This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) Sudan C) Liberia and Sierra Leone D) Angola 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 WFP Rome (Ph. 39 6 5228 2500)
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi
a) Ninety-three people killed in attack on Teza tea plantation.
b) Heads of State at OAU summit give backing for regional military assistance plan to end the violence in Burundi, agreed upon in Arusha last month.
c) Demonstrators in Bujumbura protest against the plan.
2. Zaire - Uvira
a) Refugees from Cibitoke province continue to arrived in Uvira.
3. Tanzania
a) WFP-leased locomotives from South African Railways arrive in Dar-es-Salaam for WFP/TRC joint rail project; expected to significantly increase food-aid off-take by railway.
4. Rwanda
a) A further 2,500 refugees from Cibitoke arrive in Cyangugu Prefect.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN
1. Update
a) WFP Executive Director appeals to the Government of the Sudan to allow relief flights of the WFP Hercules C-130 to resume to southern Sudan.
C. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. Liberia
a) WFP/UNHCR regional consultations held in Abidjan 1-5 July propose a thorough revision of the food aid assistance and strategy for 1997.
b) Cease-fire in Bomi county appears to be holding. 2. Sierra Leone
a) Cease-fire violations have continued with attacks by rebels in southern and eastern Sierra Leone.
D. ANGOLA
a) NGOs involved in intensive feeding problems face shortage of powdered milk.
b) WFP road convoy reaches Saurimo.
E. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
a) WFP purchasing rice and CSB with funds resulting from prompt donor response to the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal of 6 June.
b) American donation of 13,100 mt of food aid expected to arrive in Nampo mid-August.
c) Confirmed cash donations since 6 June (from USA, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand and an NGO) total USD 14.4 million.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Burundi's main tea plantation, in the Teza region of Muramvya province, was attacked on 3 July, reportedly by Hutu rebels. A nearby displaced camp, housing both employees of the tea factory and other civilians, was also attacked during this incident. At least 93 employees and IDPs were killed. Two soldiers were also killed in the attack. The factory and large quantities of tea stocks were destroyed by fire. Six administrative buildings and 20 trucks were also burned.
1.2 Heads of State meeting at the 32nd session of the Organization of African Unity summit this week in Yaounde, Cameroon, gave unequivocal backing for a regional military assistance plan intended to end the violence in Burundi. The Burundi plan was agreed by a regional summit in Arusha last month and foresees the use of Tanzanian, Ugandan and Ethiopian troops in Burundi in a manner still to be worked out. The OAU currently has a military observation mission in Burundi (MIOB), comprised of 47 observers. Both the Burundian President and Prime Minister were present at the summit.
1.3 Several demonstrations have taken place in Bujumbura over the past week, all protesting the possibility of foreign military intervention in Burundi. Demonstrators included university students and union members.
1.4 National highway RN1, the Bugarama road out Bujumbura, closed until further notice on 9 July due to security problems.
1.5 In Ngozi province, overall security situation is stable, but provincial authorities have recommended that WFP avoid Ruhororo and Tangara communes (WFP food-for-work sites). WFP has also been advised to avoid southern communes bordering Karuzi, Kayanza and Gitega provinces.
1.6 Also in Ngozi, the Ministry of Reinstallation is starting the reinstallation of Burundian repatriates from Rwanda, presently living at refugee camp sites (2,441 persons at Rukuramigabu camp, Kirundo; 582 persons at Ntamba, a former refugee camp in Muyinga; and 1,770 persons at Kiri site in Kirundo). Most of the repatriates are from Kirundo province.
1.7 WFP operations still on hold in the central provinces of Gitega and Karuzi. Security situation remains tense.
2. ZAIRE - GOMA
2.1 The situation in Masisi has calmed significantly with an increasing number of displaced people returning to their villages.
2.2 The rebuilding of WFP Goma buffer stocks (four weeks' worth) has been achieved. Last week a total of 2,677 mt of food was received by Goma and 947 mt was dispatched to Bukavu.
3. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
3.1 Several incidents of shooting occurred on Idjwi Island between 1-7 July. Shooting from across the border into Panzi camp was also reported throughout the night of July 2. Further gun shots were reported on the Uvira/Bukavu escarpment road which runs along Zaire's border with Rwanda and with Burundi.
3.2 Registration: A temporary figure of 299,652 beneficiaries is being used, pending a final decision on the census. Since the registration operation refugees are showing less and less interest in repatriating to Rwanda. 15 refugees returned to Rwanda during last week compared to 32 the week before. 3.3 All economic activities have been stopped in the camps. Zairian contingent soldiers are strictly supervising this and several security incidents have erupted as a consequence.
4. ZAIRE - UVIRA
4.1 Approximately 3,500 refugees from Cibitoke province arrived in Uvira from 29 June-3 July. A further 2,500 refugees from Cibitoke fled to Cyangugu Prefect in Rwanda (see below).
