This report includes: A) East Africa 1: Regional Operations for Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons in Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi and Tanzania B) Southern Africa: Drought operations update C) East Africa 2: Horn D) West Africa: Angola E) Former Yugoslavia
From B. Szynalski, Director, Operational Policy and Support Division. For any information regarding resources donors are requested to contact Ms. B. Karlstrom Dorph, Director, Resources Division, WFP Rome (Ph. 39 6 5228 2500)
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in part II)
A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN RWANDA, ZAIRE, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi: WFP in discussions with UN/NGOs and local authorities, regarding possibilities of resuming relief operations in the north.
2. Rwanda: Security situation relatively calm except in Cyangugu.
3. Zaire - Uvira: Population in Uvira camps at 173,000, as refugees continue to move from villages to camps and from war affected Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces in Burundi.
B. SOUTHERN AFRICA - DROUGHT OPERATIONS UPDATE
1. Update of WFP drought operations and current rainfall conditions in Southern Africa given in Part II.
C. EAST AFRICA 2: HORN
1. FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions show exceptionally good harvests in Ethiopia, average harvests in Sudan and below average harvests in Eritrea. Food assistance needs for vulnerable populations continue in all three countries.
D. WEST AFRICA
1. Angola a) WFP completes convoys along Northern corridor after security delays. b) First WFP convoy to Andulo on behalf of UNAVEM. c) ODA makes pledge towards WFP light aircraft operation.
E. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina a) Food aid convoys continue to move without hindrance to most areas, and NATO deployment has not negatively affected UN relief effort. b) Possible shortage of wheat/wheat flour as early as February unless major confirmed donations are delivered soon. c) IFOR (Implementation Force) troops and equipment continue to be deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
PART II - COUNTRY AND REGIONAL OPERATIONS DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN RWANDA, ZAIRE, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 WFP is meeting with UN agencies, NGOs and local authorities to discuss possibilities of resuming operations in the north.
1.2 The High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms. Ogata, arrived in Bujumbura on 7 January as the personal representative of the UN Secretary General, and met with the Burundian President and the Prime Minister, UN agencies, NGOs and OAU representatives.
1.3 The Government of Burundi has made assurances that concrete measures to insure security to international personnel and the organizations' properties will be taken.
1.4 Relief activity on hold in Bujumbura rural due to insecurity.
1.5 In northern Burundi, UNHCR is continuing to make food deliveries of WFP food to IDP and refugee populations based on WFP's distribution plans. Seven WFP dedicated trucks will make relief food deliveries to the area this weekend (13/14 Jan).
1.6 In the north-western provinces, UN and NGO agency operations are also still on hold because of insecurity. Several thousand people have reportedly left the area and are moving into Zaire or to safe points along the border.
2. RWANDA
2.1 General security situation was relatively calm over the past week except for Cyangugu where five persons were killed and three others seriously wounded following a raid in Gafunzo commune by armed bandits from Zaire. In the same Prefecture, three grenade attacks took place in Kagano commune, but no casualties were reported.
2.2 During the past week, transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 2,505 returnees from neighbouring countries. 1,594 arrived from Zaire, 30 from Tanzania, 792 from Burundi and 119 from Uganda.
2.3 Returnees continue to be received from Masisi in Zaire. During the week a total of 1,084 arrived, out of which 783 were old caseload returnees. Another 538 of this group were found to be Zairian nationals with a Rwandese background who are fleeing due to increased insecurity in Masisi area. UNHCR recognizes them as Zairian refugees in Rwanda and together with GoR authorities will decide where to move them. Meanwhile they are accommodated at the Nkamira transit centre.
2.4 Last week WFP Rwanda assisted 55,709 beneficiaries in all Prefectures of Rwanda, distributing a total of 686 mt.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 Several mine explosions occurred during the week. As in previous incidents over recent weeks, these appear to have no direct relation to the presence of the refugees in the area.
