World Food Programme Emergency Report 2004
Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 40 of 1 October


(A) Highlights
(B) Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan,
     (2) Iran, (3) Iraq
(C) East and Central Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Burundi, (3) DR Congo,
     (4) Djibouti, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Rwanda, (8) Somalia,
     (9) Sudan, (10) Uganda
(D) West Africa: (1) Sahel region, (2) Chad, (3) Cote d'Ivoire,
     (4) Liberia
(E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Angola, (3) Lesotho,
     (4) Madagascar, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Swaziland, (8) Zambia,
     (9) Zimbabwe
(F) Asia: (1) DPR Korea
(G) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Caribbean region (Cuba,
     Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti), (2) Bolivia, (3) Colombia,
     (4) Guatemala, (5) Nicaragua


>From  David  Kaatrud, Director of the Analysis, Assessment and Preparedness
Service (ODA).  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)  Highlights

WFP distributes food to thousands of Haiti flood victims by air, boat,
truck, mule and donkey.

WFP intends to increase food distributions in Chad under a new Budget
Revision, targeting not only refugees but also local population among its
beneficiaries

Preliminary needs assessments indicate that new group of 22,000 Babuyu
IDP's in south of Kindu, DR Congo will need urgent food and medical
assistance.

WFP appeals for additional aid to feed hungry people in Lesotho, Malawi
and Swaziland



B)  Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan, (2)
Iran, (3) Iraq

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  In the south, a former Afghan army commander was shot dead in Qalat
district of Zabul province on 27 September. In Helmand, three police check
posts on Hirat ? Helmand highway came under attack on 25 September. Nine
policemen were killed and three injured. The security situation remained
volatile throughout other areas of the country.

(b)  From 23 to 29 September, a total of over 597,825 beneficiaries
received 2,845 tons of food.

(c)  In response to the prevailing drought, WFP has accelerated efforts to
assist the vulnerable people in affected areas. WFP is utilizing food
resources from its ongoing Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO)
to address the basic food requirements of vulnerable populationa in the
affected provinces. Food assistance is provided to food insecure
households through food-for-work (FFW), school feeding, food-for-training,
urban/rural vulnerable and other interventions. From 23 to 29 September,
some 186,000 needy people were assisted with 1,480 tons of food
commodities in 14 drought affected provinces under the drought response.

(d)  The Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (DRRD) is
conducting assessments of FFW projects designed to address the food
insecure districts in Hirat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor provinces. In Ghor
and Badghis DRRD staffs are engaged in "winterization" assessments to
identify the number of vulnerable people who will not be able to meet
their basic food needs during the winter. Staff from the Ministry of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) are conducting monitoring and
assessments of WFP projects in security sensitive areas.


2)  Iran

(a)  The total number of Afghan returnees from 2 April 2002 until 28
September 2004 amounts to 1,064,665 of which over 745,710 were UNHCR
assisted and some 318,955 spontaneous.  Between 15 and 28 September UNHCR
assisted 34,030 returnees while 638 returned spontaneously. No camp
refugees were repatriated during the period. As a consequence of the
repatriation of Afghan refugees, and as requested by the Government, the
WFP Sub-Office in Zahedan, Sistan Balouchstan province officially closed
on 28 September.

(b)  The Iraqi repatriation has been resumed. Between 15 and 28 September
some 1,045 people returned through UNHCR assistance including 700 camp
refugees. There was no spontaneous repatriation.

(c)  WFP, under PRRO 10213, Food Assistance and Support to Education of
Afghan and Iraqi Refugees, provides food assistance to 11,300 Iraqi and
31,600 Afghan refugees in 26 camps. During the past fortnight also some
34.030 Afghan returnees also received WFP bread ration upon repatriation.
In addition, over 4,830 vulnerable orphans living close to Zahedan are fed
on a monthly basis by WFP through the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Food
for Training is provided to 200 women and girls attending Life Skills &
Literacy Training in Zahedan, carried out through Global Partners.


3)  Iraq

(a)  This week WFP in partnership with Iraq's Ministry of Planning/Central
Statistics Office and the Ministry of Health/Nutrition Research Institute
presented the results of the Iraq Baseline Food Security Study.

(b)  Key finding of the Study is that some 6.5 million people ? 25 percent
of the entire population ? remain highly dependent on food rations and are
therefore vulnerable to food insecurity. Some 2.6 million of these 6.5
million people are food insecure even if they receive a monthly ration of
2,200 kilocalories/day through the Public Distribution System (PDS). A
large part of the population resell part of their food rations, which in
the case of the extreme poor is used to cover for basic necessities such
as medicines and clothes.  A further 3.6 million Iraqis, 14 percent of the
population, would become food insecure if the rationing system was
discontinued.

(c)  The survey was conducted during the second half of last year against
a background of potential policy reforms of the state-run PDS, which
provides the monthly food rations to the entire population of Iraq.  It
covered 95 districts and 28,500 households in the 15 central/southern
governorates as well as the governorate of Sulaymaniyah.

(d)  The results show that despite the PDS, the prevalence of extreme
poverty is high in rural areas, particularly among women and children. In
addition around 27 percent of all children up to the age of five are
chronically malnourished. Without the current PDS, this number would
increase dramatically.

