Report No. 29 of 1996 Date: 26 July 1996
This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania
B) Liberia C) Angola D) Tajikistan
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. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE
AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi
a) Former Tutsi president Pierre Buyoya takes over power,
replacing Hutu president Sylvestre Ntibantunganya. National
Assembly and political parties suspended, strikes and
demonstrations banned. Borders and airports closed and
extended evening curfew imposed throughout the country.
b) Attack on Bugendana camp for internally displaced on 20
July left 341 dead, 150 wounded and some 250 missing. WFP Twin
Otter used to provide food and medical supplies for the
injured in Gitega hospital.
c) Forced repatriation of Rwandan refugees from Kibezi and
Ruvumu camp in Ngozi province begun by Burundi authorities.
2. Rwanda
a) An estimated 15,000 refugees from Kibezi and Ruvumu camps
arrive 19-24 July following expulsion from Burundi.
b) Numbers of new Burundian refugees decrease during the
week.
3. Zaire - Uvira
a) Current rate of arrivals of refugees from Burundi, of up
to 500 per day, may result in need for new camp in near
future.
B. LIBERIA
1. Update
a) NPFL leader Charles Taylor agrees to plan to disarm
fighters before elections are held.
C. ANGOLA
1. Update
a) WFP begins airlift of food for disabled soldiers in
Southern Kuando Kubango.
b) Follow up mission to Kunene province takes place.
c) Security problems continue in Benguela province.
d) Muxinda QA - the 15th and last quartering area - to open
26 July, while preparations for demobilization continue.
D. TAJIKISTAN
1. Update
a) Fighting intensifies in parts of Gorno Badakhsan
Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). Some 5,000 war displaced are in
Kalaikhum and receiving food assistance.
b) Food distributions in the area largely unaffected by the
fighting, as WFP and other relief agencies move supplies in by
truck from the railhead at Osh in Kyrgyzstan.
c) WFP food distributions in June reach only half of 600,000
target population, due to limited availability of food.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE
AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Government of President Ntibantunganya replaced following
withdrawal of support on 25 July.
a) Burundi's former Tutsi president Pierre Buyoya was
proclaimed the new head of state on 25 July, replacing Hutu
president Sylvestre Ntibantunganya. A statement by the
Burundian Defense Minister announced the suspension of the
National Assembly and political parties, the banning of all
strikes and demonstrations, the closure of the country's
borders and airports and the imposing of a curfew from 19H00
to 05H30 hours throughout the country.
b) From 23 July, President Sylvestre Ntibantunganya had taken
refuge at the United States embassy residence following an
incident in which he was stoned by crowds at a funeral service
for the victims of the recent attack on the Bugendana
displaced camp in Gitega province. Protest demonstrations over
recent weeks had repeatedly called for President
Ntibantunganya's resignation.
1.2 WFP contingency planning
a) WFP has planes on stand-by in Nairobi in the event that
evacuation of staff from Burundi becomes necessary.
b) Although the food pipeline is being strengthened by
ensuring that buffer stocks in the region are in place, in-
country stocks are adequate for the time being.
1.3 Attack on camp for displaced persons
a) The attack by rebel groups on Bugendana camp in Gitega
province, housing internally displaced, which resulted in 341
dead, 150 wounded and some 250 missing, took place on 20 July.
WFP is providing food assistance to injured in Gitega hospital
and assisting in the logistics of transporting medical
supplies and personnel to the hospital, via the WFP Twin Otter
airplane.
1.4 Forced repatriation of Rwandan refugees
a) Previous to the events of 25 July, the Burundian
authorities in collaboration with the military had begun
forcefully repatriating Rwandan refugees from Kibezi camp in
Ngozi province. On 15 July, Kibezi had a camp population of
15,010. As of 21 July, the camp was closed with most refugees
repatriated to Rwanda and the remainder transferred to Magara
camp. Three refugees were reported to have died during the
transfer to Rwanda. UN agencies, NGOs and other humanitarian
agencies were not allowed access to any of the refugee camps
over the weekend with the exception of the Burundian Red
Cross, which was authorised to bring in water supplies and
high protein biscuits.
b) A similar operation to that in Kibezi occurred at Ruvumu
camp, also in Ngozi, between 22 and 23 July, completely
emptying the camp of its inhabitants (the mid-July population
of the camp had been 15,180 persons). Refugees started to
leave Ruvumu camp from 19 July after dismantling their huts,
with the majority heading towards Magara and fleeing into the
hills, and a minority repatriating to Rwanda. Some 150 mt of
WFP food stocks at the camp depot of the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) were
successfully transferred back to WFP Ngozi stores for safety,
and are being redeployed for distribution.
c) There are no present plans to close Magara camp. Reports
on 26 July indicate that Magara camp now has a population of
some 53,000. It is not possible to know exactly how many
refugees have arrived at Magara from Kibezi and Ruvumu, since
they have been completely integrated into the existing
population without building themselves new shelters. A census
exercise is planned for next week. IFRC commenced WFP food
distributions on 23 July.
