This report includes: A) Liberia and Sierra Leone B) Burundi,
Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania C) Somalia D) Angola E) Iraq
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
a) Security improves further in Monrovia as ECOMOG reinforces
checkpoints in town, but overall situation is still fluid as
tension mounts among the different warring factions.
b) Continued armed activity in the interior pushes new waves
of internally displaced people closer to Monrovia.
2. Sierra Leone
a) Distribution of WFP food commodities undertaken by ICRC in
the south-eastern region.
B. REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. General
a) WFP Regional Logistics meeting held in Bukavu to review
existing logistics contingency plans for Rwanda and Burundi,
and create a logistics contingency plan for Masisi, Zaire.
2. Burundi
a) Insecurity continues in various parts of the country, but
WFP operation restart in Gitega and Karuzi provinces.
Skirmishes in Bujumbura one km from centre of town.
b) Attacks on Action Contre la Faim lead to halt in their
operations in the province of Ngozi.
3. Zaire - Goma
a) Harassment of private transport contractors working for
WFP by soldiers at military road blocks between the border
points and Katale camp.
4. Rwanda
a) Rwanda Round Table donor meeting in Geneva. Donors pledge
USD 627 million towards total appeal for USD 832 million for
1996/98.
C. SOMALIA
1. Update
a) Cross-border WFP operations to Juba valley area from Kenya
start 22 June, the first cross-border delivery since 1992.
b) Further fighting in southern Mogadishu.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update
a) In Malange, inter-agency meeting with provincial
government sets course for next few months; in the meantime,
security in the city and surrounding area continues tense.
b) Inter-agency mission planned to southern Kuando Kubango.
c) UNAVEM reports urgent food needs for soldiers and family
members in pre-quartering areas.
E. IRAQ
1. Update
a) WFP responds to needs of people newly displaced by
security problems along the border between Turkey and Iraq.
PART II - DETAILS
A. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA
1.1 UNOMIL Observers have started to regularly patrol central
Monrovia, ELWA junction, Camp Schiefflin and Po River in order
to verify the implementation of the Accra Mechanism for
revitalizing the peace process.
1.2 Fighting is reportedly continuing between NPFL and LPC in
south-east of the country as well as in the western region.
1.3 A new warring faction called the Congo Defense Force
(allegedly emanating from NPFL) emerged last week in Bomi
county and was fighting along with ULIMO-K against the ULIMO-
J, over-running Klay and Government Farm.
1.4 Since 9 June, an influx of 4,461 civilians (of whom 45
percent are described as malnourished children) fleeing the
fighting in Government Farm and Sasstown have arrived in the
Po River area. On 25 June, some 700 people arrived in Zwanna
town from Tubmanburg. All new arrivals have been given a two-
week emergency food ration.
1.5 Councilman Kromah is reported to have agreed to the
provision of humanitarian assistance to the civilian
population in Tubmanburg, not accessible since early 1996.
1.6 From 20-25 June, WFP delivered 361 mt of food to about
63,000 beneficiaries in displaced shelters, vulnerable groups
and food-for-work for community-based projects. Since
resumption of food relief operation on 14 April WFP has
distributed a total of 12,000 mt assorted food commodities.
1.7 WFP expects to send a mission this week to Gbarnga and
upper Lofa (Zorzor and Vonjama) to finalize proposed targeted
feeding programmes and check food balances in warehouses.
1.8 As part of the cross-border operation from Cote d'Ivoire
to Liberia, Lutheran World Federation reported that five
convoys carrying seed rice (for a total 149 mt) were sent from
Man to farmers in Nimba and Bong counties last week. Drugs
were also dispatched to the Phebe hospital, close to Gbarnga,
as well as 52 mt of WFP food to be used in the therapeutic
centre run by the French NGO Action Contre la Faim in Gbarnga.
1.9 The heads of UN agencies in Monrovia held a retreat on 19
June on board the M/V Salvator, and recommended that support
be maintained only in critical areas such as malnutrition and
hunger, epidemics, emergency health services, basic education,
refugee protection in shelters along with basic operational
support.
