This report includes: A) East Africa 1: Regional Operation for Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) East Africa 2: Kenya C) West Africa: Regional Operation for Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea and Emergency Operation for Sierra Leone D) Former Yugoslavia.
>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 A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi: a) WFP pulls out entire Gitega office staff; b) Parts of north/central provinces closed to UN personnel; c) Newly displaced persons gather near Ruvumu and Kibezi camps; d) Rehabilitation projects in Ngozi closed for security reasons.
2. Rwanda: a) 1995 WFP food for work (FFW) projects constructed houses and schools, rehabilitated roads, and reclaimed land for food production; b) Permanent site sought for Zairian refugees from Masisi at Nakamira Transit Centre; c) Inter-agency food aid coordination meeting on better targeting of spontaneous returnees and implementing school programmes.
3. Zaire - Goma: a) Mines explode close to airport and Goma border crossing; b) Fighting in Masisi continues - displaced encouraged to go to Rwanda; c) Resource situation for oil critical; d) Increased theft and gang activity follows tighter control of refugee economic coping mechanisms.
4. Zaire - Bukavu: a) Kalehe local population blocks roads to Kabira and Kalehe camps, affecting food delivery; b) Two local NGOs to begin WFP supported FFW project to rehabilitate and maintain Chimanga road.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: KENYA
1. Kakuma Refugee Camp: a) Camp structures damaged, including new structures for distribution, allegedly by members of the Sudanese refugee community; b) Incident disrupts plans to introduce a family head food distribution system; c) Refugees expected to reconstruct damaged facilities.
C. WEST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR LIBERIA, COTE D'IVOIRE AND GUINEA AND EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR SIERRA LEONE
1. Liberia - Monrovia: a) Sporadic fighting continues around BTC barracks, although lull allows civilians to escape; b) Negotiation under way for a political settlement of the crisis; c) WFP resumes food distribution in and around Monrovia one week after the outbreak of fighting on 6 April.
2. Sierra Leone: a) Two month cease-fire ends 14 May - discussions to extend it ongoing; b) WFP pre-positions food in case cease-fire expires; c) WFP/Freetown establishes a Logistics Task Force to provide backstop support for the Liberia crisis.
C. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina: a) Full rations distributed in Bosnia for the first time in many months - deliveries continue to improve food security in the region; b) Second EU/World Bank sponsored pledging conference on reconstruction yields pledges in excess of USD 1.2 billion and new pledges for humanitarian assistance.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Security is tense throughout the country.
1.2 WFP pulled out its entire team of 16 staff members from the Gitega office as a precautionary measure due to insecurity in the town center and throughout the province.
1.3 Security in northern provinces, particularly Ngozi, continues to deteriorate, straining WFP operations. The Ngozi-Muyinga road has been closed several times this week due to insecurity. Fighting was also reported south of Muyinga town, where the road has been off-limits to UN personnel.
1.4 Central Burundi: Karuzi province remains closed to UN personnel for security reasons. The number of displaced persons is estimated to be 42,500, of which 39,500 require immediate assistance. WFP authorized delivery of food aid to cover this caseload on 16 April.
1.5 Southern Burundi: The situation has stabilised in Bururi and Makamba over the past several days, and recently displaced persons are returning to their homes.
1.6 Northern Burundi: Unconfirmed numbers of newly displaced persons have gathered near the Ruvumu and Kibezi camps. No repatriation of Rwandan refugees in the four northern camps was reported over the week. Caseload is stable at 90,266. 1.7 Distribution to internally displaced persons continues in Ngozi. In a meeting with the Governor, WFP agreed to update beneficiary lists at the next distribution, and the Governor confirmed his assurance of security measures at all distribution points. For security reasons, most rehabilitation projects in Ngozi have been suspended. 1.8 An action plan for final distribution of resettlement packages to Burundian repatriates in Kirundo was discussed between WFP and the Governor. Food will be distributed next week under close supervision by the Governor himself to 1,415 beneficiaries.
