World Food Programme Emergency Report 2004
Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 22 of 28 May 2004


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


>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)  In the central region, a rocket attack on a convoy of the
International Security Assistance Force in Kabul claimed the life of one
soldier and injured five others. Areas to which UN missions are suspended
include Kunar and Nuristan provinces in the east, Paktika province in the
southeast, and Farah and Ghor (except Chaghcharan district) provinces in
the west. The security situation remained relatively calm in other areas
of the country.

(b)  During the reporting period, about 352,410 beneficiaries received
some 1,830 tons of food.

(c)  On 24 May, as part of the government capacity building initiative, a
two-week training session on food security, vulnerability assessment,
project management and monitoring and evaluation was launched in Jalal
Abad. Nine-teen officials from the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and
Development are attending the session.

(d)  On 25 May, UNHCR and WFP signed a letter of agreement entitled
"Return and Reintegration of Afghan Refugees and IDPs," under which WFP
will provide food assistance to an estimated 75,000 refugees returning to
food insecure areas including Ghazni, Kandahar, Paktika, Paktya, Uruzgan
and Zabul provinces. UNHCR will provide cash assistance to those refugees.
Returning IDPs will receive a food package through a separate project
implemented in cooperation with IOM.

(e)  In Fayz Abad, WFP in collaboration with the Department of Women's
Affairs conducted a baseline survey on Enhanced Commitments to Women
(ECW), covering issues like nutrition, education, human and political
asset creation, relief food distribution, participation in decision
making, mainstreaming gender perspective, advocacy and human resources.
The survey aims to support the reduction of gender gaps and ultimately to
improve household food security for the most vulnerable.



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

1)  Burundi

(a)  The UN Security Council has unanimously approved the deployment of
5,650 UN peacekeeping troops in Burundi and additional military observers,
civilian police and civilian staff to support the mission, for a period of
six months starting on 1 June.  The UN mission will assist in the
implementation of the Arusha Peace Accord and the elections, planned to
take place before 31 October. Ms. Carolyn McAskie has been appointed as
the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN
mission.

(b)  The fighting in Bujumbura Rural between the national army and the
Front for National Liberation (FNL) continued but reduced in intensity
towards the end of the week.  Presence of FNL is still reported in the
area.

(c)  From 17 to 23 May, WFP distributed a total of some 2,240 tons of food
aid to over 215,225 beneficiaries through different programme activities.
Beneficiaries included around 1,300 returnees from Tanzania, arriving
through transit points in Muyinga and Ruyigi provinces. All returnees
benefited from a three-month return food package provided by WFP. It has
been noted that the flow of returnees in the last few weeks has reduced.

(d)  WFP participated in the FAO-OCHA-UNICEF and Ministry of Agriculture
and Livestock joint assessment mission in Kirundo and Muyinga provinces to
review the impacts of the cassava/manioc mosaic on the food security and
daily life of the population.  WFP staff reported that the reduced manioc
crops are causing a food insecurity situation. The teams also reported
that improving the situation could take some time because the efforts to
develop manioc seedlings resistant to the mosaic do not show sufficient
progress. WFP has already started targeting and feeding the most
vulnerable in the affected provinces and will revise the caseload of
beneficiaries when and where necessary.


2)  Djibouti

(a)  The ninth convoy of the second voluntary repatriation phase of
refugees originating from northwestern Somalia (Somaliland) left Djibouti
on Saturday 22 May. In total, 551 refugees or 112 families from Ali Addeh
camp were repatriated to various destinations in Somaliland. WFP has
provided all refugees with a nine-month food package. The next convoy is
scheduled to leave in early June.  Since the beginning of the repatriation
exercises, which started in 2002, a total of 7,164 refugees have been
successfully repatriated to northwestern Somalia (Somaliland): 2,106
persons in 2002; 249 persons in 2003; and 4,809 persons since February of
this year to date.


3)  DR Congo

(a)  The security situation remained tense in the rural areas of the
eastern provinces. In Walungu, South Kivu province, local self-defence
groups reportedly terrorized civilian peasants to levy taxes.

