Report No. 2 of 1997 Date: 10 January 1997
This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania.
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 Ms.
A. Blum, WFP Rome (telephone 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. Zaire - most information as of 10 January
a) Health situation in Tingi Tingi and Amisi (location of
estimated 160,000 refugees) deteriorating. Concern growing on
condition of an estimated 25,000 refugees in Shabunda, cut off
from humanitarian assistance since 24 December by insecurity.
b) Total 684 mt relief food flown into Kisangani by WFP from 18
December 1996 to 7 January 1997, including 149 mt UNIMIX
transported on behalf of UNICEF.
c) On-forwarding from Kisangani to Tingi Tingi and Amisi in small
aircraft and by truck; poor road condition of roads and insecurity
along the Kisangani-Lubutu road mean minimum two days to reach
Tingi Tingi and Amisi.
d) WFP carried out two food distributions in Tingi-Tingi, one
food distribution in Amisi and two food distributions in
Kisangani. Total of 303 mt distributed: 260 mt in Tingi-Tingi and
24 mt in Amisi to refugees, and 19 mt to internally displaced
persons in Kisangani. Distributions made by partner NGOs CEPZA and
CARITAS. WFP food stock in Kisangani, 7 January: 350.6 mt.
e) Security situation in Kisangani currently calm; some
international NGOs returning.
2. Burundi
a) Tension, rebel attacks and violence, in spite of announced
cease-fire (24 December to 3 January) by CNDD. RN3 road remains
closed to UN traffic; no access to southern part of Kayanza
province by UN Agencies and NGOs. Fighting reported in Muramvya
province.
b) Mine incidents, including reported anti-personnel mine
incidents, continue to pose a serious threat to local population
and WFP staff travelling to the interior.
c) Tanzanian National Sanctions Coordinating Committee gives WFP
Burundi authorisation to use barges from Kigoma to Bujumbura on
Lake Tanganyika for food deliveries.
d) Low fuel reserves for WFP operations in Burundi. Authorisation
to import more fuel awaited from Regional Sanctions Coordinating
Committee. At 5 January, diesel stocks stood at 3,893 litres and
petrol at 3,445 litres (one week's supply).
3. Rwanda
a) Repatriation from Tanzania largely completed; an estimated
480,000 refugees returned over the last three weeks.
b) Repatriation from Zaire continues, but at slower pace, with
1,440 returnees returning via Cyangugu and 840 via Gisenyi last
week.
c) Total 16,256 mt food distributed in cooperation with NGO
partners since the beginning of large-scale repatriation in
mid-November (represents 972,752 people assisted with a monthly
ration)
4. Tanzania
a) Government of Tanzania and UNHCR to move all Burundian
refugees in Ngara to Lumasi camp; other camps in Ngara hosting
Burundians (Kitali and Lukole) to be closed shortly.
b) Fighting between Burundian refugees in Kitali camp leads to
the death of nine refugees.
c) Some 7,000 refugees cross from Burundi into Kigoma between 1
and 7 January.
d) Total refugee population as of 7 January is 270,607.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND
TANZANIA
1. ZAIRE - most information as of 10 January
1.1 WFP staff working in the area have reported that the health
and nutrition situation in Tingi Tingi and Amisi, where an
estimated 160,000 refugees have gathered, has been deteriorating.
In Shabunda, where an estimated 25,000 refugees have gathered, the
actual condition of the refugees is uncertain. Information on the
area has not been available since an increase in insecurity led to
the departure of the last humanitarian organisation working in the
area, on 24 December. No humanitarian assistance has been possible
to Shabunda since that time.
1.2 From 18 December to 7 January, WFP flew a total of 684 metric
tons (mt) of mixed food commodities to Kisangani out of which 80
mt arrived directly from Kinshasa. 149 mt of UNIMIX (included in
the total tonnage) were transported on behalf of UNICEF.
1.3 Most of the food that arrives in Kisangani is being
on-forwarded by WFP to the refugees in Tingi Tingi and Amisi by
both airlifting in smaller aircraft and over land. Due to the very
poor condition of roads from Kisangani and insecurity along the
Kisangani-Lubutu road, the journey by road takes a minumum of two
days to reach Tingi Tingi and Amisi. Limited airstrips have
allowed WFP to ferry in food by aircraft, however these smaller
aircraft, capable of landing on the short runways, airlift a
maximum of 6 metric tons at a time.
1.4 WFP's strategy is to use, and improve where possible, surface
transport, both into Kisangani and onwards to the refugee
locations, and in the meantime increase air transport capacity to
cope with the immediate needs. WFP has been building up its
delivery capacity and is at present able to deliver an estimated
64 metric tons a day to the estimated 160,000 refugees in the
Tingi Tingi and Amisi areas which represents approximately 75 per
cent of their current food requirements.