4.2 The census exercise in the remaining camp, Kanganiro, has been completed. Official results are not yet available, but as in other camps, the reduction in beneficiary figures is estimated to be about 5 percent.
4.3 Security incidents have continued to occur on the Uvira/Bukavu escarpment road, prompting Zairian authorities to recommend that sandbags be placed in all vehicles for protection. The Zairian Department of Civil Aviation in Kinshasa issued a three month clearance on 9 July for the WFP Twin Otter to fly into Goma, Bukavu and Uvira, but not directly from Bujumbura.
4.4 WFP was allowed this week to off-load some 705 mt maize, maize meal and CSB stocks loaded on two Burundian barges from Kigoma and waiting afloat at Uvira port since 25 June. Zairian authorities had blocked the consignment from entering Zaire after false allegations that the barges were re-routed from Bujumbura. The authorities have confirmed that they will release the food upon inspection made by the Zairian Ministry of Agriculture.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 New Burundian refugees are arriving at the rate of 280 persons per day.
5.2 A joint WFP, UNHCR and NGO mission visited border areas in the Kigoma region to identify potential stations for possible refugee influxes from Burundi. Three such stations were recommended for submission to the district authorities for approval.
5.3 Four WFP-leased locomotives from SPOORNET (South African Railways) for the WFP/TRC (Tanzanian Railway Corporation) joint rail project arrived in Dar es Salaam on 12 July. The locomotives, which will be dedicated to relief traffic, will have a major impact on the off-take capacity of the railways.
5.4 In Karagwe, UNHCR and OXFAM have expressed their concern about an approaching water shortage in the camps, especially in Chablisa I and II. Camp leaders were advised to control the use of water during the coming three months.
6. RWANDA
6.1 The recent wave of refugees from Cibitoke province in Burundi to Rwanda which began on 27 June has so far resulted in 2,500 recorded arrivals. Some 400-500 of these refugees reportedly opted for repatriation and returned to Mugina commune in Cibitoke last week, while the remaining refugees are in Bugarama communal office awaiting a decision on a more permanent site for accommodation. WFP continues to provide regular assistance to all refugees in the country.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN
1. Update
1.1 In a meeting with the press in New York on 11 July, the WFP Executive Director stressed that 700,000 people face starvation in Southern Sudan because of the continued refusal of the Sudanese Government to allow WFP to use Hercules C-130 aircraft to make urgently needed airdrops of food. The C-130 plays a major role in the delivery system of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS). The use of the aircraft was barred by the government in September 1995. Bahr El Ghazal is the area most seriously affected by the absence of food delivered by airdrops and already signs of serious malnutrition have been observed by OLS staff.
1.2 In the absence of the C-130, WFP has been able to deliver only 20 percent of assessed needs during January to June, using smaller aircraft, which are less cost-effective and consume vitally-needed resources.
1.3 There has been a tendency among donors to delay 1996 commitments pending resolution of the aircraft problem and the issuance of the report on the OLS Review. In the meantime, SPLA/M has indicated it will interdict deliveries by air and by barge which are passing through areas under its control to Government held areas. Without clear signs of donor solidarity with the tripartite agreement, which established OLS in 1989, WFP's operations in Sudan will become less and less effective.
1.4 Operation Lifeline Sudan is carried out in partnership with UNICEF and in association with 40 NGOs.
C. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA REGIONAL OPERATION
1.1 Joint WFP/UNHCR regional consultation meetings, with major donors and NGO participation, were held in Abidjan between 1 and 5 July. The meetings focused on the splitting of the regional food relief intervention into two separate operations. The Liberian internally displaced and Liberian refugees in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana will be covered under the existing WFP protracted refugee and displaced persons operation, while the Sierra Leonean internally displaced and refugees in Guinea will be assisted under a separate protracted refugee/displaced persons operation, from the beginning of 1997.
1.2 As regards food delivery modalities, general distribution will be phased out at the end of 1996 in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Liberia, with the exception of some 600,000 internally displaced in the latter country. In addition to this group, it is proposed that 900,000 beneficiaries in the four countries continue to be assisted through targeted feeding programmes supporting vulnerable groups, emergency school canteens and food-for-work activities.
1.3 Due to the chronic insecurity in Liberia, only limited food stocks will be maintained in the country, but cross-border delivery (as well as coastal transhipments) of food and non-food items from neighbouring countries, especially Cote d'Ivoire, into safe accessible areas of the interior, are to be increased.
1.4 The leadership of ULIMO-J has issued a public statement confirming the cease-fire in Tubmanburg, Bomi county. A similar announcement is expected from ULIMO-K. However, the new warring faction, Congo Defense Forces, has denounced the truce and does not recognize the cease-fire.
1.5 African heads of state, meeting at the annual summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Yaounde this week, warned the Liberian warlords that they might press for a UN resolution to impose drastic sanctions, including the setting up of a war crimes tribunal, if regional efforts fail to produce a lasting solution this month.