(b)  Congolese expellees from Angola continued to arrive in Bandundu
province, although in reduced numbers. Out of the total of 4,995 persons,
recorded by the local authorities, some 3,330 persons have been provided
with eight-day WFP food rations that were distributed through the local
Red Cross. The food intends to support the beneficiaries' travel back to
their areas of origin (Kikwit, Kinshasa, Tshikapa, etc). Finding means of
transportation remains problematic. It has been reported that a
significant number of the expellees are walking towards Kikwit, where they
hope to find transport on trucks.

(c)  In North and South Kivu provinces, WFP distributed 455 tons of food
to feed 47,085 beneficiaries. This included 30,375 children participating
in school feeding programmes in Beni and Rutshuru (North Kivu province)
and Bukavu suburban areas. In Mugunga and Lac Vert areas (North Kivu
province), some 230 female headed households who had been victims of the
volcanic eruption in 2002 and who are still living in plastic sheeting
were also provided with 3 tons of food. WFP's assistance to these women
aims at contributing to the reinforcement of their food self-reliance.


4)  Eritrea

(a)  On the evening of 25 May a bomb exploded in the centre of Barentu,
Gash Barka region, in the midst of Independence Day celebrations. Initial
reports indicate approximately 100 injuries and a yet unknown number of
deaths. All travel for UN staff in and out of Barentu has been suspended
until further notice.

(b)  In the Debub region, farmers are preparing their land for the main
rainy season. Due to showers over the past month, some water has
accumulated in the Hawatsu dam, one of the main dams in the region. This
will facilitate irrigation activities in nearby areas.

(c)  WFP's Regional Director recently visited Eritrea and met with the
Government to hand over the letter of accreditation for the new Country
Director.  During his stay he also met with major donors to discuss the
status of the humanitarian situation in the country.

(d)  A hand-over ceremony took place on 25 May for a donation of 800 tons
of dates.  The dates will be mainly used for the WFP supported School
Feeding Programme. Confirmed pledges for 2004 for the WFP Drought
Emergency amount to approximately 63,803 tons of food commodities, i.e. 54
percent of this year's requirement.  A total of approximately 47,577 tons
of commodities, representing approximately 63 percent of the 2004
requirement, has been resourced for PRRO 10192.0.


5)  Ethiopia

(a)  WFP has started targeted supplementary feeding under the UNICEF
"Extended Outreach Strategy - Child Survival Initiative (EOS-CSI)". The
targeted distributions have started in two zones of Southern Nations,
Nationalities and People's Region in southern Ethiopia.  Some 60,000
malnourished children and 60,000 malnourished women will be reached in the
first distributions, in 14 districts. A further 40 districts in the region
are scheduled to be reached in July.

(b)  Supplementary rations use to be provided to particularly vulnerable
groups to address their heightened nutritional needs. Under the EOS-CSI,
WFP will provide supplementary food to vulnerable people screened by
UNICEF: vulnerable children between 6-59 months, pregnant and lactating
women. WFP will transport food to storage locations that are accessible to
the screened populations.

(c)  UNICEF's service package, apart from nutrition screening of the
vulnerable groups for WFP supplementary food rations includes vitamin-A
supplement; de-worming; social mobilization to support routine
immunization (including against measles for children under 1-year old);
information, education and communication on infant/young child feeding;
promotion of hand-washing and hygiene; and HIV/AIDS prevention. The
screening will improve targeting of WFP supplementary rations and allow a
synergy between health and nutrition interventions.


6)  Kenya

(a)  The performance of the 2004 long rains has been mixed so far. The
long rains were generally timely in most of the pastoral areas, as they
had begun during the first week of April. In contrast, the long rains were
untimely in the early planting southeastern districts as well as in Nyanza
and parts of Western Provinces. Cumulative rains have been well below
normal in several critical areas including the drought-affected Coastal
districts, several marginal agricultural areas of Eastern Province, the
agro-pastoral Narok and Kajiado Districts and some parts of the eastern
pastoral districts.

(b)  The Government of Kenya continued to provide relief food assistance
through General Distribution to food insecure households in Turkana
District. In Marsabit District, WFP is intervening with food for work
(FFW) activities through CIFA, (local NGO), as the implementing partner.

