World Food Programme Emergency Report 2004
Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 45 of 5 November


(A) Highlights
(B) Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan,
      (2) Iran, (3) Iraq, (4) Russian Federation
(C) East and Central Africa:  (1)  Burundi, (2)  DR Congo, (3)  Eritrea,
      (4) Ethiopia, (5) Rwanda, (5) Somalia, (7) Sudan, (8) Uganda
(D) West Africa:  (1) Chad (2) Cote d'Ivoire (3) Guinea (4) Liberia
      (5) Sierra Leone
(E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Angola, (3) Lesotho, (4) Malawi,
      (5) Mozambique, (6) Namibia, (7) Swaziland, (8) Zimbabwe
(F) Asia: (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) Myanmar, (4) Sri Lanka
(G) Latin America and the Caribbean:  (1)  Colombia, (2) Haiti,
      (3) 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 (ODAP).  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

- Whereas the nutritional situation in refugee camps has significantly
improved, the food security situation of Chad's local populations is under
serious stress.

- The insecurity situation in Sudan's Darfur region continues hampering
WFP's operations.

- Road closures in Cote d'Ivoire impeded commercial trucks carrying WFP
food across the ceasefire line. For the moment, all dispatches and
deliveries there are on hold.

- WFP's monitoring activities in Eritrea will be reduced due to fuel
shortage, and futher impact on WFP operations is anticipated.

- WFP offices in Gambella and Dimma, Ethiopia reopened after 10 months of
reallocation out of the area due to insecurity.

- WFP resumed distributions to schools and to part of the health centres
in Haiti's West, North and North-East departments.



B)  Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan, (2)
Iran, (3) Iraq, (4) Russian Federation

1)  Afghanistan

(a)  The security situation remained fluid during the week, particularly
in the central, eastern, southeastern and southern regions, with incidents
of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), rockets, landmines and ambushes
targeting the government, coalition forces, aid workers and electoral
staff.

(b)  In the centre, three Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) workers
were taken at gunpoint in Kabul on 28 October. Afghan security forces and
international peacekeepers continued efforts for their release.

(c)  On 30 October, a United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS)
vehicle in Kabul was caught in crossfire between the Afghan Police and the
occupants of a vehicle, and the UNHAS driver was injured.

(d)  During the past week, some 572,895 beneficiaries received about 2,485
tons of food.

(e)  Some 1,300 tons of food in Badghis and about 1,175 tons in Ghor are
pre-positioned under winterization projects. Winter pre-positioning
ensures continued assistance in such remote areas that become inaccessible
during the harsh season. Food rations are distributed to targeted
beneficiaries through food-for work activities where feasible or through
rural vulnerable programmes.

(f)  UNHCR and WFP are supporting the construction of 500 houses, 12 check
dams and three karezes (underground irrigation channels) for the IDPs in
Nawzad district of Helmand and Spinboldak of Kandahar. IDPs in Helmand
will be reintegrated into the places of their origin while those in
Kandahar, mostly kuchis nomadic pastoralists, will be assisted in camps
through food-for-work projects.


2)  Iran

(a)  UNHCR and the Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrant Affairs of the
Ministry of Interior (BAFIA) have reached an agreement to close 12 Iraqi
camps by the end of December this year. Some of them have already been
evacuated. The decision to close the 12 Iraqi camps was taken in view of
the repatriation of the camp refugees and the consolidation of the
refugees in the remaining 6 camps.Between 13 and 26 October 1,160 Iraqi
refugees returned with UNHCR assistance, including 402 camp refugees.
There was no spontaneous repatriation during the reporting period.

(b)  The total number of Afghan returnees since 2 April 2002 amounts to
1,087,940 of which some 768,240 were UNHCR assisted and about 319,700
spontaneous.  Between 13 and 26 October, UNHCR assisted over 8,840 Afghan
returnees while 356 refugees repatriated spontaneously. No camp refugees
repatriated during the period.

(c)  WFP, under PRRO 10213.0, Food Assistance and Support to Education of
Afghan and Iraqi Refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran, currently
provides food assistance to 10,475 Iraqi and 31,600 Afghan refugees in 25
camps. Over 8,840 Afghan returnees received WFP bread rations at border
exit stations. Some 4,830 vulnerable orphans receive a monthly food ration
from WFP through the Iranian Red Crescent Society. As an incentive for
school enrolment and attendance, 4 kg of oil is distributed to about 3,000
girls on a monthly basis.


3)  Iraq

(a)  Recent events in Iraq indicate a deterioration of security conditions
which has led to an increase in humanitarian needs in some crisis areas.

(b)  Reports indicate that Public Distribution System (PDS) food
distribution to all Iraqis was completed for October, though shortages in
some commodities are reported. As at the end of October, the total
dispatches into Iraq of WFP-procured commodities and items sourced through
Oil-for-Food contracts, renegotiated by WFP reached the planned 1.6
million tons. WFP continues monitoring in all 18 Iraqi governorates,
though information gathering in some governorates has been hindered
recently by the before mentioned insecurity.

(c)  Under the new EMOP 10360, Assistance to Primary School Children and
Vulnerable Groups, WFP has so far procured 4300 tons of High Energy
Biscuits (HEB) which will be used for school feeding activities.  Using
unspent balances from previous activities in Iraq (where donor approval
has been received), WFP has initiated the procedure for procuring 3000
tons of wheat flour for support to malnourished children, pregnant and
lactating women, and tuberculosis patients.