(e)  Following the survey, WFP has launched a one-year emergency
operation, costing USD 60 million, targeting the most vulnerable groups in
Iraq. The operation will support these groups by providing 67,000 tons of
food to 220,000 malnourished children and their family members (over 1.1
million), more than 1.7 million primary school children, 350,000 pregnant
and lactating mothers and over 6,000 tuberculosis patients. Under the
emergency operation, WFP is also working to strengthen national
institutions through capacity building.  Among others, the Programme will
train Iraqi officials in line ministries to carry out their own food
security assessments in the future.



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

1)  Regional

(a)  Mr. Dennis Weller, Chief of the Emergency Division, Food For Peace
USAID/Washington visited the WFP Regional Bureau for East and Central
Africa Bureau in Kampala on 23 September. Discussions included, inter
alia, challenges faced by countries in ODK, areas for collaboration and
critical needs for resources related to humanitarian assistance.


2)  Burundi

(a)  A UN volunteer working with the UN operations in Burundi (ONUB) was
killed and another was injured in the capital Bujumbura during the night
of 25-26 September.  Insecurity persisted in Bujumbura Rural with fighting
between Front for National Liberation (FNL) on one side and Force pour la
Defense de la Democratie (FDD) or the National Army on the other. Armed
robberies and car ambushes were reported in several provinces.

(b)  The transfer of Congolese refugees continued. Transit sites at
Gatumba and Rugombo have been closed. Refugees who refused to relocate
returned to DR Congo.  Transfer of refugees from Karurama transit site
will continue until next week; thereafter the centre is expected to close.
WFP remains in contact with UNHCR for any necessary intervention.

(c)  Between 20 and 26 September, WFP distributed close to 1,900 tons of
food aid to approximately 162,000 beneficiaries through different
programme activities. Provision of cooked food rations in the returnee
transit centres and at the temporary site for the most vulnerable
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kabezi (Bujumbura Rural) continued
for a total of about 1,365 returnees and IDPs.

(d)  The distribution of the Seeds Protection Rations (SPR) Programme
continued according to plan. Last week, nearly 105,500 beneficiaries
received the 20-day rations in four provinces. The operation is
constrained to some degree by the slow arrival of food commodities to the
country from regional stocks.

(e)  Pipeline breaks for cereals, pulses and CSB are expected in the
coming months, starting in November. WFP received a loan confirmation for
2,500 tons of cereals and 150 tons of pulses from within the region. The
loan and anticipated quick purchase and delivery of food, following recent
donor contributions, are expected to reduce the impact of some pipeline
breaks. Further measures are currently being pursued.


3)  D.R. Congo

(a)  The expulsion of illegal Congolese immigrants from Angola reportedly
resumed. Unofficial sources estimated 400 newcomers in the recent influx
into the capital city of Bandundu province. According to unconfirmed
reports, more than 5,000 people are expected in the coming months. WFP and
other humanitarian agencies will monitor the situation in preparation of
the expellees' needs. In addition to walking long distances back home, the
expellees usually face harassment and extortion on both sides of the
border, making women and children especially vulnerable.

(b)  In Maniema province, the humanitarian community has expressed concern
over the displacement of 22,000 people of the Babuyu ethnic group, from
the north to the south of Kindu. The displacement was reportedly triggered
by ethnic conflicts between the Babuyu and Babembe. The Babuyu people are
peasant farmers who have been living in extreme poverty for almost five
years. Lack of accessibility to their villages prevented the delivery of
assistance. Preliminary needs assessments indicate that the displaced
people will need urgent food and medical assistance.


4)  Djibouti

(a)  On 29 September 2004, Convoy No. 12 of the voluntary repatriation
phase of refugees originating from Somaliland left Djibouti.  A total of
631 refugees (129 families) from Ali Addeh and Holl Holl refugee camps
were repatriated to various destinations in Somaliland. WFP provided all
refugees with a nine-month food package.  The next convoy is scheduled to
leave on 6 October with some 840 refugees.


5)  Ethiopia

(a)  A multi-donor mission met in Ethiopia from 13 to 20 September to
appraise the Ethiopian Productive Safety Net Programme.  The objectives of
the mission were to assist the Government in assessing readiness for
implementation, finalizing programme implementation details and clarifying
key issues that need further work, including strategy and timeline to
ensure that these are addressed prior to final readiness assessment in
December. The Safety Net Programme is expected to start in January 2005
and features are multi-annual funding, a transition towards cash-based
programming, scaled-up public/community works, transfers for health
interventions, targeted supplementary feeding, linkages with broader food
security programmes and harmonized budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.

(b)  Relief food aid needs in Ethiopia remain relatively high for the time
of year. The mid-year assessment of the "belg" and "gu" seasons increased
the requirements for the second half of 2004. The targeted population for
relief food assistance is 5.3 million in October, 3.7 million in November
and 2.8 million in December, with the corresponding food requirements
being 101,000 tons, 70,000 tons and 57,000 tons respectively.

