confirmed an unusual influx of around 500 new refugees to
Namibia from Rwanda, Burundi and Angola during January.  The refugees from
Rwanda and Burundi reported to have come from refugee camps in DRC and
Tanzania.


10)  Madagascar

(a)  Flooding in Antananarivo, Fianartsoa, Mahajanga and Toamasina have
left almost 38,900 individuals homeless. In Antananarivo the floods
continue to plague the low-lying neighbourhoods, which suffer from the
highest malnutrition rates.  The risk of epidemics continues to rise and
conjunctiva is now spreading at an alarming rate. WFP is working with CARE
to initiate FFW activities in 20 districts of Antananarivo that are
currently affected by the floods.

(b)  WFP, along with CARE and the National Disaster Council, participated
in an initial survey of the damage caused from Cyclone Fari. The community
of Marolambo had been isolated due to landslides of the main national
road, and the communes of Masomeloka, Nosy Varika and Mananjary have
suffered from 12-35 percent damage to infrastructure. Over 3,400 persons
are homeless and major cases of conjunctiva and diarrhoea have been
reported.

(c)  Damage to agriculture has also been significant, with 70 percent of
rice fields flooded and 99 percent of banana and other fruit trees
damaged. Coping mechanisms are strained as during the current lean season
bananas and other fruits are normally consumed. WFP has pre-positioned
stocks in the area and, in collaboration with AAA and CARE, is initiating
FFW activities.  Some reorientation of the EMOP 10236, which is now 55
percent funded, is being considered in light of the current flooding and
recent cyclone.



F)  Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea

1)  DPR of Korea

(a)  Without immediate, additional contributions, up to 2.9 million
vulnerable people, including children in nurseries and kindergartens,
primary school children, pregnant/nursing women, elderly persons, and
caregivers in child institutions, will not receive WFP cereal rations
during the first half of 2003 as planned in the current EMOP.

(b)  In addition, Food for Work activities, which were planned for the
coming months, will need to be drastically cut and Local Food Production
factories will be forced to stop functioning owing to a lack of raw food
inputs.

(c)  Immediate pledges of 105,000 tons of food are required to supplement
expected arrivals and ensure that the WFP pipeline is full through the
first half of 2003.  This includes 84,500 tons of cereals, 3,000 tons of
Dried Skimmed Milk, 10,000 tons of Corn Soya Milk, 1,000 tons of sugar and
6,500 tons of pulses.


G)  Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia, (3)
Ecuador, (4) El Salvador, (5) Haiti


1)  Bolivia

(a)  According to the National Civil Defense Service, the effects of El
Niño have intensified in Bolivia. Floods in La Paz, Santa Cruz and
Cochabamba, as well as droughts in the valleys of Chuquisaca and
Cochabamba have affected more than 10,000 families. Cochabamba, as the
most affected department, suffered a drought during the seedling season.
Floods in La Paz have claimed 7 lives.

(b)  Reports of the Ministry of Sustainable Development indicate that
34,350 hectares of agricultural lands have been affected and agricultural
losses are calculated to more than USD 12 million. The National government
has declared a state of emergency and has prepared a plan to mitigate the
effects of El Niño. However, resources to support the plan are not yet in
place.

(c)  WFP has carried out several assessment missions to the affected
areas, which indicated that 1,570 families in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and
La Paz are in need of assistance. However, WFP current food stocks are
relatively low. Interventions are closely coordinated by the UN Disaster
Management team with the Government and donors.


2)  Colombia

(a)  The Department of Choco (northwest) has been affected by new massive
displacements due to the presence of armed groups. Last week, 450 people
from the provinces of Divisa and El Tambo joined the other 2,600 persons
sheltered in the city of Quibdo. The UN Humanitarian Action Plan for Choco
includes WFP actions with local authorities, NGOs and church.

(b)  The first months of 2003 show an increase of 30 percent in food
deliveries. More than 10,000 new IDPs are participating in short-term FFW
activities in their places of transition. They are also benefiting from
community kitchens and nutritional recovery projects.

(c)  Preparations to initiate the new PRRO - which starts early next month
- with school feeding for this school year are underway, while the
Government is in the process of signing the LOU.

(d)  WFP food monitoring is crucial in view of local pressures and
controls of armed groups. UNSECOORD interventions were critical last week
to enable WFP to continue its community visits in one of the Government
declared rehabilitation zones in Sincelejo area. This week, WFP faced the
same access problem in Bogotá region. In view of possible distributions,
WFP is closely monitoring the situation in San Juan del Cesar (Guajira),
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Magdalena) and the municipality of San
Carlos, western of Antioquia, lately affected by violence.


3)  Ecuador

(a)  In January 2003, WFP and UNHCR signed an agreement to help improve
the livelihoods of Colombian refugees in Ecuador. Institutional
coordination between the two agencies will be the basis for an interagency
management model that will be implemented at a regional level in Latin
America. The number of refugees and asylum seekers has increased to
10,958, of which 98 percent are Colombian. Food assistance to the refugees
started this week in the provinces with the highest number of refugees:
Pichincha, Sucumbios, Carchi and Esmeraldas.

(b)  On 1-2 February, heavy rains affected communities in the city of
Guayaquil, leaving the population out of reach. Los Rios Province also
reported heavy rains in the cantons of Ventanas, Montalvo, Vinces, Baba,
Pueblo Viejo and Babahoyo.


4)  El Salvador

(a)  The coffee crisis is expected to continue causing severe child
malnutrition over the coming months. WFP will continue to carry out
periodic field assessments in collaboration with its partners to monitor
the situation. As national elections are scheduled for 18 March, security
measures are being implemented to avoid violence.