(d)  A training of trainers workshop was held in Amman from 23 ? 26
October regarding the implementation of WFP's EMOP. Participants came from
the Iraqi Ministries of Health and Education. The objectives of the
workshop were to familiarize partners with the EMOP objectives, targeting
procedures, management structure, monitoring and evaluation activities; as
well as provide life skills training in areas such as ICT. In addition,
the workshop developed a work plan for the next three months which are to
be further updated at the governorate level. A key component of all
modules of the workshop was to provide participants with a sense of
ownership of the project, as they will be WFP's implementing partners for
the project.

(e)  A donor meeting of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for
Iraq (IRFFI) was held in Tokyo from 13 to 14 October. The meeting included
sessions on Infrastructure, Governance, Economic Reform and Social
Protection. WFP participated in the session on Social Protection, for
which a paper was prepared and shared with other UN agencies and the Iraqi
Interim Government (IIG). The Minister of Health, one of the partner
ministries for EMOP 10360, represented IIG in the session and endorsed the
suggestions of WFP regarding vulnerability assessment as part of risk
identification and management, as well as the need for safety nets.


4)  Russian Federation- North Caucasus

(a)  During the second half of October there were no significant changes
in the security situation in the region, which remained unpredictable and
tense. Terrorist attacks or flare up of violence are considered possible
especially in the view of winter coming and during Ramadan which usually
shows an increase of such activities by extremist militants.

(b)  According to Danish Refugee Council (DRC), as of 31 October, in
Ingushetia there were 40, 880 IDPs from Chechnya, which is 24,919 less
than registered in January this year.

(c)  During the period of 16 to 31 September, WFP Cooperating Partners
(CPs) finalized October relief distribution in Chechnya and Ingushetia. In
Chechnya about 80,470 vulnerable persons received nearly 940 tons of WFP
supplied food aid in Grozny Rural, Achkoi-Martan and Sunzha districts of
Chechnya. In Ingushetia WFP CPs distributed about 436 tons to 37,360
Chechen IDPs registered in the DRC database (the main bulk of October
distribution occurred during the second fortnight of the month).

(d)  WFP's School Feeding Programme (SF) was continued through the
following partners - DRC, Caritas International, Center for Peacekeeping
and Community Development (CPCD), Hilfswerk Austria (HWA), Islamic Relief
(IR), Open Continent (OC), People in Need (PIN) and World Vision in the
Russian Federation (WVRF) in Chechnya. In October WVRF together with WFP
expanded the SF to Vedeno ? eastern mountainous district of Chechnya.
Currently WFP SF programme covers 74, 750 children in 285 primary schools
and 38 kindergartens of four districts of Grozny city and 9 other
districts of Chechnya.  Commodities for October (315 tons in total) were
delivered to the schools and kindergartens in mid of September.
Distribution of food commodities required for the implementation of the SF
in November started in mid-October.

(e)  During the second fortnight of October, WFP's partners in the
food-for-work (FFW) programme in Chechnya, PIN, Center for Prevention of
Humanitarian Catastrophes (CPHC) and OC continued the implementation of
FFW projects in the city of Grozny and districts of Achkhoi-Martan,
Gudermes, Shali, Kurchaloy and Urus-Martan. In October, the total number
of workers was 2,430 (representing 12,150 beneficiaries). The works
included repairs and cleaning in schools, hospitals, and other
institutions. PIN finalized the distribution of the remaining 41 tons of
food commodities to some 330 FFW participants, representing 1,650 primary
beneficiaries for the works implemented in September.

(f)  In October WHO, WFP partner in TB programme in Ingushetia, and
MSF?Holland - in Chechnya continued assisting in- and out patients in TB
hospitals of both republics. In total the project covered 362 patients, to
whom 6 tons of food commodities were provided in the beginning of the
month. Caritas International continued providing hot meals for the most
vulnerable population (1,600 beneficiaries) in Grozny city. In October WFP
released some 13 tons of food commodities to support this project.



C)  East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Eritrea, (4)
Ethiopia, (5) Rwanda, (5) Somalia, (7) Sudan, (8) Uganda

1)  Burundi

(a)  An outbreak of cholera has been reported in the area of Rumonge
(100km south of Bujumbura). 140 cases have been recorded since mid
October.

(b)  Targeted distributions to households affected by civil unrest have
been organized in Bujumbura Rural (Kanyosha, Nyabiraba and Mutimbuzi).
Between 25 and 31 October, WFP distributed over 970 tons of food aid to
125,000 beneficiaries through different programme activities. Intimidation
and misconduct of armed men towards beneficiaries have been reported and
remain a concern for WFP.

(c)  WFP assessed and prepared distributions to returning Burundian
households from Rwanda in Kirundo province (Bugabira commune). This
population fled to Rwanda a few weeks ago, following radical political
statements threatening their own security.

(d)  WFP is still facing a partial shortfall of cereals.  Periodic
shortfalls of some other commodities are also expected in the coming
months. WFP has been assured of cereals and CSB loans to cover some of the
gaps and substituted some commodities with others to ensure planned
distributions are carried out.


2)  D.R. Congo

(a)  The security situation in eastern D.R.Congo remains apprehensive.
Many cases of armed violence continued to be reported during the past week
including, ambushes, lootings, extortion, armed robbery, rape, harassment
by people in uniform, attacks on villages and an attack on a UN Mission in
the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) convoy.

