Report No. 31 of 1996 Date: 9 August 1996This report includes: A) General Resourcing Update B) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania C) Angola D) Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
>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) Total contributions towards WFP relief operations for 1996 now total USD 770 million, representing 1.3 million metric tons of food. Remaining needs for 1996 are estimated at USD 236 million, or 405,000 mt. A summary of the resourcing situation for selected WFP emergency operations as of 1 August 1996 is given below.
B. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi a) Neighbouring African nations impose economic sanctions against Burundi. b) Humanitarian assistance to Burundi from Tanzania blocked. Issue under negotiation between UN and Tanzanian government. c) WFP air operations into and out of Burundi temporarily halted. d) Significant numbers of Rwandan refugees voluntarily repatriate to Rwanda from Burundi: 3,541 refugees leave 30 July to 6 August and many more reported since 6 August.
2. Zaire - Uvira a) Arrivals of new refugees from Burundi for the period 1 July-5 August averaged 400 per day.
3. Tanzania a) Increased refugee influx following the coup in Burundi; 3,000 new arrivals enter the camps during the period 29 July-4 August.
C. ANGOLA
1. Update a) The NGO Concern releases nutritional survey for city of Malange which shows improvement in the situation. b) WFP assesses food aid requirements in Lunda Norte.
D. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update a) Shipments of contributions to current WFP operation expected to arrive soon. USA contribution of 13,000 mt (rice, CSB and maize meal) expected in Nampo on 21 August. b) Devastating new floods cause damage estimated at USD 1.7 billion.
PART II - DETAILS
A. GENERAL 1. SUMMARY OF RESOURCING SITUATION FOR SELECTED WFP EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 1.1 As of 1 August 1996, contributions totalling USD 770 million (representing 1.3 million metric tons) had been confirmed for WFP relief operations for 1996. The remaining needs for WFP relief operations in 1996 are estimated at USD 236 million (405,000 mt). 1.2 Contributions have been received towards outstanding cash needs since the previous resource update of 1 July, but many relief operations continue to suffer from inadequate cash funding for direct support costs. Certain operations will be especially affected, such as those in Afghanistan, Uganda and Kenya, where together some USD 3 million is critical for the effective implementation and monitoring of operations. An additional USD 7 million is needed for Sudan alone.
1.3 Among the relief operations which are not fully resourced, the operations listed below are significant concern to WFP. Unless contribution towards the food needs of these operations are confirmed in the near future, serious gaps in distribution will occur during the coming months. WFP RESOURCING SITUATION FOR SELECTED OPERATIONS (values and shortfall tonnage rounded off) 1996 Total Needs 1996 Resourcing Shortfall MT USD MT USD Afghanistan 180,000 80,247,000 27,483 12,252,000 Armenia 22,978 12,767,000 4,632 3,144,000 Ethiopia PRO 93,193 43,454,000 21,938 10,229,000 DPR Korea 86,335 31,702,000 35,683 13,103,000 Georgia 25,920 16,260,500 3,578 9,752,000 Iraq 321,461 90,125,000 90,049 29,896,000 Liberia PRO 192,578 88,942,000 4,882 2,254,000 Rwanda Region 463,133 290,144,000 60,892 39,209,000 Sierra Leone 41,467 24,025,000 19,737 11,435,000 Sudan PRO 44,567 27,810,000 15,421 9,622,000 Sudan EMOP 50,865 51,490,000 7,381 7,472,000 Uganda PRO 54,625 23,366,000 13,443 5,750,000 Former Yugo. 313,037 299,654,000 12,562 49,474,000 1.4 Details of operations: Target Group People to be assisted Afghanistan conflict victims & vuln.gr. 1,600,000 Armenia IDPs, refugees, vuln. groups 250,000 Ethiopia PRO Som/Sud/Djb/Ken refugees 419,850 DPR Korea Flood victims, children 1,575,000 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 2,397,000 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 240,000 Former Yugoslavia refugees/IDPs/war victims 2,246,600 Definitions: EMOP: Emergency Operation PRO: Protracted Refugee/Displaced Person Operation IDPs: Internally Displaced Persons B. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Sanctions
a) The second regional summit on Burundi took place on 31 July in Arusha, attended by the Presidents of Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and the Cameroon, along with the President of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Zairian Prime Minister. The African nations decided to impose economic sanctions against the new Burundi regime. On 2 August Tanzania suspended all trade and economic ties with Burundi. Kenya followed suit on 6 August and Uganda and Rwanda also imposed sanctions from 7 August. Most African air carriers have halted service to Burundi.
