This report includes: A) East Africa: Regional Operations for Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons in Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) West Africa: Angola C) 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: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Regional
a) Regional WFP logistics meeting held in Kigoma, Tanzania.
2. Burundi
a) Attacks on vehicles and fighting have closed the roads from Bujumbura to Bugarama/Kyanza and to Kabezi to all UN traffic unless accompanied by military escort. b) Gaseny displaced camp attacked by armed civilians and houses burned in Cibitoke province. c) WFP starts distributions to IDPs in Muyinga province.
3. Rwanda
a) Regional summit on the humanitarian crises in the sub- region postponed. b) Serious security incidents in Cyangugu Prefecture continue.
4. Zaire - Goma
a) Military surrounding Kibumba camp withdrawn due to lack of pay. b) Displacement from Masisi continues. c) NGOs directed to replace all Rwandan staff with Zairians.
5. Zaire - Bukavu
a) "Commissiare Urbain" orders closure of all social and cultural activities in the camps. B. WEST AFRICA
1. Angola
a) Visits from the Belgium State Secretary for Development Cooperation and representatives of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. b) WFP organizes a convoy from Lobito to Lubango through Chongoroi and Quilengues. c) Nutritional surveys completed by AICF at Gonguembo and by MSF/H at Kalandula. d) Bridge equipment delivered to Saurimo for work on road to Malange.
C. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sarajevo
a) Tensions and incidents of burning and looting increasing as ethnic Serbs flee Sarajevo. WFP gives priority in food aid allocations to those fleeing. b) No food convoys to central Bosnia or Sarajevo due to persistent food aid shortages.
PART II - COUNTRY AND REGIONAL OPERATIONS DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. REGIONAL
1.1 Regional logistics meeting was held in Kigoma, Tanzania during the reporting week to discuss the work of WFP's Transport Coordination Unit, information flow, and evaluation of overall WFP logistics activities in the region, and to review the regional contingency plan.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 Several attacks on vehicles were reported this week by the UN security unit on the road north from Bujumbura to Bugarama/Kyanza. This road has now been closed to all UN traffic unless accompanied by military escort.
2.2 Fighting was reported in southern Bujumbura Rural area around Kabezi. The road from Bujumbura to Kabezi has also been closed.
2.3 In Cibitoke province around Buganda, the Gaseny displaced camp was attacked by armed civilians. Two days later in the same area, several houses were burned in the surrounding hills. No casualties reported.
2.4 A WFP distribution team carried out the first distributions in the northern province of Muyinga to 37,606 IDPs. Another WFP team has been formed to distribute to 8,745 beneficiaries in Bubanza province, if the security situation allows. Arrangements for military escort are being made with authorities in Bubanza and Bujumbura.
2.5 On 5 March, WFP started a forty-five day food distribution package to IDPs in Muyinga province. WFP and local authorities are currently discussing how to better target the assistance. The new caseload is estimated to be 37,606.
3. RWANDA
3.1 A regional summit on the humanitarian crises in the sub-region, originally scheduled to take place in Tunisia in early March, has been postponed, at the request of the Rwandan Ambassador to the UN.
3.2 Serious security incidents continue to be reported from Cyangugu Prefecture. In short succession to the fatal shooting attack on an MSF vehicle last week, a land-mine exploded on a Karengera road frequently used by WFP staff. As a result, UN agencies operating in the Prefecture held a meeting to strengthen security procedures.
3.3 During the reporting week, transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 2,047 returnees from neighbouring countries: 1,070 from Zaire, 428 from Burundi, 370 from Tanzania, and 179 from Uganda.
3.4 According to the latest UNHCR Repatriation Report, a total of 23,061 refugees returned to Rwanda from neighbouring countries during February. The majority (13,580) came from Burundi, 7,677 from Zaire, 1,441 from Tanzania and 434 from Uganda.
3.5 WFP Rwanda will provide food rations to 3,850 returnees from Burundi and Uganda (old and new caseload) in Butare.
3.6 Refugees from the Masisi region of Zaire continued to arrive from Rwanda. Last week, the Gisenyi Transit Centre received a total of 135 persons.
3.7 During the reporting week, WFP Rwanda received 978 mt of food and distributed 615 mt. In-country stocks as of 4 March 1996 stood at 6,962 mt. Shortfalls of 226 mt of oil and 10 mt of sugar are predicted for April. Oil is in short supply for the entire region. 3.8 During the past week, WFP distributed a monthly ration to some 37,075 beneficiaries in all Prefectures of Rwanda, totalling 615 mt.
4. ZAIRE - GOMA
4.1 As of 29 February 1996, the military surrounding Kibumba camp had completely withdrawn because the Zairian Government was unable to continue paying them. The contingent of Zairian soldiers paid by UNHCR to ensure security continues to patrol inside the camp, limiting the reestablishment of major commercial activities.
4.2 The government radio station announced the movement of 11,000 people on 3 March 1996 and another 9,000 on 4 March 1996 from the Masisi region towards Goma, Bukavu and Minova due to the increase in armed conflicts there.
4.3 NGOs, specifically in Kibumba but elsewhere as well, have been directed to replace all of their Rwandan staff with Zairians. This effects mainly camp staff, as refugee staff working outside of the camp were replaced two months ago. According to the local Governor, the international staff of any agency found employing refugees in Goma will be deported, and their local staff imprisoned.
4.4 From 26 February to 3 March 1996, 61 trucks crossed the Ishasha border. WFP Goma received a total of 1,708 mt and WFP Bukavu, 416 mt.