5)  Haiti

(a)  In response to the current drought and deteriorating political and
economic situation in Haiti, WFP proposes to follow the Immediate Response
EMOP with humanitarian assistance through a PRRO. This initial PRRO will
respond to urgent needs and lay the foundation for a larger response,
which takes into consideration the international community's response, to
be finalised in the next few weeks. It will provide relief assistance to
children, mothers and families in the drought affected areas of the Far
West and areas with high malnutrition through nutritional supplements for
expectant and nursing mothers, infants and preschool children suffering
from malnutrition, and nutritious food for the most affected groups.

(b)  Pipeline ruptures are expected as early as February for CSB, end
March for cereals, and April for pulses. Insufficient resources for this
PRRO, as well as for WFP Country Programme, will result in further
deterioration in the nutrition and food security situation of the poorest
groups in Haiti.  In particular, WFP will not be able to reach those in
urgent need of nutritional treatment due to a lack of CSB.  The new PRRO,
beginning in April 2003 has estimated unmet needs of 5,600 tons.

(c)  Food shortages during the protracted drought are affecting the Far
West Region in the Northwest. Mole Saint Nicolas, Bombardopolis, Baie de
Henne Jean Rabel are the communes most affected by two consecutive
droughts and crop failures. The deteriorating economic situation due to
the rapid devaluation of the Gourd has further affected food security and
purchasing power of the population.

(d)  WFP, in joint collaboration with CARE, will be providing 800 tons of
food to approximately 23,600 families during the month of February. WFP's
Immediate Response Operation will benefit 12,800 families with 320 tons of
food. Beneficiaries include farmers who have lost all their crops and
livestock, families with more than five dependents, the handicap, elderly,
low-income women head of households and malnourished children.

(e)  The "Grande Riviére du Nord" flooded due to heavy rainfall during
27-29 January, causing severe damage to the population of Cap Haitian.
Livestock and other property were destroyed and about 320 persons are
homeless. On 29 January, local government authorities in the North
Department requested WFP for immediate food assistance. WFP provided six
days food rations to the affected families.



H)  West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  WFP's current EMOP 10155.0 has been extended to facilitate the smooth
transition in terms of pipeline, pending the start of the new PRRO 10233.0
and the arrival of resources in country.  Since the total requirement of
the EMOP has not yet been fully resourced, a break in the pipeline for
wheat and oil is now expected in May and June 2003. WFP is therefore
requesting donors to urgently meet the unresourced needs of the EMOP, a
total of 71,000 tons remains to be resourced of which 56,000 tons is
needed urgently in order to avoid a pipeline break and meet the
requirements of the follow-on PRRO.  Cash for regional and local purchase
of wheat is preferred.

(b)  Last week, the security situation was calm across the country except
in the Northwestern province of Bagdhis and in the Southwest of the
country where tensions have increased.  Badghis province is showing signs
of instability as commanders have stated their allegiance to the Central
Government rather than to Ismail Khan in Hirat. In addition, several
explosions around Kandahar have raised concerns among the international
community.  In particular, the NGO community has expressed growing alarm
over the latest spate of criminal activity throughout the country. The
situation has deteriorated in the poppy cultivated areas of Nangarhar
province, where a demonstration was staged against the poppy eradication
campaign. UN missions to Shirzad, Khogyani and Shinwar districts of
Nangarhar province and to Gospandi district of Sari Pul province have been
suspended.

(c)  From 29 January to 4 February, WFP assisted more than 416,350
vulnerable people, providing them with over 3,200 tons of food through
various programmes. Beneficiaries included nearly 188,000 IDPs and
refugees, as well as 96,600 persons supported under the Urban Vulnerable
Bakery Project. Over 71,400 school children were also reached through the
Food for Education programme and 60,200 persons were involved in Food for
Work and Food for Asset Creation projects.

(d)  As of 3 February, 29,500 tons, i.e. 62 percent of the planned food
commodities, were distributed to beneficiaries. Food distributions will
continue during February 2003 by implementing partners, in accordance with
agreed plans.  All the Implementing Partners of the Winterisation
Programme in the Central Highlands met in Kabul to galvanise food
distribution before the weather conditions deteriorate.

(e)  A Rapid Emergency Food Needs Assessment was carried out in
conjunction with representatives from the ministry of Rural Rehabilitation
and Development (MRRD) and ACTED in Baghlan Province in response to
reports of food needs in Naharin district.  The assessment revealed that
the official population figures had been under-estimated by about 45,000
people and that a new district, Jilga, had been created. This new district
has not receive any assistance even though about 28,000 persons, i.e. 80
percent of its population are food insecure.  It was recommended that they
receive assistance through FFW projects for infrastructure rehabilitation
during a three-month period.


2)  Iran

(a)  The refugees in Iran will also be affected by resource shortfall
under PRRO 10213.0 which provides food assistance to 120,000 Afghan, Iraqi
Arab and Kurdish refugees. The PRRO does not have vegetable oil for the
March distribution and will run out of other commodities in the following
two months. The imminent pipeline break will first impact women and girls
from among the non-camp refugees, as support for skills training and
education activities, which are being designed to support their eventual
re-integration into Afghanistan, will have to be suspended.  About 1,500
tons are needed to cover food requirements through mid 2003.

(b)  As of 3 February, UNHCR facilitated the repatriation of 263,500
refugees to Afghanistan. An additional 126,100 returned spontaneously to
their place of their origin, making a total of 389,100 returnees since
April 2002.


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


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