This report includes: A) General: Resourcing Summary for Selected Emergency Operations B) East Africa 1: Regional Operations for Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons in Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi and Tanzania C) East Africa 2: Somalia D) Former Yugoslavia E) CIS: Tajikistan
>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. GENERAL
1. A summary of the resourcing situation for selected WFP emergency operations as of 9 February 1996 is given below.
B. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN RWANDA, ZAIRE, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi: situation remains generally calm; WFP still lacks implementing partner for IDP operations.
2. Rwanda: influx of refugees from Masisi area of Kivu province in Zaire.
3. Zaire - Goma and Bukavu: Zairian military surround Kibumba camp (Goma) on 13 February, and Nyangazi Mulwa camp (Bukavu) on 16 February. Movement in the camps restricted.
4. Tanzania: Rwandan Prime Minister and Ministers explain Rwandan Government policies for returnees to refugees at Chabalisa II camp in Karagwe.
C. EAST AFRICA 2: HORN
1. Somalia: Aideed demands that all UN agencies and International NGOs register with the Ministry of Interior.
D. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina a) WFP continues to accelerate deliveries and divert food aid from other areas, but despite these efforts, food aid shortages still occur in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Shortfalls of cereals are expected to persist until early March. b) Tensions remained high in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but no serious security incidents were reported. Freedom of movement remained good although food aid deliveries were limited due to shortages.
E. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES
1. Tajikistan a) Calm restored after military rebels advance on the capital in early February. b) Increasingly desperate food situation faced by many among the population, and further demands on relief distributions. c) Special Alert issued by FAO on 8 February.
PART II - COUNTRY AND REGIONAL OPERATIONS DETAILS
A. GENERAL
1. SUMMARY OF RESOURCING SITUATION FOR SELECTED WFP EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AS OF 9 FEBRUARY 1996
1.1 As at 9 February 1996, USD 256 million (representing 437,000 mt) of contributions had been confirmed for WFP relief operations world-wide for 1996. The remaining needs for WFP relief operations in 1996 are estimated at 1.3 million mt (USD 760 million).
1.2 The food pipelines for the following relief operations are currently of significant concern to WFP and unless contributions are made available during the coming weeks, serious gaps in distribution will occur during the coming months.
1.3 WFP resourcing situation (in metric tons):
1996 Estimated 1996 Con- 1996 Needs Availability tributions Shortfall
Angola PRO 90,720 5,300 18,850 66,570 Ethiopia PRO 76,000 11,000 12,330 52,670 Georgia 25,733 6,694 - 19,039 Iraq 301,051 50,059 11,907 239,085 DPR Korea 15,785 - 6,500 9,285 Rwanda Reg. 500,608 161,543 100,000 239,065 Sudan PRO 20,246 10,246 2,000 8,000 Tajikistan 32,850 8,208 - 24,624 Uganda PRO 54,625 20,000 5,000 29,625 Former Yugo. 330,657 36,851 94,858 198,948
Definitions: Estimated Availability: WFP in-country stocks as at 31 Dec 95 plus 1995 contributions being delivered in 1996. 1996 Contributions: contributions confirmed by donors in 1996 1996 Shortfall: outstanding 1996 WFP relief needs to be resourced (1996 requirements minus 1996 availability minus 1996 contributions.) PRO: Protracted Refugee/Displaced Person Operation
1.4 Details of operations:
Target Group People to be assisted
Angola IDPs and war affected 1,060,000 Ethiopia PRO Som/Sud/Djb/Ken refugees 419,850 Georgia IDPs and vulnerable groups 300,000 Iraq vulnerable persons 2,151,000 DPR Korea flood victims 500,000 Rwanda Regional conflict victims 2,440,000 Sudan PRO Ethiopian, Eritr. refugees 200,000 Tajikistan IDPs and war affected 400,000 Uganda PRO Sud/Zair/Rwa refugees 250,000 Former Yugoslavia refugees/IDPs/war victims 2,246,600
IDPs: Internally Displaced Persons
B. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN RWANDA, ZAIRE, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Despite a marked sense of calm throughout the country, with the exception of Cibitoke province where reports indicate fighting continues, isolated cases of banditry have been increasing. An administrator for the district of Kirundo (Chef de Zone Baziro) was killed on 7 February. Also in Kirundo town centre, a grenade was launched into the residence of the MIOB (Organization of African Unity Mission of Observation in Burundi). Sporadic gunfire was heard in the suburbs of Bujumbura on the night of 12/13 February.