(c)  WFP completed emergency road repairs at the Ortum Bridge along
Kitale-Loki road, which serves Kakuma refugee camps, school feeding in
Turkana District as well as operations in South Sudan. The section of the
road had been washed away during the 2003 long rains season. However, the
2004 long rains have further deteriorated the only road leading to the
Dadaab refugee camps where 135,000 refugees live. A culvert has been
washed away leaving huge gaps in the road. This has caused delays in the
delivery of food to the camps. The road is expected to be impassable to
trucks with the next rains. So far, WFP has enough food (except pulses) in
the camps to last for the next 6 weeks. WFP is looking for funds to do
emergency repairs on the road.

(d)  WFP's refugee programme continues to face a pipeline-break in August,
despite recent contributions from the donor community due to a decrease in
the level of contributions received. The programme requires 15,000 tons of
commodities valued at USD 8 million in order to continue to provide
life-saving food assistance to the 224,000 refugees living in the camps,
until the end of the year.


7)  Rwanda

(a)  According to the May WFP/ FEWS Net report, the harvest for sorghum
crop is expected to be successful throughout the country since the crop
was planted early. Harvest for beans planted in February is also expected
to be positive. However, beans planted in March would have been affected
by the dry spell and consequently will not have a favourable harvest in
June. Gikongoro Province and some parts of Butare Province will need to be
monitored closely until harvest time, paying special attention to the
production of beans. WFP FFW activities in these provinces may need to be
expanded in the event of a poor harvest in June.

(b)  In addition, Butare Province and Ngenda and Gashora Districts have
been placed under quarantine for livestock products, following a recent
outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Markets selling meat have been closed
as a measure to contain the disease.


8)  Sudan

(a)  In an effort to speed up the humanitarian response to the Darfur
crisis, the Government of Sudan announced that, with effect from 24 May,
aid workers from the UN, NGOs, and the International Committee of the Red
Cross will be granted "direct entry visas" from abroad within 48 hours of
application. The announcement added that the visas would be valid for
three months. The delays in granting visas and travel permits to Darfur
had significantly hampered aid delivery to the region. The UN
Secretary-General welcomed the announcement made by the Government of
Sudan.

(b)  Since January 2004, WFP has distributed 20,924 tons of assorted food
commodities to 748,378 war-affected beneficiaries. Food distribution was
undertaken as follows: 8,383 tons to 320,098 beneficiaries in West Darfur,
10,656 tons to 320,041 beneficiaries in North Darfur and 1,885 tons to
108,239 beneficiaries in South Darfur. During the reporting period,
121,394 beneficiaries received 1,944 tons of assorted food commodities in
the three Darfur states.


9)  Uganda

(a)  The general security outlook remains fragile and unpredictable,
despite increased rates of defections among the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) ranks. The already precarious humanitarian situation in northern
Uganda was aggravated with two more LRA massacres in Pagak and Lokudi IDP
camps in Gulu district. The daily food needs of the people of the two
camps increased because they lost their rations and hundreds of their huts
were set on fire during the two raids. The total number of deaths reported
in the attacks was more than 130. WFP provided emergency assistance in the
two camps. The incidents also resulted into fresh waves of IDP inter-camp
movements, which will further complicate IDP caseloads in WFP's areas of
operation.

(b)  In Gulu district, about 127,015 people benefited from some 1,565 tons
of food during the period 16 to 22 May. In Lira district, 165 tons of food
were distributed to some 19,455 beneficiaries in three camps. In Kitgum
district, about 5,330 beneficiaries received 84 tons of food commodities.
However, Kitgum figures do not include General Food Distribution (GFD) as
the distribution was still going on in Kalongo IDP camp in Pader district.

(c)  WFP is still grappling with feeding over 1.6 million displaced
persons countrywide. Over the last two years, the IDP figures in Uganda
have tripled, stretching WFP resources to breaking point. There is a
critical pipeline shortfall of over 106,000 tons through December. WFP
needs a total of USD 56 million to continue feeding the displaced
population in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lira, Soroti, Katakwi
and Kaberamaido through December of this year. Cereal stocks will be
exhausted by July, unless quick and generous food or cash donations are
received.