2. SIERRA LEONE
2.1 The Sierra Leone News Agency has reported that 30,000
people have returned to Imperri chiefdom in the Bonthe
district, in southern Sierra Leone.
2.2 On 21 June food supplies were delivered for a caseload of
7,200 IDPs plus 1,562 under-fives at Grafton camp, and to
4,326 Liberian refugees plus 700 under-fives at Jui camp.
2.3 ICRC distributed WFP food commodities in the following
locations:
a) Zimmi: food distribution took place from June 15 to 20.
The distribution was planned for a caseload of 13,000 making
double distribution at WFP safety net ration.
b) Segbwema/Dary: the first food distribution will be
completed by 14 July and the second round will take place on
30 July to a caseload of 120,000 displaced persons/returnees.
c) Pujehun: the first food distribution for a planning
caseload of 10,000 will be effected first week in July.
2.4 About 10,000 returnees (former Sierra Leonean refugees in
Liberia) who are in Zimmi and Segbwema plus Liberian refugees
in the area are facing a food crisis. The situation is
desperate as the emergency ration they are presently receiving
is not enough and medical facilities are poor. People have to
walk six miles to get water. Rebel activities reported in
nearby villages, and groups of marauding bands along the road.
2.5 Security check-points on the highways manned by soldiers
have been reduced in the northern, southern and eastern
regions. Vehicles are now moving freely up-country.
2.6 On 15 June 343 displaced foster families in Bo sponsored
by Plan International received agricultural inputs including
upland and swampland rice, ground nuts and maize. Some 2,200
farmers in the Lomossama chiefdom, Portloko district have
received USD 64,000 for support programmes.
B. REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. GENERAL
1.1 A WFP Regional Logistics meeting was held in Bukavu last
week, with the participation of WFP Logistics Officers from
WFP offices in Rwanda, Burundi, Goma, Bukavu, Nairobi, Kampala
and Tanzania, as well as representatives from Rome HQ and the
Transport Coordination Unit, Kampala. The focus of the meeting
was to review the existing Rwanda and Burundi logistics
contingency plans and to create a logistics contingency plan
for Masisi, Zaire.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 The second round of Mwanza peace talks, called by
mediator Julius Nyerere, took place from 17-18 June. Results
of this negotiation, which included the participation of
representatives from all Burundian political parties, are
reported as being more positive than previous talks. Next
talks are scheduled for 2 July in Mwanza.
2.2 The Bujumbura offices of MSF-Holland and the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies were both attacked by armed intruders on the evening
of 20 June. On 24 June, the Italian Cooperation residence/
office in Bujumbura was broken into by five armed bandits, who
injured the watchman and stole equipment.
2.3 Insecurity continued in many parts of the country.
Bujumbura witnessed skirmishes between the military and rebels
only one kilometre from the centre of town. In Ruyigi,
fighting between rebels and the military left two soldiers and
two Chefs of Zone dead. On 23 June, a grenade attack in the
centre of Bururi killed one person and wounded 12 others. The
following day, a further mine exploded in a Bururi school; no
injuries were reported. Seven persons were killed in Gitega on
23 June (Makebuko commune).
2.4 Action Contre la Faim halted operations in the province
of Ngozi on 21 June, having been the victim of two attacks
during the month, including the recent armed looting of their
Ngozi office. Action Contre la Faim is still active in other
parts of the country.
2.5 In general, the situation in Ngozi and Kirundo remains
stable, while in Muyinga security is tense, especially in the
southern communes. South-western Kayanza province also remains
tense. Some 150 houses in Butaganzwa commune and 35 houses in
Matongo commune in Kayanza province were burned between 20 an
25 June. While many are displaced, constantly fleeing
outbreaks of fighting, there are no signs of food aid being
needed at this time, as the harvest is on-going.