(c)  Further contributions have been made against the increased needs
identified by the mid-year assessment, and there is a relatively minor
shortfall for November-December. Taking into account available stocks and
recently-announced pledges, the uncovered requirement to the end of the
year is around 20,000 tons of cereals.


6)  Kenya

(a)  The Government of Kenya (GoK) has been distributing food in most of
the drought-affected districts.  On 29 September, GoK officially handed
over food to WFP's emergency operation in Turkana district, northwestern
Kenya. Consequently, all districts are expected to stop GoK distributions
in October and hand-over any remaining GoK stocks to WFP's lead agencies.
WFP has completed all budget negotiations and the signing of agreements
with cooperating partners at the district level.

(b)  The October distribution plans for general food distributions and the
expanded school-feeding programme are ready, with beneficiary levels as
per the EMOP document.  However, some districts have expressed concern
regarding the beneficiary levels, which have risen since May/June this
year, when the food security assessments were conducted.  It is therefore
likely that the beneficiary numbers, particularly in the pastoralist
districts, will be increased in October/November once viable district
assessment reports have been submitted and evaluated by the Kenya Food
Security Steering Group/Food Aid Estimates Subgroup (KFSSG/FAS). The
October food distribution will have only maize in the food basket due to
lack of other food commodities.  The maize will be part of the GoK's
45,000 tons donation.


7)  Rwanda

(a)  During the past week the security situation remained calm in Cyangugu
refugee camp.  The transfer of refugees from Cyangugu refugee camp to
Kibuye refugee camp continued.  To date, a total of 638 refugees have been
relocated to this camp. Presently 1,988 refugees are hosted in Cyangugu
refugee camp, including 211 people received from Burundi refugee camps and
another 134 people from Cyangugu town. Since Kiziba camp in Kibuye is
experiencing a lack of space to accommodate more refugees, the transfer
exercise will be suspended pending the identification of a new site,
probably in Gihembe camp in Byumba province.

(b)  WFP distributed a total of 144 tons of food commodities since the
onset of the conflict in Bukavu in late May this year.


8)  Somalia

(a)  After many years of drought, sporadic showers have been reported in
Sanaag, Nugaal, Togdheer and parts of Bari region. Although the
significance of such rain will depend on its intensity, thousands of
pastoralists, who were experiencing critical humanitarian crises and had
exhausted their coping strategies, are relieved.

(b)  The United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID)
mission, which is currently in Somaliland, visited several villages in
Sool region where WFP is assisting the drought-affected population. During
the visit, the mission members had the opportunity to interview and
interact with beneficiaries of WFP's assistance. Beneficiaries expressed
their appreciation towards WFP, as the Programme continues reaching the
needy despite security constraints, and requested donors for more support
to tackle the drought in Somalia. The mission also met Ministers from
Puntland and Somaliland authorities.


9)  Sudan

(a)  Access to beneficiary locations is steadily improving. Some 88
percent of IDP locations are now accessible, i.e. 136 locations have been
cleared by UNSECOORD out of 155. WFP has verified 125 locations and has
provided food to 112 locations since April this year.

(b)  During the past week, a total of 3,700 tons of mixed food commodities
were distributed to over 202,800 beneficiaries. A total of about 1,497 new
returnees (873 females and 624 males) were registered in Lambo and Sirba
administrative units in Kulbus locality. The International Organization
for Migration (IOM) also conducted registration in Jamaa IDP camp within
Geneina town and reported 3,224 persons as compared to 1,544 registered by
WFP field staff in July.

(c)  On 2 October, preliminary findings of the more than 45 locations
assessed for food security and nutrition in the three Darfur states will
be presented the Government, NGOs and donors. A complete provisional
report will be ready by 15 October, while the final version with a more
detailed analysis will be available in the course of November.

(d)  WFP has signed a contract with the Strategic Reserve Authority (SRA)
for the local purchase of 10,000 tons of sorghum. In addition,
negotiations are underway for the purchase of a further 33,200 tons from
different locations and another 1,000 tons from Nyala.

(e)  Confirmed contributions received to date against Sudan's EMOP 10339.0
amount to USD 140,023,298 representing approximately 69 percent of the
total requirement. In terms of tonnage, a total of 148,966 tons is
confirmed, representing about 66 percent of the total requirement.


10)  Uganda

(a)  Due to the improved security situation, northern Acholi and Lango
districts (Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira) have experienced relative calm
over recent weeks However, the population that had been displaced due to
the protracted Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in the four
districts, continues to be affected by limited access to land, income
earning opportunities and inadequate social services, including water,
health facilities and sanitation. Over 1.6 million displaced persons,
forced to seek shelter in 188 congested protected camps, continue to
depend on WFP food assistance for survival.

(b)  WFP food distributions continue to reach over 1.6 million displaced
persons, 145,000 refugees and other vulnerable persons. During the period
from 20 to 25 September, over 3,045 tons of WFP relief food assistance was
distributed to about 277,025 persons including IDPs sheltering in camps in
Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira districts in the northern Acholi and Lango
sub-regions; refugees and vulnerable persons.

(c)  Mr. Dennis Weller of USAID visited Kitgum from 24 to 25 September and
met with WFP staff; visited WFP programmes including Layamo IDP camp;
KICWA and CPA rehabilitation centres; shelters for night commuters;
St.Joseph's Hospital HIV/AIDS programme and therapeutic feeding centres.
Mr. Weller described WFP's programme in Kitgum as "difficult".