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

1)  Chad

(a)  Recently, no major incident has been registered, although there is an
increase in military activities in border areas and NGOs have been advised
to remove non essential staff from the border zones.  Despite this
situation, Chad is receiving more refugees, due to the prevailing
instability in Darfur region. As a measure of security, the Governor of
the Ouaddai Region (Abéché) advised all humanitarian organizations working
in the area that humanitarian staff and vehicles should return to Abéché
before 18.00 hours. A waiver was obtained for WFP trucks.

(b)  Due to prevailing security situation and continued instability in
Darfur, Western Sudan, more Sudanese are seeking refugee in Chad. As the
rainy season is approaching, the movement of refugees from border area to
camps is increasing because they are attracted by regular food
distributions. In addition to the existing five camps, two additional
camps were opened (Mile in near Guereda and Bredjing near Farchana). UNHCR
plans to relocate 18,000 and 12,000 refugees in these camps respectively.  
In the South, UNHCR is planning to open a new camp namely Djabak, which
will replace Esterena, where the local population refused to have a camp.
As of 24 May, UNHCR estimates that a total number of some 179,194 Sudanese
refugees are in eastern Chad (65,571 relocated by UNHCR in 7 camps, 11,192
as spontaneous arrivals near camps and 102,431 located along the border).
This situation creates a significant challenge for the WFP food
prepositioning exercise initially planned during the rainy season.

(c)  WFP general food distributions for refugees, under EMOP 10325.0 and
10327.0, Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad,
continued. A total of some 1,030 tons of assorted commodities were
distributed in the camps during the month of May. Cumulative distributions
in camps amount almost 2.395 tons. Although distribution to camps comes as
first priority, WFP is still providing food assistance to Sudanese
refugees gathered in Bahai and Cariari areas. Next week, some 415 tons of
food will be dispatched from WFP Iriba's extended delivery point (EDP),
for approximately 25,000 refugees in the area.

(d)  Sudanese refugees seeking safety in north eastern Chad are now facing
a serious health and nutritional crisis. A nutritional survey lead by CDC
(Centre of Disease Control) is about to start and WFP and field staff of
other participating agencies (UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, Ministry of Health and
NGOs) are being trained regarding the survey protocol and questionnaire.

(e)  Following discussions with the International Rescue Committee (IRC),
it was agreed that in Bahai area, there is a need to open a special
feeding centre. WFP will supply food items to selective feeding
interventions as soon as they start.

(f)  Preposition and building up buffer stocks in EDPs/final delivery
points (FDPs) continues and WFP is making good progress. WFP Food Aid
Monitors are now in place in the EDP. During the last coordination
meeting, it was agreed to design a standardized report on health/nutrition
activities and regular reporting on indicators such as main causes of
mortality, morbidity and most frequent diseases in the region.


2)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  Tensions continue to build as demonstrations continue throughout Cote
d'Ivoire, and two large demonstrations are planned for this coming
weekend; one in Abidjan to put pressure on ONUCI (Operation des Nations
Unies en Cote d'Ivoire) to commence disarmament and the other in Bouake to
express support for the national reconciliation government led by Prime
Minister Seydou Diarra.  Following several demonstrations in front of the
UN peacekeeping mission headquarters in Abidjan, the government announced
a ban on all demonstrations in front of UN buildings.  The UN Security
Council has expressed growing concern about the situation in Cote
d'Ivoire, and on 25 March requested Secretary-General Kofi Annan to
establish a commission of inquiry on rights abuses. The Security Council
also urged all sides to abide by the peace accords.

(b)  From 18 to 25 May, approximately 798 tons of commodities were
distributed to more than 74,000 people.

(c)  WFP provided high energy biscuits to approximately 500 Liberian
refugees who arrived in Abidjan after being stranded on a disabled ship
which was heading to Liberia from Nigeria and Ghana.  The ship had been
drifting on the high seas for two days after its engines failed.


3)  Liberia

(a)  The DDRR (disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and
repatriation) process continued smoothly at the disarmament sites, with
few cases of reported disturbances at some sites from ex-combatants.  
Some 805 ex-fighters were disarmed, demobilized and reunified with their
families during the week.  This brings the total number of ex-combatants
disarmed and demobilized to some 17,480 since the exercise resumed on
April 15.

