World Food Programme Emergency Report 2004
Issued Weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme
Report No. 35 of 27 August


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


>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 and partners completed the largest de-worming campaign ever
undertaken, reaching over 4.5 million schoolchildren in Afghanistan.

Sudan/Darfur airdrop operation continues with the second phase.

Three food distributions in Burundi cancelled, and WFP activities in South
Kivu/DR Congo suspended.

Urgent contributions required for the WFP's regional Southern Africa
Emergency Operation.

WFP resumes its normal operations as Government of Indonesia decided to
exempt humanitarian agencies from its ban on rice imports.

WFP/UNICEF assessment confirms severe damages to Bolivian agriculture
after prolonged drought.



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


1) Afghanistan

(a)  The security situation in Afghanistan remained volatile during the
week, particularly in the southern and western regions of the country,
with incidents targeting the government, coalition forces, aid workers and
electoral staff. In the west, several improvised explosive devices
exploded in and outside the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB)
compound in Farah on 19 August, killing two policemen and injuring five
others. In the south, a vehicle of Coalition Forces was ambushed in Zabul
near the Pakistani border on 19 August, resulting in the injury of one
soldier.  On 20 August, a local district commissioner's office in Kandahar
was attacked, killing one soldier and the two attackers.

(b)  From 19 to 25 August, about 325,510 beneficiaries received over 2,530
tons of food.

(c)  In collaboration with Government partners and UN agencies, including
UNHCR, FAO, UNICEF and UNMACA, WFP is conducting a joint assessment on
returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) through phase four of
the Ogata Initiative in four districts of Balkh province. The Ogata
Initiative was launched in October 2002 to support the reintegration of
IDPs and returnees into their communities of return. The assessment will
help in identifying the needs of returnees and IDPs in these districts.

(d)  Afghanistan countrywide inter-agency deworming campaign has been
successfully completed by treating the targeted primary school-age
population of 4.5 million six to twelve years old. WFP launched the
campaign in March 2004 in partnership with WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of
Health (MoH) to reduce child diseases, improve children's physical and
intellectual growth and ensure the effectiveness of school feeding
activities.

(e)  In a three-day training workshop conducted from 22 to 25 August in
Kabul, seven staff of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
(MRRD) were trained in monitoring and assessments of projects. The MRRD
staff will participate in the monitoring of projects in security sensitive
areas of Paktya, Paktika, Ghazni and Khost provinces. Earlier, the MRRD
had made an offer to involve its staff in the monitoring of projects in
areas that cannot be accessed by WFP staff.


2) Iran

(a)  Massive repatriations of Afghans are continuing and are likely to
continue until September with an average of 3-4,000 per day. All Afghan
returnees from 11 to 24 August have been from outside camps, with the
exception of 158 from Turbat-e-Jam camp in Khorasan. As of July, UNHCR has
stopped its Care and Maintenance programme to about 32,000 Afghan refugees
in camps. Also WFP's food assistance to Afghan camps will phase down
eventually.

(b)  Due to the tense security situation in Iraq, the Iraqi repatriation
during the month of August was limited to 161 Kurds from Dilzeh camp in
West-Azarbaijan. There are still about 130,000 Iraqi refugees in Iran.

(c)  From 11 to 24 August, under the Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operation (PRRO) 10213.0, Food Assistance and Support to Education of
Afghan and Iraqi Refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran, some 49,680
refugees and 33,000 returnees received WFP food assistance. A Joint
Assessment Mission (JAM) is scheduled to be held in September by
WFP/UNHCR/BAFIA (Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs) to
review the PRRO, as well as the food needs of the refugees for 2005. The
PRRO has been extended in time through September 2005.


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

1) Burundi

(a)  Security remains a concern in Bujumbura Rural province. Three food
distributions planned in Mutambu commune were cancelled due to insecurity.
Banditry was also reported to be on the increase in the provinces of
Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga, which were previously relatively calm.  Extra
precaution was requested from UN staff on mission in those provinces.

(b)  UNHCR reported that the Government of Burundi has availed another
relocation site in Mwaro province for Congolese refugees.  WFP continues
to feed all the refugees including those who survived the Gatumba
massacre, and will continue to do so after the relocation.

(c)  Between 16 and 22 August, WFP distributed some 1,300 tons of food aid
to 134,000 beneficiaries. Last week, all returnees, including spontaneous
returnees from Tanzania arriving through transit points at the border
provinces of Muyinga, Rutana, Ruyigi and Makamba, benefited from a
three-month return package provided by WFP.

(d)  The national vulnerability assessment survey continued after a
security incident involving the injury of one supervisor and the death of
a driver. Currently, the majority of the targeted areas have been covered
and data entry is expected to be finalized this week followed by data
analysis. Field data collection for the gender baseline survey is also
expected to end this week.

(e)  Monitoring teams followed all targeted distributions conducted in
Kayanza, Makamba and Bujumbura Rural provinces. Visits have been made to
brief all new administrators on WFP operations and targeting to avoid
problems that could arise when administrators are newly appointed, and do
not know the procedures or wish to assist everybody. Food-for-Work (FFW)
monitors visited Cankuzo province to be informed on the opening of four
projects initiated in the province. Two of these projects will aim at
rehabilitating 70 kilometres of rural road and the other two will address
swamp rehabilitation on 472 hectares.


