This report includes: A) General: Resourcing Situation B) Liberia C) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania
>From B. Szynalski, Director, Operational Policy and Support Division. For information regarding resources, donors are requested to contact Mr. F. Strippoli or Mr. M. Crosthwaite, WFP Rome (Ph. 39 6 5228 2504 or 5228 2004)
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. GENERAL
1. Resourcing situation update
a) A summary of the resourcing situation for selected WFP Emergency Operations as of 1 July 1996 is given below.
b) Contributions totalling USD 616 million (representing one million metric tons of food) have been confirmed for WFP relief operations for 1996. Remaining needs for 1996 are estimated at USD 367 million, or 682,000 mt.
B. LIBERIA
1. Update
a) ECOMOG reinforces its control in Monrovia but fierce fighting still reported from the interior.
b) WFP focuses relief food assistance on internally displaced populations and vulnerable groups.
C. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi
a) Poor security situation remains unchanged.
b) WFP distribution in Karuzi halted as security situation deteriorates further.
2. Zaire - Goma
a) Attack on Kibumba camp warehouse on 27 June, in which three IFRC warehouse staff killed. Zairian Contingent camp near Kibumba camp also attacked, and camp captain killed.
b) Gun-fire reported in previously quiet Masisi centre; southern Masisi near Sake is calm, and people are returning to their villages.
c) Skirmishes reported in Kichanga between Hutu militia and Mayi Mayi warriors.
3. Zaire - Bukavu
a) Final lists from census exercise still awaited for the four largest camps.
b) Reports of clashes between Rwandan and Zairian military on the escarpment road.
4. Zaire - Uvira
a) A further 2,000 refugees arrive in Uvira from Cibitoke province in Burundi.
5. Tanzania
a) Influx of Burundian refugees continues, with 100 persons per day arriving at Keza camp, Ngara; 656 refugees arrived in Kigoma camps between 24 and 30 June.
6. Rwanda
a) Increasing numbers of refugees arrive from Burundi.
b) Zairian refugees from Masisi area now number over 16,000; many of the recently arrived refugees are in poor nutritional condition.
PART II - DETAILS
A. GENERAL
1. SUMMARY OF RESOURCING SITUATION FOR SELECTED WFP EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
1.1 As of 1 July 1996, USD 616 million (representing one million metric tons) of contributions had been confirmed for WFP relief operations for 1996. The remaining needs for WFP relief operations in 1996 are estimated at 682,000 mt (USD 367 million).
1.2 Many relief operations continue to suffer from inadequate cash funding for direct support costs. Funding of the deficit of some USD 6 million is critical for the effective implementation and monitoring of operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Liberia and Uganda, and an additional USD 8 million is needed for Sudan. Monitoring is critical to the successful implementation of any emergency operation and donor support to meet the current total deficit of USD 14 million for these operations is therefore requested.
1.3 The food resourcing pipelines for the following relief operations are currently of significant concern to WFP and unless contributions are confirmed in the near future, serious gaps in distribution will occur during the coming months:
WFP RESOURCING SITUATION FOR SELECTED OPERATIONS (in metric tons; values and shortfall tonnage rounded off)
1996 Total Needs 1996 Resourcing Shortfall MT USD MT USD Afghanistan 180,000 80,247,000 57,400 25,597,000 Ethiopia PRO 93,193 43,454,000 38,200 17,809,000 DPRK 86,335 31,702,000 43,500 15,975,000 Georgia 25,920 16,260,500 15,550 9,752,000 Iraq 321,461 90,125,000 159,300 52,890,000 Liberia PRO 192,578 88,942,000 28,900 13,332,000 Rwanda Reg. 463,133 290,144,500 47,250 26,774,000 Sierra Leone 41,467 24,025,000 30,900 17,924,000* Sudan PRO 44,567 27,810,000 12,400 7,751,000 Sudan EMOP 50,865 51,490,000 20,300 20,567,000 Uganda PRO 54,625 23,366,000 13,450 5,750,000 Former Yugo. 313,037 299,654,000 74,620 71,430,000 *commodities for Sierra Leone operation being borrowed from Liberia Regional pending confirmed contributions. 1.4 Details of operations: Target Group People to be assisted Afghanistan conflict victims & vuln.gr. 1,600,000 Ethiopia PRO Som/Sud/Djb/Ken refugees 419,850 Georgia IDPs and vulnerable groups 300,000 Iraq vulnerable persons 2,151,000 Liberia PRO Reg. Liberian Refugees 1,832,000 Rwanda Regional conflict victims 2,382,000 Sierra Leone IDPs 609,000 Sudan PRO Ethiopian, Eritr. refugees 200,000 Sudan EMOP Displaced & Drought victims 2,100,000 Uganda PRO Sud/Zair/Rwa refugees 250,000 Former Yugoslavia refugees/IDPs/war victims 2,246,600
Definitions: PRO: Protracted Refugee/Displaced Person Operation IDPs: Internally Displaced Persons
B. LIBERIA
1. UPDATE
1.1 In a press conference on 28 June, the ECOMOG Field Commander confirmed that Monrovia and its environs have been restored to safe haven status following search operations during which large quantities of weapons and ammunition were recovered.