(b)  Between 17 and 19 May, WFP participated in an inter-agency assessment
mission in Lofa County to examine the general humanitarian situation and
the food security situation. Main areas of concern identified include a
high level of destruction of infrastructure; an enormous need for
assistance in terms of health, sanitation and reconstruction; difficult
access due to bad road conditions; and limited capacity of the
humanitarian community to respond to the needs of the increasing number of
returnees to the county.  The mission concluded that there is an acute
shortage of food and a clear need for immediate targeted food assistance
to the residents and returnee population in the area.

(c)  Furthermore, WFP continues to participate in the registration and
provision of emergency food assistance to Liberian returnees from Sierra
Leone. From 19 to 25 May, WFP provided more than 75,000 internally
displaced persons, refugees and returnees from Sierra Leone with 1,252
tons of commodities.  This included the delivery of commodities to 89
orphanages.

(d)  The food pipeline is facing critical shortages. Based on current
expected food arrivals, in June WFP will have to reduce rations of
cereals, pulses, vegetable oil and CSB in order to feed all registered
beneficiaries.



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

1)  Regional

(a)  WFP Executive Director and UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on
Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa will lead a mission to the region
from 12 to 23 June. The Special Envoy will take stock of the humanitarian
situation in the region and examine the coordination and programming
arrangements to tackle the "Triple Threat" of Food Insecurity, Weakened
Capacity for Governance and AIDS. The Special Envoy is expected to visit
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

(b)  WFP will hold a stakeholders' meeting in Johannesburg on 11 June to
present and consider the results of joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply
Assessments Missions (CFSAM) and the SADC (Southern African Development
Community) -led Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) missions that
were carried out in between April and May in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique,
Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. The results will help inform Governments,
humanitarian organizations and donors on the food security situation in
the region.


2)  Angola

(a)  Joint FAO/WFP CFSAM field visits in Angola began on 23 May.  The
mission's preliminary findings are expected in the first week of June.


3)  Lesotho

(a)  From 19 to 25 May, WFP and its implementing partners distributed
1,500 tons of food to 16,000 households in the country.


4)  Madagascar

(a)  In the southern part of the country, prevailing drought conditions
continue for a third year. WFP estimates that up to 35,000 people there
are food insecure in six districts. A recent nutrition survey in the
Amsoary district confirmed that almost half of the 8,700 children screened
were moderately malnourished. In Betioky district, two villages
(Ankazomanga and Maroarivo) will face severe food shortages in the next
lean period due to erratic rains at the beginning of this year.

(b)  Results of the joint WFP/FAO/Ministry of Agriculture assessment
mission to the northwest of the country are expected by early June.

(c)  Urgent funds are needed to continue providing food to about 300,000
people affected by cyclone Gafilo, which struck Madagascar in March.


5)  Malawi

(a)  The final report of the joint FAO/WFP CFSAM will be released by the
first week of June.

(b)  WFP and UNHCR are conducting a socio-economic survey in Dzaleka
refugee camp to gauge the appropriateness of assistance provided and to
examine the criteria used for targeting. Malawi University has been
commissioned for this study.


6)  Mozambique

(a)  From 18 to 24 May, WFP and its implementing partners distributed
almost 700 tons of food.

(b)  After the conclusion of the fieldwork for the CFSAM, FAO and WFP
briefed donors, Government departments and NGO counterparts on the
country's food security situation. Preliminary results indicate that some
areas, including the southern parts of Tete province, adjacent districts
in Manica province, some areas in Zambezia and the coastal areas of the
northern Nampula province, may need food assistance because of poor
rainfall. The final report will be released mid June by FAO/WFP
Headquarters.


7)  Swaziland

(a)  The Swaziland VAC released the results from a nationwide survey that
analyzed the linkages between HIV/AIDS, the demographic trends of the
country, and how livelihoods and food security status may be changing. The
report indicated that the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate will lower life
expectancy to just 40 years by 2010. Since the mid-1990s, mortality levels
have markedly declined, reversing a positive development. Consequently,
the number of orphans in the country has also increased: overall, 3.2
percent of rural children under 15 years have lost both parents and there
are about 19,200 maternal orphans in the rural areas.