2) DR Congo

(a)  The humanitarian community was very concerned with the dissensions
among the core leaders of the transitional government. By the end of the
week, Mr. Azarias Ruberwa, the leader of the Rassemblement Congolais pour
la Democratie (RCD) requested that all RCD officials appointed in the
transitional institutions suspend their participation pending
re-negotiations of the Sun City peace accords.

(b)  Civilian populations continued to be the victims of various armed
factions, particularly in the North and South Kivu provinces. From 18 to
21 August, USAID/Food For Peace in Nairobi fielded an assessment mission
in eastern DRC. The mission had planned to visit Bukavu, Goma and Bunia.
However, the trip to Bukavu was reportedly suspended due to the increasing
insecurity in the area.

(c)  According to OCHA, in Mahagi/Ituri district, more than 13,000
displaced people are in dire need of food assistance. Food commodities in
the market are rare due to restrictions placed on some ethnics groups from
attending the market.

(d)  Despite rising tension and increased insecurity, WFP distributed some
2,300 tons to around 163,000 beneficiaries, mainly IDPs, returnees and
malnourished children through its field offices in Bunia, Bukavu, Goma,
Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, and Kisangani.

(e)  Malnutrition is reported to have increased in North Kivu as a result
of the massive movement of displaced persons in the rural areas of Goma.
New cases of malnutrition concentration are reported in Kanyabayonga,
Kasondo, Kasugo, and Bitshiri. Almost 60 tons were airlifted to assist
some 1,200 displaced families (nearly 6,000 people) in Numbi, Shanje and
Shavingonge. In South Kivu, WFP activities in the field were suspended due
to rising tension in the area. The office in Bukavu distributed more than
it planned, which is justified by the massive arrival of 16,800 displaced
people from Kalehe.


3) Eritrea

(a)  A market survey in Massawa, Northern Red Sea Region, indicated that
local wheat, sorghum, barley, imported milk and sugar remain unavailable
in the market.  Prices of local milk, meat, fish, eggs, tea, vegetable
oil, butter and potatoes were unchanged. Rice, which was not available
last week, could be found, but is almost three times more expensive than
it was in June. In the Southern Red Sea region, sugar, meat and wheat
flour were sold at moderate prices.

(b)  Zoba officials of the Ministry of Agriculture reported that the
Southern Red Sea region did not receive sufficient rainfall during the
past months. The Afambo sub region (Southern Red Sea region) experienced
heavy rainfall (56 mm) in one day early this month. There are reports of
deaths of small ruminants. Internal parasites were said to be the cause of
the deaths in the region following the heavy rainfall. Farmers have
started preparing and sowing their fields in other Southern Red Sea sub
regions. Despite the delayed rains, they are "taking their chances".

(c)  Although Anseba region seemed to receive comparatively good rains in
the course of this month, a satisfactory harvest seems to be unlikely, due
to precipitations starting too late. Nevertheless, the continuation of the
late rains through September was said to be important for a good harvest
of crops for animal feed and the provision of water for livestock.

(d)  The prolonged drought conditions worsen living conditions in Debub
region, and underemployment among the unskilled is steadily rising,
whereas skilled, young people are not demobilized from the national
service. (e)  The resourcing situation of WFP operations in Eritrea
remains unchanged.


4) Ethiopia

(a)  Following the mid-year ("belg" and "gu" seasons) assessment, the
targeted population for relief food assistance is 7.8 million for both
August and September and will be 5.3 million in October, 3.7 million in
November and 2.9 million in December.

(b)  Food requirements for August stand at around 148,000 tons and
dispatches for this month's distributions continue. Food has been
pre-positioned in the areas that have become inaccessible during the
current main rainfall season (mid-June to late-September). The gross
relief food requirements for August-December 2004 are around 523,000 tons.

(c)  Taking into account confirmed contributions to WFP, NGOs and
bilateral contributions to the Government, the current shortfall for
August-December is 81,000 tons (cereals 56,000 tons, pulses 25,000 tons).
Unless further contributions are confirmed, there may be shortfalls in
cereals from November.


5) Rwanda

(a)  The Security situation remained calm in Cyangugu during last week.
Refugees decided to leave the town of Cyangugu where they had initially
preferred to stay in order to join the refugee camp. A total of 95
refugees were received in the camp from Cyangugu town. Another group of 9
refugees arrived from Gatumba camp in Burundi, which was the scene of the
recent massacre of some 160 ethnic Congolese Tutsis by insurgents. These
new arrivals brought the total number of refugees staying in Cyangugu camp
to 1,849 people.

(b)  The 114 Congolese refugees who had registered with UNHCR to be part
of the repatriation process are still in the camp. The delay is a result
of UNHCR in Bukavu checking on the security situation prior to the
refugees crossing over.

