This report includes: A) East Africa: Regional Operations for Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons in Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi and Tanzania B) East Africa 2: Somalia, Sudan C) West Africa: Liberia/Sierra Leone Regional and Angola D) 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 a) WFP activities have resumed in Ngozi, Kirundo, Muyinga, Bujumbura and Bujumbura rural. b) Security throughout the country stable for the time being. 2. Zaire - Goma and Bukavu a) Confrontations between different elements among the Zairian forces in the area lead to tension.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SOMALIA, SUDAN
1. Somalia: DHA Inter-Agency mission currently under way.
2. Sudan: 1996 United Nations Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal for Sudan launched by DHA. Net food requirements are 27,450 mt; direct and indirect costs involved in delivery, including cost of food, are USD 27,398,000. An additional USD 9,922,300 will be required to complete delivery of the stocks carried over from 1995. USD 2,958,700 is requested for road rehabilitation in southern Sudan. C. WEST AFRICA
1. Liberia/Sierra Leone Regional Operation (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea)
a) Liberia: Joint WFP/UNHCR/Donor/NGO assessment mission visited Liberia and Sierra Leone 13 to 27 January; WFP convoys deliver emergency food rations in Tubmanburg; ECOMOG insists on security guarantees from warring factions before commencing deployment.
b) Sierra Leone: Scattered rebel attacks continue in the south-east but the RUF declares that it is ready to open peace talks and accepts a cease-fire starting 23 January; a WFP road convoy reached Bo on 20 January.
2. Angola
a) Missions to the Quartering Areas for demobilizing soldiers, of Londuimbali, Vila Nova, Negage and Quibaxe conclude that all facilities are in place. b) Mr. Cesar Deben, Head of the Food Aid Unit of the European Union's DG VIII visits Angola.
D. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
a) WFP is extremely concerned about reported unauthorised release by local authorities of a significant quantity of WFP wheat flour from stocks held in Tuzla. b) Steps being taken by WFP to alleviate gaps in the food aid pipeline, but serious shortages of wheat flour and other commodities are still projected in late February in Bosnia- Herzegovina, until next scheduled arrivals in March. 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 regular programmes in the western, northern and north- eastern part of the country are now operational. 1.2 The possibility of deploying UN guards in Burundi is being currently assessed. A mission made up of a 5-man technical team including representatives from DHA, and the Commander of the UN Guards in Iraq, who fall under the supervision of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, will be in the country until 3 February to meet with NGOs and Heads of UN agencies for briefings on the concept of UN guards. The primary aim of the mission is look at how humanitarian operations can be supported through protection of humanitarian aid personnel and property, but only under the necessary clearance from the government. A final report of the mission's findings is to be submitted to the UN Secretary General on 20 February.
1.3 Ntamba Refugee Camp: the population in Ntamba camp now stands at some 12,500 persons. Between 3,000 and 4,000 persons managed to cross the Burundian border into Tanzania and have been allowed to remain temporarily as refugees. Conditions at Ntamba camp are under control, with the water supply restored. 1.4 WTOU trucks have completed deliveries of DGVIII donated beans to the WFP depot in Bujumbura. The beans will be moved across to Uvira while the border remains open, for WFP Bukavu to collect. WTOU trucks continue rotations to Ngozi from Bujumbura. Convoys are strictly under military escort.
2. RWANDA
2.1 A recent WFP visit to Bugasera confirmed maize and bean crop losses because of drought. A meeting is to be held with Government officials and agencies involved in emergency food assistance to discuss the findings.
2.2 Ruhengeri, Kibuye and Cyangugu all reported security incidents this past week. In Ruhengeri, the communes of Nyakinama, Nyamutera and Cyabingo (bordering Ruhengeri town) have a 6 pm to 6 am curfew in effect.
2.3 Repatriation: During the past week, transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 4,697 returnees from the neighbouring countries; 3,042 returnees arrived from Zaire, 1,413 from Burundi, and 242 from Tanzania.
