This report includes: A) Liberia and Sierra Leone B) Democratic People's Republic of Korea C) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania D) Sudan E) Tajikistan
>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. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA (information as of 17 May 1996) a) Cease-fire not holding in Monrovia. Recurrent outbreaks of fighting make overall security situation extremely fragile. b) Withdrawal of ECOMOG troops from their bases in Cape Mount county may lead to a further deterioration of the situation for over 100,000 displaced sheltered around these bases. c) WFP expands relief activities with transhipment of food from Monrovia to Buchanan as well as cross-border delivery from Cote d'Ivoire to up-country Liberia. d) Liberians who fled Monrovia aboard commercial vessels are allowed to land in Freetown and Takoradi ports after one week at sea in appalling conditions.
2. SIERRA LEONE a) Security situation remains fluid as rebel attacks continue up-country.
B. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE~S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK)
1. UPDATE a) Food supply deteriorates further as the country moves into the anticipated hungry summer months until the next harvest in October. b) Joint FAO/WFP Special Alert issued 13 May 1996. While emergency and project food aid needs total 70,550 mt together, the major portion of the food deficit for the whole 1995/96 crop year are estimated at 978,000 mt programme food aid (and needs for period May to September at 400,000 mt). C. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi a) Precarious security situation throughout the country. Attacks on highways delay WFP despatches to Ngozi and Gitega. b) Rebel attacks continue in Cibitoke; Governor killed in ambush on 13 May. Schools are among targets of grenade attacks in Bururi, Ruyigi and Gitega provinces. c) Situation in Ngozi calmer but in Kayanza and Muyinga security tense. ICRC temporarily suspends activities in the northern provinces due to threats to their staff. d) Health centre in Bujumbura attacked 8 May, leaving 8 dead and 30 wounded.
2. Zaire - Goma a) Ambush on three CARE Australia/UNHCR trucks and a civilian pick-up on 10 May, 1 km south of Kibumba camp, 2.5 km north of Goma with 15 deaths, including 5 Zairian military. b) A total of 30 Zairian military killed during the week 8-14 May, between incident above and on-going conflict in Masisi and Rutshuru, leading to increased military presence in Goma.
3. Zaire - Bukavu a) Border between Zaire and Burundi remains closed.
4. Zaire - Uvira a) Burundian refugees continue to arrive in Uvira camps from Cibitoke province.
D. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN a) WFP operation in Sudan faces critical food shortfalls from June 1996, amounting to 23,368 mt. Urgent cash needs are USD 9.8 million.
E. CIS - TAJIKISTAN 1. Update a) Widespread disturbances and fighting erupt once more.
PART II - DETAILS
A. LIBERIA REGIONAL OPERATION AND SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA - UPDATE (information as of 17 May 1996)
1.1 After a few days of relative calm, renewed fighting burst out on Tuesday 14 May in central Monrovia, especially around the New Bridge and Barclay Training Centre barracks. Shooting came closer to Greystone camp, which hosts over 20,000 displaced people, and two persons were killed. New checkpoints manned by NPFL and ULIMO-K fighters have been set up from the New Bridge to West Point. These events have made the city centre and the Greystone camp inaccessible to a WFP food relief convoy which was on stand-by the whole week. Looting and harassment are continuing in central Monrovia.
1.2 Rockets landed in the port area of Monrovia late in the afternoon of 16 May. NPFL fighters tried to enter the port, but were repelled by ECOMOG troops, and ECOMOG remains in control of the port. During the panic resulting from the attack, several hundred people boarded the WFP charter vessel M/V Panther, which was unloading in the port at the time and which then left the port during the remainder of the disturbances; when the situation cooled down later, the vessel was able to berth again and discharging recommenced.