(b)  MONUC reported a heavy concentration of Rwandan rebel movements
(Interahamwe and Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda [FDLR])
operating in the plain of Ruzizi and Lemera hills of D.R. Congo. The
presence of these rebel groups in this area has often provided a pretext
for Rwanda to send troops into eastern D.R. Congo. Tension between MONUC
and various militias has reportedly resumed in Bunia. The discovery and
dismantling by MONUC of an illegal taxation operation in Nizi and Fataki
could be the main reason for the renewal of the tension. On the other
hand, MONUC has demobilized 245 militiamen in Bunia, as a beginning of the
Disarmament and Community Reinsertion program.

(c)  UNHCR and the National Commission for Repatriation are planning to
open offices in Uvira, in response to a spontaneous influx of Congolese
returnees from Tanzania. So far, some 148 new returnees were registered in
Uvira and 5,348 households were registered in Fizi.  The number of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Walungu has increased from 1,700 to
2,400 people, due to insecurity in their villages of origin. In Bunia,
some 11,000 households of IDPs and 4,000 households expelled from Uganda
receive WFP food aid.

(d)  International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported an outbreak of cholera
in some villages of Kalehe.  IRC is fighting the epidemic and has, so far,
recorded 127 cases with no deaths.  Another cholera outbreak is also
reported in Moba.

(e)  In North Kivu, WFP distributed some 180 tons of food to over 31,800
beneficiaries, mainly IDPs and local populations involved in food-for-work
(FFW) activities. In South Kivu, WFP distributed 265 tons to approximately
35,800 beneficiaries, mainly IDPs (32 percent), in feeding centres (50
percent), and in school feeding (12 percent). In Bunia, 22 tons were
distributed to some 1,500 beneficiaries, mainly in feeding centres.


3)  Eritrea

(a)  Rainfall in vast areas of the country has been below average.
Livestock in some parts of Anseba region has already started to migrate to
Gash Barka and Northern Red Sea regions in search of better grazing land
ahead of schedule. Similar observations were made in Southern Red Sea
Region. In this region, even drinking water gets scarce and residents of
smaller towns have to truck water

(b)  The fuel shortage in the Eritrea persists. Petrol and diesel coupons
must be obtained prior to purchasing fuel. Private parties are no longer
able to obtain fuel at the petrol stations. WFP's allotment has been
restricted, and as a first consequence monitoring activities will be
reduced. Further difficulties are anticipated when field offices
eventually run out of diesel for operating the generators.

(c)  WFP's Deputy Executive Director (DED) for Fundraising and
Communication visited Eritrea from 29 October to 1 November. The DED
obtained first-hand impressions about the food security situation in this
drought-prone country and had an opportunity to speak to WFP-assisted
beneficiaries when visiting a Mother and Child Health (MCH) centre and a
para-boarding school in the Northern Red Sea region. He also met with
donor representatives, port authorities and officials from the Ministry of
National Development and briefed WFP staff on matters related to fund
raising and resourcing in WFP.

(d)  The FAO/WFP Crop Assessment Mission is scheduled to take place from
10 to 27 November. The team, which includes a WFP Vulnerability Assessment
and Mapping (VAM) specialist, will visit crop-producing areas to collect
data related to agronomy and socio-economic issues. The livestock expert
of the team will also travel to the Northern Red Sea region to collect
first-hand information from pastoralists on the degree of their food
insecurity.

(e)  The resourcing situation for Eritrea's PRRO and EMOP remains
unchanged. As of 27 October, about 82,410 tons of food worth USD 28.1
million have been resourced under EMOP 10261.1 This amount represents 77
percent of the total resource requirements for this operation. For the
PRRO 10192.0, WFP mobilised over 52,685 tons of food commodities with a
value of USD 26.8 million. Thus, about 50 percent of the planned food
requirements are covered.


4)  Ethiopia

(a)  Following rainfall reports from last week, parts of Somali region
have continued to receive "deyr" (minor season) rains. Gode and Adadle
districts in Gode Zone have reportedly received rain over the last few
days, while rains were also reported in Kalafo and Charati districts of
Afder zone. The current deyr rains are important and, though they started
two weeks later than expected, they are expected to improve pasture and
water conditions in parts of the region. However, concerns of poor
rainfall persist in some areas, particularly in Bokh and Galadi districts
in Warder zone and Gashamo district of Dagahbur zone, which, with few
exceptions, remain dry. These areas are being closely monitored. Following
the mid-year assessment of the "gu" (main season rains) in July, the
population in need of food in Somali Region increased to 1.4 million
people (it was 1.1 million in the first half of the year). WFP, the
Government and NGOs have been trying to address this need by stepping up
food distributions from August onwards.  The outcome of the current deyr
rains will be assessed in December/January, as is usual practice.

(b)  WFP offices in Gambella and Dimma, which are monitoring
implementation of food assistance to Sudanese refugees, re-opened on 25
October and the staff have resumed their duties after ten months of
relocation out of the area. The offices had been closed in January this
year, following security incidents occurring after the killing of eight
Government officials in December 2003. The security situation in Gambella
is reported as under control and the UN staff can move to the refugee
camps, provided they follow strict security instructions. In spite of the
relocation earlier this year, WFP continued to provide food assistance to
refugees in Fugnido camp near Gambella and in Dimma camp through its
Government counterpart, the Administration for Refugees and Returnee
Affairs (ARRA) which also works closely with UNHCR. The refugee programme
is severely under-funded and is projected to run out of food stocks in
March 2005 unless additional donor pledges are confirmed by the end of
this month.

