Report No. 47 of 1996 Date: 29 November 1996This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) Uganda C) Liberia.
>From P. Ares, Chief, Programming Service. Available on the Internet at WFP Home Page http://www.wfp.org/ or by e-mail from HicksDeb@wfp.org (fax 39 6 5228 2837). For information regarding resources, donors are requested to contact Mr. F. Strippoli or Mr. M. Crosthwaite, WFP Rome, telephone no. 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. - information as of 28 November.
1. Eastern Zaire a) Estimates vary on the number and location of remaining refugees and internally displaced persons in North and South Kivu; those in need remain inaccessible. b) In Bukavu, small scale targeted distribution is to be made by WFP to hospitals, orphanages and some 8,000 to 9,000 refugees and internally displaced persons. Attempts being made to access some 2,000 to 4,000 people reported in poor condition 75 km north of Bukavu on the road from Goma. c) Rwandans returning from the Bukavu area at the Cyangugu border post at the rate of 400 to 500 daily. d) In Goma, numbers returning to Gisenyi from Goma remain small until 27 November, when 12,000 people cross. A group of 40,000-50,000 refugees are identified 17 km south of Sake at Minova and further south on the road between Goma and Bukavu, on the move towards the Goma/Gisenyi border point. e) No access to the Uvira area. f) Over 2,000 IDPs are in need of assistance in and near Kisangani in central Zaire. Access to further groups is difficult, aggravated by the rainy season. WFP airlift of 90 metric tons of food commodities from Entebbe into Kisangani planned.
2. Rwanda a) Way stations along the main roads still operational, but most returnees have reached their home communes. Registration of returnees at commune level continues, and distribution of WFP food through NGO partners is ongoing. b) To meet supplementary food needs, UNIMIX high-protein, vitamin-enriched blended food will be incorporated into the WFP general ration (100 g/child/day). c) WFP transport capacity in Rwanda is being augmented with 40 short-haul trucks. d) Concern increases about food security situation in Butare and Gikongoro prefectures, the result of irregular rainfall and increased demand because of the return of refugees from Burundi in July and August. The recent influx of up to 500,000 people will have negative impact on overall food security situation in the coming months.
3. Burundi a) Increased fighting between rebels and the Burundian military has resulted in movement of 75,000 Burundians to Tanzania since the beginning of November (most from provinces of Bururi, Rutana, Gitega, and Ruyigi). b) Movement of returnees from Zaire continues; 1,684 returnees cross at Gatumba during the week along with an estimated 3,500 unregistered returnees. c) Reports emerge of the death of 300 Burundian returnees in Muramba church, in Cibitoke province, one month ago. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights requests increased number of human rights monitors in Burundi. d) Continued insecurity in Kayanza province causes large displacement of population, but WFP Ngozi sub-office is able to make an emergency distribution to 55,000 displaced people in the province. e) President Buyoya is invited to a summit on the Great Lakes region hosted by the Congo on 2 December.
4. Tanzania a) Further significant numbers of arrivals from Zaire and Burundi, to Kibondo and Kasulu districts, in Kigoma region; refugee population in the area now 146,682. b) Concern for poor nutritional state of the new arrivals from Burundi. c) Tension among the new arrivals over shortages of plastic sheeting. UNHCR despatches additional quantities of sheeting from Ngara.
B. UGANDA
1. Update a) Insurgency escalates in the north of Uganda, where attacks by the Lords Resistance Army threaten the lives of people living in Gulu and Kitgum regions. Attacks on agricultural and marketing areas affect food situation. WFP makes limited food distributions to the worst affected, and targets malnourished children through food to hospitals and health clinics. b) The number of IDPs increases; Ugandan Government requests WFP to provide food assistance to over 200,000 IDPs.
C. LIBERIA
1. Demobilisation update a) A total of 1,505 combatants demobilised during first week of demobilisation programme. WFP provides a food package to all soldiers who surrender a serviceable weapon. b) UN rehabilitation programmes for demobilised soldiers will require USD 5.6 million; until funding available, soldiers are pre-enrolled at demobilisation sites for future food-for-work and other activities. SC and UNICEF providing further assistance to child soldiers.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. EASTERN ZAIRE - information as of 28 November
1.1 Although there are many varying and contradictory reports on the number and precise location of refugees and internally displaced persons in Eastern Zaire, there remain hundreds of thousands of persons in need of assistance in South and North Kivu.