1.2 Northern Burundi: The lack of an implementing partner for distributions to the displaced population is still hindering WFP operations in the north and northeast.
1.3 The overall situation has been calm in Ngozi since the installation of the new Governor early in January. Meetings continue to take place between his administration and UN/NGO representatives.
1.4 Repatriation: UNHCR, together with the Burundian army, launched an education campaign promoting the return of refugees to Rwanda from the northern camps. This follows the recommendations of the Tripartite Commission, which met in Bujumbura at the end of January 1996, and include the promotion of voluntary repatriation and the progressive closure of refugee camps in Burundi. Teams comprised of an official from UNHCR, a local government official and a senior army officer, have been deployed to each of the four remaining refugee camps (Magara, Kibezi, Ruvumu and Rukurumigabo) in this effort.
1.5 UNHCR reports some 300 persons repatriated voluntarily from Ngozi camps over the reporting period.
1.6 The Bugamara road from Bujumbura to Ngozi remains washed away due to severe flooding last week. Further heavy rains have forced the WTOU fleet to operate without their trailers, reducing capacity by half.
1.7 Tora barge arrived at Bujumbura port, marking the re- start of port activities in Burundi, with some 840 mt food aid. Three additional barges arrived in Uvira over the past week with a total of 892 mt for Bukavu and 1,820 mt for Uvira.
1.8 In country stocks as of 12 Feb: cereals 2,720 mt, oil 82 mt, pulses 1,298 mt, other 427 mt. Total distributions week of 7-13 Feb: 1,900 mt (planning figure per month is 5,070 mt).
2. RWANDA
2.1 A group of unidentified gunmen blew up an electric pylon and a section of water pipeline in the border commune of Nyamyumba, Gisenyi prefecture. Eleven persons were killed in the incident.
2.2 During the past two weeks, transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 6,935 returnees from neighbouring countries. 2,181 returnees arrived at Gisenyi and 97 at Cyanugugu (from Zaire), 1,426 returnees arrived at Butare and 493 at Gikongoro (from Burundi), 2,411 returnees arrived at Kibungo (from Burundi and Tanzania), and 327 arrived at Nyagatare from Uganda.
2.3 According to UNHCR 14,261 refugees repatriated to Rwanda during January. Of this total, 8,848 returnees are "new caseload" and 5,413 are "old caseload"; 8,905 refugees returned in an organised manner facilitated by UNHCR, while 5,357 repatriated spontaneously and 119 were expelled by host governments.
2.4 WFP Rwanda continues to be on a stand-by for a possible forced repatriation operation of refugees from Zaire. Adequate food stocks have been positioned at all transit centres.
2.5 An influx of Masisi refugees from Kivu province in Zaire who arrived in Gisenyi transit centres in the past few weeks, and were listed as "returnees" and considered to be the "old caseload", is presenting a dilemma for Rwanda and UNHCR, as many of those fleeing Masisi are not returning refugees, but rather are Zairians of Rwandan-Tutsi ancestry. Some Tutsis have been in the Masisi region since the early 1900s. The Masisi group have refused to be resettled in various resettlement areas of Rwanda, as they say they have only temporarily fled the insecurity in the Masisi area. One report from the region speaks of an influx of close to 10,000 Masisi refugees, with 4,061 persons arriving in January alone. These people have not yet been officially recognized as refugees, and a solution is being sought.