3.2 The Zone Commissioner in Kahindohas has announced that all refugee transporting green wood (i.e. cutting down live trees) will be arrested.
3.3 A total of 2,011 mt of food supplies were delivered to Goma this week.
3.4 Preparations are under way for International Women's day to be held on 8 March. Following the recent workshop on organized distribution held in Kibumba camp last week, meetings will take place in all camps, and involve women's organisations. Main topic to be discussed is the involvement of the women's organisations in relief food distributions.
4. ZAIRE - UVIRA
4.1 People leaving the war affected provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza in Burundi continue to cross into Uvira area. Refugees are also continuing to move from villages into the camps.
4.2 Uvira camp population has reached 173,000 persons. An average of 800 new arrivals per day were confirmed by UNHCR last week. Influx is slowing down at 300 per day at present.
4.3 UNHCR Uvira reports 18,000 new arrivals in the transit camp of Kigogoua and 6,500 in two villages (Ndunda and Sasira) near the border.
B. SOUTHERN AFRICA - DROUGHT OPERATIONS AND RAINFALL UPDATE (LESOTHO, MALAWI, MOZAMBIQUE, SWAZILAND, TANZANIA AND ZAMBIA)
1. LESOTHO
1.1 Assistance to some 350,000 drought affected people through food-for-work activities and free food distribution (vulnerable groups) is proceeding. WFP is working in collaboration with NGOs operating in the country. Stocks are sufficient until termination of the operation, scheduled for June 1996, with no major problems foreseen in the pipeline.
2. MALAWI
2.1 Despatches of relief maize to drought affected beneficiaries continues to move at a satisfactory pace with 1,793 mt of maize being delivered to schools, clinics and food for work projects the week of 25-31 December, bringing the cumulative deliveries to end December to approximately 15,500 mt. Relief imports during recent weeks were negligible and shipments are anxiously awaited to avoid a breakdown in the pipeline. Stocks stand at approximately 19,000 mt, sufficient for a nine week period. The beneficiary planning figure for the 1995/96 relief operation is 475,000 people.
2.2 The commercial market remains critical due to limited government stocks and delayed maize importation. This is related both to regional shortages of commercial maize (including an export ban by Tanzania, the main expected source of regional purchases) and transport restrictions which have hindered importation.
2.3 Rainfall has been favourable during the reporting period and, if maintained throughout the crucial months of early 1996, a favourable outlook for the next harvest is expected.
3. MOZAMBIQUE
3.1 Some 1,176,000 people are currently receiving relief food rations as compared to a planning figure of 848,000. The current beneficiary numbers are 208,000 returnees and 945,600 drought affected in addition to some 22,400 beneficiaries involved in food-for-work activities.
3.2 It is expected that the current food pipeline along with in-country stocks should be sufficient to cover requirements to April 1996. However any delays in the arrival of confirmed pledges could cause ruptures in food distribution.
3.3 Eleven NGOs are currently working with WFP in managing food distributions.
3.4 Rainfall throughout most of the country during the past month has been favourable, leading to extensive planting and good prospects for crops. Some problems of germination of maize experienced in the north, due to inadequate rainfall.
4. SWAZILAND
4.1 Rains have continued steadily since early November throughout the country, with even the driest areas of the lowveld receiving substantial rainfall in December. Waterways have filled to their highest levels in a number of years, reservoirs and dams are generally full, and if rains continue through January and February, prospects for the agricultural season are good.
4.2 In spite of this favourable picture, a core group of food-insecure families is expected to require food assistance until September 1996. These have been affected by the serious soil degradation and drawdown of the water table, which have resulted from four years of drought in the lowveld. The current number of registered beneficiaries stands at approximately 75,000.