1.9 Commodity situation during the reporting period: total arrivals - 2,656 mt; total despatches - 3,617 mt; total in-country stocks - 7,598 mt.
2. RWANDA
2.1 WFP distributed 701 mt of food to 45,000 beneficiaries in all parts of Rwanda.
2.2 WFP supported FFW projects in 1995 achieved the following: construction of 1,288 houses and seven schools; rehabilitation of 3,711 km of secondary roads; reclamation of 1,292 hectares of abandoned land and swamps for food production and 620 hectares for the production of tea and coffee; and cultivation of 139 hectares for food crops and 29 hectares for seed multiplication.
2.3 During the past week, transit centres in Rwanda received 774 returnees: 439 from Zaire, 138 from Burundi, 16 from Tanzania and 181 from Uganda.
2.4 In addition to the returnees, some 871 Zairian refugees fleeing fighting in Masisi have arrived in Rwanda. At present, 3,500 are located at the Nkamira Transit Centre. All refugees have been provided with a two-month food ration. UNHCR and the Government of Rwanda are currently searching for a more permanent site for their accommodation. WFP and the UNHCR logistics officers visited Gisenyi prefecture to assess the current situation.
2.5 Following their joint mission to the sub-region, the USAID Administrator and the EU Humanitarian Commissioner stressed that the current level of humanitarian aid is unsustainable in the absence of concrete prospects for a solution to the refugee crisis.
2.6 An inter-agency food aid coordination meeting chaired by WFP, and attended by UNHCR, ICRC, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), SRO 2000, World Vision, the National Red Cross, EU DG VIII, and USAID, focused on establishing mechanisms for better targeting of spontaneous returnees and implementing school programmes.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 Zairian political parties in Goma and the Civil Service Representation issued a joint statement rejecting the UN's proposal that the Rwandan refugees be integrated into Zaire.
3.2 Five mines exploded close to the airport and another near the Goma border crossing.
3.3 Despite the Government's call for peace, fighting in the Masisi continues. Displaced populations have been unable to return to their farms and have thus become more dependent on CARITAS and Eglise du Christ au Zaire food distributions. Approximately 1,000 Tutsis displaced from Masisi were told by the Governor of the North Kivu area that they "should go to where they feel safe". "Safe" was interpreted to mean Rwanda. Another 4,000 Tutsis gathered in Rutshuru, north of Katale camp.
3.4 133 trucks crossed the Ishasha border carrying a total of 3,628 mt of foodstuffs. 916 mt were dispatched by barge to Bukavu.
3.5 Resource situation is critical for oil. ICRC has transferred 1,000 mt to WFP, out of which 500 mt will be delivered to Goma this month for the operation.
3.6 Refugees' economic coping mechanisms have been repressed in all camps. In Kibumba camp, 30 kg of meat were seized from a black-market butcher and destroyed in front of the refugees to emphasis that commercial activities are not permitted. A further six refugees were arrested in Goma for selling meat. Concurrent with restriction of refugees' economic activities, the number of incidents of theft by refugees from farms close to the camps and gang activity at the distribution sites in the camps west of Goma have increased.
3.7 The caseload has been set at 716,824 during the reporting week. A census is tentatively rescheduled for May-June 1996. In the meantime, UNHCR will soon conduct a verification of all caseloads in the camps north of Goma using health cards to validate the ration cards.
3.8 Twenty-one repatriation cases from Katale claim to have come from a village outside the camp. Repatriating refugees continue to be mainly vulnerable persons, including single mothers and the elderly. Refugees in Kahindo camp have indicated that they would consider a massive return following direct negotiations with the Rwandan Government.
3.9 The international NGO ARC in Mugunga has registered two cases of children who died from malnutrition. Many health agencies are unable to admit malnourished children to hospital unless they show secondary signs of other pathologies.
3.10 UNHCR/Goma has closed centers for malnourished children.
4. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
4.1 The Zairian immigration agency has decided that all people arriving to Bukavu must go through Kinshasa. This decision applies also for people who obtain their visas abroad.
