World Food Programme Emergency Report 2004
Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 16 of 16 April


(A)  Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan
(B)  East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Djibouti,
     (4) Eritrea, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Rwanda, (8) Sudan,
     (9) Tanzania, (10) Uganda
(C)  West Africa: (1) Chad, (2) Côte d'Ivoire, (3) Liberia
(D)  Southern Africa:  (1)  Regional, (2)  Angola , (3) Lesotho,
     (4) Madagascar, (5)  Malawi, (6)  Mozambique, (7) Namibia,
     (8) Swaziland, (9) Zambia, (10) Zimbabwe
(E)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea,
(F)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Colombia, (2) Guatemala,
     (3) Haiti, (4) Nicaragua, (5) Peru


>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
Brenda.Barton@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, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  The security situation remained relatively calm throughout most of
the country. In the north, factional fighting and subsequent
demonstrations in Faryab province affected UN operations in the area.  
Missions to the province have since been suspended. UN missions are also
suspended to Kohistanat district of Sari Pul province in the north and to
Uruzgan province in the south. In Ghor province in the west, missions are
suspended due to bad road conditions and high water levels.

(b)  A swarm of locust attacks took place in Baghlan, Kunduz, Samangan and
Balkh provinces.  Aid agencies in collaboration with the Department of
Agricultural and Animal Husbandry are currently working to contain the
outbreak by spraying chemicals in the affected areas.

(c)  During last week, WFP provided some 443,155 beneficiaries with almost
3,280 tons of food.

(d)  In Kabul, WFP joined the HIV/AIDS working group, together with the
Ministry of Health, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO.  At the working group meeting,
opportunities to integrate HIV/AIDS issues in existing interventions were
explored.  WFP is currently endeavoring to incorporate food and
nutritional needs of those affected by HIV/AIDS into national and local
AIDS strategies.



B)  East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Djibouti, (4)
Eritrea, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Rwanda, (8) Sudan, (9) Tanzania,
(10) Uganda

1)  Burundi

(a)  During the last week, the security situation worsened in Kabezi and
Mutambu communes of Bujumbura Rural province. Confrontations between the
Front for National Liberation (FNL) and the national army resumed,
resulting in human casualties and the displacement of an estimated 30,000
persons.

(b)  From 5 to 11 April 2004, WFP distributed a total of over 1,540 tons
of food aid to 150,570 beneficiaries through different programme
activities. WFP continued to face a major shortage of pulses and most
distributions were therefore carried out without this commodity.

(c)  Following the requests for food assistance to persons in Gihanga and
Rugazi communes of Bubanza province by the local administration, WFP
conducted rapid assessments that revealed that over 6,300 households are
in need of assistance. WFP also carried out monthly food security
monitoring in Karusi, Cankuzo, Muyinga and Kayanza provinces. Monitoring
results indicated that food reserves were very low, resulting in an
increase of prices for some commodities in certain areas.


2)  DR Congo

(a)  Overall, the rural population remained the prey of uncontrolled armed
factions. Lootings and illegal roadblocks were still reported in areas
such as Rutshuru and Masisi in North Kivu province.

(b)  Since 10 April, WFP's field office in Kahemba in Bandundu province is
on alert, following an announcement made by local authorities of a vast
movement of Congolese who have been expelled from Angola. Large numbers of
those returnees have been demanding food assistance from WFP and the first
group of about 900 persons has received a 15-days ration. The returnees
are said to be in bad shape and are reportedly threatening the 3,600
Angolan refugees encamped in Kahemba who are receiving WFP assistance.
While looking into plans to deal with this large movement of returnees,
WFP has been securing its warehouses and staff.

(c)  In Beni, North Kivu province, WFP's implementing partners SOLIDARITE,
a French NGO, and CESVI, an Italian NGO, distributed 590 tons of food to
94,620 IDPs. In the Ituri district, food distributions carried out in
partnership with SOLIDARITE and the German Agro Action mainly targeted
returnees and provided them with seeds protection packages. Some of the
returnees were also given agricultural inputs.

(d)  Further to the training on vulnerability assessment and mapping (VAM)
in Goma, North Kivu province, conducted during the first week of April,
WFP staff have now begun implementing surveys that will cover the entire
province by collecting primary data, and looking into available secondary
data on vulnerability.