(c)  So far, WFP has assisted all refugees who remain or transit in the
camp and a total of 90 tons of assorted commodities have been distributed
since the conflict broke out in Bukavu during last May. In the meantime,
preparations to move the refugees from Cyangugu to Kibuye in Kiziba camp
are progressing satisfactorily.  The move is tentatively scheduled for the
end of August.


6) Somalia

(a)  After 13 years of chaos and civil unrest, Somalia's transitional
parliament was sworn in on 22 August (at UN/Nairobi premises). The
ceremony saw 206 members including 16 women who took the oath of office on
Sunday. A total of 214 Members of Parliament (MPs) were scheduled to be
sworn in, however, 8 were absent. Sixty-one seats in the 275-member
parliament are still vacant. Mediating officials from the regional
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) reported that some sub
clans had not yet submitted their lists of MPs, as a result of a
disagreement on how to share the number of seats allocated to them.
Officials expect the entire process of setting up the Somali interim
government to be completed in about two weeks.

(b)  UN Secretary General Kofi Annan welcomed the inauguration of the
transitional parliament describing it as "the beginning of a long-awaited
reconciliation" in Somalia. Kofi Annan reiterated the UN's readiness to
continue supporting the peace process.

(c)  Meanwhile, the four-year-old drought is continuing in North Somalia.
After the last main rainy season (Gu, April ? June), which was also in
general below normal, .WFP decided to continue its methodology to deliver
food aid from both Puntland and Somaliland to the drought-affected people
in the regions of Sool and Sanag, even though pressure has been received
that assistance be channeled from only one side. WFP has expressed concern
that this could delay the food distribution in these regions, which are
contested by Somaliland and Puntland.


7) Sudan

(a)  The Darfur airdrop operation continues with the second phase of
airdrops into areas cut off by the rain.  Under the plan for the second
phase, some 1,500 tons of food will be airdropped to ten inaccessible
locations to reach more than 88,000 people. Plans for airdropping
approximately 1,300 tons of food into El Geneina town to reach 51,000
people, are underway. Food was also airdropped in Kirindang and Masteri
this week, reaching over 32,000 people. WFP hopes to scale up its air
operation capacity to six Ilyushins and five Antonovs to swiftly meet
requirements for airdrops. Since 1 August, WFP has airdropped some 2,250
tons of food for over 93,500 people in five locations in West Darfur ? Fur
Buranga, Habila, Arara, Beida and Kongo Harasa. The affected population in
Arara, Beida and Kongo Harasa received a two-month ration.

(b)  Access constraints, insecurity and weak local transportation network
and coverage continue to impede the delivery of food and have prevented
the full implementation of WFP's targets. Since 1 August, WFP distributed
some 7,600 tons of food to approximately 414,300 people, reaching only 35
percent of the targeted 1.2 million for the month and less than 50 percent
of beneficiaries reached in July. WFP continues to introduce corrective
measures as it intensifies efforts with partners to conduct distributions.

(c)  Food distributions to a village under Sudan's Liberation Army (SLA)
control started this past week for the first time. WFP and implementing
partner German Agro Action distributed a one-month ration to over 3,000
people in Umshidig village. WHO and UNICEF are negotiating discussions on
assistance to SLA controlled areas, following an interagency assessment
mission, including WFP, which visited these areas earlier this month.


8) Uganda

(a)  The conflict-affected northern Acholi and Lango sub-regions (Gulu,
Kitgum, Pader and Lira) are faced with massive displacement and loss of
livelihoods. The prolonged insurgency by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)
continues to affect the coping ability of over 1.5 million displaced
persons. Physical displacement, coupled with limited access to
agricultural land and income, has resulted in limited access to food.
Displaced persons rely on WFP food assistance for survival.

(b)  WFP food distribution continues to reach the displaced persons,
145,000 refugees and other vulnerable persons. During the period from 16
to 20 August, more than 2,600 tons of WFP relief food assistance were
distributed to approximately 237,000 persons including IDPs sheltering in
camps in the northern Acholi and Lango sub-regions, Teso region, and to
other vulnerable persons.

(c)  Preliminary results from the nutrition survey conducted jointly by
WFP and Ministry of Health (MoH) in all 33 IDP camps in Kitgum and Pader
districts document a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children
under five years above the 10 percent GAM threshold in nearly 50 percent
of the camps. Overall averages are 7.6 and 12.2 percent GAM in Pader and
Kitgum districts respectively. Though this is an improved nutritional
situation from 11.6 and 15.9 percent in Pader and Kitgum respectively in
October 2003, the rates remain worrying.

(d)  With an improved pipeline, WFP has re-introduced fortified blended
food for young children in the general family ration. Ration levels for
the displaced population in the four most affected northern districts of
Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira will provide 75 percent of 2,100 Kcal RDA
(Recommended Daily Allowance) for IDPs receiving the general food ration;
100 percent of 2,100 Kcal RDA for extremely vulnerable individuals and 50
percent RDA for IDPs in rural camps in Lira district.

(e)  WFP is conducting an Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) in all
three districts of the Teso region (Katakwi, Kaberamaido and Soroti) and
Karamoja region. The EFSA mission will examine the effect of the drought
in Karamoja region and assess coping strategies to determine food gaps.

