Report No. 32 of 1996 Date: 16 August 1996This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) Sudan C) Liberia and Sierra Leone D) Commonwealth of Independent States E) Former Yugoslavia. Due to a national holiday in Italy, no information after 14 August is included.
>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 1: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA (information as of 14 August)
1. Burundi a) While further countries apply sanctions against Burundi, Tanzania allows humanitarian aid to cross into Burundi. b) UN encourages other countries to ensure that humanitarian relief operations are not derailed as a result of sanctions. c) All flights to Bujumbura suspended.
2. Zaire - Goma a) Attacks in Zairian villages near Mugunga/Lac Vert camps leads to climate of insecurity; more people move into Mugunga camp for protection.
3. Rwanda a) Rwanda government stops road and air links with Burundi on 9 August, pressing Bujumbura authorities to return to the Mwanza Peace Process and the Arusha Peace Initiative. b) Repatriation of Rwandan refugees from Rwanda not affected by sanctions. Over 24,000 returnees arrived 1-12 August.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN
1. Update a) WFP/OLS begins airdrops of relief food to people affected by severe flooding in Pochalla area of southern Sudan.
C. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. Liberia a) Reports of more violence in Monrovia. b) Joint WFP/UNHCR assessment mission travels to Upper Lofa.
2. Sierra Leone a) The International Committee of Red Cross completes WFP food distributions to IDPs in Dan/Segbwame and rural Pujehum. b) Cease-fire violations continue near Kenema.
D. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES
1. Update a) Pledges needed to ensure sufficient food aid stocks in Armenia for winter months. b) In Azerbaijan, distribution of supplementary rations to 180,000 beneficiaries, mostly IDPs, continues. In southern Azerbaijan, WFP takes over responsibility for final delivery and distribution of food commodities, with resulting cut in distribution costs and improved targeting. c) Vulnerability assessment survey completed in Georgia; food distributions to 137,400 IDPs and other vulnerable persons in the regions of Adjara, Svaneti and Imereti will resume as a result. d) In Tajikistan, fighting continues in Tavidara district. ICRC covers needs of displaced persons. WFP distributions in Khatlon and Gorno Badakshan Autonomous Oblast continue uninterrupted. Direct distributions by WFP currently reach 300,000 people.
E. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina
a) IFOR recommends evacuation of international relief staff from the Republika Srpska. WFP international staff in Banja Luka temporarily relocated to Sarajevo on 9 August. b) Agreement reached between Croats and Bosniaks in Mostar, averting threatened withdrawal by the EU.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI (information as of 14 August 1996)
1.1 South Africa has joined Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in economic sanctions against Burundi. Zaire has also given its support to economic sanctions (Zairian-Burundian border has been closed since mid-April).
1.2 However, Tanzanian authorities have said they will allow humanitarian aid destined for Burundi to be exempt from economic sanctions. The UN is also encouraging other countries in the region to ensure that humanitarian relief operations are not derailed as a result of sanctions. A WFP convoy of trucks left Isaka, Tanzania on 14 August, carrying 210 mt of beans, which will be distributed to refugees in the Ngozi area in northern Burundi. The trucks were to be accompanied by a Burundi army escort once they crossed the border.
1.3 All flights to Bujumbura have been suspended including UNHCR and WFP regional aircraft. The last commercial flight (Sabena) left Burundi on 13 August. WFP is organizing a flight to Bujumbura, scheduled for 16 August, to transport 35 UN staff out of Burundi. The number of UN staff in Burundi is being reduced as a precautionary measure only.
1.4 Repatriation of Rwandan refugees from Magara camp in Ngozi continues in large numbers, with repatriation of 6,670 refugees on 8 August, 5,000 on 9 August. Refugees receive a one-week travel ration before departure. Repatriation slowed over the weekend as refugees awaited general food distribution which started on 11 August. As of 13 August, total population was 31,994 in Magara camp and 12,669 in Rukuramigabo camp.