3)  Djibouti

(a)  On 13 April, floods caused by heavy rains officially claimed at least
55 lives and about 200 people are still reported missing. French and US
army helicopters were trying to save a number of people whose homes have
been swept away by flash floods from the Ambouli wad. Djibouti town is a
flood prone risk zone during the rainy season from November to
March/April, because it is situated below sea level. UN agencies are
currently preparing a mission to visit sites affected by the flood in
order to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims.

(b)  The fourth convoy of the second voluntary repatriation phase of
refugees left Djibouti on Saturday, 10 April, to various destinations in
North Somalia (Somaliland). WFP has provided nine-month food packages to
all 616 repatriated refugees from Ali Addeh camp. The next convoy is
scheduled to leave Djibouti on 20 April with some 500 refugees.


4)  Eritrea

(a)  There has been some rainfall in the Debub and Maekel regions as part
of the "Azmera" short rainy season.  Farmers are preparing their fields in
anticipation of the upcoming long rainy season, due to begin by early
June.

(b)  Over 1,000 Eritreans returned from Sudan last week as part of the
ongoing voluntary repatriation process. WFP will supply food assistance to
the returnees until the completion of their first successful harvest.

(c)  Access to water continues to be a serious problem in the Anseba
region. WFP field staff reported severe shortages in many areas, forcing
villagers to walk increasingly long distances in search of water.


5)  Ethiopia

(a)  Substantial "Belg" (short season) rains have been falling in most
parts of the country in recent weeks, with heavy rain reported in recent
days. In Afar Region in the east, floods have been reported along the
Awash River; regional authorities will assess the situation as soon as
they can. The main city in the eastern part of the country, Dire Dawa,
received over 30 mm of rain in 24 hours, a very exceptional situation for
this usually dry location. Countryside surrounding Dire Dawa has been
suffering from drought for the past two years. Good rains are reported in
the nearby eastern highlands of East and West Hararghe, where there had
been some concern about the late start of the "Belg" rains. Torrential
rains, which fell in Djibouti at the beginning of the week, resulted in
interruptions in the transport of food from Djibouti port to Ethiopia.

(b)  Heavy "Gu" rain has also been reported in Jijiga and surrounding
parts of Somali Region. The extent and coverage will be better known once
authorities in remote areas of the Region report by radio to the
SC-UK/Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Early Warning Project in Jijiga
over coming days. Recently the southern locations of Mustahil and Kelafo
in Gode zone of the region had been reported as not having received any of
the rain that had been improving pasture and water conditions in northern
parts of Gode zone and surrounding areas. The river level of the Wabe
Shebelle will be monitored closely at Gode town for early warning signs of
flooding further downstream.

(c)  In Belg-crop producing parts of the country, such as North and South
Wollo in Amhara Region and much of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and
Peoples Region (SNNPR), the rains of the past two weeks have been helping
to revive crops which had been wilting due to an earlier dry spell, though
there are pocket areas where problems remain. In most of the country,
where planting takes place at a later date, with the main "Meher" (or
"Kiremt") rains starting in June, Belg rains are used for land
preparation. (d)  Relief food operations continue to be undertaken by the
government, WFP and NGOs. The overall relief food requirements for
April-December 2004 total 697,000 tons. This comprises of 551,000 tons of
cereals, 70,000 tons of micronutrient-fortified blended food, 55,000 tons
of pulses, 19,000 tons of vegetable oil and 1,500 tons of iodized salt
(this includes commodities for emergency school feeding). Against these
requirements, confirmed commodities in-country and in transit currently
total 372,000 tons; these commodities can cover the requirements for
cereals until mid-June, vegetable oil until early-August, and pulses and
blended food until mid-September. The current shortfall for April-December
is 325,000 tons. However, there are substantial contributions under
negotiation that are anticipated to cover a significant part of this
shortfall.

(e)  Total food allocated for distributions in March covered 85 percent of
needs, at 71,600 tons compared to the planned 84,700 tons. Planned
beneficiaries for March were 4.4 million people. In April, planned
beneficiaries increased to 6.7 million, requiring 126,000 tons of food
aid. During 2004, WFP aims to cover approximately half of the needs.