1.3 ECOMOG troops have withdrawn from bases in Bo Waterside and Tiene in Cape Mount county, where 29,000 and 70,000 IDPs, respectively, were sheltered. In Tiene, 45,000 persons had just moved in after their original site of accommodation in Senji had been attacked. Lack of ECOMOG presence in the county will make it extremely difficult to bring relief assistance, as civilian beneficiaries are being directly targeted and harassed by the fighters.
1.4 WFP has shipped 600 mt of food to Buchanan with the chartered vessel M/V Hollgan Star. The cargo arrived just in time to avert an acute food crisis in the town where there are 165,000 residents and internally displaced. CRS has taken delivery of the food and will be carrying out distributions. Some 655 disarmed LPC fighters and their families will also receive food assistance. 1.5 On 7 May, cross-border food convoys resumed from Cote d'Ivoire to Ganta and Sanniquellie in Nimba county, with 80 mt of WFP commodities distributed through LWS to hospitals and vulnerable groups.
1.6 In Monrovia, WFP is continuing to deliver food to accessible areas in town, particularly in Bushroad Island where an estimated 570,000 people have sought refuge. Some 7- 8,000 persons in temporary shelters in Sinkor have also been reached with relief food aid under ECOMOG armed escort. In all, during the period 6-15 May, 426 mt of food were delivered in Monrovia to over 128,000 beneficiaries. The total quantity distributed by WFP from 14 April to mid-May therefore amounts to 2,790 mt.
1.7 The two commercial vessels which left Monrovia during the first week in May with several thousand desperate people on board have finally been allowed to berth in ports in Ghana and Sierra Leone. In Ghana, some 2,000 Liberians have been accommodated in a temporary camp close to Takoradi where medical and food assistance has been provided. WFP sent 10 mt of food from Accra, which was prepared by local NGOs and served as cooked meals the same evening as the people arrived. In Freetown, approximately 1,000 people arrived aboard the M/V Victory Reefer, most of them Sierra Leoneans; there are still 200 Liberian refugees on board, who have been supplied with WFP food. As of 17 May, there was not yet a decision from the Government on whether this group can disembark and whether they will be given refugee status.
2. SIERRA LEONE
2.1 On 6 May, rebels attacked villages in Bo district in southern Sierra Leone, and over 100 civilians were killed. Earlier, on 2 May rebels attacked villages in Kailahun district and left with looted items, but were ordered to return the items to the villages by their commanders, who warned them to respect the cease-fire.
2.2 Following the recent cease-fire violations, an influx of about 240 people in Bo were provided with 4 mt of bulgur and 0.4 mt of veg. oil on 7 May.
2.3 MSF(Holland) concluded a nutritional survey in Kenema town and RTI camp which shows an improvement in the nutritional status of the population. As in Bo and Western area camps, the resumption of general food distribution and NGO selective feeding programmes using WFP airlifted food commodities are considered to be contributing factors. A two month ration of food was distributed in camps in Kenema between 9 and 11 May, to a total of about 8,500 people. A further 53,100 are to receive assistance by the end of the month. B. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK)
1. UPDATE
1.1 Of the 20,925 mt committed to the WFP current emergency operation for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, WFP has now delivered 87 percent. Discharge of the last shipment under the present operation was completed 13 May; distribution of 5,750 mt of rice is under way until mid-June.
1.2 As expected, as the country moves into the lean summer period, the food situation continues to deteriorate. The Public Distribution System (PDS) rations of all basic food staples are reportedly being further reduced. Special rations for children in nurseries and kindergartens are also affected.
1.3 Many people are supplementing their diet with wild greens and other wild plants. Government now tolerates spontaneous "peasant" markets for vegetables, but as only the State is allowed to trade in cereals, no rice is available for sale outside the Public Distribution System. Cross-border trade with China is taking place, in some cases through barter arrangements made by provincial authorities, trading such items as fresh fish and shellfish, or locally quarried marble, for cereals brought to the border areas from other parts of China.
1.4 A WFP nutritional assessment of the three flood-affected provinces was completed 20 April. Collected data are being analyzed and a draft report will be submitted to WFP for final clearance in the near future.