1.2 Bukavu
a) WFP continues visits to Bukavu from Cyangugu. WFP is planning a small scale targeted distribution to vulnerable groups in hospitals, orphanages and to 8,000 to 9,000 refugees and internally displaced persons who are in or near Bukavu and in need of assistance. Some 2,000 to 4,000 people were reported to be in very bad condition some 75 km north of Bukavu on the road from Goma on 25 November. Relief staff have been trying to access the area to assess the situation and provide assistance to this group.
b) Movement of Rwandans from the Bukavu area back to Rwanda at the Cyangugu border post remained slow during the week, averaging about 400 to 500 daily, however repatriation picked up on 28 November with 1,058 people crossing into Cyangugu on this date.
1.3 Goma
a) For most of the week of 22-27 November, the number of people returning to Gisenyi, Rwanda from Goma slowed to a trickle, with some one to two thousand arriving daily, compared to the mass return of early last week. However on 27 November, the number of Rwandans crossing at Gisenyi increased, with 12,000 people entering Rwanda that day. The majority of this population is reported to have come from ex-Goma camps of Kahindo and Katale. Some refugees in poor condition who had congregated at Mugunga camp were assisted with transportation by UNHCR to Gisenyi. WFP provided high-protein biscuits to those returning on trucks and distributed biscuits at the border at Gisenyi to the newly arrived returnees.
b) On 27 November, the UN team, including WFP officers, identified some 40,00 to 50,000 refugees 17 km south of Sake at Minova and some 10 km further south from Minova on the road between Goma and Bukavu . These persons are reported to be on the move towards the Goma/Gisenyi border point. On 29 November NGOs started distributing WFP-supplied high-protein biscuits to refugees in the area of Minova and Sake. The biscuits are being distributed at way stations along the route of the refugees towards the border.
1.4 Uvira: No UN team has yet been able to enter the Uvira area. Security permitting, a UN team plans to enter the Uvira area from Bukavu, via the escarpment road.
1.5 Kisangani: Due to insecurity in the area around Kisangani in central Zaire (some 1,500 km from Kinshasa and 570 km from Goma), over 2,000 IDPs have been reported to be in need of assistance in and near Kisangani. While more people may be in need of assistance, humanitarian agencies do not have access to them at present. Transport is difficult in the area, due to the condition of the Kisangani-Lubutu road. This is further aggravated by the rainy season. WFP is planning to airlift some 90 metric tons of food commodities from Entebbe into Kisangani to be distributed through NGOs to those in need in and around Kisangani.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Following the large influx of returnees which began on 15 November, registration at commune level is well under way. Figures deriving from the registration process will be the basis for WFP's relief and rehabilitation programmes which will target the neediest amongst the returnees as well as the local population.
2.2 From 17-28 November, WFP pre-positioned 3,454 metric tons of mixed food commodities in Byumba, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali (Rural and Ville), Nyagatare and Ruhengeri prefectures, representing 892,463 weekly rations. Food distribution to returnees is ongoing through NGO partners at the commune level. Some NGOs are distributing a full month ration, but most are initially distributing weekly rations, and will switch to the distribution of monthly rations in the future.
2.3 In the same period of 17-28 November, WFP distributed 127 metric tons of high-protein biscuits (representing 633,661 daily rations) in Byumba, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kigali (Rural and Ville) and Ruhengeri prefectures.
2.4 Most of the returnees who arrived in Rwanda during the past week are back in their home communes. Small groups of people are still returning to their communes on foot, although some transportation between the prefectures is provided. Way stations along the main roads are still operational, where high-protein biscuits, water and basic health assistance are provided.
2.5 The health situation of most returnees is reported to be satisfactory. Health services are provided at the border by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, MSF Belgium and Merlin. No reports of epidemics have been received, although a limited number of cholera cases have been reported at the Gisenyi hospital.