(c)  Overall emergency requirements for Ethiopia in November and December
stand at 70,000 tons and 57,000 tons respectively, serving a total number
of 3.7 and 2.8 million beneficiaries. October allocations are currently
being dispatched to the various regions, where a food basket containing
cereals, pulses, vegetable oil will be distributed to the beneficiary
population. Fortified blended food (corn soya blend) is targeted to the
worst-affected districts for blanket distributions to particularly
vulnerable groups or, in places where nutritional screening exists, to
malnourished children and women. In the Southern Nations Nationalities and
Peoples Region (SNNPR), 43 out of 49 districts with ongoing food
distributions received targeted supplementary food from WFP in support of
the UNICEF/Bureau of Health Extended Outreach Strategy for Child Survival
Initiative in October. The six remaining districts have access problems
for transporters and are in the process of receiving food. The WFP
activity provides a three-month fortified supplementary food ration to
children between 6-59 months old and pregnant and nursing women identified
as malnourished. The pilot ten districts have received supplementary
rations for the second time since the programme started in mid-2004.


5)  Rwanda

(a)  Since the beginning of the influx in early October, some 1,660
Burundian refugees were received at the Ngenda transit camp. The current
caseload stands at some 1,100 refugees with the difference of some 560
persons that have been voluntarily repatriated to Burundi. Out of 1,170
Burundian refugees hosted in Kigeme camp in Gikongoro, 700 have registered
with UNHCR for repatriation and the registration process is continuing.
The transit centre of Butare at Gikonko is still accommodating some 1,075
Burundian refugees and during the past week there was no change in
numbers.

(b)  Congolese refugees continued to cross into Rwanda via Cyangugu, and
the Cyangugu transit centre now accommodates a total of about 3,185
Congolese refugees. Reportedly these refugees decided to cross over to
Rwanda in reaction to the decision made by Burundi authorities of
relocating them further inside Burundi.


6)  Somalia

(a)  Insecurity increased in Sool and Sanag regions in the north with the
recent intensive clashes between Somaliland and Puntland. Heavy fighting
between the forces of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland and the
autonomous state of Puntland resulted in some casualties and displacement
of people in Las Anod and its rural villages. These particular areas are
within the severely drought affected region with four consecutive years of
rainfall failure.

(b)  The Sool region has experienced heavy rains in Las Anod and its rural
areas. The resulting flash floods led to a cease-fire between the two
warring forces. WFP will continue to monitor the situation and is
preparing for any eventuality as hope for a peaceful resolution to the
conflict is anticipated in the coming weeks.

(c)  Heavy rains have also been reported in Southern Somalia and this has
hampered humanitarian access in parts of Somalia along two major rivers
where food insecurity has reached dramatic proportions with a general
acute malnutrition rate of around 20 percent (on a weight for height
basis). The most affected areas include villages along Juba River and
around Jilib and Jamame districts. WFP will continue to monitor flood
levels of Juba valley and adjust its intervention strategies in the event
of heavy floods in the southern region.

(d)  Although the deyr rains have been fair to good in many areas, not all
areas in south Somalia received adequate rainfall. Hiran and Gedo regions
received inadequate rainfall during the last three seasons and are still
experiencing below normal deyr rains.

(e)  During the month of October and despite heavy rains in the south, WFP
continued with emergency relief distributions in the Northwest and
Northeast of Somalia since the population in the area were heavily
affected by the aftermath of the drought, which lasted for more than three
years.


7)  Sudan

(a)  The security situation is rapidly deteriorating across the Darfurs,
seriously undermining WFP's ability to effectively operate inside the
three states of Darfur. In North Darfur, several areas remain 'NO GO':
West of El Fasher: beyond Tawilla; Northwest of El Fasher: Kutum/Deesa
road and beyond, Anka area; Northeast of El Fasher: beyond Mellit to
Malha. The road between El Fasher and Kutum has also been declared a 'NO
GO' with ongoing fighting between Government of Sudan (GoS) and Sudanese
Liberation Army (SLA).

(b)  In October, some 25,400 tons of food were dispatched by road, rail
and air from hubs in Khartoum and El Obeid to the Darfur state capitals.
Subsequently, some 20,180 tons of food were dispatched to an estimated
1,153,000 beneficiaries (based on dispatches), from Area Offices (AO) to
Cooperating Partners (CPs). The continued instability of the security
situation in Darfur seriously impacted WFP's ability to meet its 1.6
million beneficiary target for October. Shortages in trucking capacity
within the commercial transport sector also remain.

(c)  The provision of a full basket of commodities to beneficiaries has
been a top priority for WFP in October. WFP stepped up airlift and
road/rail transport efforts of non-cereals from Khartoum and El Obeid to
the Darfurs as well as from the Darfurs to CPs for distribution to the
affected population. WFP has ensured that a more balanced food basket was
distributed to beneficiaries this month compared to previous months.


8)  Uganda

(a)  Over 1.4 million displaced persons sheltering in more than 100
congested protected camps, continue to depend on WFP food assistance for
survival. Their livelihoods continue to be severely constrained by the
protracted Lords Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in the northern Acholi
and Lango regions (Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira). Although the security
situation in Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira districts remained relatively
stable, LRA activity continued in parts of Kitgum and Pader districts, as
well as attacks by Karimojong warriors in Lira. LRA hostilities coupled
with food shortages in southern Sudan have resulted in an influx of 1,750
asylum seekers in Moyo district.