2.6 Food aid arrivals this past week totalled 900 mt, while distributions were 1,000 mt to 65,547 beneficiaries (planning figure 5,560 mt/month). Food stocks as of 11 February were 7,460 mt (sufficient to meet 36 days requirements in cereals, 45 days in pulses and 38 days in oil.)
3. ZAIRE - GOMA AND BUKAVU
3.1 Action by the Zairian military in Goma and Bukavu:
a) In a further development following the Zairian government announcement of 30 January that movement in and out of Kibumba camp in the Goma area was to be restricted and that further efforts would be taken to encourage the refugees to return to Rwanda, the Zairian military surrounded the camp early on 13 February, taking up positions at intervals of 50 metres around the camp.
b) In a subsequent move, on 16 February, Nyangazi Mulwa camp in Bukavu was enclosed by Zairian military (not Kashushu camp as earlier predicted). The population of Nyangazi Mulwa camp is 26,500.
c) In the camps which have been surrounded, movement has been restricted, commercial activity has been prohibited, and only essential services are allowed.
d) There is a high level of concern and fear on the part of the refugees in all the Goma camps about what will happen in Kibumba. Refugees are described as inflexible and refusing to consider returning to Rwanda at this time. Several thousand refugees have left Kibumba for Kahindo, the closest camp, and an undetermined number of refugees have departed for Katale.
e) Previous to the closure of Nyangazi Mulwa camp, the Vice Governor of South Kivu had held a meeting for all relief organizations in Bukavu on 12 February at which he read a prepared statement from the Vice Prime Minister, who spoke in Goma on 10 February. The Vice Governor stated that the closure of the camps would take place in order to encourage the refugees to return to Rwanda.
f) In spite of the possibility of the closure of camps, there has been no increase in repatriation over the past week. In Goma 308 refugees repatriated during the week compared to 356 during the previous week.
3.2 Goma
a) Fighting and instability continues in the Masisi region, some 80 km west of Goma. Some 1,500 individuals, fleeing tribal war in Masisi, are reported to have arrived at Sake.
b) A gradual increase in the overall caseload is being witnessed weekly (713,235 reported this week compared to 712,807 last week), as a result of the birth rate, which is higher than the death and repatriation rate combined. The breakdown of the refugee population by camp is Katale - 202,000; Kahindo - 112,200; Kibumba - 195,000; Mugunga - 155,000; Lac Vert - 50,000.
c) A land-mine exploded on the Ishasha road, 6 February, damaging a truck; no injuries were reported. The blast occurred 2 km south of Ishasha on the road corridor used by WFP trucks arriving from Kampala.
d) 69 trucks arrived in Goma during the reporting period carrying a total of 1,303 mt of food commodities. Food stocks as of 11 February in cereals were sufficient for 22 days, in pulses for 20 days, and in CSB for 41 days.
3.3 Bukavu
a) Security meetings for UN and NGO staff were held on 9 and 12 February. In the meeting of 9 February participants were warned to avoid the camps as much as possible while on 12 February evacuation procedures were discussed in depth along with contingency plans, should repatriation begin on a large scale.
b) Current food stocks are good: following deliveries to the camps for rations for the next two weeks, stocks on 11 February were enough cereals for 25 days, pulses for 10 days, oil for 15 days and CSB for 31 days. Arrivals totalled 1,115 mt the week of 5-11 February.
c) Market prices continue to rise in line with the sky- rocketing exchange rate, which has reached 22,500 NZ/USD.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 This past week a delegation comprised of the Rwandan Prime Minister and four Cabinet Ministers along with two Ministers from the Government of Tanzania (GOT) and Kagera regional officials met with approximately 15,000 refugees at Chabalisa II camp in Karagwe. The meeting lasted five hours during which time the visitors explained to the refugees the policy of the Rwandan Government for the returnees. The government officials appealed to the refugees to return to Rwanda. The GOT Minister of Foreign Affairs explained his Government's stand, repeating that the refugees should return to their homes as soon as possible, and gave authorization to the Kagera Regional Commissioner to identify some 165 reported intimidators in the camps, who are to be returned to the Rwandan Government. The points discussed raised concern among the refugees and mixed feelings that the GOT might follow through with forced repatriation. In Ngara, the refugees raised questions about security for the returnees in Rwanda and the restitution of their properties. Repatriation rate is currently very low (148 persons this past week).