1.2 Liberian Peace Council (LPC) forces are reportedly attacking NPFL in the south-east of the country in an attempt to regain positions lost early this year. LPC fighters are moving into Grand Gedeh county in large numbers from the coastal city of Greenville. It is estimated that about 2,000 civilians have crossed the border seeking refuge in Tabou, Cote d'Ivoire.
1.3 Between 26 June and 1 July, WFP distributed about 578 mt of food, mainly for assistance to a new influx of internally displaced populations in the Po River area. A truck convoy delivered 250 mt of food to 38,000 displaced people in shelters located between Kakata and Totota on 29 June. Food commodities have been distributed also to 1,540 workers in Monrovia to ensure the continuous functioning of hospitals, orphanages and telecommunications facilities. Assistance to vulnerable groups included 4,648 individuals in orphanages and distressed children's homes in Monrovia and its environs.
1.4 An influx of some 1,200 persons crossed the Po River on 1-2 July fleeing the fighting in Bomi Hills and Cape Mount county; these people are being provided with a two-week food ration.
1.5 There are over 275,000 displaced people in the regular shelters presently reached with food assistance from Monrovia, of which 217,500 are in Montserrado, 38,000 in Mrgibi and 20,000 in Bong. It is expected that an estimated caseload of a total 152,000 displaced in Bomi and Cape Mount will be accessible soon. In this connection, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, the DHA coordinator and the ECOWAS Ambassador in Monrovia held discussions with ULIMO-K and ULIMO-J leaders for a temporary cease-fire to allow a safe corridor for the provision of humanitarian assistance.
1.6 The cross-border delivery of rice seeds along with bulgur wheat from Cote d'Ivoire to Nimba and Bong counties is progressing with total 622 mt of bulgur delivered 1-20 June. C. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Insecurity continues in Gitega, Karuzi, Cibitoke, Kayanza, Makamba and Ngozi provinces, causing many deaths and injuries and affecting the relief operations of WFP and other agencies.
1.2 Following heavy fighting in Gitega province, priests from Ntita, Murayi and Kibimba were relocated to Gitega town.
1.3 WFP staff, redeployed to Gitega province on 24 June, attempted to complete necessary distribution activities in Gitega and Karuzi. However, due to the insecurity, after distributing 23 mt to 4,075 persons in Butara, WFP was forced to halt activities and the team was re-deployed to Bujumbura 30 June.
1.4 An attack on an IDP camp in Gitaramuka (Karuzi province) on 25 June resulted in four IDPs killed and one soldier wounded. A coffee factory in Bugenyuzi commune (Karuzi) was attacked and burned on 26 June.
1.5 Two hills were attacked in Kayanza province resulting in three dead and 68 houses burned. In Mugina commune (Cibitoke), 30 assailants were killed on 27 June during a military operation.
2. ZAIRE - GOMA
2.1 Armed men attacked the Kibumba Camp extended delivery point (EDP) warehouse on 27 June killing three warehouse staff of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Following the ambush, the Federation closed down their distribution and EDP operations in Kibumba and Kahindo camps for three days while WFP stopped all traffic at the border points for two days. Shortly after this attack, the camp of the Zairian Contingent military unit located one km south of Kibumba camp was attacked, and the captain of the compound and another soldier were killed.
2.2 Exchanges of gun-fire were reported in Masisi centre which was previously calm. Skirmishes in Kichanga between Hutu militia forces and the Mayi Mayi warriors (tribal group) reportedly resulted in some 30 to 50 dead and 20 injured. Some 35 dead were reported in another skirmish between Hutu and Hunde forces in Nyakariba.
2.3 The situation around southern Masisi near Sake is calm, allowing the displaced to return to their villages. The Zairian forces of the Kimya ("calm") military operation in the area have also been reduced.