(b)  Following an outbreak of cholera in Pabbo camp, which shelters over
50,000 displaced persons, three people have died and 79 have been infected
since early October. Water sources, already inadequate, were contaminated
following a heavy storm two weeks ago. In response, WFP provided an
emergency ration of 1.7 tons to 60 people receiving treatment from
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).  WFP has also moved forward the general
food distribution to mitigate hunger due to lost food stocks and crops as
a result of the violent storm that devastated the camp two weeks ago.

(c)  WFP together with UNICEF is reviewing Mother Child Health (MCH)
programme activities in Karamoja region prior to selecting pilot MCH sites
within the region, to enhance the health component at health centres. WFP
and UNICEF will establish guidelines for the implementation of nutrition
programmes. Nonetheless, feeding activities appear to have boosted
attendance of pregnant mothers particularly prior to birth and during
lactation and immunization of mainly children under 1 year old.

(d)  WFP food distribution continues to reach over 1.4 million displaced
persons, 150,000 refugees and other vulnerable persons. During the period
25 to 30 October 2004, 4,350 tons of WFP relief food assistance were
distributed to over 351,000 persons including IDPs sheltering in camps in
Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in the northern Acholi sub-region;
refugees, school children and other vulnerable persons.

(e)  WFP faces a shortfall of over 21,542 tons of food commodities (13,146
tons cereals, 3,447 tons pulses and 4,949 tons fortified blended foods)
representing a funding gap of USD 10 million, required to maintain the
food pipeline necessary to continue providing relief assistance to IDPs
and refugees from October 2004 through March 2005.



D)  West Africa Region: (1) Chad (2) Cote d'Ivoire (3) Guinea (4) Liberia
(5) Sierra Leone

1)  Chad

(a)  UNSECOORD has officially declared a change of security phase from II
to III in the Chadian regions of Ouddai, Bahai and Biltine bordering
Sudan. Meanwhile, N'Djamena and the rest of the country are now on
security phase II.

(b)  The situation between refugees and local residents is relatively
calm. Minor incidents have been reported since the deployment of gendarmes
around the camps. On 28 October, a confrontation was reported between
Chadian rebels coming from Sudan and elements of the Chadian military.
Twenty rebels and one army personnel were reportedly killed. The presence
of the President in Abeche may have security implications. His bodyguards,
mainly Zagawas, reportedly do not speak French and may open fire without
warning.

(c)  The caseload reported by UNHCR as of 02 November totals some 195,507
refugees. This comprises of 192,863 in camps and 2,644 to be transferred
from border areas to the camps. A total of 6,119 refugees do not wish to
be relocated from the border. The 3000 new arrivals reported in Oure
Casoni last week are still undergoing verification and have not yet been
registered.

(d)  The WFP/UNHCR Joint Assessment Mission (with the participation of
donors, Government, and NGO representatives) is completed. The mission
underscored the deterioration of the food security situation of the local
populations, which have been affected by the presence of refugees. In
addition, the mission highlighted the improvement in the nutritional
situation of refugees as compared to the alarming malnutrition rate in
June this year. Among others, the mission recommended: including local
populations in the Blanket Supplementary Feeding programme; Reinforcement
of the registration process, in cooperation with the UNHCR Registration
Process Review team; Establishment of a Working Group to tackle problems
of grinding, taking into account milling costs; Strengthening of Country
Programme activities in Eastern Chad, such as School Feeding and Food For
Work; and an extension of the EMOP duration to an additional 18 months.

(e)  The latest World Vision International nutrition preliminary report
indicates a marked decrease in the malnutrition rate in refugee camps
since September this year. The moderate acute malnutrition rate has
decreased from 17.6 percent to 12.4 percent, and the severe acute
malnutrition rate has decreased from 6.8 percent to 1.7percent. The
screening was conducted in seven out of the eleven camps. The remaining
camps have not yet submitted data for processing and analysis.

(f)  WFP, under EMOP 10327.0, Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in
Eastern Chad, provided the distribution of a total of some 270 tons of
food to about 39,815 refugees during the past week. This comprises of some
125 tons to 6,930 beneficiaries under General Food Distribution (GFD)
activities, and of some 145 tons to almost 32,885 beneficiaries, including
local Chadian residents, under Blanket Supplementary Feeding (BSF).
November distributions for full rations of 2,100 kcal are planned for two
15-day cycles. WFP plans to assist about 196,605 beneficiaries under GFD,
some 54,780 beneficiaries under BSF, and 4,690 beneficiaries under the
regular supplementary and therapeutic feeding programmes implemented by
NGOs.

(g)  On 4 November, assorted commodities arrived in Benghazi as scheduled.
The first convoy of sorghum purchased in Nigeria has crossed the
Chad-Cameroon border and is expected to arrive in N'Djamena on 5 November.

(h)  The Special Operation (SO) 10390.0, Logistics Augmentation in support
of EMOP 10327 - Emergency Assistance to Sudanese refugees in North Eastern
Chad, is currently resourced at 13.37 percent. No further confirmed
contributions have been made against this SO, which requires urgent
funding.


2)  Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  The security situation in the country is very tense.  On 28 October,
the Forces Nouvelles withdrew their Ministers from the country's
transitional government after finding weapons being smuggled into their
territory.  On 4 November, government warplanes bombed the city of Bouake
in the Forces Nouvelles-held territory.

(b)  On Sunday, 31 October, roads between government territory and the
ceasefire zone at Tiebissou and Duekoue were closed by government troops.
With the exception of UN and diplomatic vehicles, no vehicles have been
allowed to pass across the ceasefire zone ? which means that the
commercial trucks carrying WFP food have not been allowed to cross. For
the moment, all dispatches and deliveries across the ceasefire line are on
hold.