(b)  Households burdened with the costs of caring for ailing family
members, or the loss of breadwinners to AIDS, are now increasingly
financially dependent on the sale of food grown in small family plots. A
meeting held by the National Disaster Task Force recommended that
emergency plans and programmes should be developed to address the food
production shortfalls that were revealed by the assessment reports. The
meeting also recommended convening a donor conference and to pool
financial and food aid resources to achieve greater impact in assisting
the victims of hunger.


8)  Zambia

(a)  During the reporting week, WFP and its partners distributed about
1,400 tons of food.

(b)  The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) coordinated
multi-sectoral VAC missions composed of representatives from Government
departments, UN agencies and NGOs. The teams conducted an assessment of
the flooded areas in the Western and North-Western Provinces. Although the
full report is not finalized, preliminary information indicates that as
many as 26,000 people are affected in the Western Province. In one area,
Kalabo, as many as 75 percent of the population may require food aid.
Populations are at risk of higher incidence of malaria and diarrhoeal
diseases. Partner agencies also fear the spread of contagious diseases
among livestock.


9)  Zimbabwe

(a)  "Zimbabwe continues to face a severe food security crisis,
characterized by high levels of unemployment and inflation, poor
agricultural production over the last four years, and drought, exacerbated
by crippling levels of HIV/AIDS", FEWS Net said in its latest food
security emergency report. Access to food will be a major challenge for
ordinary Zimbabweans in the 2004/05 consumption year, FEWS Net has
cautioned. "The most significant food security problem in Zimbabwe is
access to adequate food (?). With food access of great continuing concern,
targeted food aid should continue throughout the country for poor
socio-economic groups. Improved maize availability will not address the
famine threat that could occur in some parts of the country this year.
Special attention is required for the most vulnerable districts of
Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces," the report concluded.

(b)  Post distribution monitoring by WFP in Buhera district of Manicaland
province also revealed that access to food and its availability remain a
major challenge for vulnerable households, especially elderly and child
headed households in rural areas. The survey found that these households
relied on food aid for all meals. Community leaders told WFP staff that
they are receiving an increasing number of requests for assistance, since
the WFP general food distributions were suspended last month. Several
Buhera communities living in areas without a significant harvest are
concerned over their survival beyond the next few months when their stocks
will run out. The same situation was reported in parts of Matabeleland,
including the districts of Insiza and Matobo (Matabeleland South
Province). Vulnerable households in Buhera (Manicaland Province) are
consuming one meal a day as well as traditional wild foods. In Nyanga
district (Manicaland Province) communities around Fombe area are engaged
in illegal gold panning as a coping strategy.



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

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  From 22 to 28 May, all 18 Local Food Production factories operated.
The total production during the third week of May amounted to 1,360 tons.

(b)  Due to further delays in the arrival of wheat, more than two million
core beneficiaries of EMOP 10141.02, including pregnant/nursing women and
children in kindergartens and primary schools on the west, will be
deprived of their cereal rations in June and July. The situation will
temporarily improve in August, however, by October distribution cuts will
again affect 3 million core beneficiaries. Moreover, loans received to
help repair the cereals pipeline break still need to be reimbursed from
future contributions. Unless additional contributions are pledged
immediately, by November, cereal distributions to all beneficiaries and
FFW programmes for the fall season will have to be suspended.

(c)  New pledges of about 175,400 tons are required for the coming 6
months (i.e. June - November).


2)  Myanmar


(a)  Last week, a cyclone affected four townships in Rakhine State near a
WFP project area, leaving 2,900 households homeless. As per the
Government's request for the UN to provide emergency assistance, WFP sent
an assessment mission to the storm affected area and decided to provide
food assistance to the most affected households. The food package will
complement other UN agency assistance as well as relief activities
provided by the government.

(b)  During the fortnight, 22 tons of rice were distributed to 2,600
beneficiaries in Northern Rakhine State through relief and FFW activities.
In the central dry zone, WFP has made a third food distribution to 319
beneficiaries including people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), other
chronically ill persons and 16 health care workers. Beneficiaries received
a total of 21 tons as their monthly ration for May.