(d)  In the eastern Teso region, WFP, together with the Uganda Red Cross
Society, completed verification of the displaced population in Kaberamaido
district. WFP is distributing 1,700 tons of resettlement rations to almost
97,705 displaced persons in Kaberamaido. In Lira district, Lira district
authorities, WFP and Samaritan's Purse are verifying IDPs in all Lira's 24
rural camps. WFP, together with Ministry of Health will conduct a
nutrition survey in all 33 IDP camps in Gulu district in October.

(e)  WFP's resourcing situation remains the same, with the Programme
facing a shortfall of 38,000 tons of food, representing the need for an
additional USD 22 million to continue providing relief assistance to over
1.6 million people from September this year through March 2005.



D)  West Africa Region: (1) Sahel region, (2) Chad, (3) Cote d'Ivoire, (4)
Liberia

1)  Sahel region

(a)  Summer locust swarms and local hopper bands which started to attack
crops in the regions agricultural zones continue their expansion in
Mauritania, Mali and Senegal. In Mali, the Office of Niger -which is the
main production area of paddy rice in the country - is under the threat of
swarms. In Mauritania, it seems the infestation has intensified in the
agricultural areas, even though a movement of swarms to the North was
noted. In Senegal, the situation remains of concern, especially in light
of the evolution in the agro-pastoral area (Ferlo).

(b)  The harvest period is the most critical moment with regard to the
current infestation and there are concerns that a substantial portion of
this harvest could be at risk because of the locust threat. Ongoing survey
and control operations have not yet made it possible to stop the
progression of the infestation. The scale of the locust invasion largely
depends on the efficiency of these operations, and for the time being, the
rate of treatment remains very low. Inter-State Council for the Mitigation
of Drought and Desertification in the Sahel (CILLS) /FAO missions have
been organized for the preliminary evaluation of the harvests.

(c)  WFP, in collaboration with its operational partners (FAO, CILSS, FEWS
NET), will lead missions for the evaluation of the impact of locust
infestation on the food security of the affected population and the coping
mechanisms those people have developed to face the crisis. WFP team
members are already on their way to the four most potentially affected
countries (i.e. Mauritania, Mali, Senegal and Niger) that will be visited
by the mission. FAO is setting up a locust coordination unit in Dakar and
has initiated contacts with other agencies and partners. With regard to
the other potentially affected countries (Burkina Faso, Chad and Cape
Verde) close contacts are maintained and information is collected through
WFP's Country Offices. During the first week of November, a meeting will
be held in Banjul to present the results of the different CILSS/FAO
missions. Results of the assessments which will probably lead to the
preparation of a regional EMOP.

(d)  A two-day meeting with donors and partners was organized by OCHA to
discuss resource mobilization for humanitarian action in West Africa
(regarding both the locust invasion and complex emergencies in the
region).


2)  Chad

(a)  The tension between refugees and the local Chadian population around
the camps is ongoing and rising. In Mile, UNHCR reported that two refugees
were killed in two separate incidents, both related to cattle theft. In
another incident, fighting broke out between women receiving WFP
supplementary food rations.In Guereda, a Sudanese herder and a Chadian
were reportedly killed in a confrontation as a result of rising tensions
between the refugees and the local population. UNHCR reported that two
refugee girls were attacked by Chadians near Kounoungo camp. Disputes over
resources are common (firewood collection, pasture land and difference in
humanitarian treatments). Growing desperation for food because of a poor
harvest is also aggravating the tension between refugees and Chadians.
National Security Forces are being deployed in order to improve security
around the camps

(b)  From 24 to 30 September, the caseload reported by UNHCR increased to
188,504 refugees. This includes 177,139 people registered in camps and
11,365 being transferred from the border areas to the camps. There are
8,552 refugees living in border areas on their own. On 27 September, UNHCR
reported the transfer of some 200 refugees from Bredjing camp to Treguine
camp. The Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society is planning
to transport 200 refugees each day depending on the water availability in
the camps. Food distributions will be conducted

(c)  During the past week, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Ruud
Lubbers, accompanied by a high-level donors delegation (Japan, Germany,
ECHO), completed a five-day visit to N'Djamena and eastern Chad before
proceeding to Sudan. The delegation emphasized its commitment to a double
engagement: supporting the local populations whose living conditions have
deteriorated due to the presence of refugees in north-eastern Chad; and
seeking a political solution to the Darfur crisis. Meanwhile, OCHA
finalized the first draft of the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP), and
partners have been requested to prepare project profiles to be
incorporated accordingly

(d)  Action Contre la Faim (ACF) described the current nutritional
situation in the camps as stable and reported that 20 percent of the
moderately malnourished children return to the feeding centres.
Organizations involved are convinced that food is not the problem but that
other factors are affecting the nutritional status. ACF expressed
readiness to participate in food basket monitoring in collaboration with
World Vision International, subject to funding availability.