1.5 Following confrontations in the commune of Mutaho in Gitega province, an estimated 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have assembled in the area where the borders of Kayanza, Ngozi, Gitega and Karuzi provinces meet.
1.6 Elsewhere, WFP operations are still on hold in central provinces; WFP completed ad hoc distribution to 4,780 IDPs in Maramvya province; food-for-work projects continue in Ngozi province (Nyamurenza, Busiga, Tangara and Mwumba communes).
2. ZAIRE - GOMA
2.1 Some shooting has been heard in Goma at night, but the situation in town has been generally quiet. However most local inhabitants feel that the security situation is unstable, which has led to a deterioration in the relations between the indigenous population and the refugee population.
2.2 There is a climate of insecurity in Mugunga/Lac Vert camps because of repeated attacks in Zairian villages bordering the camps by unidentified assailants. Some 272 displaced Hutus from Masisi and 102 refugees who were living outside Mugunga camp have moved into the camp, in fear of reprisal attacks. Part of the local population from the Zairian village has also moved into the camp for protection.
2.3 Problems continue following the release of refugee criminals who had been transferred to the Goma jail. This has led to negative consequences in the camps and to further aggravation of relations with neighbouring Zairian villages, which are often targeted by the criminal elements.
3. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
3.1 The transfer of refugees from Kabingu camp, on Idjwi island continues with about 7,000 refugees moved to Karama as of 12 August. Several security incidents reported. A serious attack by former Rwandan Army (FAR) soldiers resulted in the death of 25 individuals comprised of both refugees and Zairians. On-going transfer to the western side of the island is intended to prevent similar problems in the future.
3.2 A population verification exercise was carried out for Kashusha camp involving visits to random huts in different quarters to count the number of family members. As a result, UNHCR reduced figure from 38,000 to 37,000 beneficiaries. The Inera camp population has been set at 54,555.
4. ZAIRE - UVIRA
4.1 Shortages of commodities in Uvira resulted in suspension of deliveries to camps from 7 to 12 August. Distribution will be delayed until stocks replenished with arrival of a barge convoy that left Kigoma on 14 August. A total of 1,000 mt food for Uvira is anticipated, to cover needs of one-week period.
4.2 The Kigoma-Uvira barge capacity has been increased by 400 mt with a self-propelled barge recently contracted by WFP from the Zairian private sector. Barge rotations continue to be affected by the breakdown of both cranes in Uvira, exacerbated by capacity limitations due to private trade requirements (related to the Burundi/Zaire border closure). Repair of the cranes has been delayed due to difficulties in moving additional spare parts and the technician out of Bujumbura resulting from the week-long total ban on the movement of personnel and goods in and out of Burundi.
4.3 UNHCR official refugee caseload as at 13 August stands at 209,934 persons. Refugees are still arriving from Cibitoke province, from Bubanza and from Bujumbura rural areas.
5. RWANDA
5.1 From 9 August, the Rwanda government stopped road and air links with Burundi. The government announcement states that steps have to be undertaken by the authorities in Bujumbura to return to the Mwanza Peace Process and the Arusha Peace Initiative, under the auspices of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere.
5.2 Rwanda has indicated that the economic sanctions imposed on Burundi will not affect the repatriation process of Rwandan refugees from Burundi. The government is requesting all refugees in Burundi to contact UNHCR to assist them to cross the border and return to their home communes.
5.3 From 5 to 12 August, returnee transit centres in Rwanda received a total of 21,678 Rwandans: 21,251 returnees came from Burundi, 293 from Zaire, 120 from Uganda and 14 from Tanzania. All returnees were distributed with two monthly food packages supplied by WFP upon their arrival at the centres.
5.4 The recent movement brings the total for Rwandan refugees who have voluntarily repatriated from Burundi to Rwanda from 1 to 12 August to over 24,000, and the flow continues. This is by far the most important repatriation movement registered since the beginning of 1996.