6)  Kenya

(a)  The 2004 long rains have started in earnest in various parts of the
country. Traditionally, parts of the low-lying areas in Lake Victoria
basin of Kenya are flood-prone and are affected every year. This year is
not different, and so far reports indicate that the heavy rains in western
Kenya have caused extensive flooding, affecting nearly 10,000 people
especially in Nyando District where a river burst its banks. The floods
have reportedly killed at least two people in Nyando as well as destroyed
roads.  The water level in the river is still rising and more flooding is
expected in the nearby Budalangi area.

(b)  The Kenya Red Cross Society, the Office of the President and WFP are
closely monitoring the situation. The Kenya Red Cross is also setting up
temporary camps on higher grounds to accommodate some of the people. The
government has pre-positioned food in seven districts (Busia, Nyando, Homa
Bay, Tana River, Kisumu, Rachuonyo and Migori) in anticipation of more
flooding.

(c)  Also affected by the heavy rains are the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee
camps in northeastern and northwestern Kenya respectively. Trucks carrying
WFP food and other suppliers to Kakuma are stuck at the diversion in Ortum
River in Turkana District. In Dadaab, up to five trucks with WFP food
(pulses) for the refugees are stranded somewhere between Garrisa and
Dabaab.  WFP does not have enough pulses in the camps for the next food
distribution scheduled to start in the next few days.

(d)  Recent nutritional surveys by Oxfam in Turkana and by UNICEF in
Marsabit Districts found under-five years old children malnutrition rates
were very high, requiring immediate assistance.  An estimated 184,000
people are currently highly food insecure in these two districts. The most
urgent food aid needs for Turkana amount to over 3,070 tons while those of
Marsabit amount to some 4,320 tons. The available Government stocks for
famine relief and strategic grain reserve so far are sufficient to meet
the most urgent relief needs. Oxfam and World Vision will distribute the
food in Turkana while in Marsabit distributions will be carried out under
a FFW modality for the Arid Lands Resource Management Project/WFP's
Disaster Preparedness Facility.


7)  Rwanda

(a)  Normal rainfall from March to May across much of Rwanda is expected
to support a good harvest for most crops, according to a food security
update issued by WFP and FEWS Net. A good crop for beans and sorghum is
therefore expected if rainfalls continue beyond April in the
drought-affected Bugesera region.

(b)  Meanwhile, WFP continues to distribute family rations to malnourished
people visiting Bugesera nutrition centres as part of a three-month
assistance plan. The family ration, as well as existing WFP activities in
FFW, school feeding and HIV/AIDS, is expected to reduce food insecurity in
drought-affected areas.


8)  Sudan

(a)  The Darfur crisis continued to occupy the attention of the Sudanese
Government, humanitarian agencies and the international community
throughout last week. On 8 April, the Government, the Sudanese Liberation
Army (SLA) and the Sudan Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed a
cease-fire agreement in N'djamena, the Chadian capital. The three sides
agreed on ceasing hostilities for 45 days in order to allow access to
humanitarian agencies. The parties also agreed to hold further peace talks
within two weeks. The UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, a day earlier
warned that an international force may be needed to prevent a genocide in
the Darfur region if hostilities continued.

(b)  The overall question of protection for IDPs remained largely
unresolved. IDPs are extremely concerned about their security and
protection. The humanitarian situation is reportedly deteriorating with
regards to health. Malnutrition rates are escalating in those areas where
insecurity has impeded food deliveries. The upcoming rainy season is
expected to further complicate the situation, especially if protection
issues are not resolved by then. Although the recently signed cease-fire
is considered as a positive step, de-arming of Janjaweed remains a concern
and a condition for IDPs to return home before the rainy season sets in.

(c)  Since last January, WFP has distributed 8,235 tons of assorted food
commodities to almost 496,098 war-affected beneficiaries in Darfur region
as follows: 2,488 tons to 206,061 beneficiaries in West Darfur; 4,925 tons
to 243,661 beneficiaries in North Darfur; and 822 tons to 46,376
beneficiaries in South Darfur.

