Report No. 34 of 1996 Date: 30 August 1996
This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania
B) Liberia and Sierra Leone C) Iraq 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. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE
AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi
a) WFP Executive Director meets former Tanzanian President
Julius Nyerere in Rome to convey her concern over impact of
sanctions on delivery of humanitarian assistance in Burundi.
b) Embargo continues, but second WFP humanitarian convoy from
Tanzania arrives 25 August, with relief food supplies for WFP
and UNHCR, and medical kits for UNICEF.
c) Nearly all Rwandan refugees have now returned to Rwanda.
d) Security situation continues to be precarious in some
parts of the country.
2. Rwanda
a) Prime Ministers of Rwanda and Zaire discuss rapid and
total repatriation of Rwandan refugees in Zaire.
b) Security incidents claim lives in Cyangugu, Gisenyi and
Ruhengeri. Some roads in the west off-limits for UN staff.
c) From 20 to 26 August, 26,678 Rwandans return from Burundi.
3. Zaire - Goma
a) No major reaction on the part of the refugees to official
statements on large-scale repatriation.
4. Zaire - Uvira
a) Flow of refugees from Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces in
Burundi increases.
b) Fears raised by reported availability of non-detectable
plastic mines in the region.
B. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. Liberia
a) New ECOMOG Field Commander calls for a doubling in size of
the peace-keeping force.
b) The mandate of UNOMIL has been extended.
2. Sierra Leone
a) WFP to participate in a round table meeting on Sierra
Leone in Geneva on 17-18 September.
b) Road movement to the south-east stopped due to security.
c) The Kailahun cross-line operation continues, with ICRC
distributing WFP commodities.
C. IRAQ
1. Update
a) WFP assists in updating population figures in the three
autonomous governorates in northern Iraq in preparation for
implementation of Security Council Resolution 986.
b) Clashes between Kurdish factions in the Erbil governorate
hamper the re-registration process, but are not affecting
ongoing WFP emergency distributions.
D. DPR KOREA
1. Update
a) American ship arrives at Nampo on 20 August with cargo of
relief food as part of WFP emergency operation.
b) Other WFP consignments have recently arrived or are
expected in coming weeks.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE
AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI (information as of 30 August 1996)
1.1 The WFP Executive Director, Ms. Catherine Bertini, met
former Tanzanian President, Mr. Julius Nyerere, in Rome on 30
August and conveyed her concern over the impact of the recent
sanctions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to
vulnerable groups in Burundi.
1.2 As of 27 August, all Rwandan refugees had repatriated
from Burundi with the exception of 223 who chose not to
return.
1.3 The embargo by several African countries continues to
isolate Burundi.
1.4 The second WFP humanitarian convoy from Tanzania crossed
the border from Isaka and arrived at Ngozi on 25 August. The
convoy contained food for WFP, biscuits for UNHCR and medical
sets for UNICEF.
1.5 WFP Tanzania will continue to organise regular
cross-border convoys to Burundi carrying food and medicine for
WFP and other UN agencies and NGOs, as requested by the UN
Humanitarian Coordinator/UN Resident Coordinator in Burundi.
1.6 Diesel supplies in-country are sufficient to maintain WFP
operations for about two weeks. However, petrol supplies are
running very low. The supply problem has been exacerbated by
attacks on power lines leading to cuts in electricity in
Bujumbura from the weekend of 24 August; the use of generators
for warehouse/office and residences has further exhausted the
fuel supply.
1.7 WFP and UNHCR have agreed to share existing fuel stocks
with other UN agencies and NGOs for humanitarian programmes.
1.8 International flights into Burundi remain blocked. The
WFP Twin Otter continues in-country rotations as usual for
humanitarian operations.
1.9 It is hoped that the upcoming Regional Sanctions
Committee meeting will consider humanitarian exemptions
including fuel, as well as pre-cleared schedule air service
with neighbouring countries.