2.6 WFP restarted Gitega/Karuzi operations last week (staff
present from 19-21 June), with several security and needs
assessments. Meetings took place with the Governor of Karuzi,
who has been actively regrouping displaced persons into camps
for both protection and facility of aid. The WFP distribution
team and entire Gitega staff were again deployed on 24 June to
begin distributions in Karuzi sites. Distribution will be
carried out once clearance is given by the provincial
authorities. Overall security situation in the area remains
unpredictable.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 Northern Masisi: 580 people formerly displaced have
returned on their own to the area, where the situation is
presently calm. Commercial traffic to the area has
recommenced. A local NGO has registered some 2,850 displaced
who require assistance to return to their homes.
3.2 Some 300 Tutsis were evacuated by private transporters
from Osso to Goma where they cross into Rwanda as refugees.
3.3 In Southern Masisi, newly displaced villagers from around
Minova, Kirotshe and Bweremana have still not returned to
their villages following last week's confrontation between
Hutu and Hunde forces.
3.4 The UNHCR has announced that they are considering moving
all camps to cell level distributions.
3.5 From 17 to 23 June 1996, 91 trucks with relief supplies
crossed via the Bunagana border. WFP-Goma received 1,654 mt of
maize grain, 163 mt of ICRC oil, and 500 mt of pulses for a
total of 2,317 mt.
3.6 Private transporters engaged by WFP are experiencing
difficulties at military road blocks on the Zairian side of
the route, notably from the border points to Rutshuru. Truck
drivers are forced to pay over cash or diesel at the check
points; some have also reportedly been beaten. At present, the
WFP_s leased fleets, which bear WFP markings, are excluded
from this harassment. WFP has and continues to meet with
military commanders to negotiate safe passage through the road
blocks. The formation of convoys including private trucks and
WFP leased vehicles (leading and ending the convoy) has so far
met with only limited success. WFP is also issuing private
trucks carrying WFP food aid with temporary WFP markings/logos
once they cross the border point.
3.7 WFP operations on the Bunagana route were suspended from
21 June afternoon until 24 June because of a security warning
from the military authorities in that region. WFP trucks were
held at Kisoro and Kabala in Uganda once again causing a slow
down in deliveries and turn around time.
4. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
4.1 The registration operation, which had been disrupted by
refugees, continued in certain camps this week and was again
marked by violence towards the international aid community.
During the delayed second phase of the registration in Kabira
camp, the population again resorted to violence, throwing
rocks at a UNHCR car and injuring several humanitarian
workers.
4.2 About 39 percent of the total population received their
rations during from 17-24 June. Two more camps were registered
and deliveries were made with distributions to follow.
Distributions in the four camps for which caseload figures
have not yet been finalised are scheduled to be carried out
next week.
5. ZAIRE - UVIRA
5.1 Registration of refugees in Uvira camps began by UNHCR on
20 June, with 6 out of 11 camps completed by 25 June. The
census will be complete by the end June.
5.2 Some 450 refugees arrived at Kamanyola camp over the
weekend from Cibitoke province of Burundi. New arrivals come
from the Rugombo commune of the province.
5.3 A mine exploded under a commercial truck on the
escarpment road on 25 June in Uvira near Kamanyola village.
One person was killed and another injured in the incident.
This is the fifth incident in 6 months on the road, which is
used to shuttle both staff and food from Uvira-Bukavu.
5.4 Despite a previous agreement from all concerned parties,
Burundian barges loaded for Uvira have been faced with
administrative problems upon arrival in Zaire. This problem is
presently being addressed by WFP Bukavu with the relevant
authorities.
6. RWANDA
6.1 Rwanda Round Table was held in Geneva on 20-21 June 1996,
with participation of the Government of Rwanda, UNDP
(co-chairs), over thirty donor country representatives and a
number of UN Agencies and NGOs. The Government presented its
eight main objectives for the period 1996-1998 - strengthening
of internal security, revitalisation of the judicial system,
regulation of property disputes, respect of fundamental
liberties, return of refugees, consolidation of the democratic
process, capacity building and national reconciliation - and
appealed for USD 832 million aid for their implementation. The
donor community welcomed the proclaimed objectives and pledged
USD 627 million. Main donors include the EU, the Netherlands,
World Bank and USA. The next Rwanda Round Table is planned for
January 1998, in Kigali.
C. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Following reports of malnutrition in the Juba valley in
southern Somalia resulting from insecurity and food shortages,
WFP began cross-border operations from Kenya on 22 June with
80 mt of maize and 4 mt of oil. This was the first cross-
border delivery since before arrival of UNOSOM in late 1992.
On 23 June, 10 mt of maize and 2 mt of oil were distributed in
Liboi to 1,366 internally displaced people (IDPs); a further
10 mt of maize and 2 mt of oil to 4,100 IDPs in Dobley and 60
mt of maize in Bu'alle and Sakowein to 1,200 families.
1.2 Insecurity in southern Mogadishu increased this week as
fighting between the forces of Osman Otto and the forces of
Mohamed Farah Aideed escalated.
D. ANGOLA
1.1 Further to a meeting last week in Luanda, NGOs and UN
agencies working in Malange met with the Governor and two
Vice-Governors of Malange on 25 June to discuss a common
strategy to improve food security levels. It was agreed that
the strategy should be based on resettlement of displaced
populations and support to the communities of resettlement,
that all possible support should be given to agricultural
production in these communities, that security needs to be
improved in order to prevent the recurrence of this year's
vandalism, that a limited amount of food assistance needs to
be maintained to ensure sufficient food production and that
vulnerable groups within the city need to continue to be
supported. An operational plan is being drawn up as a follow-
up to the meeting.
1.2 UNDP Resident Representative in Nambia visited Luanda
from 19 to 21 June to brief humanitarian agencies and the
donor community on the precarious security situation along the
border with Angola, which Namibian authorities attribute to a
large degree on the lack of food and other basic items which
force the populations in southern Kuando Kubango to cross into
northern Namibia. As a result of this visit and previous
reports of increasing problems in southern Kuando Kubango due
to the tightening of border controls along the Namibian
border, WFP is leading a three-day inter-agency mission to the
area. The mission will visit Likua, Mucusso and Jamba.
1.3 A donation of USD 1 million in non-food items to support
WFP programmes in Angola has been confirmed. The donation is
in response the 1996 UN Consolidated Appeal and will be used
to purchase non-food items to support the demobilization and
reintegration programme in the provinces of Bie, Huambo,
Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul and Uige. WFP Luanda is preparing
with FAO joint programmes to support the reintegration of
demobilised soldiers in these provinces with the backstopping
of these non-food items.
1.4 Demobilisation update: UNAVEM has reported that UNITA
troops and their families assembled in pre-quartering areas in
eastern Moxico and southern Kuando Kubango are in need of food
assistance. UNAVEM has requested WFP to purchase food on their
behalf, which UNAVEM will distribute to these soldiers until
they receive humanitarian assistance in the Quartering areas
(QAs). Meanwhile, WFP is assessing possibility of assisting
the families of these soldiers assembled in Lumbala N'Guimbo
and Cazombo (eastern Moxico). Joint FAA/UNITA representatives
are currently in the four QAs recently declared closed (Vila
Nova, Londuimbali, N'Gove and Negage) selecting those soldiers
to be integrated into the FAA. The total number of quartered
UNITA troops as of 26 June 1996 is 45,900.
E. IRAQ
1. Update
1.1 Security along the border between Turkey and northern
Iraq continues to be an issue. In northern Iraq WFP has been
coordinating with the UN/NGO community to ensure food supplies
and humanitarian assistance to 2,175 newly displaced over the
last two weeks. In the same area WFP provided food aid during
the month of May to 15,000 Kurdish refugees from Turkey and to
87,000 internally displaced and destitute people, within the
framework of WFP emergency operation in Iraq. The target
beneficiary figure for the area is 666,000.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 25 of 1996 - June 27, 1996)