(e)  Access to camps located in the northern and central zones is
improving. Transport contractors in Abeche succeeded in delivering 60 tons
of commodities to Djabal camp, in the southern zone, by road, after four
months of inaccessibility.

(f)  From 24 to 30 September, a total of 69 tons of WFP food was
distributed by partners to about 18,395 beneficiaries under the blanket
supplementary feeding programme. Word Vision, responsible for implementing
this programme, is improving its operational capacity.  The total of WFP
food reported/accounted distributed by partners during the month of
September, amounted to about 2,098 tons of mixed commodities. This
comprised of 1,934 tons for general distribution and 164 tons for blanket
supplementary feeding. The number of beneficiaries reached almost 163,980
including some 37,075 people under the blanket feeding programme. All
distributions for September were completed, except for the distribution of
blanket supplementary feeding in Guereda, which has been suspended for
security reasons.

(g)  Goz Amir camp, located 60 km south east of Djabal camp, is still not
reachable by road, and therefore airlifts from Goz Beida to Goz Amir may
be necessary to meet October food needs. Preparations for the next convoys
through the Libyan corridor are on going. Over 6,000 tons are expected to
be received through these convoys during the second half of October.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the road between N'Djamena and
Abeche will be opened shortly. WFP is installing 10 remaining rubhalls in
Irdimi, Oure Casoni, Touloum, Treguine, Frachana and Bredjing camps to
accommodate large shipments expected in October and November.

(h)  WFP UN Humanitarian Air Services continues operating. During last
week, it delivered some 1.3 tons of medical supplies for MSF Belgium from
N'Djamena to Abeche. WFP UNHAS expects to receive an additional passenger
aircraft to meet the growing passenger and light cargo service.

(i)  The Joint Assessment Mission for the eastern operation is expected to
start on 25 October for a period of 10 to 15 days. The Mission will
review/reassess the current implementation of activities. FAO's Crop
Assessment Mission is expected to commence during the third week of
October, and will assess the country's harvest and the locust infestation
in the east. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 65-70 percent of
planted areas may be affected. WFP plans to join the mission.

(j)  WFP is preparing a budget revision for an additional 18,413 tons to
address the food needs of the 225,000 Sudanese refugees who have crossed
into eastern Chad. An additional 25,000 members of the local population
who have been affected by the recent refugee influxes will also receive
food assistance.


3)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  Despite the 30 September deadline set at the Accra III summit,
Parliament has broken up without putting key reforms in place.
Disarmament is still scheduled to begin on the 15 October. On 27
September, the UN Security Council issued a statement expressing concern
about the lack of progress in key sectors of the national reconciliation
process in Cote d'Ivoire. The Council exhorted all sides to do everything
in their power to advance the process and also expressed concern for the
human rights situation in the country.

(b)  From 22 to 28 September, 1,100 tons of various food commodities were
distributed to over 113,000 people. Distributions to villages in Grabo
(southwestern Cote d'Ivoire) for the emergency agriculture project
continue to be delayed by the almost impassable roads. WFP was forced to
borrow a truck from the coffee and cocoa farmers to serve the village of
Para.


4)  Liberia

(a)  From 22 to 28 September, 1,100 tons of food were distributed to
111,200 beneficiaries.  This includes support to more than 4,700
ex-combatants who are participating in the demobilization, disarmament,
rehabilitation and re-integration (DDRR) programme.  The deteriorating
road conditions to Voinjama caused delays in the delivery of food
commodities to the DDRR cantonment sites.  As a result, UNMIL (the UN
Mission in Liberia) decided to suspend the DD exercise for four days to
allow restocking of food commodities.

(b)  As a result of the hut count exercise conducted in Mount Barclay IDP
camp, the feeding population in the camp has reduced by 19 percent, from
13,161 beneficiaries to 10,556 beneficiaries.  The verification exercise
was also conducted in Ricks IDP camp, and a reduction in beneficiary
numbers is expected.

(c)  On 27 September, WFP and UNHCR held a regional meeting in Monrovia to
discuss the repatriation plans for Liberian Refugees and IDPs.  The
meeting was attended by WFP and UNHCR Country Directors from Guinea,
Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. UNHCR presented the three-year repatriation
plan for refugees, due to start in the beginning of October.  WFP
explained that despite of the current pipeline constraints, the
repatriation of returnees remains a priority for the Programme. WFP also
highlighted the need for a joint verification in the IDP camps in Liberia.

(d)  WFP's food pipeline continues to face critical shortages. Ever since
June, the Programme has been forced to reduce the rations to be
distributed to approximate 500,000 refugees, returnees and IDPs receiving
WFP support. New contributions continue to be needed in order for WFP to
be able to provide full rations in the coming months.



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

1)  Regional

(a)  On 21 September, WFP launched an appeal for USD 78 million to provide
127,000 tons of emergency food aid to about 1.85 million people in
Lesotho, Malawi and Swaziland in the first half of 2005. All these
countries had poor harvests this year, primarily due to drought in late
2003 and early 2004. WFP plans to provide emergency food aid to 1.17
million beneficiaries in Malawi, 510,000 in Lesotho and 168,500 in
Swaziland up to June 2005 under regional PRRO 10310, Assistance to
Populations in Southern Africa Vulnerable to Food Insecurity and the
Impact of AIDS, which is expected to be approved later this month. The
on-going regional EMOP 10290, Targeted Relief to Vulnerable Households in
Southern Africa, requires an additional 32,000 tons until the end of this
year.