(d)  Cereal, the main commodity in the Eritrean refugees' food basket, is
dangerously low. The pipeline will break at the end of May if new pledges
are not received. This is also true for corn-soya blend (CSB) and sugar,
important commodities for the under-fives and therapeutic feeding.  A
total of some 7,155 tons of cereals, almost 1,370 tons of CSB and over 415
tons of sugar are required to cater for the refugees till the end of
December. If no pledges are received, and subsequent purchase and rapid
delivery of these three very important commodities are not done soon,
lives of vulnerable groups will be at great risk.


9)  Tanzania

(a)  As a result of the cross-border visit to Burundi (Giteranyi and
Muyinga provinces) a significant increase in facilitated repatriation has
been noted. In Ngara, a total of 1,389 refugees repatriated to Muyinga,
Kirundo and Ngozi provinces, and in Kasulu 9,376 repatriated to Cankuzo,
Gitega, Karuzi, Bujumbura Marie, Kayanza and Ruyigi provinces. Facilitated
repatriation in Kasulu totalled 892 Burundian refugees and in addition,
189 refugees spontaneously repatriated, both Congolese and Burundians.
>From Lugufy camps, 26 Congolese refugees spontaneously repatriated. The
total number of facilitated and spontaneous repatriated persons for last
week was 11,659 and 215 respectively. With continued sensitization by
those who participated in the cross-border visit, a better result may be
achieved in the coming weeks.

(b)  Drought relief interventions are ongoing. While in Kilimanjaro region
distribution in Mwanga district were completed,distributions are still
continuing in Bunda district in Mara region, and in Kiteto and Simanjiro
districts in Manyara region.


10)  Uganda

(a)  Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel attacks continued in the northern
Acholi and Lango sub-regions throughout the week.  Groups of rebels are
infesting five districts (Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lira and Adjumani), sowing
continuing panic and fear. In a daring attack in Lira district, the LRA
attempted to attack the convoy of the First Deputy Prime Minister/Minister
for Disaster Preparedness.  Five people were reportedly killed in an
incident in Atiak IDP camp, when Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF)
opened fire to "ward off an LRA rebel attack". The UN Security Council
received a briefing on the crisis in northern Uganda on 14 April from UN
Emergency Response Coordinator, Jan Egeland, who stressed the urgent need
for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the urgency for continued
WFP assistance.

(b)  Preliminary IDP figures in Kitgum and Pader districts in the Acholi
sub-region following recent verification indicate a current population of
267,078 persons in 18 camps in Kitgum district, and 279,589 persons in 13
camps in Pader district. Preliminary figures from an IDP verification
exercise recently conducted by implementing partner Action Aid in Katakwi
district in the eastern Teso sub-region, indicate an IDP population of
148,795 persons.

(c)  WFP food distribution continues to reach over 1.5 million displaced
persons, 144,000 refugees and other vulnerable persons. During the week
from 5 to 10 April, some 2,320 tons of WFP relief food assistance reached
over 213,270 persons, including IDPs sheltering in camps in Gulu, Kitgum,
Pader and Lira districts in the northern Acholi and Lango sub-regions as
well as IDPs in Soroti, Kaberamaido and Katakwi districts in eastern Teso
sub-region, school children and vulnerable persons at feeding centres.
Distribution of food commodities in Kitgum district was not possible from
5 to 8 April owing to a pipeline break in pulses.

(d)  April planting season was almost all missed due to constrained access
to fields, resulting in an urgent need for continued life-saving food
assistance until December 2004. However, WFP stocks of cereals and blended
food for children will be completely exhausted in June 2004 unless
generous contributions are received.

(e)  WFP faces a serious impending pipeline break. There is a shortfall of
124,966 tons of food commodities (93,193 tons cereals, 8,119 tons pulses,
21,048 tons CSB, 2,369 tons vegetable oil and 238 tons sugar) from April
through December 2004. WFP urgently requires contributions amounting to
USD 66,107,014 to continue providing relief assistance to over 1.5 million
displaced people through December of this year. Without such assistance,
increasing childhood malnutrition and mortality are anticipated.



C)  West Africa Region: (1) Chad, (2) Cote d'Ivoire, (3) Liberia

1)  Chad

(a)  The 45-day cease-fire agreement signed in N'djamena between the
Government of Sudan and the SLA and the JEM came into effect on 11 April.
Both sides agreed on ceasing hostilities to ensure access of international
humanitarian assistance to the region before the rainy season begins.