1.2 Impact of sanctions on humanitarian operations
a) Humanitarian assistance is presently blocked by road from Tanzania at Kabero; movement of relief food by barge to Burundi is also halted by the closure of Kigoma port to Burundian traffic. WFP, as of 6 August, had sufficient in- country stocks for approximately 35 days. However, all of Burundi's food aid pipeline is supplied through Tanzania (either overland from Isaka direct to Ngozi, or by barge from Kigoma to Bujumbura), and should sanctions be continued for any length of time, they could result in a serious threat to the condition of the displaced population and refugees in Burundi being assisted by WFP and other international agencies.
b) Fuel shortages in Burundi are foreseen as a result of the sanctions. WFP presently has a one-month fuel stock for its light vehicles in the country. Fuel for the aircraft operating in Burundi is sufficient for three months.
c) As of 9 August, WFP air operations into and out of Burundi have temporarily been halted due to denied permission from neighbouring countries.
1.3 General
a) The overall security situation has remained relatively calm since the new government took power on 25 July. The state curfew, lowered from 2100 hours to 1900 hours on 25 July, was raised on 1 August to 2200 (through 0500 hours).
b) The OAU, after meeting on 5 August in Addis Ababa, announced that it is to recall its military observers from Burundi.
c) In his first presidential decree, Pierre Buyoya named Pascal-Firmin Ndimira as Prime Minister. Ndimira has stated that his political priorities are restoring peace to Burundi and strengthening the economy. A new cabinet of 24 ministers was named on 2 August, comprised of equal numbers of Hutu and Tutsi members.
d) The WFP Twin Otter had recently commenced a twice-weekly service to Gihofi, serving humanitarian operations in the south-eastern part of Burundi.
1.4 Refugees and internally displaced persons
a) A voluntary repatriation exercise under the auspices of UNHCR is on-going from the Magara refugee camp in Ngozi province. WFP is providing a travel ration to repatriates. Rations are given at the moment of departure from the camp. A total of 3,541 refugees repatriated to Rwanda from 30 July to 6 August with reports of many more refugees having returned to Rwanda since 6 August. Before the recent spontaneous movement of refugees back to Rwanda, the total Rwandan refugee population in Burundi in Magara and Rukuramigabo camps was approximately 65,000.
b) No significant movement of refugees occurred in Rukuramigabo camp (remaining caseload at 13,600).
c) WFP has received a request for food assistance for 15,324 displaced persons from the communes of Kabezi and Muhuta in Bujumbura rural. Assessment and same-day distribution is being planned.
2. ZAIRE - GOMA
2.1 Order is being reestablished by the new General assigned to Goma recently to take charge of the military. Incidents of attacks on civilians by armed soldiers have dramatically decreased.
2.2 Food basket monitoring is revealing a gradual improvement in the quantities received by refugees. This has been attributed to a greater accuracy of measuring devices.
2.3 Reports show that one percent of severely malnourished children in the camps are not gaining any weight despite high- protein special feeding efforts, a situation caused by the presence of associated pathologies such as AIDS and TB. The children are considered to be social cases and are being kept at camp hospitals. Health workers will carry out a study in the upcoming week to determine the key factors in cases of recurring malnutrition noticed this last month.
2.4 Only 48 refugees repatriated to Rwanda between 29 July and 4 August. The repatriation rate dropped below already low levels following the 25 July military take-over in Burundi.
2.5 From 29 July to 4 August, WFP Goma received a total of 2,583 mt of food of which 445 mt of cereals were dispatched to Bukavu.
3. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
3.1 Gun shots are heard more and more frequently in the town of Bukavu. Several night-time incidents have been reported.
3.2 Concern for the security of refugees led to the transfer of Kabingu camp on Idjwi Island from 30 July. By 4 August, 4,500 refugees, out of a population figure of 8,560, had been moved to Karama, where the three southern camps are to be combined.
3.3 Official population figures have not yet been agreed upon in Incra, Kashusha, Nyamirangwe and Kabira camps. Verification will be carried out in Kashusha camp while a revised list is awaited by camp representatives in Incra camp. In Nyamirangwe and Kabira camps, a longer-term verification will be carried out, with permanent registration assistants assigned to continuously control the population lists.
3.4 The Uvira Port project agreement between SFE (Zairian port authorities) and WFP for needed materials has been signed in Bukavu and is now at the implementation stage. The Escarpment Road project, however, has reached a temporary impasse, since companies in Bukavu have not been able to meet the budget made available by WFP. Discussions are under way.
4. ZAIRE - UVIRA
4.1 UNHCR figures for the refugee population in Uvira as at 1 August stood at 202,264. The influx of refugees from Burundi continues. Over 14,000 new refugees were registered between 1 July and 5 August (average rate of 400 refugees per day). Most refugees have been fleeing the Cibitoke province, while more recent arrivals have also originated from Bubanza province.
4.2 UNHCR is continuing preparations for the construction of a new camp at Kahanda, to house a total of 100,000 persons. An extended delivery point (EDP) will be needed.
4.3 Uvira currently faces a shortage of cereals and pulses, resulting from the long-standing Burundi-Zaire border closure. The situation has recently been exacerbated by irregular supply of barge capacity and a temporary breakdown of WFP Uvira-based cranes. Both problems are currently being addressed.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 As part of the regional sanctions against Burundi described above, there has been a general embargo in effect since 2 August on commercial and relief traffic to Burundi, and on Burundi's exports through Tanzania. The UN Coordinator is negotiating with the Government of Tanzania on an exception to be made for the movement of relief commodities.