4.2 The population of Kalehe region blocked access to UNHCR and its partners on April 12 because the Muwame (king) of Kalehe region failed to receive indemnities for his region from UNHCR. The blockade affects WFP's ability to deliver and monitor food at Kabira and Kalehe camps. Negotiations are under way to clear up the problem.
4.3 A total of 1,136 mt of foodstuffs arrived during the reporting week: 827 mt from Goma and 309 mt from Uvira. 25 out of 227 mt of UNHCR biscuits arrived and were stored in WFP's warehouse.
4.4 No new cases of cholera have been reported on Chayo, Idjwi Island. However, on Magote, a neighbouring site with population 3,029, 17 cases were reported between April 1 and 12, three of whom are Zairians. The general health situation remains satisfactory in all other camps.
4.5 The caseload (313,243) has increased by 1,330 compared to last week (311,913). The difference is due to the continuing registration of newborns.
4.6 On April 10, two local NGOs (Soderza and Sinedure) signed a two-month contract with the "Office des Routes" and WFP to serve as implementing partners for a FFW project to rehabilite and maintain 10 km of Chimanga road.
5. ZAIRE - UVIRA
5.1 Census exercises in the remaining camps will be delayed due to lack of required materials.
6. TANZANIA
6.1 During the reporting week, UNHCR commenced registration of newborns in the camps in Karagwe district. In Chabalisa II camp, 264 babies have been registered. A similar exercise will be carried out in the other camps.
6.2 As of 14 April 1996, the refugee population is reported at 626,905.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: KENYA
1. Kakuma Refugee Camp
1.1 On 27 March, two new structures built by UNHCR and Lutheran World Federation to serve as distribution centres were badly damaged and other camp facilities razed. The food stores at Kakuma were not attacked, and no food was lost. The incident was apparently perpetrated by members of the Sudanese refugee community.
1.2 The incident disrupted plans to introduce a family head food distribution system for issuing rations directly to household heads in accordance with family size from two central points. These plans were made known to the refugees in December 1995, and are in keeping with a new WFP policy to distribute whenever possible directly to households. This system would replace food delivery to multiple locations throughout the camp for distribution to beneficiaries through group elders, which had greater potential for abuse.
1.3 On 2 April, the UNHCR Representative in Kenya, the Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the WFP Country Director visited Kakuma camp to inspect the damage and meet with refugee leaders. The UNHCR Representative told the leaders that March incentive payments would be withheld from refugees, with the funds being used to reconstruct the damaged facilities. The refugees themselves will provide labour without cost to reconstruct the food distribution and other facilities.
1.4 WFP informed the refugees that food would henceforth only be provided at the two distribution points and that family head distribution would be implemented as soon as feasible.
C. WEST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR LIBERIA, COTE D'IVOIRE AND GUINEA AND EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA - MONROVIA
1.1 Fighting in the Barclay training center barracks in downtown Monrovia has somewhat subsided, allowing a number of civilians to evacuate the area. Influx is reported in the West Point area, where there are over 160,000 residents and displaced persons.
1.2 Looting has affected almost all parts of Monrovia, except for the US Embassy, UN compound and the port area secured by ECOMOG troops. UN and NGO offices have been completely devastated, making a rapid resumption of relief activities problematic.
1.3 The extreme scarcity of local food commodities in Monrovia could be further worsened by lack of commercial food imports in the coming weeks, following the exodus of the whole Lebanese and Indian trader community.
1.4 Also of great concern are the poor medical, water and sanitation conditions, which could provoke outbreaks of disease. The early return to Monrovia of medical NGOs and organizations with adequate equipment and stocks of medicines is urgently needed.
1.5 By negotiating return of WFP trucks seized by the fighters and logistic and security support from the US Embassy, WFP was able to restart delivery of emergency food one week after the outburst of violence on April 6.
1.6 Food distributions from 15 April: a) 190 mt to over 42,000 beneficiaries in hospitals and clinics and at the Graystone camp close to the US Embassy; b) 188 mt to 27,500 displaced persons on the outskirts of Monrovia; and c) 91 out of 185 planned mt of food to almost 30,000 displaced 15 miles outside Monrovia.