4.5 During the week of 27 February through 5 March 1996, a two week distribution was completed for CSB and maize meal and a four week distribution for salt in all camps. Kibumba and Kahindo also conducted a two week distribution of maize flour. WFP, UNHCR and the distribution partners agreed to distribute 50 grams per person per day of maize meal on a weekly basis in Kibumba, where malnutrition is highest.
4.6 UNHCR officially informed NGOs of the closure of supplementary and therapeutic programmes for malnourished children in all camps but Kibumba due to budgetary constraints. These special feeding programmes are also no longer necessary, as the malnutrition rate in all camps but Kibumuba is under five percent. Only the special feeding programmes in Kibumba will continue to receive funding from UNHCR.
5. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
5.1 The "Commissaire Urbain" in charge of refugees issued a letter ordering the closure of all social and cultural activities in the camps, including schools, formal and informal training, and religious services.
5.2 Deliveries for distributions of rations to cover the period from 12 March through 26 March 1996 began arriving this week. General food distributions for rations to cover the period from 27 February through 12 March 1996 were problem- free.
5.3 This month, UNHCR will start registering babies born during the past six months to include them in family ration cards.
6. TANZANIA
6.1 All refugees in Tanzania during the reporting period received full food rations (i.e., 1,900 kilocalories per day as set by UNHCR and WFP). Current pipeline for some 630,000 refugees is sufficient up to the end of April, except for a shortfall of 46 mt, consisting of 37 mt of salt and 9 mt of sugar.
B. WEST AFRICA
1. ANGOLA
1.1 The Belgium State Secretary for Development Cooperation visited Luanda, Uige, Kuito, Huambo, and Bailundo from 4-8 March to assess the local situation and the potential for further Belgian aid to Angola. A delegation from Swiss Humanitarian Aid also visited Angola during the reporting week. WFP provided logistics support for these visits.
1.2 WFP successfully mounted its first convoy of 130 mt of food aid from Lobito to Lubango through Chongoroi and Quilengues this week without incident. WFP/Lubango and implementing partners are also planning a convoy along the same route in mid-March to deliver humanitarian supplies from Lubango to Quilengues (government area) and Catala (UNITA area).
1.3 AICF completed a nutritional survey at Gonguembo in Kwanza Norte province. Results indicate global and severe malnutrition rates of seven and one percent respectively. The general distribution in Gonguembo conducted jointly by IFRC and the Angola Red Cross since November 1995 is planned to continue through March 1996. WFP and its implementing partners are currently discussing a future strategy for food aid interventions in the area, in light of the lower than expected malnutrition rates. The previous steady flow of residents from Gonguembo to Golungo Alto in search of food aid has now stopped, further indicating an improving food security situation in the area.
1.4 MSF/H completed a nutritional survey at Kalandula in Malange province that indicated global and severe malnutrition rates of nine and 3.1 percent respectively. MSF/H will begin therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes. Preliminary analysis by MSF/H suggests that overall nutritional problems in the area are caused by health problems rather than a lack of food, and therefore, information and education activities to improve key health and nutrition practices, such as weaning, etc. are also required.
1.5 WFP transported 41 mt of bridge materials by air to Saurimo for Swedrelief's road and bridge work on the Saurimo- Malange corridor. WFP/Saurimo is also providing Swedrelief with food-for-work to support locally recruited workers hired by Swedrelief to complete the project.
1.6 This week the Joint Commission visited the quartering areas at Londumbali and Vila Nova, and plans to visit those at Quibala, N'Gove and N'Tuco next week with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG). The WFP Country Director will visit some of these new quartering areas with the DSRSG. Following the visits of the Joint Commission, UNITA troops are expected to begin quartering at these new sites.
1.7 Demobilization update: As of 6 March 1996, the total number of quartered UNITA troops for Vila-Nova, Londuimbali, Negage and Quibaxe was 16,985, of dependents, 3,168, and of weapons handed over, 14,185.
1.8 WFP stocks in-country as of 4 March were 28,502 mt. Foreseen arrivals up to end March are 18,078 mt of cereals, 699 mt of pulses and 323 mt of fish.
1.9 Over the period 26 February to 3 March, a total of 1,532 mt were delivered, 931 by road and 601 mt by air.
C. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
1.1. Tensions within the Federation flared during the reporting week. Tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs continued to flee Sarajevo, with many resettling in areas planned for primarily Muslim resettlement according to the Dayton Accord. Towns receiving Serbs from Sarajevo include Zvornik, Srebrenica, Breko and Visegrad. WFP continues to allocate food aid stocks to those fleeing on a priority basis.
1.2 Food aid shortages severely curtailed convoy movement during the reporting week. No aid convoys ran to major beneficiary centres in central Bosnia, including Zenica, Tuzla and Sarajevo.
1.3 The arrival of 506 mt of food aid to WFP warehouses in Belgrade will temporarily help alleviate some food aid shortages in Republika Srpska.
1.4 Security conditions remain largely unchanged from last week. Freedom of movement is good, and implementation of the peace agreement continues according to plan.
2. Sarajevo
2.1 Ethnic Serbs continue to leave Sarajevo suburbs, with increasing incidents of burning and looting. According to Republika Srpska authorities, an estimated 40,000 Serbs have now fled Sarajevo - the pre-war Serb population was estimated at 70,000. Tension is increasing in the Grbavica neighbourhood, as the date of transfer of authority approaches. Food security in Serb areas remains very poor, and food aid distribution systems have collapsed. Local Red Cross personnel in charge of food distribution have already left the city. Security has deteriorated on the roads out of Sarajevo in the wake of the chaotic Serb exodus.
2.2 For the first time in many months, no food aid convoys reached Sarajevo as a result of persistent food aid shortages.
3. Serbia and Montenegro
3.1 The Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has begun a new census of refugees; results should be available by the end of the month.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 10 of 1996 - March 8, 1996)