1.5 WFP has thus far carried out two food distributions in Tingi
Tingi, one food distribution in Amisi and two food distributions
in Kisangani. A total of 303 mt has been distributed: 260 mt in
Tingi Tingi and 24 mt in Amisi to refugees, and 19 mt to
internally displaced persons in Kisangani. The distributions have
been carried out through two partner NGOs, CEPZA and CARITAS.
1.6 The WFP food stock in Kisangani as of 7 January amounted to a
total of 350.6 mt, consisting of 70.2 mt CSB, 109.9 mt UNIMIX, 104
mt maize, 42.2 mt pulses, 19.4 mt high-energy biscuits, 3.9 mt
oil, 0.95 mt salt.
1.7 The WFP Andover aircraft continues to make rotations between
Kisangani and Amisi, supplemented by a DC-3 operating into Tingi
Tingi. WFP is airlifting food commodities as well as needed
supplies for other agencies. The Andover aircraft has not yet been
able to land in Tingi Tingi due to the condition of the landing
strip. Work on the airstrip is continuing.
1.8 The security situation in Kisangani is calm for the time
being. Some international NGOs, including MSF-France and ICRC, are
returning to the area.
1.9 Goma
a) The security situation is reported to be deteriorating in the
Goma area. Fighting has been reported between 20 and 45 km to the
north. Five people have been reportedly killed and several
injured.
b) An estimated 2,350 persons returned to Rwanda from Goma from
30 December to 5 January. WFP continues to distribute high-energy
biscuits to all returnees.
c) WFP continues to supplement hospitals and health centres with
biscuits to feed the malnourished and the hospitalised. Monitoring
of these centres is carried out on a daily basis and in
conjunction with the agencies involved in the health sector.
d) WFP field staff visited three camps of Zairean internally
displaced persons in the area west of Goma and reported an
estimated 5,350 persons located there. Several cases of
malnutrition particularly among children, have been noticed.
1.10 Bukavu: Rwandan refugees continue to come out of the forest
near Bukavu and cross the Rwanda/Zaire border at Cyangugu. From 1
to 8 January, 4,601 Rwandan refugees crossed the border. WFP
provided 1.7 mt of high-energy biscuits along the road up to the
border during this period. The security situation is reported
calm.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 From 23 December to 5 January, tension remained high despite
an announced cease-fire from 24 December to 3 January by CNDD.
Rebel attacks and violence were reported across the country. The
RN3 road remains closed to UN traffic. The southern part of
Kayanza province remains troubled and of no access to UN Agencies
and NGOs in the region. MSF-Holland has temporarily left Kayanza
the province. Fighting has been reported in Muramvya province,
where several people have been wounded by machetes. Muyinga city
witnessed a tight military control of its population with identity
papers being verified and houses searched during the reporting
period. Burglary and theft of vehicles are on the increase with
several attacks aimed at expatriates in Bujumbura.
2.2 Mine incidents continue to be reported in several parts of
the country; these include unofficial reports of anti-personnel
mines. An anti-tank mine was deactivated the morning of a WFP
distribution in Mubimbi commune, on the road leading to the site,
while several roads are reportedly mined in Kayanza province. This
situation poses a serious threat to WFP staff travelling to the
interior.
2.3 Local media reported that a cholera epidemic broke out in
Rumonge commune of Bururi province, a region which remains highly
unstable at the present time and of extremely difficult access for
UN agencies and NGOs.
2.4 The WFP Burundi caseload totalled 143,274 between 23 December
and 5 January. This includes the following: emergency relief for
75, 410 people in the provinces of Gitega Kayanza, Bujumbura,
Karuzi, Cankuzo and Bururi; general distribution for 3,481
beneficiaries including new arrivals (869) at the Gatumba transit;
returnee and refugee packages for 39,961, including returnees
waiting to be transferred to their home provinces and refugees
from Zaire (Banyamulenge) in Bubanza province; small-scale
short-term food-for-work projects for 13,490; and 10,932
vulnerable people in Selective Feeding Programmes.
2.5 WFP Burundi has been authorised by the Tanzanian National
Sanctions Coordinating Committee to use barges from Kigoma to
Bujumbura on Lake Tanganyika for food deliveries. WFP will
organise the first convoy as soon as possible.
2.6 WFP operations in Burundi are threatened by low fuel
reserves. Authorisation to import more fuel is still awaited from
the Regional Sanctions Coordinating Committee. At 5 January,
diesel stocks stood at 3,893 litres and petrol at 3,445 litres
which represents one week supply only.