1.10 President Buyoya announced the formation of a
transitional Parliament. The Prime Minister, Pascal Firmin
Ndimira, visited the administrations of Gitega, Karuzi, Ruyigi
and Cankuzo, to explain the aims and priorities of the new
Government, described as restoring peace and authority and
reviving the economy.
1.11 The Burundi Government has expressed concern at a
possible serious impact on food production if the embargo
continues to block entry from Tanzania of 4,000 mt of
agricultural input needed for the coming season for
mid-September planting.
1.12 Security in Bujumbura city remains relatively stable; a
security incident in Kamenge neighbourhood on 20 August left
five dead. Security in Bujumbura Rural remains troubled with
one military operation in Nyambuye zone leaving 38 rebels
dead. On one of the main highways (RN3) leading out of
Bujumbura, an ambush against three vehicles on 21 August was
reported.
1.13 The security situation continues to be precarious in
parts of the country. The South and south-west of Kayanza
province and the border area of Kayanza/Ngozi/Gitega/Karuzi
provinces remain insecure. An attack by armed rebels on 15
August left 30 dead in Cibitoke province. Security remains
tense in Giheta commune of Gitega province where skirmishes
were reported on 18 August.
1.14 Due to continuing insecurity in central Burundi, WFP
staff have not yet returned to this area.
1.15 WFP continues food distribution to internally displaced
persons (IDPs), resettlement programmes and special feeding
programmes. A weekly average of 250 mt has been distributed
during the past three weeks.
2. RWANDA
2.1 The Prime Ministers of Rwanda and Zaire met on 21 and 22
August in Kigali to discuss repatriation issues. According to
Agence France Press, the two PMs reached an agreement on the
rapid and total repatriation of the estimated one million
Rwandan refugees currently in Zaire. According to the report,
the whole operation should be concluded before the legislative
elections in Zaire, due next year. Separation of intimidators
is expected to take place parallel to the repatriation
operation. Radio Rwanda announced that 28 Rwandans, including
17 former Hutu soldiers, had been expelled by Zaire to Rwanda
on 21 August.
2.2 Serious security incidents, involving loss of human life,
have been reported from Cyangugu, Gisenyi and Ruhengeri.
Killings have been attributed to incursion related insurgency
activities. A number of roads in the western prefectures remain
off-limits for UN staff. Other prefectures remained relatively
calm.
2.3 From 20 to 26 August, returnee transit centres in Rwanda
received a total of 27,197 Rwandans returning from exile with
the vast majority coming from Burundi (26,678). As of 26
August, most new arrivals had been registered, had received
food-aid rations and had been transported to their communes of
origin. At 26 August, thousands of returnees were continuing
to arrive from Burundi.
2.4 Zairian refugees continue to arrive in Rwanda. From 20 to
26 August, the number of new asylum-seekers was 221 persons.
All refugees are reported to have left their homes more than
two months ago. The new arrivals have been placed in the
Umubano camp in Gisenyi province. Since the nutritional
situation in the camp remains fragile, the latest general
distribution to 13,060 refugees also included a supplement of
100 gr beans provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social
Affairs. This supplement represents an additional 335 kcal to
the basic food ration of 1,979 kcal provided by WFP.
2.5 Despite the border closure between the two countries,
Burundian refugees also continue to arrive to Rwanda. As of 25
August, the total number of recent Burundian refugees in
Bugarama in Cyangugu province reached 3,818 persons (an
additional 2,000 have been in Rwanda since 1993).
2.6 In view of the current agricultural situation and upon the
request of the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP plans to implement
a Seeds Protection Programme in the second half of September.
Seeds protection food rations will be provided by WFP to
facilitate proper utilisation of the distributed seeds. The
programme is expected to provide 4,103 mt of food to 98,165
vulnerable farming families (including all recent returnees) in
the prefectures of Butare, Gikongoro, Kibuye, Cyangugu,
Gitarama, Kigali (Rural) and Kibungo. A total of 600 mt bean
seeds will be distributed for the seed programme. In addition
to seeds and food rations, all returnee families will be
provided with hoes.