(f)  WFP faces a shortfall of around 50,000 tons of food commodities
(33,000 tons cereals, 9,000 tons pulses and 8,000 tons fortified blended
foods) from this month through March 2005. Pledges are required from
donors to maintain a normal food pipeline necessary to continue providing
relief assistance to over 1.5 million people.



D) West Africa Region: (1) Sahel region (2) Chad, (3) Cote d'Ivoire, (4)
Guinea, (5) Liberia, (6) Sierra Leone

1) Sahel region

(a)  The locust invasion in the Sahel became dramatic in the most affected
countries, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal, where almost 1,800,000 ha. are
infested. In Mauritania, the entire country is now infested. In Senegal,
the infestation is now extended to the ground basin (department of Mbour
at south-west of Dakar and department of Gossas at north of Kaolack). In
the other affected countries (Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad), for the
moment the infestation is limited primarily to areas with predominant
pastoral activity. The first summer generations of locusts appear in many
areas, there is a high risk that infestation will incease to a new level.
These summer generations will be very voracious and the damages to crops
must be enormous, if the countries fail in their control actions.

(b)  Climatic conditions remain conducive in the Sahel for the appearance
of new generations of hopper bands, adults and swarms during September and
October, corresponding to the harvest period of rainfall crops (millet,
sorghum, corn, groundnut) and the planting of irrigated rice.

(c)  In spite of the magnitude of infested areas, the treated areas are
still small. This situation is indicative of the weakness of the technical
and logistical means deployed by the governments concerned.

(d)  OCHA Dakar has put in place an inter-agency regional mechanism to
monitor the evolution of the locust issue and coordinates regional
response efforts. It is hoped that FAO will be able to send a locust
expert to be based in Dakar that would take the technical lead of this
working group.

(e)  At the national level, the same devices of intervention of last week
are maintained in all the countries: prospecting teams, control teams,
regular conversations and meetings between ad-hoc emergency steering
committees to combat the desert locust. Donors, UN System Agencies and
partners participate in these consultations. In Mali and Burkina Faso, WFP
country-specific contingency plans, specifically with regards to the
locust dimension, will help in preparing and quantifying possible
scenarios for a potential emergency response.

(f)  WFP is still monitoring the situation very closely, but all
indications do point towards the elaboration of a regional emergency
operation. The CILSS meeting to be held in Dakar on 7 and 9 September, and
a possible inter-agency crop assessment with FAO in September/October will
be key in determining the extent to which the harvests have been affected
by the locust infestation and the consequences on food security in the
region. Modalities of a WFP intervention would then be spelled out.


2) Chad

Following the security incidents reported in Sudan last week, 400 new
arrivals from Sudan reported that Janjaweed troops have surrounded the
internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Darfur banning them from
leaving the camp and fleeing into Chad. The Janjaweed's activities seem
under control in Chadian territory. Notwithstanding, armed groups crossed
the border in Birak, stole cattle and fled back to Sudan. The 400 new
arrivals will be transferred to UNHCR refugee camps in Mille.

Northern Central African Republic remains tense due to the military and
political situation.  The rebels in the north of CAR are reinforcing their
position in Arango village. UNHCR is questioning about the Amboko CAR
refugee camps location in Chad, only 10 Km from the border with CAR. In
Ndjamena two people were murdered during the last week as a result of
ongoing urban crime.  UN security rules and procedures remain in force for
humanitarian workers.

Some 7,945 refugees joined the camp of Bredjine. These refugees were
already in Chad but did not accept to be settled in camps. As their food
stock is exhausted and their coping mechanism extremely reduced, they have
decided to go to the camps where humanitarian assistance is provided.
UNHCR expects more refugees to join the camp during the current
agricultural lean season.  If this group decides to be resettled in camps,
then the estimated caseload of 9193 refugees at borders sites will
decrease considerably without any change on the general caseload of
refugees already registered in Chad. UNHCR is working on the camp
population and the breakdown by age and sex and vulnerability will be made
available very soon. This will allow WFP to set up a prioritization
strategy in case of serious food shortage in the pipeline.

The camps population received the general food distribution for the month
of August. WFP is taking action to supply food in all camps in
anticipation of September distribution.  The blanket supplementary feeding
programme is going on in Northern and central camps. For Southern camp,
health and nutrition specialized partners are still studying the needs of
implementing the Blanket supplementary feeding in Goz Amir and Djabal
camps. The basic information collected from the camps is that malnutrition
is not as serious as in North, but in order to prevent from possible
malnutrition among the most vulnerable, UNHCR and WFP decided to consider
two months supply in both camps. The requested 80 tons of food to cover
the nutritional needs of 14,600 beneficiaries for the blanket
supplementary feeding program will be air dropped. An implementing partner
to carry out the programme in the South still needs to be identified.
NGOs working in nutrition in Goz Amir and Djabal camps will proceed with
the nutritional screening and by then accurate figures will be provided to
adjust the intervention.