1.5 The joint FAO/WFP Special Alert issued May 13, puts the annual cereal deficit for the 1995/96 crop year at 1,471,000 mt, of which some 1,037,000 mt remains as uncovered import requirements. Food aid requirements until the new crop in October are broken down as follows: emergency food aid of 33,750 mt cereals and 11,800 mt fortified cereal mix (for supplementary programmes for children); and food aid for food- for-work of 25,000 mt cereals. However, the overwhelming component of the deficit is of a structural nature and can only be met through programme food aid or budgetary support for commercial imports. The Alert has quantified the overall needs in this category for the full crop year 1995/1996 as 978,000 mt. For the remaining part of the year, this translates into roughly 400,000 mt and this is the target for which the international community is being alerted to respond, if the government is to maintain minimum ration levels.
1.6 Collation of data for the consolidated DHA appeal has been completed in Pyongyang. A DHA team from NY office is in the country from 14 May, for finalizing the appeal which is expected to be issued by mid June.
C. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 A Zairian delegation composed of the Vice Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived in Burundi 13 May, in an attempt to improve relations between the two countries, and to discuss the subject of security at the border, which has been closed at Gatumba since 6 May.
1.2 Security continues to be precarious throughout the country. Attacks on the national highway leading out of Bujumbura at Bugarama delayed WFP despatches to Ngozi and Gitega. Government authorities have been reluctant to give military escorts.
1.3 Several expatriates were attacked 11 and 12 May in Bujumbura. One international member of the community was shot after being robbed at his residence.
1.4 Rebels reportedly killed 15 persons and left two wounded in Cibitoke 6 May. The Governor of Cibitoke was killed in an ambush on 13 May.
1.5 Frequent grenade explosions, particularly in schools, in Bururi, Ruyigi and Gitega provinces left 28 persons wounded.
1.6 WFP Ngozi staff report that the situation has calmed somewhat over the past week, however, in Kayanza and Muyinga, security is tense. ICRC has temporarily suspended activities in the northern provinces due to threats to their staff.
1.7 The Johnson Health Centre, located in Bujumbura area, was attacked 8 May, resulting in 8 dead and 30 wounded. WFP presently assists some 8,660 IDPs through ad hoc distributions with its partner MSF-Belgium at the Centre and in neighbouring areas. A new head count will be carried out at the Centre allowing WFP to provide further assistance once updated numbers become available.
2. ZAIRE - GOMA
2.1 Three CARE Australia/UNHCR 10-ton trucks and a civilian pick-up were ambushed 1 km south of Kibumba camp, some 2.5 km north of Goma, on 10 May. Among the 15 persons who have died as a result of the attack thus far were three Zairian Contingent soldiers and two members of the Gendarmerie. Robbery does not appear to be the motivation since nothing was stolen, including the truckload of blended food.
2.2 Following this ambush and further conflict in the Masisi and Rutshuru areas, some 30 Zairian military were killed during the week 8-14 May. As a consequence, the military presence in Goma increased over the last week. WFP Goma has updated its evacuation plan. 2.3 Several NGO and private vehicles were confiscated by various military units.
2.4 Women and children are moving out of the Rutshuru area towards Goma. Villages are reported to be regrouping and arming along ethnic lines for their own protection.
2.5 Expatriate, government and military personnel have moved out of the Rutshuru area due to the increased insecurity leaving Katale camp and WFP's extended delivery point (EDP) exposed to possible attacks from combatants. Expatriate staff continue to visit the camp and EDP during the day. WFP plans to let stocks in the EDP run low and to use an alternative warehouse outside the area.
3. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
3.1 The border between Zaire and Burundi remains closed with negotiations under way between the representatives of the two countries.
3.2 Favourable deliveries through northern corridor provide Bukavu with more than the required 600 mt of food per week, allowing WFP to continue building cereal and pulses stocks. Due to resourcing problems, oil and CSB stocks are very low.
