This report includes: A) East Africa 1: Regional Operations for Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons in Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) East Africa 2: Sudan and Somalia C) West Africa: Angola D) Former Yugoslavia E) Democratic People's Republic of Korea
>From B. Szynalski, Director, Operational Policy and Support Division. For 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 BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Regional: Presidents of the Great Lakes region states pledged to take measures to encourage the repatriation of Hutu refugees to Rwanda and Burundi at Tunis summit.
2. Burundi: a) Tension reported between refugees and the military from pending closure of Rukaramigabo camp; b) Thousands flee insecurity in Buriri province; c) Militia attack Mpanda IDP camp; d) WFP provides assistance to 2,223 IDPs in the northwest.
3. Rwanda: Customs arrangements streamlined at Kagitumba.
4. Zaire - Goma: a) UNHCR forbids purchase of items from refugees in camps; b) Fighting in Masisi region near Sake moves closer to Mugunga camp.
5. Zaire - Bukavu: UNHCR Security Officer and IFRC call separate meetings to discuss security measures.
6. Zaire - Uvira: MSF-H reports decrease in caseload for special feeding programmes.
7. Tanzania: Arrangements for communal food distribution system in remaining Karagwe camps finalized.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN AND SOMALIA
1. Sudan: a) Southern Sector operations constrained by lack of clearance for aircraft. b) Barge looted and staff abducted but released unharmed.
2. Somalia: a) WFP returns to operations in Bardhere but fails to renegotiate office re-opening in Luuq; b) WFP prioritizes rehabilitation of water reservoirs in Nugal region for drought in the north. C. WEST AFRICA - ANGOLA
1. Update: a) WFP ends assistance to populations in Kwanza Norte and Guonguembo after good harvest; b) Delegation of EU parliament to visit; c) Luvo bridge reconstruction begins; d) WFP demining activities delayed by political concerns.
D. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Update: a) Arrival of two vessels leads to improvement of supply situation; b) Bulk of wheat grain to support WFP effort to rehabilitate mill infrastructure; c) WFP trucks detained in Mostar, but later released.
E. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. WFP-chartered vessel sinks in Taiwan straights with 6538 mt of rice for flood victims.
PART II - COUNTRY AND REGIONAL OPERATIONS DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATIONS FOR REFUGEES/IDPs IN BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. REGIONAL
1.1 The Presidents of Rwanda, Burundi, Zaire, Tanzania and Uganda attended a summit 16 - 18 March in Tunis, Tunisia, and announced political and security measures they pledged to take to encourage the repatriation of 2 million Hutu refugees to Rwanda and Burundi. The summit was organised by the Carter Centre, and mediated by former US President Carter. The Tunis summit was in followup to an initial meeting in Cairo last November. A third meeting is being planned for early May in Atlanta.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 In Rukuramigabo refugee camp, Kirundo province, UNHCR reported tension between refugees and the military after the announcement that the camp will be closed within two weeks.
2.2 The security situation continued to deteriorate in Buriri Province. 23 people were reported killed and several wounded in ambushes and attacks. Several thousand people have fled their homes - WFP will assess what assistance can be given.
2.3 The Bujumbura office of MSF-France was attacked on 8 March, but no casualties were reported.
2.4 Militia attacked the IDP camp of Mpanda, Bubanza province. The army reported four people killed and many wounded.
2.5 A WFP assessment in northwestern Burundi identified 2,223 Burundians displaced by insecurity in need of assistance. A 15 day ad hoc assistance package was distributed immediately.
2.6 Northern Burundi: Over the reporting period, UNHCR figures for repatriation of Rwandan refugees are the lowest since the beginning of the operation, with only 118 refugees having left Burundi. The total caseload for Rwandan refugees in the four remaining camps in northern Burundi is now 90,675, with 14,460 in Rukuramigabo camp.
3. RWANDA
3.1 Customs arrangements have been streamlined at Kagitumba along the lines of other entry points at Rusumo (Kibungo) and Gatuna (Byumba). WFP is assessing the Government's request to assist in rehabilitating customs offices at this border post, as done at the latter two in 1994.
3.2 During the past week, transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 1,250 returnees: 871 from Zaire, 112 from Burundi, 261 from Tanzania and 6 from Uganda. 639 refugees entered Rwanda through Gisenyi transit centre, 232 through Cyangugu, 112 from Butare and 267 from Kibungo.
3.3 WFP Rwanda distributed 1,549 mt of food to 92,700 beneficiaries in all parts of Rwanda. Current food stocks as of 18 March 1996 stood at 7,609 mt of food.
4. ZAIRE - GOMA
4.1 UNHCR circulated a memorandum to all expatriate and national staff forbidding the purchase of any food or non-food items from refugees in the camps.