It has been impossible to access by road the Extended Delivery Points
(EDP)  located in the southern zone (Goz Amir and Djabal). Swedish relief
workers will attend to dispatch a convoy to Goz Beida on 27 August.  WFP
is waiting for results before attempting to dispatch trucks to the EDP
located in the Djabal refugee camp. For over 10 days, it has been
impossible to access by road the camps in the central zone (Farchana,
Bredjing and Treguine).  Trucks have been stopped at the wadi located 45
km from Abeche. A break in the weather on 25 August has allowed WFP to
make another attempt by road with a convoy of 84 tons, but needs about 5
days without rain to deliver about 600 tons into this zone. Access to all
camps in the northern zone is very difficult but not impossible; trucks
may have to stop for hours, a day or more at some of the wadis before
proceeding to their destinations.  This week WFP loaded trucks have been
staying along the wadis side, waiting better weather condition to cross
the river and supply food to Bredjim, Farchana and Treguine. If conditions
do not improve before next week, WFP will immediately need to airdrop food
for September distribution.

French Forces are continuing to airlift commodities from Ndjamena to
Abeche. There's still no word on when the airlift assistance will end. WFP
is giving priority to the delivery of sugar. To date, the French Forces
have airlifted a total of 114 tons of WFP commodities.

A convoy with 440 tons of WHF is now in Al Koufrah. An offical ceremony
with media coverage is scheduled for 28 August.  All formalities are in
place to assure safe arrival of the convoy to Northern camps.  WFP is
erecting temporary storage facilities to receive the cargo.

August food needs were covered in all camps and the convoy intends to
preposition food for September in Bredjine camp. Storage conditions have
already been created in Ure Kassoni camp to receive food from the Libyan
corridor.

A WFP high level meeting was held to strengthen WFP staffing capacity. The
new staffing strategy is based on borrowing WFP experienced staff from
other country offices before longer term appointments are set up.

The African Union and the French Army, under Abeche UNHCR office
initiative, organized a security meeting with the relief workers in the
region. The main objective of the meeting was to establish contact between
the humanitarian community and the military, in case of serious security
incidents leading to physical evacuation from Abeche.

The Chad Minister of Health declared an epidemic of Cholera in Ndjamena,
where 1367 cases were reported with 50 deaths. The GoC will launch an
appeal to fight against the epidemic which is getting serious proportions
over the country.


3) Cote d'Ivoire

(a)  The security situation is tense, particularly in Guiglo (west) and
increasingly in Man (north-west) with increased road blocks, acts of
criminality and reports of foreign combatants in the west and north-west.
Staff have been asked to exercise extreme caution at these locations.

(b)  From 18 to 24 August, some 1,115 tons of food were distributed to
over 117,170 beneficiaries.

(c)  WFP is currently training its sub-office staff and partners on
reporting, results-based monitoring and cooperating partner reports. A
mission to Bouna trained partners on WFP distribution methods and ration
usage, and monitored progress at FFW sites.


4) Guinea

(a)  The overall situation is calm in the country, with the exception of
Conakry, which remains tense with escalating crime and economic
difficulties. The latest refugee verification exercise indicates the
presence of almost 78,320 refugees living in camps in Guinea, including
some 1,815 Sierra Leoneans, who are no longer entitled to humanitarian
aid.

(b)  From 9 to 22 August, almost 235 tons of food were distributed to
about 18,395 people.

(c)  Preparations are underway for a pilot project to support
HIV/AIDS-affected households. Food distributions are scheduled to begin in
September. This pilot will address nutritional needs of infected
individuals and their families, as well as orphans.

(d)  Important shortfalls are still expected by the end of the year.

Consequently, food rations for refugees will be temporarily reduced as of
September. In addition, lack of resources has lead to the suspension of
salt from the emergency school feeding distributions.


5) Liberia

(a)  The general security situation in Liberia remains volatile due to
demonstrations and criminal activity. WFP staff are still cautioned
against driving at night in Monrovia. To date, a total of 67,830
ex-combatants have been disarmed and some 60,666 demobilized since
December last year.

(b)  So far 27 of the 35 IDP camps in Liberia have undergone verification.
This joint exercise includes WFP, LRRRC (Liberia Refugee Repatriation and
Resettlement Commission), camp management, NGOs and WFP implementing
partners. WFP participated in the resettlement working group committee.
The committee agreed that the resettlement and reintegration process will
be undertaken simultaneously, and that WFP and UNMIL's humanitarian
section should analyze the various IDP caseloads and discuss the modality
for their registration for resettlement.

(c)  From 18 to 24 August, a total of 1,595 tons were distributed to over
130,345 beneficiaries, including 125,942 IDPs, as well as 4,405
ex-combatants and dependents

(d)  WFP's nutrition survey report was shared with partners. The report
highlights the existence of a chronic malnutrition rate of about 33
percent and of acute malnutrition among children under 30 months of about
12 percent. WFP is assisting about 4,000 malnourished children
country-wide.

(e)  In addition, on August 19, WFP participated in the MoH's launching of
the Liberia National Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan for the prevention and
control of HIV/AIDS. WFP has completed its HIV/AIDS needs assessment
report. The report will serve as a main reference document for local and
international institutions alike.