1.7 Six local NGOs have been mobilized to carry out distribution of WFP food under the supervision and coordination of WFP staff.
1.8 WFP has set up an operational base at the port of Monrovia with a port captain and two logistics officers from its rapid response team and new logistics and emergency support equipment (light vehicle, diesel fuel, spare parts for trucks, and communication equipment).
1.9 Two WFP-chartered vessels have been evacuating non- essential UN staff as well as foreigners and Liberian nationals from Monrovia over the past week. Donors' cash contributions are urged in order to ensure continuation of this shuttle service over the next few weeks.
1.10 A first consignment of 35 mt of UK-donated high energy biscuits are being airlifted to Freetown from WFP's Pisa stocks in Italy for further transhipment to Monrovia, with transport costs paid by the Italian Government. An initial contribution of 15 mt of canned fish was announced by Norway for targeted feeding in Monrovia. Transport cost not covered as yet total USD 70,000.
1.11 WFP commodities at Monrovia port warehouses: 18,000 mt of bulgur wheat; 1,500 mt of pulses; 1,800 mt of vegetable oil; and 1,800 mt of corn-soya blend (CSB). Additional food stocks are stored in CRS warehouses in Monrovia port.
2. SIERRA LEONE
2.1 A second inter-agency exercise is planned to register displaced persons in Bo on April 20 to replicate the simultaneous model used in Kenema in February that donors and food aid agencies consider to have produced accurate population figures.
2.2 The main highways to Segbwema, Bo, Kenema and Makeni are open and food is being delivered to up-country extended delivery points. Food distributions are ongoing in Makeni, Bo and Kenema. Affected populations in Segbwema and Zimmi have not received relief food over the last few months due to insecurity; distribution will start in early May once figures in these two locations are verified by ICRC. WFP is sending 1103 mt for approximately 105,000 displaced persons in the Daru/Segbwema area, and 162 mt to Kenema for forwarding on to Zimmi for an estimated 12,000 beneficiaries.
2.3 Institutional and targeted vulnerable group feeding and general distribution in camps in Freetown is in progress. A total of 68 mt were distributed to displaced and refugee camps around Freetown from 10-15 April.
2.4 WFP currents stock as at 15 April are: 6,114 mt of cereals; 356 mt of vegetable oil; 1,128 mt of CSB; and 1,257 mt of pulses.
D. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
1.1 Full rations are being distributed in Bosnia for the first time in many months with the April distribution. A considerable volume of deliveries continues to improve food security in the region. Some 8,000 mt were moved from the Croatian port of Ploce into Federation territory, while 1,600 mt went from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) to Serbian parts of Bosnia.
1.2 WFP delivered 125 mt of wheat flour to Gorazde, the first delivery by commercial transport of food aid to this former enclave.
1.3 Nearly 2,700 mt were brought to Sarajevo by WFP direct delivery and 480 mt by international convoy. Food security in the city has improved as a result of recent WFP deliveries and the beginning of a new distribution cycle.
1.4 The second EU/World Bank sponsored pledging conference on reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina took place without delegates from the Serbian parts of Bosnia. Pledges in excess of the target of USD 1.2 billion were made, and new pledges for humanitarian assistance were also announced.
2. SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
2.1 A vessel carrying 3,200 mt of EU-donated wheat flour for direct WFP delivery to Bosnia-Herzegovina has arrived and is being discharged at the Montenegran port of Bar. As of 17 April, UNHCR convoys have stopped delivering WFP food aid to the Serbian parts of Bosnia, as all food aid coming via FRY will be delivered directly by WFP on commercial trucks.
2.2 The delivery of the first WFP local purchase of 4,000 mt of wheat flour in FRY is completed and new purchases are under way.
3. CROATIA
3.1 The first test of direct commercial deliveries to Sector East (eastern Slovenia) is expected to be completed in the next few days.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 15 of 1996 - April 19, 1996)