(c)  From 27 October to 2 November, over 805 tons of various food
commodities were distributed to 60,500 people.

(d)  The vegetable 'counter season' project is schedule to start this week
in Guiglo and Blolequin. Vegetable seeds and tools will be distributed
along with a food for agriculture ration.


3)  Guinea

(a)  Due to renewed civil unrest in Monrovia, Liberia the repatriation of
Liberian refugees scheduled to begin October 30 has been postponed.

(b)  From 18 to 31 October, 950 tons of various food commodities were
distributed to 80,000 people. Dwindling food stocks and a lack of
resources have prompted WFP to extend the temporarily reduced rations
(from 2,100 kcal to 1,600 kcal) in order to avoid any interruption in the
distributions

(c)  WFP and UNHCR are working on the implementation of nutritional
surveys before the end of the year in the camps in Kissidougou and
N'Zerekore. Both surveys will serve as a baseline for the upcoming
2005-2006 PRRO.

(d)  Additional donor support is needed in order for WFP to provide full
rations in the coming months.


4)  Liberia

(a)  On 28 October, three days of violence in Monrovia resulted in the
loss of at least 16 lives and injured approximately 200 people.  As a
result, Mr. Gyude Bryant, the Chairman of the National Transitional
Government of Liberia, imposed a curfew to all residents of Monrovia from
4 p.m. to 7 a.m.  As precautionary measures, WFP Liberia scaled down field
activities from Monrovia and only essential staff are reporting to work
until the situation stabilizes. As of 3 November, the curfew time has been
changed from 6:00 pm to 7:00 am.

(b)  The resettlement of IDPs that was planned to commence on 1 November
has been postponed due to the security situation in Monrovia.  UNHCR has
also delayed by one week the planned convoys of Liberian refugees from
Nigeria and Guinea to Liberia.

(c)  The food pipeline continues to face critical shortages, and since
June, WFP has been forced to distribute reduced rations to the approximate
500,000 refugees, returnees and IDPs receiving WFP support.  From 27
October to 2 November, 320 tons of food were distributed to 31,000
beneficiaries.  Food distributions to Ricks, Sawegbeh, and Mount Barclay
IDP camps and school feeding distributions were not completed due to the
security unrest in Monrovia.

(d)  In preparation for resumption of Food in Support of Local Initiatives
(FSLI) activities that had been stopped mainly due to pipeline
constraints, WFP is revising guidelines for implementation of FSLI
activities. A workshop will be organized with all Partners involved in
FSLI activities to discuss the new guidelines, including criteria for
selection of projects, work norms, modalities of food distribution,
storage and reporting.

(e)  New contributions continue to be needed in order for WFP to be able
to provide full rations and implement all programmes in the coming months.


5)  Sierra Leone

(a)  From 18 October to 1 November, 280 metric tons of various food
commodities were distributed to 37,300 people. Pipeline shortfalls
continue to be a problem, and there will be insufficient stocks of oil
pulses this month.

(b)  A UNHCR-WFP joint evaluation mission is currently in Sierra Leone to
evaluate a pilot food distribution activity being undertaken by WFP in the
refugee camps. The main objective of the evaluation is to assess the
overall effectiveness of the new food distribution arrangement, which is
being piloted in five operations, including Sierra Leone.



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

1)  Regional

(a)  WFP urgently requires contributions to procure food for the first six
months of the regional PRRO 10310, Assistance to Populations in Southern
Africa Vulnerable to Food Insecurity and the Impact of AIDS. The PRRO was
approved in October and starts in January 2005. The operation aims to
support a monthly average of 1.8 million persons who are food insecure due
to drought, high HIV/AIDS prevalence and weakened capacity for governance
in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia.


2)  Angola

(a)  An outbreak of meningitis has been reported in the municipality of
Calai in southwestern province of Kuando Kubango. Six cases have been
registered in the past two weeks, two of which were fatal.  As a result,
UNHCR and the Ministry of Assistance and Social Re-integration suspended
refugee repatriation to Calai. WFP has requested 100 vaccines for the
immunization of all WFP staff in Kuando Kubango province.


3)  Lesotho

(a)  From 27 October to 2 November, WFP and implementing partners
distributed about 1,000 tons of food to some 84,000 beneficiaries
including children under five years of age, people suffering from the
effects of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, pregnant and nursing mothers,
orphans and beneficiaries under food-for-work and vulnerable group feeding
programmes. It is not expected that these people will be food secure
before the next harvest in 2005.

(b)  In Lesotho, the emergency type food assistance, currently provided
under EMOP 10290, Targeted Relief to Vulnerable Households in Southern
Africa, will be provided to a peak 510,000 recipients under PRRO 10310,
Assistance to Populations Vulnerable to Food Insecurity in high HIV/AIDS
Prevalence Areas of Southern Africa.


4)  Malawi

(a)  The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS, Mr. Stephen
Lewis, visited a WFP supported Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
programme at St Gabriel hospital. Mr. Lewis had the opportunity to witness
WFP's food and nutritional support to 200 women with a household ration.

(b)  During a meeting held with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and MOH
announced that therapeutic foods (milk and plumpy nut) have been procured
for patients on ARV.

(c)  The draft of Malawi's National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework
(2005-2009) was presented to key HIV/AIDS stakeholders.