(b)  The UNHCR relocation exercise of Sudanese refugees from the border
areas to more secured camps has intensified. To date some 26,046 refugees
are settled in five camps (6,081 in Farchana, 5,804 in Touloum, 5,869 in
Kouloungo, 5,429 in Iridimi and 2,863 in Goz Amer).

(c)  WFP general food distributions for refugees continued under EMOP
10325.0 and 10327.0, Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern
Chad. From 5 to 11 April, a total of 94 tons of assorted commodities were
distributed. Cumulative distributions in camps amount more than 1,035
tons. Coordination between WFP and UNHCR logistics units has been
reinforced to ensure prompt delivery of food from Abéché to extended
delivery points (EDP) or directly to camps. As part of the strategy to
increase its storage capacity in eastern Chad, WFP has so far erected 6
mobile storage units near camp sites.

(d)  The first rainfalls started last week in Goz Beida (southern eastern
region of Chad) and in the Northwestern part of Farchana causing serious
road damages between one EDP in Koukou Angarana and two refugee sites (Goz
Ameir 1 & 2). This situation raises the concern over pre-positioning
enough food before the roads become impassable. However, WFP and INTERSOS
are planning some FFW activities to rehabilitate this road to make it
useable during the rainy season. Furthermore, 300 moderate and 60 severely
malnourished children were registered in Goz Amer 1 & 2 camps. WFP through
COOPI will implement a supplementary feeding programme to provide food
rations to moderate malnourished children during 4 weeks, while severely
malnourished children will receive food rations for 8 weeks.

(e)  Some 3,475 tons of regionally procured and 2,150 of locally procured
food in N'djamena are being dispatched to Abéché. First consignments are
expected in Abéché by the end of April. Current stocks in Abéché amount to
3,500 tons of assorted food.

(f)  MSF-Belgium launched a vaccination campaign against meningitis and
13,000 persons were reached in Tine. WFP HAS organized an air cargo of
vaccines from N'djamena to Abéché.


2)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  All of Coôte d'Ivoire is now designated as UN Security Phase III.

(b)  During the period from 7 to 13 April, 240 tons of various food
commodities were distributed to approximately 22,000 people.

(c)  Following one month of restricted access, WFP has regained access to
the villages of Bin Houye and Zouan Hounien and distributions there to
approximately 5,500 beneficiaries will soon commence.


3)  Liberia

(a)  With the resumption of Disarmament and Demobilization of combatants
on 15 April, WFP is resuming both the feeding of ex-combatants during
their stay in cantonment sites and the provision of settlement packages
upon the completion of this process.

(b)  Approximately 150,000 IDPs, returnees and Sierra Leonean refugees
have received food thus far in April. WFP has registered IDPs at three
additional spontaneous settlements (Bensonville, Bernard's Curve and
Kingsville); distribution of ration cards and food in these settlements
will commence during the second half of April.

(c)  Schools resumed sessions on 13 Tuesday after a 10 days break.  WFP
continues to extend the school feeding programme into counties where UNMIL
has deployed recently, particularly in parts of Nimba and Grand Bassa
counties. It is expected that World Vision and Catholic Relief Services
will soon become partners in an additional four counties where a good
number of schools have opened and the programme could be initiated (Grand
Cape Mount, River Cess, Grand Bassa and Sinoe).



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


(1)  Regional

(a)  According to the March 2004 FEWS Net report, the 2003/04 season has
been very challenging for southern Africa's agriculture, with countries
experiencing drought and flood conditions within the same crop-growing
season. Although most of the region has apparently received normal rains
overall, its temporal and spatial distribution has been inadequate,
resulting in lower than expected crop yields.  The FAO/WFP Crop and Food
Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAM) and national Vulnerability Assessments
will take place (April-May) in the most-affected countries in the region:
Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The
assessments will provide more accurate information and will form the basis
for future operations in the region.

(b)  Current estimates from the FEWS Net report indicate a 54 percent
reduction in crop yields in Lesotho; a 4 percent reduction in maize
production in Malawi, with severe flood damage in Angola reducing maize
yields in Huambo province by one third.  Although improved rainfall in
South Africa since January has increased maize production estimates for
2003/04 from 6.7 million tons in February to the current estimate of 7.672
million tons, this is still down 18 percent from last year's production of
9.4 million tons.