5.5 The influx of Burundian refugees to Rwanda has subsided since the recent events and the border closure with Burundi.
6. TANZANIA
6.1 The Tanzanian Government agreed to open the border for humanitarian cargo from Tanzania into Burundi from 12 August. UN truck convoys have been advised to use trucks with distinctive markings.
6.2 As described above, a convoy successfully crossed the border into Burundi on 14 August. WFP-Tanzania is currently holding some 4,700 mt of food for Burundi.
6.3 New refugees continue to arrive in Tanzania. Some 774 arrived at Kigoma camps and 299 at Ngara camps 4-11 August.
B. EAST AFRICA 2: SUDAN
1. Update
1.1 As of 13 August, WFP began airdropping urgently needed food rations to an initial 15,000 people severely affected by floods in Pochalla area, southern Sudan. This follows the approval on 8 August by the government of Sudan for the resumption of relief flights to Pochalla. Operation Lifeline Sudan had been requesting emergency flight clearance to the area since June.
1.2 WFP is feeding more than one million people in southern Sudan. Food availability in southern Sudan is particularly critical during June, July and August when local food stocks are at their lowest.
1.3 WFP greatly increased food airdrop operations to southern Sudan in July when the Government authorized use of C-130 aircraft, and has since averaged 2.5 flights per day, seven days a week, with 16.2 mt of food on each flight.
C. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA
1.1 Reports from the Abuja meeting indicate that the Abuja Accord remains the guideline for peace in Liberia and that a series of sanctions will be imposed on any faction not cooperating.
1.2 In early August the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced a severe outbreak of cholera in Monrovia and its surroundings. A cholera committee comprising UN agencies, NGOs, and Ministry of Health is to deal with the situation.
1.3 Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a member of Liberia's interim parliament at his home in Monrovia on 14 August. This killing comes in the wake of reports of a wave of secret killings and abductions in and around Monrovia. Reports also indicate that security incidents developed on 10 August as a result of internal dispute between ULIMO-J generals over looted goods. ECOMOG troops successfully intervened 11 August and seized 8 RPG launch-rockets.
1.4 A joint WFP/UNHCR assessment mission left on 6 August for ten days to Upper Lofa, to follow up on the implementation of WFP supported food-for-work activities and recommendations of the WFP mission of early July, and to assess the condition of the Sierra Leonean refugees in the area.
1.5 Over the last week, WFP and its partners distributed 569 mt of food to approximately 103,000 beneficiaries in the areas of Meme Town, Po-River, and Monrovia.
2. SIERRA LEONE
2.1 Cease-fire violations have persisted. On 4 August, rebels attacked Kpandebu village in Kenema district.
2.2 With existing relative calm on the roads, WFP continues trucking food items to up-country delivery points and it is currently loading a coastal boat with 101 mt of assorted food items for distribution to displaced people in Bonthe island in the southern region.
2.3 The ICRC completed food distribution to 70,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) last week in Dan/Segbwame and rural Pujehum, using WFP food. This was the first distribution to some of these people in seven months. Swamp rice seeds will be distributed to this group in the near future. 2.4 The torrential rains that hit Freetown last week destroyed about 100 houses and killed 6 people, but no WFP camps were affected nor was emergency food aid required.
D. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA, TAJIKISTAN)
1. Update
1.1 In Armenia, WFP distributions to refugees, IDPs and vulnerable groups are in progress for the August-September period but were cancelled in July as stocks were inadequate. Existing stocks and pledges in the pipeline will allow distribution for just two months in the winter period: unless new pledges materialise, the October rations will also have to be cancelled and food will only be distributed in November and December.