5)  Mozambique

(a)  According to FEWS-Net, the overall food security situation in parts
of southern and central Mozambique where food insecure people were
identified earlier this year, has stabilized due to several ongoing
interventions. However, in the northern Nampula coastal areas, the
combined effects of cassava brown streak disease and poor rainfall in the
last agricultural season are likely to cause food deficits among the
poorest households. Humanitarian agencies continue to monitor food
security as the peak 'hunger' season approaches. The latest FEWS-Net
Africa Weather Hazards Assessment report indicates that below normal
rainfall is expected over northern Mozambique in the coming days.

(b)  As a follow-up to the meeting that the National Disaster Management
Institute (INGC) had with WFP and district health authorities in Tete last
week, regarding the food insecurity reports from Zumbo and Magoe
districts, a second meeting on the issue was held to discuss the scope and
logistics for the upcoming mission.  Two teams will visit the affected
areas, and 45 focus group interviews will be conducted to assess food
insecurity.

(c)  The provincial contingency plan workshops for Maputo, Gaza and
Inhambane were held last week to develop contingency plans for each
province. Government and NGOs participated. The INGC expects to finalize
the national contingency plan by the end of the year.


6)  Namibia

(a)  Food distribution to some 12,000 orphans and vulnerable children and
refugees in Kassava transit camp were disrupted by an Anthrax outbreak in
the northeastern Caprivi region. Fear of contamination and infection
hindered access to beneficiaries.


7)  Swaziland

(a)  About 10,000 WFP beneficiary households will benefit from the Input
Seed Trade Fairs currently underway. The WFP, FAO and Government of
Swaziland organized fairs are expected to improve the food security
situation of vulnerable groups. In Swaziland, 165,000 people will require
short-term emergency aid until the first half of the year due to drought,
poverty and the impact of HIV/AIDS.


8)  Zimbabwe

(a)  Maize prices are increasing. The average current price of 17.5 kg is
ZWD 22,000, an increase of 57 percent from the post harvest average of ZWD
12,500 for the same quantity between May and June. At 16 out of 27 WFP
sentinel sites, the purchasing power of the casual labour wage rate buys
less than 2kg of maize per day.



F)  Asia: (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) Myanmar, (4) Sri Lanka

1)  Bangladesh

(a)  Though the monsoon is now over, late rains in October and prolonged
water logging continued to impact on Bangladesh.

(b)  Under the EMOP 10380, Assistance to Flood Affected People in
Bangladesh, food distributions for the month of October under the
Vulnerable Group Rehabilitation (VGR) Programme are in progress. From 28
October to 4 November, about 93 percent (840,000 Households or 4.2 million
beneficiaries) have received food (30 kg rice/HH) and distribution is
expected to finalize by 7 November. VGR allocation for the month of
November is under preparation.  In addition, under the School Feeding
Programme, a total of 600,000 primary school children per month have been
receiving high-energy biscuits since September.

(c)  A tripartite Letter of Agreement, regarding the EMOP's Supplementary
Feeding Programme, was signed between UNICEF, WFP and partner NGOs. The
NGOs will be responsible for selection of beneficiaries and distribution,
while UNICEF and WFP will jointly supervise and monitor.

(d)  While resources for the EMOP are being solicited, WFP is proceeding
with a limited response that focuses on the next 2 ? 3 months, the
traditional lean season. Wheat and rice are being borrowed from Government
stock. Two new pledges have raise the current resourcing status of the
EMOP from 23 to 30 percent in the past week, which however is still
grossly inadequate to carry the operation beyond the end of the year.
Unless significant additional donations are received soon, the EMOP will
have to be phased out by end December 2004. EMOP resource shortfalls
impose serious hardship on over 4 million women and children who are
virtually dependent on WFP assistance during the current lean season,
September ? December, and again in May ? June, the next lean season.


2)  DPR Korea

(a)  Almost all Local Food Production factories (16 of 19) operated during
the week. Production was halted by lack of packaging materials, delayed
transportation of DSM, and lack of sugar.

(b)  A team of the Government of Japan (GOJ) officials visited WFP
distribution sites in four provinces this week.

(c)  With the recent arrival of large contributions, WFP is now able to
feed the planned number of beneficaries for the first time in 2 years.
Substantive new pledges, including 100,000 tons of maize, will allow WFP
to continue this support through May 2005, with the exception of oil that
will run out as early as January for some beneficiary groups.


3)  Myanmar

(a)  Due to recent changes in the government and regional administrations,
WFP is facing difficulties in food movement from warehouses to
distribution points in Northern Rakhine State (NRS).  This attributed to
the delay in food delivery and distribution for WFP activities. As a
result, only 77 tons of rice could be distributed to 4,920 beneficiaries
in NRS during the month of October under PRRO 10066.2, Assistance to
Returnees and Vulnerable Groups in North Rakhine State and Magway Division
(Dry Zone) of Myanmar. To resolve this problem WFP is following-up with
its coordinating line ministry.

(b)  Under EMOP 10345.0, Emergency Food Assistance to Ex-Poppy Farmers in
Northern Shan State, Myanmar, a total of some 1,080 tons of rice was
distributed to over 44,670 beneficiaries during the month of October
through food-for-work, food-for-education and vulnerable group feeding in
Northern Shan State (NSS).

(c)  Under the community home based care project, a total of 35 tons was
distributed to about 2,800 beneficiaries (567 households) living with
HIV/AIDS and to other chronically ill patients in central Dry Zone. WFP
will organize HIV awareness activities in all food distribution centers.
The Cooperating Partners have agreed to identify 2-3 volunteers for each
distribution point, and have these people trained as HIV awareness
workers.