2)  Angola

(a)  Due to the severe funding shortfall, WFP will only be able to provide
50 percent rations to returnees (both internally displaced persons and
refugees) and FFW beneficiaries in April and May. These groups make up the
vast majority of the 1.9 million beneficiaries. Without additional
donations, WFP will have no cereal to distribute after May and only 50
percent of other commodities. WFP will continue with a full ration for
school feeding but numbers will be limited to 45,000 in two provinces
rather than 200,000 allowed for under the PRRO for 2004.


3)  Lesotho

(a)  Following consecutive seasons of bad harvests, food aid requirements
for Lesotho from February to June 2004 have been increased from 3,634 tons
to 6,915 tons per month, with an increase in beneficiaries from 362,000 to
600,000. WFP Lesotho faces a maize shortfall of 41 percent in May, with a
complete break for vegetable oil and maize in June.  Additional donations
are required in order to avoid disruption to the pipeline.


4)  Madagascar

(a)  The government has requested FAO to undertake an assessment in the
regions affected by cyclone Gafilo in order to estimate the level of
agricultural damages and food needs.  WFP is working in collaboration with
FAO to undertake the assessment.

(b)  WFP, alongside implementing partners (Catholic Relief Services and
CARE), is assisting approximately 35,000 cyclone-affected people in
Antsalaha and Maroentsetra, northeastern Madagascar, and approximately
67,500 in the southern regions of Majunga, Antsohiyi, Mampikoni, Ambato
Boeni, Morondava and Morombe.


5)  MaIawi

(a)  From 6 to14 April, WFP and implementing partners distributed 1,593
tons of food.

(b)  Due to erratic rainfall in some parts of the country, food aid
requirements for Malawi have increased from some 2845 to over 5415 tons in
May and from about 2255 to 5195 tons in June. As a result of these
additional requirements, WFP Malawi faces a pulses shortfall of 73 percent
in May with a complete break in June, and a vegetable oil shortfall of 21
percent in May with a complete break in June.  Additional donations are
required in order to avoid disruption to the pipeline.


6)  Mozambique

(a)  FEWS Net has placed Mozambique on 'watch' status as a result of the
two to three month delay to the main planting-season rains. While
continued rainfall has permitted crops to develop, households in the
semi-arid southern provinces of Gaza, Inhambane, Tete, Maputo, Manica and
Sofala are only now beginning to recover from three years of continuous
drought, and thus some groups remain potentially food insecure.

(b)  WFP monitors in Inhambane province report increased food availability
on the market, increased consumption of cassava and more meals per day
being consumed at the household level.  In Tete province, WFP monitors
report that there have been no rains in the drought-affected districts
over the past week. Conversely, road access is limited in areas of Maputo,
Gaza and Manica provinces due to recent heavy rains, and is temporarily
affecting deliveries.

(c)  From 6 to 12 April, WFP and implementing partners distributed some
1,270 tons of food.


7)  Namibia

(a)  The regional Emergency Management Unit (EMU) in Caprivi has reported
that the high water level of the Zambezi river has remained constant over
the past week, but reports also indicate that the water is moving quickly
towards the south of Ngoma (border with Botswana). Ngoma could be hit as
large volumes of water stream into lake Liambzi.  The lake dried in 1985
and has since only received small inflows, which usually dry up quickly.
According to the EMU the second wave could reach Caprivi by the weekend.

(b)  The Regional EMU in Caprivi also reported that rescue teams are still
evacuating residents in eastern areas - ahead of the predicted second
flood. Villagers and school children from Mpukano, Muzii and Nsundwa are
being airlifted to safety, as travel by boat is proving too slow.  On 12
April, some 1,400 people were transported to safe areas following the
total evacuation of Ivilivinzi, Nankuntwe and Itomba. This number excludes
those villagers who moved by themselves.  Government has made temporary
accommodation arrangements for those evacuated and is providing immediate
assistance.

(c)  As Caprivi is one of the regions earmarked for WFP food assistance
under drought EMOP 10344.0, WFP Namibia will coordinate with the EMU and
provide assistance, presently scheduled for end of April 2004.  The
Vulnerable Assessment Committee (VAC) plans to meet next week to discuss
and coordinate the response. Donations for this EMOP are urgently
required.