4.3 Distributions: government-supplied stocks were distributed prior to November when WFP food began to be distributed. WFP distributions in Nov/Dec were 2,100 mt maize, and 178 mt beans. In-country relief stocks as at 10 January: maize 3,900 mt (108 days supply), beans 122 mt (45 days)
5. TANZANIA
5.1 The Ministry of Agriculture informed FAO on 7 January of the worsening situation of red locusts infestation in Tanzania. A brief meeting was convened between the Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives and the FAO representative, and a formal letter for FAO assistance was presented. Red locusts are presently concentrated in the Rukwa valley, Malagrasi Basin, Ikukativi and Wembere Plains, Kigoma and Bahi in Dodoma. The entire operation is estimated to cost USD 997,470, in order to contain the infestation. Tanzania has made available approximately USD 500,000 and is requesting an additional USD 500,000 from FAO to cover the shortfall.
6. ZAMBIA
6.1 The total food requirements for the drought emergency operation are now well resourced. The target of 80,000 mt has been largely met with over 50,000 mt channelled through WFP. The planning figure is 550,000 recipients. Food distribution is being undertaken by NGOs at the district level and has continued very close to schedule. Transport difficulties are being faced due to bad road conditions caused by the rains. The Government has been urged to look into the possibility of using army 4-wheel drive vehicles in the worst-hit areas.
6.2 The rains are continuing well in many areas although the western and southern provinces have received below average rainfall. In most other places early indications are that crops are getting past the first danger phase, with extensive planting of drought-resistant crops, such as sorghum and millet, having taken place. WFP assistance in the form of sorghum seems to have enhanced this development.
C. EAST AFRICA 2: HORN
1. ERITREA
1.1 The recent FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission concluded that the 1995 harvest in Eritrea would be considerably less than that of 1994. The estimate of cereal and pulse production in 1995 is in the order of 149,000 mt, which is 42% less than 1994 and 25% below the average of the last three years. As a result, with carry-over stocks extremely low, it is expected that the food supply situation in Eritrea will be very difficult in the coming year. Rising cereal prices were already evident in the immediate post harvest period. The Mission estimated that even with an anticipated higher than normal commercial import (much of this expected to come from Ethiopia), a food deficit of some 191,000 mt will remain to be covered by food aid. Of this total, almost 79,000 mt of emergency relief food will be needed to assist the most vulnerable segment of the population, expected to average some 750,000 people over the months March through November 1996. The balance of some 112,000 mt will need to be provided in the form of programme food aid.
1.2 WFP has recently approved an Emergency Operation for Eritrea for the supply of 21,899 mt commodities to assist the repatriation of some 100,000 returnees from Sudan expected to return during 1996. The operation, which represents a total cost to WFP of over USD 9 million, is due to commence shortly.
2. ETHIOPIA
2.1 The FAO/WFP Assessment Mission conducted in Ethiopia in December 1995 has confirmed that the 1995 meher season harvest has been exceptionally good. The mission forcasts a 1995/96 production of cereals and pulses of 9.4 million mt. Because of food insecurity faced by part of the population in the highland regions of North Wollo, South Wollo and some of Tigray, food assistance of up to 291,000 mt will still be needed in 1996 to cover the needs of about 3 million people. Because of the good harvest, no cereal imports will be necessary in 1996. The majority of the 1996 emergency requirement will be covered by in-country carry-over relief stocks and undelivered pledges for the 1995 operation, totalling 186,000 mt. The balance of 105,000 mt are expected to be met by donor-supported local purchases.
3. SUDAN
3.1 The FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Sudan, of 14 November to 6 December 1995, was able to visit all states except those in southern Sudan. Information on the southern states was derived from an earlier FAO Mission and from data obtained by WFP/UNDP/UNICEF during relief operations in the South in 1995. The Mission forecasts the 1995 harvest of sorghum and millet at 3.31 million mt, some 26 percent below last year's exceptional crop but 2 percent above the benchmark five year average of 1988/89 to 1992/93. Compared with last year, sorghum production will be down by 12 percent. In the case of millet, production will be 46 percent less than last year's record crop, but in the traditional sector, still twice as high as average production.