2.4 During the past week WFP Rwanda assisted 225,492 beneficiaries through the distribution of 1,108 mt of food aid.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 Firewood distribution in the camps has been improving. This is expected to reduce the need for refugees to cut down trees in the national park.
3.2 The security situation continues to be affected by tension between various parts of the Zairian military in Goma and near-by areas. On 25 January, a minor confrontation between different Zairian military groups led to the arrest of a number of the Masisi based soldiers by Contingent soldiers (in charge of security in the camps) and the firing of rounds into the air. All UN agency and NGO staff in Goma were instructed by UNHCR security to remain in their homes.
3.3 Preparatory stages for six-month renewal of the park protection project (in partnership with GTZ and the EU) concluded. Some 30 mt of WFP food allocated to this project.
3.4 Work on the foundation for the installation of a UNHCR mill at the Mugunga WFP delivery point have started. The first mill, at Katale, is functioning and last week produced 33 mt of maize flour.
4. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
4.1 WFP Bukavu received 1,263 mt of food this week, with an even distribution of about 600 mt from both the north axis (Lake Kivu) and the south axis (Uvira). 4.2 A Zairian colonel of the "Guard Civil" suffered six bullet wounds reportedly from shots fired by the Zairian Red Berets guarding the escarpment road. Tension followed in the town of Bukavu as the local population feared a confrontation between the two regiments.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 A mission consisting of the British Deputy High Commissioner, the Belgian Ambassador and representatives from the US Embassy visited Ngara last week. The mission assessed the recent influx of refugees and discussed the situation in Burundi.
5.2 About 5,000 of the 19,000 refugees of Ntamba camp in Burundi have crossed the border into Tanzania. The refugees are currently in the Muhongo camp, a transit point opened by UNHCR 20 km from the crossing point. Eventually these refugees are to be transferred to Keza.
5.3 In Chabalisa I, II and Karagwe, camp leader elections passed peacefully with most former leaders re-elected.
5.4 During the week 139 persons repatriated to Rwanda from Ngara camps and 4 from Karagwe camps.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SOMALIA AND SUDAN
1. SOMALIA
1.1 The DHA Inter-Agency mission to Somalia is under way.
1.2 Aideed troops have taken control of Huddur located in the Bakool region. Little resistance was met.
1.3 The WFP Luuq office was temporarily closed and all property confiscated by local officials, because WFP could not agree to a series of taxes, fees and rents, which go against the code of conduct agreed upon between the agencies and the Luuq officials for operating in the area. This new taxation system occurred when the leading cleric shiekh was out of the areas. WFP is to hold talks with the shiekh in Kenya in an effort to resolve the matter.
2. SUDAN
2.1 The 1996 United Nations Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal for Sudan was launched by DHA at a meeting of donor representatives in Geneva, on January 29 and 30.
2.2 Projections based on information from the FAO/WFP assessment mission and the Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) assessment mission point to a worsening in the overall food supply situation during 1996. Relief interventions in southern Sudan and the transitional zone will be necessary to provide food assistance to some 2.1 million beneficiaries, targeted at various times of the year, for varying durations and ration levels. Peak relief needs are foreseen during the period April to August. Overall food aid requirements are calculated at 61,395 mt. Taking into account NGO stocks and WFP in-country stocks carried forward from 1995, WFP net food requirements for 1996 stand at 27,450 mt.
2.3 While all direct and indirect costs related to this quantity of 27,450 mt, including the cost of food, are placed at USD 27,398,070, an additional USD 9,922,280 (for air transport, assessment/monitoring and logistics support) will be required to complete delivery of the stocks carried over from 1995. A further USD 2,958,680 is requested from donors for road rehabilitation in southern Sudan to reduce dependence on air transport.