(d)  Following the tripartite commission meeting (governments of Angola,
Namibia and UNHCR) in Luanda on 1 April 2004, UNHCR Namibia has confirmed
that the repatriation of Angolan refugees will resume on 17 May.


8)  Swaziland

(a)  There is mounting concern that 30,000 people who are directly
employed in the textiles industry could be left unemployed in coming
months. The US Congress is yet to pass a law that enables manufacturers in
selected developing countries to set competitive prices in the exportation
of textiles.  Foreign buyers traditionally place orders twice a year in
April and September.  Should Congress fail to pass the African Growth and
Opportunity Act 3 (AGOA 3) in April, manufacturers may be forced to close
for up to five months from September. WFP and the international community
continue to monitor the situation, as the possible closures would have a
devastating effect on an already vulnerable country with high unemployment
and the world's highest rate of HIV infection, at 38.6 percent.

(b)  Following consecutive seasons of bad harvests, in February WFP
increased food aid requirements for Swaziland from April to June from 1907
to 2863 tons per month, with an increase in beneficiaries from 141,450 to
191,450. Due to the necessary increase in beneficiary load, there are
shortfalls for vegetable oil and CSB for April distributions, with a
complete break for CSB in May and June.  In addition, there will be a
shortfall for pulses in June.  CSB is a key commodity for Swaziland given
the number of adult HIV-oriented activities that depend on it.  
Additional donations are required in order to avoid disruption to the
pipeline.


9)  Zambia

(a)  The supply of maize on the market continues to be good and has helped
to keep the price of grain and maize meal relatively low for this time of
the year. In addition, as crops start to reach full maturity, the food
security situation has improved in rural areas.

(b)  The cholera outbreak that has been affecting WFP operations continues
to ease and the suspension has been lifted on 12 out of the 83 schools in
the Urban Intervention sites.


10)  Zimbabwe

(a)  WFP assisted approximately 403,755 beneficiaries with over 5,645 tons
of food in the first week of April. WFP aims to reach more than 3,5
million people in 48 of the country's 58 districts during the month of
April. The figure is for both general and targeted interventions. With the
onset of the harvesting period, WFP is preparing to reduce its beneficiary
figures for May and June.


(b)  Field reports indicate a general improvement in food security
throughout the country, with most provinces reporting the consumption of
early maturing crops. However, there is still the need for assistance in
areas that received poor rainfall.  In addition, hungry people continue to
appear at WFP's targeted programmes in the hope of receiving food.  Basic
commodities are available on the market but are not affordable to the
average person.

(c)  WFP continues to widen its targeted programmes and will soon be
assisting HIV/AIDS affected households in Mutasa District of Manicaland
Province in conjunction with implementing partner AFRICARE.



E)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  With the recent arrival of maize and wheat, all but 600,000 core
beneficiaries of EMOP 10141.02 will receive their WFP cereal rations in
April. Cereal allocations for FFW projects during the spring season have
had to be reduced from a planned 32,000 to 8,300 tons.

(b)  New pledges of about 123,000 tons of mixed commodities (mostly
cereals) are urgently required to cover needs over the next six months.



F)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Colombia, (2) Guatemala, (3)
Haiti, (4) Nicaragua, (5) Peru


1)  Colombia

(a)  The security situation remained tense. Fighting and unrest caused by
illegal armed groups resulted in killings, displacements and consequent
food insecurity. In the province of Casanare and Caldas, fighting forced
more than 4,000 families into temporarily settlement in schools and local
shelters. The Colombian Army is supporting the return of the 3000 families
in Caldas to their points of origin.

(b)  WFP Colombia is looking for projects to assist the affected
population with food aid in rural areas of Cajamarca.

(c)  Between 7 and 11 April, WFP Colombia delivered 15.4 tons of emergency
food aid to approximately 1,100 beneficiaries in various communities in
the Choco department, affected by illegal armed groups.


2)  Guatemala

(a)  Torrential rains and hail damaged around 200 houses in the province
of Huehuetenango on 6 April.

(b)  There were no distributions during last week, as Holy Week holidays
reduced the operational activities of all WFP government counterparts.

(c)  As per pipeline report of 31 March, Guatemala is facing a total
shortfall of 1,777 tons of CSB.