3. ZAIRE - GOMA
3.1 As reported in the Rwanda section, there has been a
recent statement by the Zairian and Rwandan Prime Ministers on
bringing about rapid repatriation. There has been no major
reaction on the part of the refugees.
3.2 The security situation in the Masisi area continues to
improve. The general situation in the camp areas is quite
calm, except for minor incidents. Regional authorities in the
Rutshuru zone, north of Katale camp, have forbidden refugees
to stay in Zairian Hutu villages after 1800 hours.
3.3 Due to some pipeline problems with regard to cereals, the
ration has been decreased to prolong the provision of cereals
for an additional four weeks. The ration has subsequently been
set at 1,076 kcal against the ration of 1,431 kcal set in the
past weeks.
3.4 UNHCR continues to carry out preparations for the
verification exercise planned for 1 to 3 September. Caseload
for this week has been set at 727,113 beneficiaries.
3.5 The general health situation remains quite good with the
number of new cases of severe malnutrition decreasing in all
camps.
3.6 A total of 1,173 mt of foodstuffs were received from 19
to 25 August, and 335 mt of cereals were dispatched to Bukavu.
4. ZAIRE - BUKAVU
4.1 The transfer of refugees continues from Bwina camp to
Karama camp on Idjwi Island. 5,332 beneficiaries from Bwina
have thus far been registered at Karama camp. Preparations are
under way for the transfer of refugees from the northern camps
to Nymuhiva.
4.2 On 23 August explosions were reported in both Nyangezi
and Mushweshe camps. The explosions were supposedly a result
of heavy artillery fire from across the border.
4.3 Stock levels have fallen over the past few weeks with
particular problems encountered in the provision of pulses and
salt. Supply from the northern route has been affected by a
delayed vessel arrival and delays in regional purchases in
Kenya. Furthermore, the breakdown of both WFP cranes at Uvira
port, combined with a significant increase in the Uvira
caseload over the past weeks had an important impact on Bukavu
receipts from the southern route. Both cranes were up and
running by 29 August.
4.4 A total of 488 mt of foodstuffs were received between 19
and 25 August.
5. ZAIRE - UVIRA
5.1 From 20 to 26 August, refugee inflow to Uvira is reported
to have increased from 300 to 400 refugees per day, mainly
originating from Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces in Burundi.
5.2 Non-detectable plastic mines are said to be available in
the region, representing a danger to the local population and
refugees and for WFP and other relief agency convoys and
staff.
5.3 UNHCR population figures for the camps, as of 23 August,
are estimated at 214,316. WFP/UNHCR planning figure has been
revised to 215,000.
6. TANZANIA
6.1 From 18 to 25 August, a total of 353 newly arriving
refugees entered Ngara district; of the total, 331 were
Burundians. New refugees continue to enter into Kibondo and
Kasulu districts with respectively 185 and 298 entering the
two areas during the reporting week.
6.2 Following restrictions on refugee movement and activities
in Karagwe on 21 August, some refugees who had been living in
the villages without ration cards have returned to camps. The
district trade and revenue offices informed refugee
businessmen to register their businesses. The markets in the
camps have emptied.
6.3 Muyuvosi, which is the extension of Mtabila camp in
Kasulu district, will receive some 3,000 new arrivals from
Burundi who are currently being accommodated in a primary
school in Mtabila.
6.4 The refugee population was reported at 25 August as
652,526.
B. LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
1. LIBERIA
1.1 At the Summit meeting of the Committee of Nine (Benin,
Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Togo, Guinea Conakry,
Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire), which took place in Abuja, Nigeria
from 13-17 August, a new timetable for the peace process was
drafted. The Summit has also warned faction leaders that they
would now be under threat of international political, legal
and economic sanctions, and that they would be banned from
participating in elections, should they fail to comply with
the peace accord.
1.2 At the Committee of Nine meeting the new ECOMOG Field
Commander in Liberia called for a doubling in size of the
peace-keeping force to ensure the success of the new Abuja
peace agreement. The Governments of Togo, Burkina Faso and
Cote d'Ivoire have all expressed willingness to send further
troops to Liberia.