2)  Angola

(a)  The Ministry of Assistance and Social Reintegration in northwest
Bengo province has reported the arrival of 266 returnees during August and
September. The returnees came from the Democratic Republic of Congo and
were resettled in their areas of origin, namely Ambriz (125) and Dande
municipalities (141).

(b)  The number of people suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) has recently
increased in the northern Angolan province of Malange and the local
authorities are concerned about the situation. According to the head of
Malange's Central Hospital, 33 new patients were identified during the
last seven days. The Ministry of Health has associated the TB cases with
lack of food and HIV/AIDS-infections. Altogether, 445 TB patients are
receiving WFP

food assistance.


3)  Lesotho

(a)  WFP plans to assist 510,000 of the 948,000 drought affected people up
until the next harvest in May 2005, along with 120,000 chronically poor
and food-insecure people under the regional PRRO. Extremely dry conditions
prevailed in late 2003, while rains in 2004 came too late to save this
year's maize crop.

(b)  In August 2004, WFP distributed 6,057 tons of food to 502,000
beneficiaries in Lesotho, the highest monthly figures since the regional
EMOP started in July 2003.


4)  Madagascar

(a)  The overall food security situation in Madagascar has been affected
by the non-availability of rice. The average price of staple food rice
costs around FMG 4,000 (USD 0.41) per kg, which is beyond the reach of the
majority of the population. Many households are forced to rely on a lower
quality diet. The official minimum wage of FMG 256,000 (USD 26) per month
is not enough to buy the minimum household monthly food basket.


5)  Malawi

(a)  For the period from January to June 2005, WFP proposes to assist a
peak caseload of 1.17 million drought-affected people in southern Malawi
out of the 1.34 million who are estimated to have insufficient home
production or purchasing power to meet their food needs through to the
next harvest. WFP will also assist 168,000 chronically poor and
food-insecure people.

(b)  Malawi's 2004 cereal crop is estimated to have been 17 percent less
than the average of the past five years due to a combination of a late
start to the rains in the south, followed by poorly distributed rains
thereafter.


6)  Mozambique

(a)  Last week, WFP convened a meeting to brief representatives of the
member states of WFP's Executive Board.  The representatives were briefed
on the projected resource requirements for the Mozambique Year One
Implementation Strategy of the regional PRRO 10310 , Assistance to
Populations in Southern Africa Vulnerable to Food Insecurity and the
Impact of AIDS, that is expected to start in January 2005.

(b)  The EMOP in Mozambique urgently requires about 4,000 tons of cereal
to meet needs in November and December.


7)  Swaziland

(a)  In Swaziland, WFP proposes to assist a peak caseload of 168,500
people out of the 262,000 who the Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC)
estimated to have insufficient crops or income to meet their food needs
through to the next harvest in the second quarter of 2005. An additional
120,500 chronically ill poor and food-insecure people will be assisted.
The Swaziland FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission estimates
the 2004 production of the staple crop, maize, to have been 30 percent
under the average for the past five years.


8)  Zambia

(a)  Faced with a severe shortage of pulses and cereals, WFP is planning
to reduce rations to the refugees in order to provide them with at least
some food assistance in the months ahead.

(b)  The Zambia emergency operation under the regional EMOP 10290 requires
3,000 tons of cereals in November and December. On 29 September, WFP
appealed for USD 3.2 million to cover the immediate food needs for over
100,000 Angolan and Congolese refugees in Zambia.


9)  Zimbabwe

(a)  The overall national food supply situation through to the next
harvest in April 2005 remains uncertain. There is concern about increasing
vulnerability in rural areas especially in southern Zimbabwe where food
shortages are becoming apparent. There is no sign of new import activity
by the Grain Marketing Board or commercial parties.  It is not clear how
the food security situation will be maintained through to the next harvest
in April 2005. Without further imports significant problems can be
expected from January to March 2005.

(b)  The price of maize in the country is increasing. In Masvingo it has
already doubled since the April 2004 harvest. At 16 out of 27 WFP sentinel
sites, the purchasing power of the casual labour wage rate is less than
2kg of maize per day - a critically low level.



F)  Asia: (1) DPR Korea

1)  DPR Korea

(a)  With the expected arrival of new contributions in the coming weeks,
WFP will be able to provide rations to all beneficiaries from mid-October
until the first months of 2005. This is the first time in over two years
that WFP has been able to feed all beneficiaries with planned rations.
However, any delay in the shipments would mean further distribution cuts
for WFP beneficiaries.

(b)  Content of sugar has been reduced in Corn Soya Milk and completely
excluded from Cereal Milk Blend to allow biscuit production. Shipments of
sugar should be expedited in order to avoid disruption in operations of
LFP factories in October-November.

(c)  From 25 September to 1 October, only 15 out of 18 WFP supported local
food production factories were operational due to lack of packaging
materials and maize. Production for the fourth week of September was thus
only 1,100 tons, which is less than the EMOP weekly requirement.