C. WEST AFRICA
1. LIBERIA/SIERRA LEONE REGIONAL OPERATION (LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE, COTE D'IVOIRE AND GUINEA)
1.1 Regional
a) The joint WFP/UNHCR assessment mission to Liberia and Sierra Leone (made with donor and NGO participation) has presented its recommendations following consultations with all interested parties, field visits and a final debriefing with highest Government authorities in both countries. The main recommendations of the mission focus on the shift from general food distribution to resettlement and rehabilitation activities in Liberia. In Sierra Leone, the still fluid security situation would indicate the need for continued relief assistance in the south-eastern provinces but a rigorous verification and re-registration of the beneficiary caseload has been recommended for better targeting of the food and non-food aid.
1.2 Liberia
a) Following the cease-fire between ECOMOG and ULIMO-J in Bomi County, WFP food convoys delivered 248 mt of emergency food to 50,320 civilians trapped in Tubmanburg. As a confidence building measure, ECOMOG and ULIMO-J escorted the convoys. Armed fighters of ULIMO-J are in control of the area, with ECOMOG confined to its base in Tubmanburg.
b) ECOMOG high command has stated that the deployment exercise, which was halted following the attack on its positions on 28 December 1995 by the ULIMO-J faction, shall not re-commence until the Council of State can provide full security guarantees for the peacekeeping forces. There are news reports of ongoing heated public debate over the signing of a "status of forces agreement" between ECOWAS and the Council of State during the disarmament and demobilization exercise.
c) A local NGO conducted an assessment of schools in Lofa county and reports 125 active schools with 12,800 students and 577 support staff. This will allow further expansion of the current WFP supported school feeding programme.
d) A joint WFP/LWF-WS mission has been to Bong and Nimba to assess the number and status of returning refugees from Guinea and the needs for emergency food assistance.
e) In the south-east, a WFP convoy is scheduled to depart for Tapita and Zwedru on 3 February, pending security guarantees from warring factions.
f) WFP stock as of 30 January 96 is 13,305 mt assorted food commodities including 11,115 mt of bulgur wheat.
1.3 SIERRA LEONE
a) After the bloodless coup, the Government of Sierra Leone has formed a new cabinet and reallocated some major portfolios. A voter registration exercise is in process. A decree containing the new electoral laws has been enacted.
b) The RUF announced that it is ready to talk peace without pre-conditions and declared a one week cease-fire, as of 23 January. Although localized attacks have taken place, with substantial numbers of victims, the cease-fire appears to be generally holding into a further week.
c) Taking advantage of the cease-fire, a WFP food convoy with army escort drove to Bo, carrying 97 mt of cornmeal, vegetable oil and CSB.
d) Regular food assistance continues to be delivered to displaced in the camps around Freetown.
e) A WFP emergency airlift to Bo and Kenema began on 9 January, first with a local air company, subsequently replaced by a WFP hired aircraft. This operation will be discontinued if road access to the south-eastern provinces is reestablished under full security conditions.
f) WFP and ICRC are launching a joint cross-border operation from Guinea to provide emergency food assistance to the population in the RUF held Kailahun district. This population has been out of reach since 1991 and their nutritional and health situation is cause for grave concern.
g) Current WFP food stock levels include 2,793 mt cereals, 620 mt veg.oil and 465 mt CSB.
2. ANGOLA
2.1 WFP visited Chongoroi and Caimbambo in Benguela province to assess reports that insufficient rains were threatening crop failure. The maize crop has failed but sorghum, the major cereal crop, has survived the dry spell. No risk of major famine is seen at this time, but food supplies will be very tight until the sorghum harvest around July 1996. WFP is considering reinstating collective kitchens in Caimbambo for the most needy and will scale up its on-going food-for-work activities. In Chongoroi, the same approach will be taken. However, in Chongoroi the majority of the population resides in UNITA administered areas, which WFP is not able to access at this time.
2.2 Mr. Cesar Deben, Head of the Food Aid Unit of the European Union's DG VIII, arrived in Angola 29 January for a one week visit. Discussions were held with WFP.