1.5 News prior to the events of 25 July
a) Demonstrations protesting any future deployment of foreign
troops in Burundi had been continuing in Bujumbura in the
period leading up to 25 July, involving high school and
university students, and other youth groups. A "Ville Morte"
(dead city) was called by the opposition 22-23 July. While WFP
and other UN agencies remained open, many of the national
staff were not able to make their way to the UN offices.
b) Three people were found dead on 21 July in front of a
Bujumbura restaurant in the Kiriri area. On the same date,
heavy arms and cannon fire were heard from Bujumbura town,
originating from the rural Bujumbura area.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Following their expulsion from Burundi, from 19-24 July
an estimated 15,000 refugees from Kibezi and Ruvumu camps in
Burundi arrived in Rwanda. No major incidents have been
recorded on the Rwanda side. WFP has pre-positioned food in
Butare in order to provide returnees with a 60-day food
package.
2.2 Burundian refugees continue to arrive in Rwanda, although
in much smaller numbers. Last week, some 150 persons came,
bringing the total of recent asylum seekers to 3,600. Two
alternative sites in Bugarama (Cyangugu prefecture) have been
identified for more permanent accommodation of the recent
caseload.
2.3 The number of arriving Zairian refugees continues to
drop, with only 52 persons recorded last week. Overall, there
are approximately 13,500 refugees from Eastern Zaire in
Rwanda, 13,300 in Umubano and 200 in Nkamira (both locations
are in Gisenyi prefecture). WFP continues to provide food to
all Burundian and Zairian refugees.
2.4 Following the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment
Mission, a joint press communique was issued in Rome warning
that nearly 600,000 Rwandans will need emergency food in the
second half of 1996.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 Eight bullets were fired on a WFP vehicle on 22 July
reportedly by four persons in military uniforms. The driver,
who was alone in the vehicle, escaped on foot unhurt. The car
was later recovered. As a security precaution, from 23 July
all WFP local staff must leave the office by 17H00 each day.
This replaces the previous 18H00 departure rule.
3.2 Zairian contingent soldiers are reported to be arriving
late or not at all for food distributions in Mugunga and Lac
Vert camps, where their presence is required to ensure
security at the sites.
3.3 The situation in the Masisi area continues to be calm
with the number of displaced returning gradually increasing.
3.4 The collection of old ration cards and distribution of
new ones continues in Mugunga and Lac Vert camps.
3.5 Following a meeting convened by WFP on increasing the
role of women in the distribution system, in Mugunga/Lac Vert
an experiment is being undertaken in which one distribution
site will be run by women.
3.6 Problems continue with meeting firewood needs. Priority
is being given to Kibumba camp, as it is located between the
border and the national park, and it has the coldest climate
due to high altitude.
3.7 The results of the nutrition survey show a decline in
malnutrition in the camps since November 1995. A full analysis
is being prepared.
3.8 From 15 to 21 July, WFP Goma received a total of 2,010 mt
of food, of which 833 mt were dispatched to Bukavu.
4. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
4.1 Activities in Bukavu during the week of 15-21 July
revolved around population verification exercises in the camps
where the registration was not completed.
4.2 A special distribution of CSB was carried out for all the
camps covering two weeks of rations. The pipeline is strong
and stocks are healthy for all commodities.
5. ZAIRE - UVIRA
5.1 Refugees continue to arrive in Uvira camp from Cibitoke
at a rate of up to 500 per day. The total camp population has
increased to 195,868 persons.
5.2 At the present rate of arrival, UNHCR's current
accommodation space will be depleted within two weeks time. A
new camp is being planned, which could hold up to 100,000
persons. The site, located between Luberizi and Luvungi camps,
has not yet been approved by the Zairian authorities.
5.3 More recent arrivals have shown signs of spending a
significant amount of time hiding in the bush or near the
river before reaching the camp. A moderate level of
malnutrition has been found in 10 percent of those children
screened.
5.4 WFP has agreed to start shipping non-food items from
Kigoma on its leased barges to supply humanitarian agencies
operating in Uvira.
6. TANZANIA
6.1 Some 370 new Burundian refugees arrived in Mtendele, the
new camp in Kigoma. NGOs operating in the region visited the
camp to examine the possibilities of providing their services.
6.2 New arrivals to Keza camp in Ngara average 100 per day.
The proportion is 94 percent Burundian and 6 percent Rwandan
refugees.
6.3 A UNHCR delegation visited Kasulu to assess a new
proposed camp, Mugumbe, at a site which is approximately 10 km
from Mtabula.