(f)  New contributions are urgently needed to avert critical shortages of
over 10,750 tons of cereals, 1,030 tons of pulses and almost 800 tons of
vegetable oil from August to December this year, affecting some 600,000
beneficiaries. Loans of about 4,500 tons of maize meal from WFP Cote
d'Ivoire and of 475 tons of bulgur wheat from Catholic Relief Services
(CRS) in Liberia will help meet some of the cereal requirements for August
and September.


6) Sierra Leone

(a)  From 9 to 22 August, some 240 tons of food were distributed to 28,250
beneficiaries.

(b)  In Kailahun, again a seasonal gradual increase of malnourished
children was registered at the therapeutic feeding center supported by
WFP. The integrated mother and child health care project has been expanded
to 11 district health centers.

(c)  The pipeline continues to face shortfalls.  In December there will be
shortages of pulses, vegetable oil, cereals and CSB, while in November the
shortage will be of CSB only.

(d)  Security measures in WFP sub offices have been intensified



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

1) Regional

(a)  Subject to approval by the Executive Board in October, a three-year
regional PRRO 10310 will start in January 2005 in Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia to assist 5.5 million people with 657,000
tons of food aid, costing USD 404 million. Food requirements and
beneficiary estimates in the 2005 Implementation Plans for the PRRO
include 54,000 tons for 286,000 people in Lesotho, 89,000 tons for 1.5
million rural people in Malawi, 36,000 tons for 488,000 people in
Mozambique, 19,000 tons for 320,000 people in Swaziland, and 39,000 tons
for 639,000 beneficiaries in Zambia.

(b)  Commercial cereal imports have continued in most countries in
Southern Africa, except Zambia, with a total of 135,600 tons being
imported into Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe from April to
July this year. The South African National Crop Estimates Committee
expects commercial maize exports from that country in 2004/05 to be
approximately 490,000 tons to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland and
300,000 tons to Zimbabwe. WFP and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network
(FEWS Net) have set up Cross Border Trade monitoring systems to track
informal movement of food between borders in southern Africa. Preliminary
findings will be released next week.

(c)  Urgent contributions are required for the regional EMOP 10290,
"Targeted Relief to Vulnerable Households in Southern Africa" for Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The EMOP needs 58,400
tons of food to cover shortfalls from August through December and to
provide carry over stocks for the first month of the regional PRRO 10310,
Assistance to Populations in Southern Africa Vulnerable to Food Insecurity
and the Impact of AIDS.


2) Angola

(a)  Due to the drought in the costal areas of western Kuanza-Sul
province, some 16,700 people living in Jombe municipality are in critical
need of assistance. WFP and implementing partners are carrying out a Rapid
Food Needs Assessment from 24 to 28 August. Another assessment mission
comprised of WFP and Government is planned for the coming days in northern
Kwanza Norte province, where over 10,000 people in Banga and Bolongongo
municipalities are reported to be eating roots due to lack of food.

(b)  In northwestern Bengo province, over 2,500 WFP beneficiaries are
still awaiting allocation of farming land by the Provincial Government.
Until the land is made available and planted, the families will continue
to depend on WFP food assistance.

(c)  PRRO 10054.2, Support to Return and Resettlement, remains severely
under funded.  WFP continues to approach donors to secure additional
contributions to allow distributions to continue until next year's
harvest.


3) Lesotho

(a)  From 18 to 24 August, WFP and implementing partners distributed about
1,400 tons of food to some 123,800 beneficiaries. The supplementary
feeding programme provided food to about 12,800 children under five years
of age; 7,600 people suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS and
tuberculosis; 4,200 pregnant and nursing mothers with food through health
centres; 59,700 beneficiaries under Vulnerable Group Feeding; 36,500
orphans and 3,000 beneficiaries under FFW activities.


4) Madagascar

(a)  The price of the staple food (rice) reached a record 4,200 FMG (USD
0.40), an apparent increase of 20 percent from the previous week. The
increase will leave many households vulnerable and food insecure. The
official minimum wage at 256,000 FMG (USD 25) per month is inadequate to
purchase the household monthly food basket. WFP and partners continue to
monitor the food security situation of vulnerable people.


5) Malawi

(a)  Malawi will experience pipeline shortfalls and breaks in all projects
from September onwards amounting to 15,600 tons of cereals; 1,200 tons of
pulses; 221 tons of vegetable oil; and 420 tons of Corn-Soya-Blend (CSB).


6) Mozambique

(a)  A preliminary report from a joint Government and WFP mission to
Chemba, Maringue and Buzi districts (in central Sofala province) indicates
a worsening food security situation. Most of the people interviewed have
food stocks to last only through September and others through October. The
mission report will be released next week.

(b)  Also the Zumbo district administration in the western Tete province
reported that 14,500 people were food insecure in 17 villages. According
to the administrator some of them are abandoning their houses and heading
for Magoe district in search of food aid. WFP is working closely with
cooperating partners to assess the situation.