G)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Caribbean region (Cuba, Dominican
Republic, Grenada, Haiti), (2) Bolivia, (3) Colombia, (4) Guatemala, (5)
Nicaragua

1)  Caribbean Region

CUBA

(a)  On 28 September, WFP, FAO, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign
Cooperation, and the Civil Defense conducted a joint assessment of the
food security situation in the Province of Pinar del Rio after the
devastation left by Hurricanes Charley and Ivan.  Currently, the food
security in the Province is seriously compromised as all vegetables and
fruits have been lost.  The production of milk and eggs has been affected
as farm infrastructure is completely destroyed.  The government's daily
food distribution for the general public and the vulnerable groups has
been reduced to the minimum level.  WFP and FAO are assessing the most
effective and quick way to assist in order to avoid further nutritional
deterioration.

(b)  In addition, on 24 September, UNDP and UNICEF conducted an assessment
of the housing and sanitation situation.


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

(c)  Due to the severe effects of tropical storm JEANNE, the Director of
the Civil Defense and the President of the National Commission for
Emergency requested emergency assistance from the UN System, mainly food
and medicine.

(d)  Meanwhile, the Emergency Operations Centre (COE) in the country
continues to provide humanitarian aid and medical assistance in the
affected provinces, and, in coordination with the Ministry of Public
Infrastructure, also restores the main highways and vital lines that were
damaged.  FAO informed that according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the
damages in the agricultural production are of approximately USD 47.0
millions

(e)  On 23 September, under the leadership of WFP, the Food Security Group
met to coordinate the provision of food assistance as well as to discuss
future assistance needs. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for 1 October.
As the leader of the Food Security Group, WFP also met with ECHO,
Dominican Republic Red Cross, IFRC, FAO, UNDAC and MOVIMONDO to coordinate
follow up actions for the provision of food assistance.

(f)  On 24 September, WFP, COE-DEFENSA CIVIL, UNDP, and UNDAC conducted an
impact evaluation in the Province of Duarte to assist national authorities
in developing a quick and timely intervention strategy.  The team
recommended to relocate the affected population to a safe area, provide
food assistance to families and children less than 5 years old, implement
food-for-work (FFW) activities to assist the population who lost its
agricultural production, maintain an epidemiological control within the
zone, rehabilitate the roads, and send fuel urgently. On 28 September, the
UNETE and UNDAC teams met with the supporting NGOs and agreed, as
recommended by the International and Dominican Red Cross, that an
immediate intervention of food and rehabilitation materials for the houses
should be made to benefit 5,000 families.

(g)  On 29 September, the UNDP Resident Coordinator invited other UN
agencies, donors and governmental authorities such as COE, Civil Defense,
and others to a meeting to coordinate support activities.


GRENADA

(h)  WFP personnel joined a UN relief team in Grenada immediately after
the devastating passage of hurricane IVAN, in order to assess the
population's food needs.  The results of the assessment indicated that
there was an urgent need to enhance logistics coordination of humanitarian
aid including that of food locally available or incoming from various
countries and institutions that generously responded to the emergency.

(i)  In this light, without delay, a rapid intervention of the WFP
Rome-based UNJLC (United Nations Joint Logistics Center) was requested in
order to provide the necessary expertise to address the recognized
logistical bottleneck.  A UNJLC officer is currently in Grenada and has
met with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell and other government officials to
discuss ways for the WFP/UNJLC contribution to be most effective.


HAITI

(j)  More than 1,500 people are now known to have died and some 900 are
still missing after tropical storm Jeanne on 18 September caused
devastating floods in the coastal areas of Gonaives (Artibonite
Department) and Port-de-Paix (North-West Department). The total number of
people affected by the tropical storm is estimated at about 298,925.
Access to some of the affected areas remains difficult, although the
floodwaters are now receding. Entering the city of Gonaives is still
difficult as some 2 kms of the road remain under water.

(k)  The security situation has been tense with crowds pushing and
endangering those queuing for food. However, thanks to the protection and
assistance provided by the MINUSTAH peacekeepers, no serious incidents
have been reported. None of the WFP trucks have been looted and
distributions have gone ahead as planned. UNSECOORD has enforced stricter
security measures, i.e., unaccompanied travel to the field is no longer
allowed. This requirement has reduced the number and coverage of WFP
monitoring field visits.

(l)  A giant Antonov-124 cargo plane took off from the UN Humanitarian
Depot in Brindisi, Italy, carrying 100 tons of WFP provided High Energy
Biscuits for the thousands of flood victims in north-west Haiti. The
flight is scheduled to arrive in Port au Prince on 1 October.

(m)  From 21 to 30 September, WFP has sent a total of 226 tons of food and
37,000 loaves of fresh bread to the affected areas in Gonaives.
Distributions have been carried out by CARE at the five distribution
points established.  The aim is to have ten distribution points ? six in
the city and four in other affected locations in the periphery. The use of
20 tons MACK trucks has increased WFP's delivery capacity by 300 percent.

(n)  In addition, WFP distributed 39 tons of food to the affected
localities north of Gonaives.  To reach the villages near Passe Reine, 8
tons of food was carried in mules and donkeys.