1.2 Azerbaijan
a) Distributions are on-going, as planned, to assist some 180,000 beneficiaries (mostly IDPs) with supplementary rations of basic food commodities. In Southern Azerbaijan, WFP has taken over from its previous NGO implementing partner responsibility for final delivery and distribution of food commodities. This shift from implementing through a partner towards implementing through locally hired staff has been a major success considering that distribution costs came down considerably and that WFP's beneficiary group was reduced by nearly 40 percent as a result of streamlined targeting procedures being applied by the WFP Country Director.
b) WFP/Baku is getting prepared to include food distributions to IDP camps in Barda which were formerly run by the Turkish Red Cross. WFP registration teams are now in the camps to re-register camp inhabitants and to ensure that those IDPs entitled to receive WFP food are not already listed with other food aid agencies.
c) In late July, the Ministry of Bread Products raised the bread price from Manat 1,500 to 1,600 (USD 0.37), which amounts to approximately 30 percent of the minimum monthly state allowance of Manat 4,500. This measure was prompted by an increase in prices of imported grain and market economic reforms. In a recent major government reshuffle, both the Prime Minister and the Economics Minister resigned, after having been accused of slowing down Azerbaijan's transition towards a market economy.
1.3 In Georgia, WFP is about to resume food distributions to 137,397 IDPs and other vulnerable persons in the regions of Adjara, Svaneti and Imereti. Food distributions were postponed awaiting the final results of a vulnerability assessment survey, undertaken by the Kutaisi Doctors' Association and ACTS/Georgia (local NGO). The survey, financed and supervised by WFP, assessed more than 50,000 households which were subsequently ranked as to their food vulnerability.
1.4 In Tajikistan, heavy fighting continues between Government and opposition forces in the Tavidara district, with heavy loss of human life. ICRC is currently able to cope with the food needs of displaced persons, assisted with a food loan from WFP to start up operations. Insecurity persists in other parts of the country, with shooting incidents between armed gangs reported. WFP relief distributions in Khatlon and Gorno Badakshan Autonomous Oblast continue with little disturbance. Direct distributions by WFP are currently to around 300,000 people. WFP's food pipeline covers needs to the end of January 1997 and further pledges are needed to ensure continuity of distributions.
E. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Update
1.1 The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has reported widespread use of humanitarian aid to "persuade" IDPs to opt to vote within the Republika Srpska. Most of the manipulation is reported to be linked to the provision of housing but some food aid has also been involved. An investigation is under way.
1.2 A last-minute agreement was reached on 6 August between Croats and Bosniaks in Mostar, on their joint participation on the Mostar City Council, averting a threatened withdrawal by the European Union (EU). The EU Council is now expected to confirm an extended mandate for Mostar up until 31 December.
1.3 On 12 August, following a confrontation between Implementation Force (IFOR) and Republika Srpska authorities regarding non-compliance with a military inspection, IFOR recommended that all UN and NGO international staff evacuate from the Republika Srpska. Further security assessment from IFOR awaited (expected by 14 August) before a decision is taken by the UN concerning UN agency personnel.
1.4 The WFP office in Banja Luka was broken into, on the night of 8/9 August. This followed a vehicle break-in the night before and the hold-up of a WFP staff member and vehicle by two armed men on 5 August (fortunately interrupted by the International Police Task Force officers). The nature of these incidents led to a decision to remove international staff from Banja Luka for the time being.
1.5 Refugees/IDPs/Returnees: Croatia has announced that from 15 October the displaced will no longer have refugee status. This measure will only be confirmed after the elections. Significant movements of IDPs are being reported from the Zenica Area of Responsibility. Over 20,000 IDPs have moved away from the area, mainly back to Sarajevo and Bihac, while significant number have gone abroad. It is also reported that 1,822 people have repatriated to Zenica from ex-Yugoslavia and 931 from third countries. Kuplensko Camp finally closed on 1 August with the remaining residents transferred to Gasinci camp in Croatia.
1.6 The WFP programming mission continues to visit Areas of Responsibility throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, reviewing programme strategy in each area in conjunction with UNHCR, local authorities and other implementing partners. A field visit to eastern Slavonia by WFP Zagreb revealed certain problems regarding food aid distribution and apparent misuse of aid. WFP is actively addressing these problems.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 32 of 1996 - August 16, 1996)
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