2.6 Even though the nutritional state of the returnees has been generally better than expected, the need for supplementary feeding at the commune level has increased as a result of the influx. In order to avert the need of establishing a large number of supplementary feeding centres, it has been decided in meetings held between WFP, UNICEF and NGOs to incorporate UNIMIX (a high-protein, vitamin-enriched blended food) into the WFP general ration (100 g/child/day).
2.7 In order to cater for the increased level of activities in Rwanda resulting from the returnee influx, WFP is in the process of expanding the number of sub-offices, increasing staff and augmenting transport capacity. Twenty-one WFP short-haul trucks (15 metric tons capacity each) have arrived from WFP Kampala and will be deployed to support secondary distribution from the prefecture to the commune level. An additional 19 WFP short-haul trucks are expected to arrive in Rwanda this week, with further short-haul trucks being deployed to the region.
2.8 WFP is planning for the anticipated return of more refugees, at both Gisenyi and Kibungo (on the Tanzanian border). A stock of 100 metric tons of high-protein biscuits have been pre-positioned in Gisenyi and 35 metric tons in Kibungo.
2.9 Despite the emergency, all WFP assisted food-for-work projects are proceeding in accordance with plans, except in Gisenyi and Ruhengeri where some projects are temporarily suspended due to the large number of returnees arriving in these prefectures. In the coming weeks, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects as well as vulnerable group support will be expanded to the extent possible in order to incorporate the returnees in these programmes.
2.10 There is increasing concern over the food security situation in both Butare and Gikongoro prefectures, due mainly to irregular rainfall during the past two months and to an increased demand resulting from the return of Rwandan refugees from Burundi in July and August. The recent influx of an estimated 500,000 people will inevitably have a negative impact on the overall food security situation in the country during the coming months, at least until the completion of the next cropping cycle.
3. BURUNDI
3.1 As a result of increased fighting between rebels and the Burundian military, approximately 75,000 Burundians were reported to have fled to Tanzania since the beginning of November, from the provinces of Bururi, Rutana, Gitega, and Ruyigi.
3.2 During the week, 1,684 returnees crossed from Zaire at Gatumba, while an estimated 3,500 (500 per day) unregistered spontaneous returnees went directly to Cibitoke province from Zaire. A total of approximately 15,000 people have passed through Gatumba, while an estimated total of almost 30,000 people have returned to Cibitoke. Food rations were provided to new returnees, as well as to 596 returnees who had arrived previously and are temporarily residing in the camp.
3.3 Returnee packages were distributed between 18 and 24 November to a total of 19,689 returnees and displaced persons who are returning to their homes or resettling.
3.4 According to a UN report, there is evidence that 298 Burundian returnees were killed in Muramba church, in Cibitoke province, on 22 October, after they had crossed the border from Zaire. An Amnesty International statement condemns this event, adding that another 100 Burundian returnees have been recently killed in Gatumba and Bujumbura. The government is investigating these incidents. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an increase in the number of human rights monitors in Burundi.
3.5 News reports indicate recent fighting at Nyamitanga (Buganda commune) in Cibitoke province.
3.6 Ngozi reported continued insecurity in much of Kayanza province, including the communes of Rango, Butaganzwa, Matongo, Muruta, and Gahombo. The numerous security incidents reported have included fighting between rebels and the Burundian army, artillery attacks, road ambushes, attacks against civilians, and destruction of houses, causing massive population displacements and an unknown number of casualties. Nonetheless, the WFP Ngozi sub-office was able to undertake an emergency distribution to almost 55,000 displaced people in Karuzi province.
3.7 WFP assisted a total of 125,470 beneficiaries in Burundi from 18 to 24 November.
3.8 WFP's request to the Regional Sanctions Coordinating Committee for clearance to import 2,500 metric tons of food per month in order to assist a planned caseload of 130,000 people, has now been approved. WFP Burundi, in coordination with other WFP offices in the region, will make the necessary logistics arrangements to ensure regular deliveries. To date, importation has only been possible by road from Isaka, Tanzania. In order to increase deliveries to Burundi, attempts are being made to use the supply route by barge from Kigoma.