2.3 WFP has announced that cargo flights to Huambo and Kuito, both of which have been accessible by road for months, will be further reduced. WFP will henceforth use air transport only for fragile non-food items.
2.4 Demobilization: In view of the doubts expressed by UNITA to the effect that the United Nations had not prepared the conditions for the quartering process to start in earnest, and further to Dr. Savimbi's expressed commitment to the demobilization process at the end of the recent UNITA party conference, two missions were organized to assess conditions at the quartering areas. Both missions (one to Londuimbali and Vilanova, the other to Quibaxe and Negage) have confirmed that all necessary food and non-food items are in place as well as water and necessary sanitation supplies. In terms of food requirements for the demobilization programme, 97% of the needs are covered, with the exception of CSB and salt, for which no pledges have so far been received. USD 294,000 (including transport) is required to cover the shortfall.
2.5 WFP stocks in-country as of 29 January were 25,512 mt. Foreseen arrivals up to end February are 6,000 mt of maize, 400 mt of vegoil and 500 mt of CSB.
2.6 Over the period 22 to 28 January 1996, the following quantities were delivered: By air: 597 mt, by road: 1,454 mt Total: 2,051 mt
C. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
1.1 In a disturbing development, 1,500 mt of WFP food aid (wheat flour) stored at the Tuzla mill have been released outside the general distribution system without proper authorization. WFP and UNHCR are meeting with national and cantonal authorities in order to resolve this problem. Given current shortfalls of wheat flour projected for all of Bosnia- Herzegovina in February, unless this quantity of food aid is replaced immediately, over 400,000 beneficiaries will face severe shortages of this staple commodity. Stocks of wheat flour in Metkovic for delivery to central Bosnia (including Sarajevo, Zenica and Tuzla) are already low, and only 70% of the estimated wheat flour requirements for Zenica were delivered in January.
1.2 WFP has arranged to borrow 2,000 mt of wheat flour from CRS - 500 mt of which are already in Sarejevo - for general distribution. In addition, WFP is making arrangements for a consignment of 31,700 mt of wheat ex-United States to be delivered Croatian ports in early March. Other country-wide shortfalls this month are likely to include high protein biscuits and milk powder. WFP continues to urge donors to expedite deliveries, and amend already confirmed pledges to allow purchase and shipment of wheat flour in lieu of other commodities.
1.3 WFP must emphasise again that overall food aid needs have not decreased in Bosnia-Herzegovina this winter, and hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons continue to rely on WFP assistance.
1.4 Meanwhile, access continues to improve throughout the country. Another bridge linking Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina (at Dvor/Bosanski Novi) has been repaired, and WFP-supplied UNHCR convoys have already used this route to supply Banja Luka. Following up the incident reported last week, a UN humanitarian convey was allowed to proceed to Bihac on 25 January without paying requested so-called "entry tolls", despite administrative harassment.
1.5 WFP is expanding its use of commercial transport to deliver food aid to points within Bosnia. Next week, WFP will begin co-ordinating the commercial transport of all food aid direct to municipalities in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina.
1.6 Sarajevo: The security situation was generally calm, but sporadic sniping at IFOR personnel and vehicles continued during the week, resulting in two injuries on the Serb side of the city. People living in the Serb-dominated suburbs of the city continued to remove household goods from their property, worried about impending changes in territorial jurisdiction. Four WFP-coordinated commercial convoys brought in an additional 274 mt food. Access to commercial supplies of food is still very limited by high prices and lack of spending power, especially on the Serb side of the city. The elderly continue to be the group most vulnerable to malnutrition, as many do not have any income nor the means to produce food.
2. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
2.1 A WFP mission is currently in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, assessing the possibility of purchases of food aid to ease projected shortages in Serbia, Montenegro and eastern Slavonia.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 05 of 1996 - February 2, 1996)