1.3 The mandate of the UN Peace Keeping Mission (UNOMIL) has
been extended following the signing of the Abuja Accord, with
the number of observers (MILOBS) increased from 10 to 34.
1.4 WFP delivered some 121 mt food commodities to 28,310 IDPs
living in 19 shelters located between Totota and Gbarnga. Most
of the shelters are occupied by IDPs from Upper Lofa. The
recent WFP assessment mission to the camps revealed poor
nutritional conditions of many of the children and among the
elderly population in the camps.
2. SIERRA LEONE
2.1 WFP will participate in a round table meeting on Sierra
Leone in Geneva from 17-18 September. The Government will
present its National Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and
Resettlement proposal to donors at the meeting. The programme
aims to resettle displaced persons and repatriate refugees by
assisting them to return to normal productive activities. This
programme also aims to demobilize ex-soldiers by integrating
them into normal activities.
2.2 In continued cease-fire violations on August 26, an
ambush on the Bo/Kenema highway, some 8 miles from Kenema,
left three persons dead and two injured.
2.3 WFP has suspended road movements from Freetown to Bo and
Kenema after five commercial trucks were hijacked at mile 91.
One of the trucks was under WFP contract, and was carrying
some 620 bags of bulgur wheat. The trucks have not yet been
recovered.
2.4 A group of 680 IDPs have recently arrived at the
Magbenteh displaced camp in Makeni in poor condition. WFP has
provided all new arrivals with a 2-week emergency food ration.
General food distribution took place from 13-16 August.
Distribution in the township is on-going.
2.5 The Kailahun cross-line operation continues. The
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) distributed a
total of 446 mt WFP commodities over the reporting period.
C. IRAQ
1. Update
1.1 As part of the preparations for the implementation of
Security Council Resolution 986, allowing for the sale of up
to USD 2 billion worth of oil over a six month period for the
importation by the government of Iraq of food and medical
supplies, WFP is assisting in updating population figures in
the three autonomous governorates in the north (Erbil, Dohuk
and Sulamanyia). WFP is covering the costs of staff and
equipment to introduce the same computerised system for the
registration of the population that is in use in the rest of
the country. The system is expected to ensure that food
distributions under Security Council Resolution 986 are
equitably effected throughout the whole country.
1.2 Clashes between the two Kurdish factions PUK and PDK in
the Choman area in the north of the Erbil governorate were
reported to be causing population displacements and to be
hampering the re-registration exercise. Clashes have not
affected ongoing distribution of food by WFP under the current
emergency operation. In Erbil governate alone, 850 mt of
emergency food aid are being distributed in August to 100,000
beneficiaries.
D. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
1.1 The American relief cargo of 6,600 mt rice, 3,490 mt corn
soy blend (CSB) and 2,936 mt corn meal arrived at Nampo on 20
August on the first US flag cargo ship to a North Korean port
since 1951. Discharge was completed 25 August, and
distribution is under way. American government representatives
are presently visiting the country.
1.2 A WFP purchase of 9,000 mt rice arrived 24 August.
Discharge is expected to be completed 30 August. The balance
of the WFP purchase of rice, 9,797 mt, is presently being
loaded on a second chartered vessel in a Vietnamese port, and
is expected in Nampo on 7 September.
1.3 Funds provided by Japan (USD 2.15 million) and the
Republic of Korea (USD 2 million) which were earmarked for
purchases of CSB to be distributed to children below five
years of age, have been used to purchase 5,970 mt CSB from
four different suppliers in Belgium, Holland, Kenya and South
Africa. The 1,000 mt CSB purchased in northern Europe are
afloat on four different liner vessels and all are expected to
arrive in Dalian, China (a port near the DPR Korea border)
between 13 and 24 September. On-forwarding by land is expected
to take a week. A shipment of 2,485 mt CSB from Kenya will be
sent directly to Nampo early October and the balance from
South Africa will arrive Nampo in the second half of October.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 34 of 1996 - August 30, 1996)
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