7) Namibia

(a)  Some 230 Angolan refugees were repatriated this week bringing the
total for the year to date to 1,700 people.  UNHCR and IOM are currently
planning to repatriate refugees by air in September and October. The
number of refugees that will be airlifted is still being discussed.

(b)  About 4,800 orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) received food in
Kavango and Caprivi regions. In September WFP will begin targeted food
distributions to OVC in Ohangena and Oshikoto Regions. Some parts of
Caprivi Region are still inaccessible after the floods early in the year.
Around 3,000 OVC have not been able to receive food rations. This week,
WFP will discuss with the Government plans to use government helicopters
to transport food and possibly distribute double rations to the
beneficiaries.


8) Zambia

(a)  Some 115,000 refugees coming mainly from Angola and the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) are currently receiving food assistance under
Zambia PRRO 10071.1, Food Assistance for Refugees from Angola and
Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of the refugees are not yet
self-sufficient and have no other means of survival apart from food aid.

(b)  PRRO 10070.1 urgently requires 5,100 tons of maize and pulses to
avoid a pipeline break in October. The operation is one of the five
WFP/UNHCR pilot initiatives worldwide where WFP has assumed responsibility
for the final distribution of the basic food ration, previously managed by
UNHCR.


9) Zimbabwe

(a)  The Government of Zimbabwe has gazetted the NGO Bill, with Parliament
expected to debate it within a month. The proposed law will curtail most
NGO activities in human rights and governance issues. It will also bring
NGO operations under tighter government control.

(b)  Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe (FCTZ) has been allowed to resume
food assistance activities in Mashonaland Central province. The local
governor two weeks ago stopped the NGO from operating on allegations that
it was involved in political activities. FCTZ is WFP's cooperating
partner, implementing school feeding activities in the province.

(c)  Last week, independent media reported that Governors in the
drought-prone southern regions of Masvingo, Matabeleland South and
Matabeleland North approached the central Government requesting food
assistance for the food insecure provinces.



F) Asia : (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) Indonesia

1) Bangladesh

(a)  The flood situation continues to improve across most areas.

(b)  Multi-sector efforts continue to bring relief and to aid
rehabilitation for flood affected people in the face of the current
political and civil disturbances. Government efforts are now fully
underway to support rehabilitation, particularly in the agricultural and
banking sectors. Inputs to a further assessment report have been mapped
out with partners of the Disaster Emergency Response group.

(c)  OCHA reported that the UN Flash Appeal to solicit international
assistance has received contributions of over USD28 million to date
against the target of USD 210 million for projects across nine sectors.


2) DPR Korea

(a)  From 21 to 27 August, 17 out of 18 Local Food Production factories
operated. Hamhung noodle factory remained still, as renovation of the
drying oven is in progress. Production for the third week of August was
1,500 tons, which is above weekly average of EMOP 10141.02. Local Food
Production factories will run out of DSM on the west coast in February
next year and run out of sugar by June next year on the East coast.

(b)  With the arrival of several wheat contributions, all but 900,000
beneficiaries will receive their cereal rations in September. The
confirmation of two major contributions (total 175,000 tons) should allow
WFP to feed all its beneficiaries with planned rations from
October-November into the first months of 2005, and pay-back outstanding
loans. However, unless procurement and shipment of those commodities are
expedited, by October cereal distributions to most beneficiaries will be
suspended, as well as distribution of oil and pulses to young children and
pregnant/nursing women on the west coast.


3) Indonesia

(a)  WFP has warmly welcomed the decision by the Government of Indonesia
to exempt humanitarian agencies from its ban on rice imports. WFP now can
resume its normal operations in feeding 1.7 million people, the majority
of them malnourished mothers and their infants.

(b)  The exemption of the rice ban for humanitarian purposes, which has
taken immediate effect, comes six months after the Government stopped all
rice imports in an effort to protect local farmers. Nearly 12,000 tons of
rice destined for WFP beneficiaries was held in warehouses and ports while
additional aid shipments of rice en route to Indonesia had to be diverted
to other destinations during the time the ban was in place. WFP initially
drew on its existing in country stocks until the end of June; when those
stocks ran out, rice was borrowed from the Indonesian Government.

(c)  WFP is not contributing to any distortion of the domestic markets as
the annual humanitarian food aid from all sources to Indonesia makes up
only 0.11 per cent of the total of Indonesia's rice consumption and is not
meant for the commercial market.

(d)  WFP has confirmed its commitment to the Government of Indonesia to
pursue the procurement of rice inside the country.



G) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia, (3) Cuba,
(4) Guatemala, (5) Haiti, (6) Nicaragua, (7) Peru

1) Bolivia

(a)  On 25 August, main roads in La Paz were blocked by taxi drivers to
pressure government to freeze fuel prices or one year.  No agreements were
reached up to now. No major incidents were reported. Heavy rain and snow
storms are affecting people's health, agriculture and infrastructure at
Southwest of Potosi and South and North Lipez.