(o)  In the current emergency, WFP has been providing logistics support to
the entire UN and humanitarian community. WFP helped WHO, the Red Cross,
other local and international NGOs and embassies in transporting water
purification equipment, medication, stoves and other material direly
needed in the area.

(p)  WFP has appealed for USD 5,920,212 to fund its on-going EMOP/SO to
assist a total of 100,000 people affected by the floods. For the first
month, WFP will organize general distributions for everyone in the
affected areas and then, over the following 4 months, WFP will focus the
assistance on the most vulnerable groups, including women, pregnant and
nursing mothers and children.


2)  Bolivia

(a)  Despite the drought, wildfires in Bolivia have been controlled to a
large extent.  In most of the country, the haze of smoke is still causing
visibility and eye problems, especially to children and the elderly.  For
the same reason, the airports of Beni and Pando were closed from 23 to 27
September. In San Pablo village, in the Department of Beni near Santa
Cruz, there are still people sheltered in tents provided by Civil Defense.
They will remain in the campsite for a couple of days before going back to
their communities. Last week, the government declared a sanitary emergency
in the Department of Beni.

(b)  Violence returned to the Chapare region, Department of Cochabamba,
due to a series of clashes between coca producers and coca eradicating
forces resulting in the death of a coca grower and some 14 injured
persons. The peasant farmers of the region and six labor unions with about
300 people blocked the main roads at Isiboro region to pressure the
government to stop coca eradication activities. WFP has no interventions
in the Chapare region, but is monitoring the situation.

(c)  It is expected that the government declare state of emergency in the
following days in response to the drought in El Chaco region. Given the
limited opportunities for alternative income, migration to urban and agro
industrial areas have increased as a coping strategy. The migration
negatively impacts on school attendance, social cohesion and availability
of labor force for communal activities. In an attempt to stop migration,
the government is evaluating the possibility of assisting those affected
by the drought with an emergency employment plan.

(d)  An IRA-EMOP was authorized to support 41,178 villagers with 640 tons
of food from September to November 2004. WFP is currently procuring the
commodities.

(e)  The UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) scheduled meetings with
donors to share the results of the survey carried out by the Ministry of
Agriculture together with WFP and FAO. UNDMT disseminated a press release,
providing information about the current situation in the region, and
appealing for national and international support for the affected
families.


3)  Colombia

(a)  The Colombian Truck Drivers Association started negotiations with the
government to restore the transportation service nationwide as soon as
possible.  According to Colombian authorities, general food deliveries for
the whole country have been reduced by more than 65 percent during the
strike.

(b)  At least 14 households had to be evacuated because of heavy rainfall
and flood in Medellin, province of Antioquia.  The security situation in
Antioquia remains volatile.  Despite efforts from the Government and
international organizations including WFP, clashes between illegal armed
groups and blockades forced a high number of families from 21 different
rural areas of the municipalities of San Francisco, San Carlos and Argelia
to leave their homes in search for security and food.

(c)  On 26 September, the Colombian Army killed at least 13 rebels during
sustained combat with a renegade paramilitary group that refused to
participate in peace talks with the government. According to Colombian
authorities, at least 79 rebels were killed or captured across the country
from 20 to 26 September.

(d)  In the context of the PRRO 10158, Assistance to People Displaced by
Violence, from 20 to 26 September, WFP distributed 75 tons of food in 4
provinces to about 7,010 beneficiaries.


4)  Guatemala

(a)  The National Coordinating Committee for Disaster Reduction (CONRED)
declared yellow alert as a precautionary measure due to heavy rains,
floods and landslides that have been affecting the country from 13 to 26
September.  Some houses in the community of Laguna Seca, municipality of
Cuilapa were affected and several roads throughout the country were
blocked or damaged. In addition, high waves affected approximately 40
houses and some businesses in the municipality of Iztapa, province of
Escuintla.

(b)  However, in Zacapa and El Progreso, lack of rain is endangering the
second harvest.  If the drought persists in these areas, the nutritional
situation will worsen even further, especially among children already
suffering from chronic malnutrition.


5)  Nicaragua

(a)  From 4 to 15 October, WFP will conduct a systematic evaluation of the
effects of the drought in 20 municipalities severely affected with losses
in agricultural production.

(b)  WFP continues to distribute food under the IRA/EMOP to affected
families of the Cerro Musun mudslide in Rio Blanco and Matiguas.
Distributions are taking place both in the shelters and in the
communities, where some of the affected families have returned to their
homes.

(c)  WFP also continues to distribute food under the PRRO 10212.0,
covering a total of 78,960 school children in the RAAN and in the
municipality of Matagalpa.  In addition, about 10,025 vulnerable children
under 2 years of age, almost 8,730 expectant and nursing women, and 2,000
poor rural families are also being assisted in the northern and central
regions of the country.

(d)  The PRRO 10212.0 faces shortfalls from September this year through
February 2005 of beans (199 tons), rice (199 tons) and of vegetable oil
(100 tons). If no commodities are announced in the coming months or those
that are announced arrive late, the PRRO will face serious pipeline
breaks.


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

END WFP Emergency Report No. 40, 2004


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