4.2 Fighting continues in the Masisi region. Sporadic fighting was noted around Sake, moving closer to Mugunga camp. According to government sources, the Zairian Etat-Major General is scheduled to arrive from Kinshasa this weekend with sufficient forces to launch operation "Kimya", which means calm in Swahili.
4.3 90 trucks carrying a 2,325 mt of foodstuffs crossed the Ishasha border. 325 mt were dispatched by barge to Bukavu.
4.4 The cereal ration was decreased from 300 to 250 grams per person per day because of the reduced availability of maize grain in Goma. Direct road transport of maize is being arranged from Mombasa.
5. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
5.1 The UNHCR Security Officer called an urgent meeting in Nyamirangwe to discuss measures to prevent repeated thefts reported at the compounds of IFRC and COOPI (an Italian NGO). The participants agreed to organize night patrols. The IFRC called for a general meeting to discuss the degrading security situation in Kashusha, including harassment of IFRC staff.
5.2 WFP received 660 mt of food commodities during the reporting period. The stock situation is good for all commodities except oil, of which 5 days worth of stock is available. WFP has borrowed 140 mt oil from DGVII for Bukavu and 310 for Goma to be repaid in June against WFP arrivals.
6. ZAIRE - UVIRA 6.1 Caseload in Uvira remains at 175,738 (108,266 Burundians and 67,472 Rwandans).
6.2 MSF-H reported a decrease in caseload of 10 percent at its therapeutic feeding centres and of five percent at its supplementary feeding centres over the past two weeks.
7. TANZANIA
7.1 Arrangements for implementing the communal food distribution system in the remaining camps of Karagwe have been finalized. Beneficiaries in Chabalisa I and II received their food rations under the new system, which is reported to be running smooth.
7.2 As of 17 March 1996, the refugee population was 623,936.
B. EAST AFRICA 2
1. SUDAN
1.1 An airlift of 303 mt to Juba ex-Khartoum commenced on 20 March. Airlift operations from Lokichokkio continue with the BUFFALO aircraft, which delivered 614 mt in February.
1.2 Southern Sector operations are severely constrained: The Government of Sudan has not granted clearance for the C-130 aircraft, the primary means of delivery, and the prospective donor will not commit funds without assurance that the aircraft can be operated without clearance limitations.
1.3 Fifty mt of food plus technical equipment and personal belongings were looted from the barge "DOMA" on the Sobat river near Ogod on 15 March. WFP and barge staff were abducted temporarily but released unharmed. The barge convoy returned to Malakal and Kosti with 300 mt still on board.
1.4 Deliveries to Southern Sudan and the transitional zone during 1996 are projected to reach more than 61,000 mt of food. After taking into account WFP carry-over food stocks from 1995 and NGO resources, WFP needs 27,450 mt of food for 1996: 13,250 mt for the WFP Northern Sector and 14,200 mt for the Southern Sector.
2. SOMALIA
2.1 The Somaliland shilling has depreciated drastically, i.e., from SSLH 850 to SSLH 1,000 in one week. The UN Coordination Team for Somalia has agreed that a new exchange rate for the international community of 10 percent less than the market rate will be tried on an experimental basis by the UN agencies.
2.2 The security situation is still tense in Mogadishu and Baidoa as Aideed's forces continue to clash with the opposition. WFP returned to operations in Bardhere after a one-month suspension of activities. Meetings with elders and authorities in Luuq failed to negotiate conditions for re- opening of the WFP office.
2.3 The drought in the north continues to be worrisome. Localized areas have sporadically experienced early rains, and WFP continues to closely monitor the situation. WFP has prioritized the rehabilitation of 30 water reservoirs in the Nugal region in the northeast as a preventive measure.
2.4 During the reporting period, WFP delivered 688 mt to 58,638 beneficiaries through 185 projects (597 mt through food-for-work activities and 91 mt through relief operations).
C. WEST AFRICA
1. ANGOLA
1.1 In Kwanza Norte since late 1995, 5,200 displaced persons from Dondo have successfully returned to their areas of origin. Given the success of the current harvest, WFP and its implementing partner World Vision have ended food assistance to these households. World Vision will continue to provide health care and medical assistance.
1.2 In Guonguembo, the good results of the first harvest indicate that seed distribution in late 1995 was successful. The area now has abundant reserve food stocks and livestock. As of April 1995, WFP and its implementing partners, IFRC and the Angola Red Cross, will end food assistance to this area. WFP plans to initiate a latrine construction project in the area through MINAR, the national ministry of social affairs, and the local administration.
1.3 A recent WFP mission to Golungo Alto found that high malnutrition levels are not due to lack of food, but rather poor nutritional education and diet, as in most areas of the northern region. WFP, with NGOs operating in the area, is studying the situation to determine appropriate food aid interventions there.