(d)  A joint mission of Executive Board members of the four UNDG agencies
(WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF) visited the country from 11 March to 1
April to assess the implementation of simplification and harmonization
policies. The mission conducted several field visits to complementary
projects of mentioned UNDG agencies. A mission report will be presented to
the respective Executive Boards.


3)  Haiti

(a)  On 13 April, WFP Executive Director, Mr. James Morris, visited Haiti
to hold meetings with Haiti's President and Prime Minister. In addition he
met with the donor community and with NGOs in the country. Mr. Morris also
visited WFP-assisted projects in Port-au-Prince.

(b)  Most areas in the country continue in UN Security Phase III (except
the South). The city of Gonaives remains in Security Phase IV.  WFP
sub-office in Cap-Haitian obtained the agreement of the French Contingent
to guarantee the security of WFP's distributions by patrolling the areas.

(c)  A WFP mission to the North carried out a rapid assessment of prices
in some markets in Cap-Haitian and surrounding villages.  Findings reveal
that prices for the basic food basket items, i.e. rice and vegetable oil,
increased to 50% and 43% respectively since January. Another programme
mission report on the same area revealed that the number of underweight
children increased from 31% in January to 38% in February.

(d)  On 5 April, a second coordination meeting with NGOs and international
organizations, on security coordination and implementation, took place in
WFP sub-office in Cap-Haitian. Meetings were also held with local and
international NGOs to finalize EMOP preparations and start large-scale
distributions.

(e)  Last week, WFP started the first distributions of food under EMOP
10347.0 to cover the needs of 1,615 orphans assisted through 18
institutions in the North East Department. Also in Port-au-Prince, 300
orphans received assistance under the same EMOP.

(f)  As part of its PRRO, WFP started the propositioning of 42.5 tons of
food in 23 final distribution points in the Far West. New ration cards
have been distributed to communities in Bombardopolis, Baie-de-Henne and
Mole Saint-Nicolas. The general perception of community leaders and
organizations in the Far West is that this will be a particularly
difficult year due to the continued drought in the region. WFP in
Bombardopolis has been receiving increased requests for assistance to
schools, as teachers are concerned about the decreasing levels of
attendance and low levels of students' concentration in class.

(g)  All health centers and schools at Port-au-Prince received food during
the past weeks. On 5 April, WFP Cap-Haitian also restarted distributions
to health centers: approximately 87 tons of food were distributed to some
2,340 malnourished children and their families and to over 2,410 expectant
and nursing women and HIV/AIDS affected persons.

(h)  In the North and North East, some 87,110 children between ages 6 to
14 are benefiting from school feeding activities. This represents a 22%
increase from the number in December, when 71,665 primary school children
received WFP assistance.

(i)  Preparations for a rapid food needs assessment in the North
Departments and Port-au-Prince are underway, together with UNICEF, FAO and
the National Coordination Office for Food Security of the Ministry of
Agriculture (CNSA).  This assessment will identify the greatest needs, the
levels of food insecurity, and the nutritional deficiencies in the poorest
areas.


4)  Nicaragua

(a)  Nicaragua's political situation continues to be uncertain. Press
reports indicate that the ongoing negotiations between the Sandinistas
(main opposing party) and the Liberal Party could have negative
implications on the overall stability of the country. In this regard, the
donor community alerted all policy makers to contribute to the
strengthening of governmental institutions and incited them to make
coordinated efforts, including the civil society, for the achievement of
the development goals set for Nicaragua.

(b)  According to press reports, car accidents and drowning caused the
death of more than 80 persons during Easter celebration.

(c)  Food distributions under regional PRRO 10212.0, Targeted Food
Assistance for Persons Affected by Shocks and the Recovery of Livelihoods,
continue. Nearly 80,000 school boys and girls from the flood-prone areas
of the Northern Atlantic Region (RAAN) and the coffee-crisis affected
municipality of Matagalpa received around 626 tons of food.

(d)  More than 25,000 expectant and nursing women and their children below
two years of age and some 3,000 poor rural families, living in
disaster-prone areas, will also be reached in the next distribution.


5)  Peru

(a)  On 10 April, constant rain and a consequent flood in Cusco Department
affected people and infrastructure. The Government was proactive in the
provision of support.


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

(END WFP Emergency report No. 16, 2004)


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