(c)  The Trade Council has finally approved WFP to purchase a total of
7,294 tons of rice from Myanmar Agriculture Produce Trading (MAPT), out of
which, some 2,879 tons will be delivered for the on-going PRRO 10066.1 and
4,415 tons for the new EMOP 10345.0. Those food distribution activities
which were kept on hold due to the food shortage will resume as part of
the PRRO operation next month.

(d)  WFP has signed MOUs with some cooperating partners to start
implementing activities under EMOP 10345.0. Food distribution will start
as soon as the food arrives in June.



F)  Latin America and the Caribbean:  (1) Regional, (2) Colombia, (3)
Cuba, (4) Dominican Republic, (5) Ecuador, (6) Guatemala, (7) Haiti, (8)
Nicaragua

1)  Regional

(a)  Latin America and the Caribbean countries continue to face persistent
heavy rains. Areas of Hispaniola Islands were the most devastated, and
strong rainfall was also reported in Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras and
Nicaragua. Heavy rains that affected the communities of Fonds Veréttes,
Mapou, and Port-a-Piment in Haiti resulted in 1,660 deaths. Likewise,
persistent heavy rains caused river flood affecting mainly the
municipality of Jimaní in Dominican Republic, resulting in 290 deaths.


2)  Colombia

(a)  Last week, 3 bombs exploded in Apartado, the City of Medellin and in
Cartagena, killing 7 people and wounding 100.  In addition, at least 25
families from the community of Playa Azul left their homes due to threats
by illegal armed groups, and moved to rain forest areas and to Quibdo.  
WFP develops approximately 170 activities in this province.

(b)  From 17 to 21 May, in the context of the PRRO 10158, Assistance to
People Displaced by Violence, WFP distributed 340 tons of food in 10
provinces to about 27,335 beneficiaries.


3)  Cuba

(a)  Due to the effects of prolonged droughts, the provincial capital of
Holguín is under a warning phase as the water supply is below 40% of the
total capacity of its dams. Out of the three dams in the province, one
exhausted five months ago, the other has water for just another 20 days
and the last one only has 4.9 cubic meters of water which can last
approximately three months.  The fuel shortage complicates the
distribution of water.  Significant losses have been reported in
agriculture (about 20 million pesos) consisting of 450,000 quintals of
cereals and vegetables. About 200 heads of cattle have been reported dead.

(b)  WFP continues to provide support to eastern Cuba, consisting in
fortified food supplements to vulnerable groups (pregnant and nursing
mothers, pre school and primary school children, elderly people and
handicapped).


4)  Dominican Republic

(a)  Persistent heavy rains caused river flood, affecting mainly the
municipality of Jimaní, which resulted in more than 290 deaths, 120
injured, some 29,500 evacuated, 5,900 families affected and in 830 houses
being destroyed and damaged. The Senate of the Dominican Republic has
declared a state of emergency at Jímani and the province of Independencia.

(b)  A UN joint relief agency assessment team evaluated the situation in
Jimaní. The mission reported that families affected by the floods are
already facing health threats due to lack of potable water and food,
difficulties of access, and electricity cuts. The joint assessment mission
concluded that some 5,000 people, or nearly 1,000 families, are urgently
in need of humanitarian assistance in the area.


5)  Ecuador

(a)  During last week, Napo and Sucumbios provinces were affected by Dhue
River overflow.  The collapse of a main bridge isolated 8 indigenous
communities leaving 105 families with limited access to food.

(b)  The interagency emergency team (UNETE), the Ministry of Agriculture
and the Civil Defense will undertake an assessment of the damages and the
impact on agriculture.


6)  Guatemala

(a)  The National Coordinating Committee for Disaster Reduction, CONRED,
reported that floods caused the destruction of the bridge connecting the
villages of Almendrales and El Tular.  As a consequence of the floods,
thirty-nine houses in Almendrales and houses and businesses in certain
areas of the city of Quetzaltenango were damaged. Health authorities are
on alert in anticipation of an increase in dengue and diarrhoea cases.

(b)  Protests took place during last week, rejecting the fiscal reform
package, requesting more security and police presence in urban buses and
their routes, calling for the elimination of illegal taxis, and referring
to the payment of salaries to teachers.