1.4 WFP will provide logistical support to a delegation of the EU parliament which will visit Angola from 23-28 March.
1.5 FAO teams are conducting month-long Rapid Rural Assessments in the provinces of Bie, Benguela, Cunene, Moxico as the first phase of a longer-term agricultural project. WFP, other UN agencies, NGO partners, and MINADER, the national ministry of agriculture and rural development, are providing logistical support, communications, and personnel.
1.6 An ENP (local government agency for road reconstruction) brigade is currently dismantling the collapsed bridge at Luvo en route to Malange as part of an ongoing joint project of WFP, Swedrelief, INEA (national roads ministry) and ENP.
1.7 Political constraints have delayed demining activities between Kuito and Andulo and Tomboco and M'Banza Congo. In Bie, UNITA has refused access for demining or bridge work between Kuito and Andulo and wants the withdrawal of FAA forces before demining can proceed in Zaire province. Both routes are key to WFP, as they give access to the quartering areas in N'Tuco and Andulo.
1.8 CARE announced that it will end its humanitarian assistance programmes in Jamba, Cuando Cubango province, this month due to an increasing lack of cooperation from local administrators and a lack of need for food assistance in the area.
1.9 Demobilization update: As of 20 March 1996, the total number of quartered UNITA troops for Vila Nova, Londuimbal, Negage and Quibax was 16,406, of dependents, 9,176, and of weapons handed over, 14,394.
1.10 WFP has received an EU donation of 800 mt of vegetable oil. WFP is in the process of locally purchasing beans and rice with donations from the Dutch government to fill gaps in the pipeline for WFP regular projects and quartering phase food requirements.
1.11 WFP stocks in-country as of 18 March were 42,343 mt. Foreseen arrivals up to mid-April are 2,400 mt of pulses, 783 mt of vegetable oil, 1,200 mt of rice and 323 mt of fish. Over the period 14 to 20 March, a total of 2,124 mt were delivered: 1,500 mt by land and 624 mt by air.
D. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
1.1 The delivery of food aid in general continued at reduced levels, and distribution in some areas has been halted as a result of shortages.
1.2 However, the arrival of two vessels (the "Araya" and the "Corpus Christi") with a total of 46,700 mt of wheat grain and flour, oil and pulses at the port of Ploce with the first instalments of a US donation on March 15, is leading to improvements in the supply situation. Food has begun to enter the region in greatly increased amounts, and provided relief to the recent shortages of food aid in Bosnia Herzegovina during the reporting period.
1.3 The bulk of the new shipment (31,700 mt) is wheat grain destined for Bosnia mills for processing as part of WFP's effort to aid infrastructure rehabilitation. Deliveries are being made to facilities in Bugogno and Mostar and have also begun to previously restored and utilised plants in Tuzla, Bihac and Sarajevo.
1.4 The Bosnia-wide household vulnerability survey commissioned by WFP and recently carried out by CIET was followed by a two-day workshop presenting survey results and some preliminary analysis. This will be followed up by a comprehensive report to be used in the ongoing revision of food aid needs.
1.5 500 mt of WFP food aid from the March allocation for Serb-side Sarajevo was delivered to Eastern Bosnia for distribution to the 60,000 ethnic Serbs who have fled there.
1.6 During the reporting period, tension in Sarajevo was high, and there were demonstrations in East Mostar and Tuzla. Two WFP commercial trucks were detained in Mostar after delivery, but later released. The March distribution cycle began with even greater shortages than in previous months.
2. Serbia and Montenegro
2.1 Smooth delivery of the recent local purchases of wheat flour continued in Serbia and Montenegro. The "Corpus Christi" is also due to discharge 5,400 mt of wheat flour and 300 mt of oil for distribution in Serb-controlled areas of Bosnia. This will be the first test use of the Montenegran port of Bar for WFP aid since the suspension of sanctions.
E. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
1.1 A WFP-chartered ship carrying the second shipment of food aid for flood victims in DPRK tragically sank on 19 March in heavy weather off the Taiwan straight. Nine crew members were reported to have been rescued, with fifteen men still missing. The shipment consisted of 5635 mt of WFP rice donated by the United States, Switzerland and Australia and 903 mt that WFP was shipping for CARITAS. Because of its insurance arrangements, WFP can immediately release funds to replace the lost cargo. A replacement shipment is currently being negotiated with an estimated arrival of early May. A third lot of 8,265 mt of rice (7,265 of WFP rice and 1,000 mt of rice being shipped for CARITAS) will begin loading in Bangkok in the vessel "Great Best 1" on 25 March and is expected to arrive in Nampo around mid-April.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 12 of 1996 - March 22, 1996)