3.9 President Pierre Buyoya met with Ugandan President Museveni while Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin Ndimira reportedly met French officials in Europe to push for the removal of economic sanctions on Burundi. President Buyoya has been invited to a summit on the Great Lakes region hosted by the Congo on 2 December.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 New arrivals continue to enter in large numbers to Kibondo and Kasulu districts, in Kigoma region, where the total number of refugees being assisted has almost tripled since early November, bringing the total refugee population in the area to 146,682 as of 27 November. Out of some 94,000 new arrivals registered in Kigoma between 1-27 November, approximately 65,400 are Burundians, 27,000 are Zairians, and 1,600 are Rwandans. New arrivals, although in much smaller numbers, are also arriving in Ngara. New influxes have brought overall camp populations in Tanzania to 743,466.
4.2 New arrivals from Burundi are in a particularly poor nutritional state, with the malnutrition rate for children under five recorded at almost 19 per cent in Mtendeli camp, which had received approximately 40,000 new Burundian refugees since the beginning of November.
4.3 Refugees are being asked to walk between transit centres and the camps. Five road-side way stations have been set up to provide high-energy biscuits, water and medical services to those moving towards the camps. Transportation is being provided for those unable to walk.
4.4 The transfer of new arrivals to camps is progressing slowly; temporary sites, such as the Kigoma stadium and the Ministry of Home Affairs compound, are currently hosting approximately 26,000 people.
4.5 Nyaragusu camp in Kasulu, recently opened and designated as the site for Zairian refugees, received 6,451 new arrivals between 18 and 24 November. More are approaching the camp from the area around Kigoma town.
4.6 Owing to the heavy rains, tension is mounting among new arrivals over shortages of plastic sheeting. UNHCR has despatched additional quantities of sheeting from Ngara to cover immediate needs. B. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Escalation in insurgency since July 1996 by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in the north of Uganda has continued to pose a threat to lives and property of people living in the Gulu and Kitgum regions. In the last two months the level of attacks has intensified and the targets are often agricultural production and marketing areas. Over the same time frame there has been a dramatic increase in the number if internally displaced persons (IDPs). WFP has responded to the situation by arranging limited short term ad-hoc distributions of food to the worst affected and in particular at the hospitals and to health clinics to target the malnourished, especially children.
1.2 The insurgency has seriously affected cultivation and although there has been some sowing of crops, in most areas there will be no or at best very limited harvest. This, coupled with the displacement of people into towns and safer areas, has led to many of the IDPs being food dependent. It is now reported that there are over 200,000 IDPs and the Government has requested WFP to provide food assistance. 1.3 WFP Uganda is currently undertaking a Country Office Assessment and field teams are confirming caseloads and actual food needs, however there is every indication that over 100,000 people will need food aid. This would mean a monthly requirement of about 1,500 metric tons. In order to assist these people WFP will implement an Emergency Operation (EMOP) on a rapid basis. Once it is approved, WFP will borrow from stocks of other projects to begin assistance.
1.4 The above occurs at a time when Uganda faces insecurity and insurgency on many other borders.
C. LIBERIA
1. Demobilisation update
1.1 Demobilisation started as planned at six sites in Liberia. >From 22-27 November, 1,505 combatants were demobilised. A total of 60,000 soldiers are expected to be demobilised by 31 January 1997. Three additional sites will be operational within the next few days.
1.2 WFP is providing a food package (25 kg. bulgur wheat, 2 kg. edible fat and 400 gr. canned fish) to all soldiers who have surrendered a serviceable weapon. WFP staff and implementing partners are in place in each of the sites.
1.3 As funding of USD 5.6 million is not yet available for UN rehabilitation (bridging) programmes, which will include food-for-work, training and micro-projects, soldiers are pre-enrolled for future activities before leaving the demobilisation sites. Child soldiers are further assisted by Save the Children and UNICEF. WFP foresees no short-term food supply problems for this operation.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 47 of 1996 - November 29, 1996)
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