(b)  The results of the recent joint rapid assessment undertaken by WFP
and UNICEF in 3 municipalities of Cordillera province indicate that 79 to
100 percent of the agricultural production was lost due to severe drought.
WFP in coordination with World Vision and the Ministry of Health is
planning to provide assistance to the most affected municipalities.
Representatives of two of those Municipalities (Gutierrez and Camiri) met
with the Inter-agency Emergency Technical team (UNETE) to request urgent
assistance and to review the current situation, i.e., almost 100 percent
losses in agriculture, lack of water, increase of diseases particularly in
children, and increase of drop-outs at primary schools due to forced
migration of parents in search of employment.  UNETE is finalizing the
assessment undertaken in 16 municipalities to determine the extent of
damages due to the drought.


2) Colombia

(a)  President Alvaro Uribe's offer to release 50 rebel fighters in return
for some 60 hostages was not accepted. The security environment in the
country remains uncertain and volatile.  On 23 August, a bomb went off
near a rural school in the city of San Jose de Fragua, province of
Caqueta, leaving four children wounded.

(b)  WFP and other UN agencies are coordinating humanitarian assistance
for approximately 650 new displaced people in Choco province.

(c)  From 16 to 22 August, in the context of the PRRO 10158, Assistance to
People Displaced by Violence, WFP distributed 60 tons of food in 3
provinces to 5,133 beneficiaries.


3) Cuba

(a)  Hurricane Charley affected more than 2.5 million people including 4
deaths and over 254,000 evacuated. Pinar del Rio, Havana province and city
have been paralyzed now for almost a week.

(b)  The Government has speeded up recovery efforts. Some 27,000 persons
are working in clean up and recovery activities. Health teams fumigated
almost 5,000 homes and buildings in the City of Havana and bulldozers
cleared 145 kilometers of drainage ditches to prevent mosquito
propagation.


4) Guatemala

(a)  In response to drought in the departments of Suchitepequez,
Retalhuleu and El Progreso, a Risk Management Group, under the leadership
of the Commissioner of the National Front against Hunger, has been
established with the active participation of WFP and US PVOs to monitor
the situation, assess loss of crops, and identify the most vulnerable
families affected. The Ministry of Agriculture will distribute food to
over 5,020 families in 56 communities of the departments.

(b)  Some 14,395 children under 5 years of age are showing forms of mild
acute malnutrition in Chiquimula Province.  Should the situation continue
to deteriorate significantly due to loss of crops, more resources would be
needed in the relief component of the regional PRRO 10212 to cope with the
additional needs.


5) Haiti

(a)  The security environment remains uncertain and volatile.
Demonstrations in the streets of Port-au-Prince have been quite frequent
and may increase as Haiti enters the first preparations for elections.

(b)  While MINUSTAH is deploying its staff throughout the country, common
crime, kidnapping and hijacking has worsened.  An international NGO
working in the rural areas of Artibonite received an anonymous letter with
death threats to their staff.  This incident is being taken very
seriously.

(c)  Nevertheless, the current security situation continues to allow WFP
to carry out operations in the areas covered by the CP, the PRRO and the
EMOP. From 16 to 22 August, a total of 71 tons of food has been delivered
by WFP to our partners for a total of 24,300 beneficiaries.

(d)  From 19 to 21 August, a WFP mission visiting Mapou discussed with
partners the use of non-food items in stock on-site.


6) Nicaragua

(a)  According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, drought,
flooding and plagues have caused losses from 20 to 50 percent of the
harvest of beans and maize in 74 municipalities, among which the most
affected are Leon, Chinandega, Madriz, Esteli and Matagalpa. No emergency
has been declared and the Ministry of Agriculture will support the
affected families.  WFP is closely monitoring the situation.

(b)  Families affected by the Cerro Musun mudslide last month are still
located in temporary shelters, causing the return of a number of families
to their houses located in insecure areas. Due to recent mudslides and
flooding in the Atlantic region of Nicaragua, some 126 families living
close to el Cerro Las Maravillas in Rio San Juan were evacuated. From 16
to 22 August, WFP distributed food rations for 30 days totaling almost 18
tons of food to some 2,570 beneficiaries affected by the Musun mudslide in
Rio Blanco and Matiguas.  Also 708 families affected by the flooding in
Prinzapolka received a family ration consisting of 5 commodities for a
period of 18 days.

(c)  WFP continued to distribute food under PRRO 10212.0 covering a total
of some 79,465 school children in the RAAN and in the municipality of
Matagalpa.  In addition, about 10,025 vulnerable children under 2 years of
age, some 8,730 expectant and nursing women and 2,000 poor rural families
are also being assisted in the northern region of the country.

(d)  As of September, the PRRO 10212.0 will face shortfalls of beans (161
tons), rice (138 tons) and of vegetable oil (65 tons).


7) Peru

(a)  After some days of a relatively calm weather situation, rains and
snow problems are announced for the South Andean part of the country,
including Puno and Apurimac.

(b)  During the reporting period, WFP distributed 16 tons of food to more
than 15,000 frost affected IRA/EMOP covered people living in Puno
Department.

(c)  Since 22 August, WFP Peru, is strengthening its operations with the
presence of staff in Puno and Apurimac, coordinating with its partners.



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

(END WFP Emergency Report No. 35, 2004)


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