2.4 Nightly gunfire continues to be heard near camps west of Goma and the general situation remains tense.
2.5 CARE Australia has raised concern over the increase in the death rate among refugee children which accounts for 70 percent of the overall deaths in the camps. This is attributed to the rising trend among refugees of deferring to traditional medicines and practitioners. Following the closure of several camp clinics, refugees have further to walk and longer to wait in order to seek treatment at the remaining clinics.
2.6 Food stocks continue to be built up in Goma, however the operation continues to be hampered by security.
2.7 WFP-Goma received a total of 4,320 mt of foodstuffs. No dispatches by barge to Bukavu were made this week.
3. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
3.1 The census exercise has not yet been completed. Acceptable and verifiable lists are awaited from the four largest camps. The caseload has been set temporarily at 299,650.
3.2 Local authorities have agreed to regroup refugees from Idjwi island in Katonda camp in the north and Karama camp in the south.
3.3 A land mine exploded on the escarpment road, killing one person and injuring five. Gun-fire across the Rwandan border at Panzi took place on 23 June. Clashes between Rwandan and Zairian military reported 28 June on the escarpment road.
3.4 General food supply situation good in spite of low reception due mostly to the security problems north of Goma.
4. ZAIRE - UVIRA
4.1 Results of last week's census exercise in 10 of the 11 refugee camps in Uvira show a reduction in the caseload by about 5 percent, from 190,600 to 181,730. The census in the remaining camp, Kanganiro, will be completed in two weeks. Better targeting of food is expected as a result of the exercise.
4.2 The NGO Initiative Humanitaire Africaine has begun food basket monitoring in three of the four camps where they implement nutritional programmes (Kibogoye, Lubarika and Kajembo camps). Initial results show that quantities actually distributed are close to those planned.
4.3 Continued fighting in Cibitoke province in Burundi has led to the arrival of some 2,000 new refugees in Uvira.
4.4 Zairian barges Ruzizi, Moba, Muhila and Batabwa all discharged in Uvira 26 June-2 July, however Burundian barges Boyogama and Usumbura are still awaiting clearance from the Zairian authorities.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 Refugees who participated in a cross-border visit to Rwanda last week conducted a meeting on their return in various camps in Karagwe, at which they expressed dissatisfaction on the general situation in Rwanda.
5.2 The Burundian refugee influx continues into Ngara, Kigoma and Kagera regions. An average rate of 100 persons per day are reported to be arriving directly at Keza camp in Ngara and a total of 656 refugees arrived at the Kigoma camps from 24-30 June.
6. RWANDA
6.1 Rwanda is witnessing an increasing number of refugees coming from Burundi, not seen in such numbers for several years. During week of 24-30 June, some 1,267 persons arrived in Bugarama, Cyangugu from the north-eastern Burundi province of Cibitoke. (WFP, previous to the new influx, supported a refugee camp in Bugarama of some 500 persons).
6.2 Zairian refugees continue to arrive in Rwanda. Last week, 480 new asylum seekers came to the country, bringing the total to 16,164 persons. The majority of the refugees are assisted in Umubano camp in Gisenyi while some 1,252 await transfer from Nkamira transit centre. WFP continues to provide regular food aid to all Zairian refugees.
6.3 The Zairian refugees have been arriving in poor nutritional condition due to over one month of displacement in Zaire prior to arriving in Rwanda. Supplementary feeding programmes are carried out with the assistance of MSF Belgium. For the next two to three months, an additional 100 gr beans will be distributed to all refugees.
6.4 Repatriation update.
Returnees to Rwanda (Source: UNHCR, 3 July 1996) NEW CASELOAD OLD CASELOAD* TOTAL
Jan-Dec 1995 93,900 146,488 240,388
Jan. 1996 8,848 5,413 14,261 Feb. 1996 13,608 5,330 18,938 Mar. 1996 2,978 2,805 5,783 Apr. 1996 1,694 1,839 3,533 May 1996 2,569 1,777 4,346 Jun. 1996 3,179 1,572 4,751
Total 1996 32,876 18,736 51,612 (to date)
Note: Old caseload refers to refugees who fled Rwanda in 1959.
Breakdown of new caseload returnees (those who left Rwanda in 1994) for the first six months of 1996:
Burundi Tanzania Zaire Month Jan. 1996 5,082 680 3,086 Feb. 1996 9,145 1,402 3,061 Mar. 1996 1,200 454 1,284 Apr. 1996 1,019 51 624 May 1996 1,843 82 544 Jun. 1996 2,243 81 855
TOTAL 20,632 2,750 9,464
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 26 of 1996 - July 5, 1996)