4.2 The Ministry of Home Affairs is allowing refugees to cultivate crops around their tents but has prohibited any cultivation in the valleys where refugees once grew their crops.
4.3 As of 11 February 1996 the refugee population in Tanzania stood at 622,000. C. EAST AFRICA 2: HORN
1. SOMALIA
1.1 The UN Inter-Agency Assessment Mission led by DHA arrived in Nairobi on 1 February for a five day mission visit that included meetings with Somali leaders in Kismayo, Mogadishu, Bosasso and Hargeisa.
1.2 A spokesman for General Aideed has announced that all UN agencies and International NGOs must register with the Ministry of Interior within the first weeks of February. Non- compliance would be interpreted by Aideed's government as an indication that the organizations were in Somalia for reasons other than relief and rehabilitation.
1.3 Local purchase of cereals by WFP for its operation in Somalia is continuing. 291 mt of local sorghum was delivered in Mogadishu as part of a 400 mt local procurement contract.
1.4 A total of 3,945 mt of food aid has been brought into Mogadishu via the port at El Ma'an since October 1995.
D. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
1.1 Deliveries of WFP food aid to many destinations in Bosnia-Herzegovina have been curtailed as a result of severe food aid shortages and bad weather; Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and eastern Bosnia were particularly affected by lower deliveries. Despite accelerated shipments, wheat flour will be in short supply until at least mid-March, when the first tranche of a 31,000 mt wheat donation from the USA is due to arrive for milling.
1.2 Bosnia-Herzegovina government officials have agreed to replace the WFP wheat flour released without authorization in Tuzla.
1.3 A senior WFP/HQ logistics officer is currently visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina to define a schedule for full implementation of the WFP/UNHCR/ECHO logistics mission's recommendations regarding the gradual shift from UNHCR's international fleet to WFP commercial transport and relevant food aid storage/management.
1.4 Small groups of displaced persons/refugees have begun to return to their homes in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but resettlement and repatriation is proceeding very slowly, and food aid needs and distribution mechanisms have not changed markedly in the last month. WFP does not expect significant population movement to take place until after the winter months.
1.5 Sarajevo: A rifle grenade hit a NATO base in the western Sarajevo suburb of Ilidza on 12 February, but no casualties were reported. Despite this incident and some sporadic sniping, the city remained relatively calm, and freedom of movement was good. Food security continued to slowly improve in Sarajevo, and during the reporting week, 558 mt of WFP food aid were delivered to the city. Deliveries continue to be limited due to food aid shortages in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
1.6 WFP has identified new office premises in Sarajevo, and expects to move its central operations from Zagreb to the Bosnia-Herzegovina capital by 1 March.
E. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES
1. TAJIKISTAN
1.1 In early February, military rebels took over two major towns and advanced on the capital, Dushanbe. After several tense days, the demands of the rebels were met, with many key government figures, including the Prime Minister, having resigned. The events posed the most threatening situation since the civil war in 1992/1993 but the speed of the deterioration in security has been halted, at least temporarily, with calm being restored.
1.2 The humanitarian food needs persist acutely; WFP and the NGOs involved in relief food distribution are faced with a mounting task to feed more and more hungry people. WFP field monitors are reporting increasingly desperate conditions of the vulnerable, with acute shortages of basic food at the household level. With WFP's relief food pipeline covering needs only to April, further contributions are urgently required. Reflecting the deteriorating food supply position, FAO issued a Special Alert on 8 February.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 07 of 1996 - February 16, 1996)