(c)  A total of over 345 tons of maize, beans, CSB and vegetable oil were
distributed to some 6,020 families (30,110 beneficiaries) in the
municipalities of Jocotán, Camotán, and Olopa, province of Chiquimula,
enabling families to preserve and create assets, preventing a nutritional
decline in children and women; and strengthening government and local
capacities to plan and respond to recurring shocks.

(d)  The continuous increase of international oil prices has resulted in
an escalation of local fuel prices, which may have an impact on
transportation costs in future distributions.


7)  Haiti

(a)  Heavy rains that had affected the communities of Fonds Veréttes,
Mapou, and Port-a-Piment near the border with the Dominican Republic,
provoked floods resulting in 1,660 deaths, 850 injured, 2,401 houses
destroyed and damaged, 4000 domestic animals lost, and 7065 estimated
number of people with urgent needs (according to data available on 26
May). On 25 May, a joint assessment was conducted by the UN Country team.

(b)  WFP has already begun delivering 40 tons of food by helicopter to
Fond Verrettes, and six staff are already in the community to oversee the
distribution of food for 8,400 people, most of them made homeless by the
floods that have also destroyed crops and decimated livestock, putting at
risk the livelihoods of poor farmers. As the only road leading to the town
located near the border with the Dominican Republic has been cut off in
several parts by water; air transport is the only way to reach the area.

(c)  WFP will send another 20 metric tons of food from its warehouse in
the Haitian capital to the town of Mapou, where some 1,000 people are
reported missing. Logistics staff from the UN agency will travel to the
disaster areas to monitor the distribution. The emergency rations include
fortified biscuits, rice, cereal flour and vegetable oil.

(d)  Furthermore, the security environment in Haiti remains uncertain and
volatile. Reports of criminal activities (kidnapping and burglaries)
continue in some parts of the country. In the commune of Fort Liberté
(North East Department) reportedly thieves are attacking buses and
passengers on the roads. UNSECOORD, WFP and UNICEF are working together to
establish an interagency telecommunication network and to verify the
status of MOSS (Minimum Operating Security Standards) compliance of all UN
agencies in the country.

(e)  Last week, a total of some 580 tons was delivered to about 45,110
beneficiaries in schools, orphanages and health centers. In addition, WFP
is preparing proposals for food-based safety nets (food for education and
food for nutrition) in the context of the Interim Cooperation Framework
(CCI). Furthermore, WFP is playing a catalyst role in logistics by
supporting transport request from other UN agencies, government and
non-government agencies.

(f)  In the North West region, WFP continues to monitor the food security
situation.  Food aid monitors found that 90 percent of the fourth cycle of
the PRRO food distribution has been carried out in 19 out of 22
distribution centers. Some 485 tons of food have been distributed to
11,660 beneficiaries, out of which some 1,830 are orphans and malnourished
children between the ages of 6 to 11.  World Vision has started
distribution in the Central Plateau Department. A total of 197 tons were
distributed to over 2,105 HIV patients, some 910 TB patients, and over 140
acutely malnourished children through one-month rations. WFP implementing
partner Agro Action Allemande has initiated the rural infrastructural
activities in the communes of Jean Rabel and Baie de Henne.


8)  Nicaragua

(a)  Poor rural families, especially landless agricultural peasants,
continue their protests in the temporary road shelters, the so-called
"plantones". Preliminary agreements reached in the week of 17 May include
the granting of some 5,000 hectares of land.

(b)  Heavy rains in the city of Rivas, about 100 km. south of the capital,
caused one death and the collapse of various houses.

(c)  Food distributions under PRRO 10212.0 "Targeted Food Assistance for
Persons Affected by Shocks and the Recovery of Livelihoods" continue.
Currently, under this operation, a total of over 67,465 school children in
the RAAN department are being assisted, as well as more than 12,000 school
children in the municipality of Matagalpa.  In addition, some 10,025
vulnerable children under 2 years of age, almost 8,730 expectant and
nursing women and 2,000 poor rural families are being assisted in the
northern region of the country.

(d)  The following shortfalls are expected for the next six months: in May
413 tons of beans, 556 tons of rice, in July 881 tons of CSB and in August
190 tons of vegetable oil.


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

(END WFP Emergency report No. 22, 2004)


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