5.2 Following the coup in Burundi there has been an increased refugee influx, compared to previous weeks. During the period 29 July to 4 August, a total of 1,868 refugees entered into Mtabila camp, 629 into Mtendele camp and 11 into Mkugwa camp in Kigoma region and 454 entered into Ngara camps in Kagera region.
5.3 The current population of Matabila camp, set up for new arrivals, is 14,870 persons which surpasses the planned figure of 12,000 persons. UNHCR is seeking to find more land to accommodate the increased caseload and has allocated a further warehouse to increase the food storage capacity in the camp.
5.4 The refugee population reported at 4 August 1996 is 650,580.
6. RWANDA
6.1 From 30 July to 6 August, returnee transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 3,612 Rwandans returning from exile in neighbouring countries. 282 returnees arrived from Zaire, 3,112 from Burundi, 44 from Tanzania and 174 from Uganda. All returnees received two monthly food packages from WFP upon their arrival at the centres.
6.2 After the massive forced repatriation, in which 15,101 Rwandan refugees were returned from Burundi to Butare province in Rwanda between 19 and 24 July, the number of returnees arriving at Butare dropped to a daily average of a few dozen, before increasing again to more than 2,800 persons between 1 and 4 August. As described above in section 1.4, returnees are continuing to arrive in Rwanda from Burundi.
6.3 The numbers of new Zairian refugees arrivals continue to decrease with only nine new arrivals registered at Umubano camp in Gisenyi prefecture over the past week. Overall, there are 13,459 Zairian refugees at Umubano camp. MSF-Belgium and the NGO MERLIN have reported increased cases of diarrhoea at the camp due to weather conditions.
C. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE
1.1 A nutritional survey by the NGO Concern in Malange in July indicates significant improvements, with global malnutrition at 3.8 percent compared to 8.1 percent in April 1996. Recommendations of the report include continuation of targeted feeding and food-for-work programmes, and the establishment of a food security monitoring system to assist in detecting changes in household food security on an on-going basis.
1.2 From 29 July to 1 August WFP carried out a food aid needs assessment in Lunda Norte where the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is supporting a number of projects and has requested food assistance. While WFP is ready to support the LWF projects, additional partners are required. 1.3 WFP has received confirmation from two donors of further contributions totalling USD 2.6 million in response to the 1996 UN consolidated inter-agency appeal for Angola. The donations will be used for the purchase and transport of non- food items and passenger air service.
D. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
1.1 Of the USD 25.9 million required for the current expansion of the WFP Emergency Operation for DPR Korea, nearly USD 16 million has been pledged. The USA has contributed USD 6.2 million in food; Japan USD 5.25 million in cash; the Republic of Korea USD 2 million in cash; Sweden USD 1.2 million in cash. Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Finland and an American NGO have also made contributions for a total of just under one million dollars.
1.2 Shipments of contributions which are expected to arrive in the port of Nampo in the coming weeks are as follows:
a) USA in-kind contribution of 6,600 mt rice and 3,490 mt CSB and 2,936 mt maize meal left the American port of Tacoma on 6 August, expected in Nampo on 21 August.
b) Of the WFP purchase of 18,800 mt rice in Viet Nam, a first tranche of 9,000 mt is being loaded and is due Nampo 22 August. The balance of 9,300 mt is expected early September.
c) CSB has been purchased by WFP in Belgium, Holland, South Africa and Kenya. For the total of approximately 5,970 mt, four separate shipments are being arranged, with the first lot arriving mid-September, and the last in mid-October.
1.3 UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and a number of NGOs also have emergency humanitarian operations in place in DPR Korea.
1.4 Bilateral assistance update:
a) China has pledged 100,000 mt of grain to DPR Korea, of which the initial instalment has arrived.
b) Syrian pledge of 100,000 mt (75,000 mt wheat, 25,000 mt barley) partially received. A total of 62,000 mt wheat arrived during June and July.
c) Additional bilateral assistance: 20,000 mt cereals pledged by Indonesia, and 10,000 mt sugar by Cuba (arrived).
1.5 Devastating new flooding hit DPR Korea at the end of July, seriously damaging vast areas of the country and causing at least 200 deaths and leaving many homeless. The government has declared damage amounting to USD 1.7 billion, compared to USD 15 billion last year, caused by the floods of mid-August.
1.6 The areas worst affected are those which were also hard hit by last year's floods, areas which are the focus of WFP's current assistance (the provinces of Kangwon, North and South Hwanghae, North and South Pyongang). The damage and losses caused by this new flooding will increase the overall level of assistance needed, making it imperative that further contributions for the on-going WFP operation are pledged.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 31 of 1996 - August 9, 1996)
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