1.6 A Summit Meeting of the ECOWAS heads of state is planned on 26-27 July in Nigeria to discuss the Liberian crisis.
1.7 During the period 3-9 July, WFP distributed some 380 mt of food in and around Monrovia in favour of 34,800 internally displaced persons and refugees living in VOA-1, Zwanna town and Coffee farm, 1,250 malnourished children under therapeutic feeding programme implemented by the French NGO Action Contre la Faim in the VOA camp, and 350 demobilized fighters from the LPC faction in Buchanan. A further 44 mt of food were distributed to public agencies as food-for-work for cleaning their premises and resuming essential services. 1.8 A WFP mission with implementing local NGO visited upper Lofa from 28 June to 8 July and prepared a food distribution plan for total 150 mt in favour of schools, vulnerable groups and FFW activities in Vonjama, Kolahun, Foya and Vahun districts.
2. SIERRA LEONE
2.1 Cease-fire violations have persisted in the last few weeks. Last week rebels attacked Bumpeh and Pendeh in Bo district southern Sierra Leone. Eight people were wounded, an unspecified number of civilians killed and several abducted. Four women who refused to accompany the rebels had their hands amputated. Food items were also looted.
2.2 No date has yet been set for a resumption of talks between the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF rebels, were suspended in May.
2.3 Food distribution cards have been issued to about 16,500 displaced persons at the Durbar Ground Camp in Bo. A permanent food distribution centre is nearing completion. Two new displaced camps in Bo were opened on 8 June (housing 23,400 IDPs). The lead agency in the two new camps is the Council of Churches of Sierra Leone, implementing partner to WFP.
2.4 As ICRC activities in the Eastern Provinces were stopped by the Ministry of Defense on 4 July, the first distribution in Segbwema has not taken place. The first distribution in Pujehun is on hold, and monitoring in Zimmi and Kailahun cannot be done.
2.5 Distributions were recently made to 15,800 IDPs in Magburaka town; World Vision assisted 72,060 people in Bo. 2.6 Up-country road movements to extended delivery points (EDPs) continue with EDPs currently holding sufficient stocks for distribution. Food was made available to CARE for transport to Bonthe, Sherbro Island.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update
1.1 A number of NGOs involved in feeding programmes are finding their programmes hampered by lack of powdered milk, an essential ingredient in the preparation of High-Energy Milk for malnourished children. Recently, MSF-Belgium appealed to potential donors for this commodity and last week World Vision announced that it would have to postpone the opening of its feeding centre in Samba Caju, where alarming levels of malnutrition have been found, due to lack of milk.
1.2 On 8 July a WFP road convoy reached Saurimo for the first time since 1992. The trucks carried bridging material for a joint project being implemented by INEA, Swedrelief, UNAVEM III and WFP. The material was purchased with EU funding. WFP is the main logistics provider and supports the community road rehabilitation projects implemented by Swedrelief with food- for-work. These bridges will further increase the share of overland transport, in contrast to air transport, for the delivery of food aid in Angola. The next step in the process is the road southward from Saurimo to Luena. Luena is one of the last destinations in Angola still receiving considerable quantities of food aid by air.
1.3 The provincial government in Luena, in close coordination with WFP, SCF(US), Caritas, UNHCR and other NGOs working in the area successfully carried out a verification exercise of food aid beneficiaries. Preliminary results point to an overall decrease of 20 percent, down to 82,000 beneficiaries. Meanwhile, WFP Luena is concentrating its efforts on facilitating the return of IDPs from Luena city to their areas of origin.
1.4 Discussions on demobilisation continue in the framework of the Tripartite Working Group on Demobilisation and Resettlement and the target date to begin demobilisation of underage soldiers has now been set for 5 August.
E. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
1.1 Donors have responded promptly following the release of the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal on 6 June.
1.2 The American vessel M/V Tampa Bay is expected to leave a West Coast port in late July with the whole American donation through WFP of 13,100 mt of food aid for DPR Korea (6,600 mt rice, 3,500 mt CSB, 3,000 mt maize meal). This shipment completes the American commitment in kind equivalent to USD 6.2 million. The vessel is due to arrive in Nampo mid-August.
1.3 Summary of cash donations received or announced since 6 June 1996, in US dollars:
USA 6,200,000 Japan 5,250,000 Republic of Korea 2,000,000 Australia 400,000 Denmark 338,000 New Zealand 67,000
An additional donation of USD100,000 has been received from an NGO.
1.4 WFP will arrange the purchase of rice in Thailand, and corn soy blend elsewhere in south-east Asia, and it is expected that 10-15,000 mt rice will arrive in DPR Korea early August; the blended food (a total of 5,000 mt) is to arrive in instalments starting late August.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 27 of 1996 - July 12, 1996)