(d)  A cash contribution of USD 396,826 for the EMOP 10345.0 was
confirmed. Further, an other donor expressed its willingness to donate
1,000 tons of rice.


4)  Sri Lanka

(a)  Sri Lanka cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan, a WFP humanitarian
partner, visited school feeding projects in the northern city of Jaffna
this week. WFP provides food to more than 100,000 children in the northern
and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Muralitharan also visited a nutrition
education session for mothers and their infant children near Jaffna city,
and a food-for-work project site.



G)  Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Colombia, (2) Haiti, (3)
Nicaragua

1)  Colombia

(a)  President Alvaro Uribe started negotiating a swap with Colombia's
largest left-wing rebel group, that unexpectedly released four hostages.
UN special envoy in Colombia, James Lemoyne, said last Sunday 31 October
that the UN expected Colombia's largest left-wing rebel group to consider
in a constructive way Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's proposal for the
humanitarian exchange.  The UN also said in a statement that it values the
new proposal.

(b)  The security situation remained volatile. Two people died and two
more were injured on 29 October in a bomb blast on a roadway in southern
Bogota.

(c)  A mudslide killed seven people including five children on 27 October
in the village of Riosucio, province of Caldas. This disaster increased
the death toll from Colombia's wet season to 11 people.  The Colombian
Government has provided USD 2.7 million of emergency aid to more than
76,000 people whose homes have been damaged by floods this wet season. The
regions most affected by the rainy season are Antioquia, Cundinamarca,
Bolivar, Sucre, Cordoba, Magdalena, Caldas and Bogota.

(d)  According to a report released by the Colombian UNDP office, the
province of Choco has the highest rate of extreme poverty in the whole
country.  The report says that the percentage of population in this
province living below the poverty line has increased up to 26 percent
during the last decade. Compared to the rest of provinces in Colombia,
Choco has the highest rates of extreme poverty, illiteracy, access to
sanitation facilities and maternal mortality.  WFP attends approximately
20.000 beneficiaries in this province with more than 155 activities in 16
different municipalities.

(e)  In the context of the PRRO 10158, Assistance to People Displaced by
Violence, from 25 to 31 October, WFP distributed about 160 tons of food in
4 provinces for 17,125 beneficiaries.  These commodities were distributed
in community kitchens and under food-for-crisis and food-for-work
activities.


2)  Haiti

(a)  The entire country remained in UN security phase III .

(b)  In Port au Prince, the situation in the vicinities of Bel Air, Cite
Soleil and Martissant continued to be tense with some reported incidents
of unidentified gang members shooting close to the MINUSTAH forces. There
are unconfirmed reports that the Haitian police would have killed some 13
youngsters in the Fort National slum of Port-au-Prince.  A UN special
envoy for Haiti urged the nation's interim government to investigate the
killings. The 3 days Lavalas strike (26, 27, 28 October) in the city had
no significant impact. Despite the tense situation in sensitive areas,
normal traffic, school and commercial activities continue to be observed
in Port-au-Prince.

(c)  The security situation in Gonaives was slightly tense this week.
However, it had no impact on CARE's distributions of WFP food. The
situation in the rest of the country remained calm. The ex-FAdH (Forces
Armees d'Haiti, an army dismantled by Aristide) are still attempting to be
recognized by the current government and establish a strong role in the
nation's security.

(d)  While the situation in the port of Port-au-Prince remained erratic in
operational terms, WFP was able to improve its reception of full import
containers. Thirty containers that were paralyzed at the port since two
months were retrieved by WFP during the week. Congestion was avoided after
it was decided to go for direct transshipment from carriers containers
into trucks within the warehouse compound, and deliveries to Gonaives in
that way could be speeded up.

(e)  From 27 October to 2 November, a total of 115 tons of food
commodities (one week rations) were distributed by WFP's implementing
partner CARE to 30,000 beneficiaries in Gonaives. Distributions were held
in one distribution site per day, in localities from the Commune of
Gonaives yet located on the outskirts of the the city. Since the onset of
the flood crisis in Gonaives and Port de Paix, a total of some 2,235 tons
of food commodities have been distributed in the city of Gonaives and
other affected areas.

(f)  Distributions to schools and health centres have resumed on 28
October in the West department and to schools in the North and North-East
departments.


3)  Nicaragua

(a)  During the previous week, tremors were felt in the Northern Atlantic
Region (RAAN). No casualties were reported.

(b)  On 26 October, a truck carrying WFP food from Puerto Cortes, Honduras
to the main warehouse in Corinto, Nicaragua was robbed in the western
region of the country. Some 16 boxes of vegetable oil were stolen.

(c)  Food distributions under the IRA/EMOP 10376.0, Mudslides and flooding
in the Northern region of Nicaragua, to affected families of the Cerro
Musun mudslide in Rio Blanco and Matiguas have ended.  Food distributions
under PRRO 10212.0, Targeted Food Assistance for Persons Affected by
Shocks and for the Recovery of Livelihoods, continue. Currently, a total
of over 67,465 school children are assisted in the RAAN and some 11,495
school children in the municipality of Matagalpa. In addition, 10,027
vulnerable children under 2 years of age; 8,729 expectant and nursing
women and 2,000 poor rural families are also assisted in the northern and
central region of the country.

(d)  PRRO 10212.0 will face shortfalls through March 2005. If no
commodities are announced in the coming months or those that are announced
arrive late, the PRRO will face serious pipeline breaks in the first
quarter of next year.


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

END WFP Emergency Report No. 45, 2004


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