6.4 Refugee population reported as 645,900.
B. LIBERIA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Agreement has finally been reached among the Liberian
factions, just before the West African Summit in Nigeria, for
proceeding to the disarmament of the fighters before elections
are held, as requested by the Liberia National Conference as
well as by the ULIMO-K leader Alhadji Kromah. NPFL leader
Charles Taylor backed down from his previous position that
elections should take place beforehand.
1.2 According to Kromah, the demobilization of all fighters
should start in October and elections will be held in February
next year.
1.3 In the meanwhile, the Council of Ministers of the OAU has
reiterated its call on the Liberian warring factions to return
all the items looted during the recent crisis in Monrovia. An
estimated 490 vehicles with a total value of USD 8.2 million
were lost by the UN agencies and NGOs during the April
fighting.
1.4 During the period 18-23 July, WFP delivered 348 mt of
food for 107,500 beneficiaries in and around Monrovia: 275 mt
were distributed to internally displaced in shelters, 60 mt as
food-for-work for street cleaning and the rest for vulnerable
group feeding.
1.5 Out of a total 336 mt of WFP food prepositioned in Upper
Lofa, 168 mt were allocated to over 21,000 beneficiaries under
targeted feeding programmes and food-for-work for road
rehabilitation and cleaning of local communities. The
distribution was implemented by a local NGO under the
supervision of a WFP food monitor.
1.6 WFP and local NGOs made a rapid assessment to the
shelters in Harbel, Schiefflin and Robertsfield Airport which
host an estimated 75,000 displaced. Food needs are acute as
all cassava farms and villages in the area were looted during
the fighting. WFP plans to deliver 508 mt of commodities to
the area.
1.7 Conditions for the displaced are deteriorating at
shelters at the SKD Stadium (13,000 displaced), Baptist
Seminary (3,000) and Bamjor (1,877). Diarrhoea and malaria
cases are on the rise.
1.8 Total WFP food stocks in-country are 7,900 mt of which
6,960 mt are cereals.
C. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE
1.1 On 24 July 1996, WFP began airlifting food to build the
registration centres for disabled soldiers in Southern Kuando
Kubango province. There are three centres for disabled
soldiers in the area. WFP provide food for work for the
construction and running of the centres, until the
demobilisation of the disabled soldiers,in about four months.
The demobilization of disabled soldiers takes place outside
the quartering areas of the UNITA troops.
1.2 WFP participated in a mission to Kunene province led by
Minister of Social Affairs and the American Ambassador. WFP
assistance to Kunene province has increased during this year,
replacing an earlier CARE International general distribution
programme. The focus of WFP assistance is on rehabilitation of
wells and watering holes through food-for-work in this
traditionally livestock-raising province, with some food being
provided to collective kitchens.
1.3 WFP's sub-office in Lobito reports continuing security
incidents in roads in Benguela province. In separate incidents
civilian vehicles were ambushed, resulting in 8 persons killed
and more than 20 injured. As a consequence, UNAVEM has
recommended that aid agencies restrict travel to daytime and
travel in groups of a minimum of two vehicles. For the
southern road from Lobito via Benguela and Cubal to Huambo
UNAVEM recommends that all movements be escorted by the UN
troops based in the area.
1.4 Demobilisation update:
a) Muxinda Quartering Area is set to be declared open on 26
July by the Joint Commission. This is the 15th, and last,
quartering area, approximately 250 kms east of Malange, in
Lunda Norte province. Registration has already begun and WFP
food is pre-positioned to feed registered soldiers.
b) The total number of quartered UNITA troops as of 23 July
is 55,185.
D. TAJIKISTAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 Fighting between Government and opposition forces has
been intense in recent weeks in parts of Gorno Badakhsan
Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). Although a cease-fire was signed
last week, cease-fires have proven difficult to hold in the
past. WFP monitors report some 5,000 displaced people located
in Kalaikhum who have come from the war zones of Tavildara and
Sagirdasht. WFP has provided loans of food (54 mt) to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC), both of whom are distributing food to the
war-affected people, pending arrival of their food supplies.
1.2 WFP and other relief agencies, such as IFRC and the Aga
Khan Foundation, do not rely on the road between Dushanbe and
Khorog for operations in GBAO, as supplies are trucked in to
the area from the north, from a railhead in Osh (Kyrgyzstan).
Thus food distributions have been proceeded largely unhindered
by the recent hostilities. In other parts of Tajikistan
(Dushanbe, Khatlon, Leninabad, and Republican Subordination
Rayons), WFP and NGO food distributions to the most vulnerable
groups continue. Food available allowed June relief
distributions to meet only half the needs of the target group
of some 600,000 people countrywide.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 29 of 1996 - July 26, 1996)
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