4. ZAIRE - UVIRA
4.1 Burundian refugees continue to arrive in Uvira camps after fleeing Cibitoke province. More than 24,000 persons have arrived since end April. 1,000 new arrivals were registered on 13 May, 450 on 14 May and 150 on 15 May.
4.2 Refugees are being registered, assisted and installed by UNHCR within 48 hours. Nutritional screening indicates symptoms of malnutrition among 10 percent of the children aged six months to five years, a proportion consistent with malnutrition rates found in Burundi.
4.3 Refugees are receiving 7 to 15 days general rations, depending on the date of the next regular distribution. About 18,000 new arrivals have been installed in Luberizi camp, while the balance were installed in empty plots in Luvungi, Kagunga, and Runingo camps.
4.4 WFP operations in Uvira are seriously being jeopardised with the closure of the Burundi/Zaire border at Kavimvira (Gatumba) from 6 May, as no movement of either personnel or vehicles are permitted. Food commodities, however, continue to be regularly supplied directly to Uvira port via Kigoma, Tanzania, by barge.
4.5 Official caseload in Uvira at 15 May has risen to 182,757.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 Refugees from Burundi continue to cross into Tanzania through Ngara, Kasulu and Kibondo districts. In Ngara 1,025 new arrivals were registered at Keza camp during the reporting week. Kigoma reported an influx of 310 refugees during the week of whom 198 were registered at Kanembwa camp, 100 at Mtabila camp and 12 at Mkugwa camp.
5.2 In Karagwe, CARE stepped up forest protection by intensifying patrols around Rubwera and Kagenyi camps. The organization completed two surveys on the use of improved stoves and firewood consumption, and organised demonstration sessions to encourage the use of improved stoves. The NGO Swedish Disaster Relief (SDR) continues to implement peat harvesting as a substitute for firewood.
6. RWANDA
6.1 WFP Rwanda is currently assisting 9,400 refugees who fled Masisi and Rutshuru areas in Zaire over recent months. A total 265 mt have thus far been provided by WFP for distribution. A decision on the modalities by which UNHCR will assist this caseload is expected shortly.
6.2 The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is currently in charge of the management of the camp for Zairian refugees in Petite Barriere. The selected implementing partner for general distribution and supplementary feeding is the Rwandan Red Cross.
D. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 With 1996 contributions of only 2,290 mt, the WFP operation in Sudan faces critical food shortfalls from June 1996. Additional contributions are urgently required to cover remaining shortfalls amounting to 23,368 mt, with significant shortfalls expected in June, or WFP's ability to maintain current distribution levels and respond appropriately to new emergency situations will be severely jeopardized.
1.2 Contributions are also urgently required to cover transportation and monitoring costs associated with carry-over stocks which were in the region at the beginning of 1996. A total of USD 9.8 million is required to allow these stocks to be airlifted, distributed and monitored in Southern Sudan.
1.3 Given that WFP has been unable both to transport commodities by surface in a timely manner or to move food commodities by barge operations south of Malakal due to military traffic on the Nile, an airlift of 303 mt food to Juba was carried out 2-26 April.
1.4 Operations from Lokichokkio remain severely curtailed due to restricted access and continued lack of clearance by the Sudanese government for the major airlift/airdrop operation of the C-130. The use of other aircraft during the hungry months from June to August would prove less efficient and much more expensive.
C. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS) - TAJIKISTAN
1. TAJIKISTAN UPDATE 1.1 Widespread disturbances again erupt in Tajikistan. Hostilities between government and rebel forces resumed in central Tavildara region with claims of casualties on both sides. Control of Tavildara by resistance group may lead to situation in which eastern highlands are cut off from the western region. In other incidents, three killed and eight wounded in riots in northern town of Ura-Tyube while thousands of people have protested in Leninabad against government policies.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 19 of 1996 - May 17, 1996)