3.2 A total of 61,396 mt of emergency food aid (48,938 mt of cereals and 12,458 mt of non-cereal foods) will be required for a maximum of some 2.1 million persons for 1996, mostly war-affected. A quantity of 27,451 mt (24,137 mt of cereals and 3,314 mt of non-cereal food) will be necessary to augment current stocks, carry-over pledges and pipeline to cover these emergency needs for 1996. International assistance will continue to be required to support the logistics of moving commodities and the initiatives to improve the quality of assessment, monitoring and accountability.
3.3 Cereal production will be particularly low in North and West Kordofan and North Darfur and these states will experience severe deficits which must be met from other surplus states. Although the current high livestock numbers, good pastures and reasonable livestock prices suggest that populations should be able to purchase cereals in these three states, the situation should be carefully monitored.
4. SOMALIA
4.1 A DHA/Inter-Agency Mission is scheduled to visit Somalia during the first week of February. The objectives include agreeing on a humanitarian strategy for continued UN operations, developing a resource mobilization strategy and assisting the agencies working in Somalia in resolving some of the long-standing issues.
4.2 The short rain (dehr) harvest is beginning to come in and preliminary reports point to a "fair to good" harvest. This is significant, given that the larger gu harvest, in August 1995, was much lower than expected. A complete report will be released in the next few weeks.
D. WEST AFRICA
1. ANGOLA
1.1 The Government and UNITA appear newly committed to peace and to cessation of recent hostilities in both the north and south of Angola. The quartering process for soldiers being demobilized is thus expected to begin in the near future.
1.2 WFP successfully completed its first convoys along the northern corridor since 13 December. WFP delivered humanitarian supplies this week by road along this corridor to Quibaxe, Negage, Uige, N'Dalatando, Cacuso, and Malange. Rain is causing problems on some routes with poor road conditions.
1.3 WFP conducted its first convoy to Andulo carrying UNAVEM food stocks for the pre-quartering construction phase.
1.4 The British Government has pledged 200,000 pounds Sterling toward the WFP light aircraft operation. The estimated cost for the light aircraft operation for 1996 is USD 5.5 million. WFP seeks further donor support for this activity which is a critical part of the operations of all humanitarian agencies in Angola.
1.5 Food supply situation: WFP stocks in-country as of 8 January were 18,656 mt. Foreseen arrivals up to end January are 12,775 mt of maize, 2,425 mt of pulses, 950 mt of vegoil and 1,700 mt of CSB. Over the period 2 to 7 January, the following quantities were delivered: by air: 407 mt, by road: 1,085 mt, total: 1,492 mt
E. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
1.1 IFOR troops and equipment continued to be deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and approximately 30,000 soldiers, half of the projected total force, have already arrived in the region. Full deployment is expected to be completed by late February.
1.2 Tensions remained high in Mostar in light of two shooting incidents apparently involving Bosnian Government and Croat forces along the zone of separation.
1.3 Freedom of movement continued to improve for WFP trucks, and WFP-supplied UNHCR convoys have delivered food aid as planned throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina, including to Sarajevo, Gorazde, Zenica, Bihac, and Banja Luka.
1.4 Shortfalls throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina are expected by mid-February unless new donations are confirmed immediately. A shortage of wheat flour would be particularly devastating in the middle of winter, when fewer food sources are available. WFP contingency stocks in Zenica are rapidly being depleted.
1.5 Population movement continues as new territorial boundaries established in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In western Bosnia (in and around Mrkonjic Grad), thousands of people have left their homes, anticipating the impending exchange of territory as per the peace agreement. An increasing number of refugees who have been living in collective centres on the Croatian coast are now returning to Bosnia.
1.6 Sarajevo remained mostly quiet, however one person was killed and several injured when a rocket hit a crowded tram this week. WFP-supplied UNHCR convoys are now entering the city without passing any checkpoints. As a result of improved freedom of movement, the WFP-supplied humanitarian airlift - the largest and longest in history - ended on 9 January.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 02 of 1996 - January 12, 1996)