3. RWANDA
3.1 The repatriation from Tanzania has been largely completed. An
estimated 480,000 refugees are reported to have come back in the
last three weeks. WFP is providing food-aid to all returnees.
3.2 Repatriation from Zaire continues, with the numbers of
returnees dropping. Last week, 1,440 returnees came via Cyangugu
and 840 via Gisenyi. 31 returnees also arrived from Uganda.
3.3 Nutritional problems have not been reported regarding
returnees from Tanzania, however a number of malnutrition cases
have been reported among returnees currently coming from Zaire.
Reports of malnutrition have also been received from some areas
hosting high numbers of "old caseload" returnees (in Kibungo and
Umutara prefectures).
3.4 Emergency distributions of high-energy biscuits have been
stopped in all parts of the country because almost all returnees
have already reached their home communes. During the operation,
WFP distributed some 350 mt of biscuits (1.4 million daily
rations), mostly in Kibungo, Gisenyi and Ruhengeri prefectures.
3.5 Since the beginning of the repatriation, in mid-November, WFP
provided, and distributed in cooperation with NGO partners, some
16,256 mt of food country-wide. This represents 972,752 people
assisted with a monthly ration. Most distributions are carried out
at the commune level, to heads of households.
3.6 All returnees from Zaire have received their first month food
aid entitlement and the second month distributions are currently
underway. Returnees from Tanzania are still receiving their first
month ration (over 70 percent have already been assisted). First
month ration consists of 417 g of maize, 120 g beans and 20 g oil
per person, per day (2,038 kcal) and the second month of 250 g of
maize, 50 g CSB, 120 g beans, 20 g oil (1,550 kcal).
3.7 The number of refugees coming to and residing in Rwanda has
been dropping. Only 18 asylum seekers came from Burundi and five
from Zaire last week. Following the repatriation of over 5,000
Zaireans from Mudende camp (Gisenyi), only 32 refugees remain and
their departure is expected in the near future. The number of
Burundian refugees in Kigeme camp (Gikongoro) decreased to 1,532
people following repatriation of some 800 persons. Currently,
there are around 15,000 Zairean refugees and 5,000 Burundian
refugees in refugee camps in Kibuye, Cyangugu and Gikongoro
prefectures. WFP continues to provide food to all refugees in
Rwanda.
3.8 The general security situation in Rwanda remained relatively
stable from 1 to 6 January however a number of incidents were
recorded: nine civilians were killed in Gitarama; at least four
armed attacks occurred on local authority representatives in
Gisenyi; and an RPA patrol was attacked in Ruhengeri. National
security forces attributed all these attacks to the ex-FAR and
Interahamwe elements.
3.9 UN HRFOR has reported that an estimated 2,600 of the
returnees who came from Tanzania were arrested on allegations of
taking part in the 1994 genocide. Some 700 more were arrested
during November, among those coming from Zaire. Some returnees
reportedly turned themselves in to the police, fearing reprisals
from the local population.
3.10 Trials for genocide suspects started in several towns in
Rwanda (Kibungo, Kigali, Byumba). Thus far, two defendants have
been found guilty and sentenced to death in Kibungo. Currently,
there are around 90,000 detainees awaiting trial. The Rwanda
Government recently made public a list of 1,900 suspects who could
face death sentence, considering the extent of their involvement
in the genocide. The trials continue nation-wide.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 The Government of Tanzania and UNHCR have declared that all
Burundian refugees in Ngara will be moved to Lumasi camp, and that
other camps in Ngara hosting Burundians (Kitali and Lukole) will
be closed shortly. The Kitali camp caseload is to be moved to
Lumasi by 12 January. Meanwhile, hostilities which broke out
between Burundian refugees in Kitali camp, led to the death of
nine refugees.
4.2 The Tanzanian police is combing villages in Kagera region in
search of Rwandan refugees. Those found are moved to Rusumo border
point for repatriation.
4.3 The Tanzanians displaced in the Keza area due to conflicts
with the refugees will return to their villages shortly. WFP will
provide a two-week take-home ration for them.
4.4 Nearly 7,000 refugees crossed the border from Burundi into
Kigoma between 1 and 7 January. New Burundian arrivals continue to
be moved to Muyovosi camp.
4.5 Refugee population reported as of 7 January is as follows:
Karagwe - 51; Ngara - 88,275; Kigoma - Kasulu 81,908, Kibondo
94,373, Kigoma 6,000, subtotal 182,281. Total 270,607.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 2 of 1997 - January 10, 1997)
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