Report No. 05 of 1997 Date: 31 January 1997 This report includes: A) Afghanistan B) Iraq C) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania D) Uganda E) Sierra Leone. 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. AFGHANISTAN 1. Update a) Continued fighting in and around Kabul and in Badghis province. Large movement of internally displaced persons from front line areas to Kabul, Mazar and Herat; assistance given by WFP when security permits. Except for the Salang Highway, all roads open to traffic, and flow of humanitarian aid not obstructed. b) People affected by the fighting are also crossing into Pakistan, where the most destitute are housed in camps. WFP emergency operation to cover needs of additional caseload of 30,000 persons for six months now under preparation. c) Donor support needed for WFP activities in Afghanistan in 1997, which focus on relief activities but continue support for life sustaining rehabilitation activities. Only 30 percent of WFP requirements covered by confirmed pledges to date. B. IRAQ 1. Update a) Following implementation of Security Council Resolution 986, first contracts for procurement of food commodities under the oil-for-food arrangement have been cleared by the Sanction Committee. b) Humanitarian requirements of targeted most vulnerable population groups (2.15 million people) will continue to be met through WFP emergency food assistance until the end March 1997. c) Generous donor response has resulted in full coverage of WFP food requirements for the northern governorates and 52 percent of estimated requirements in the centre and southern governorates, for the period January-March 1997. Remaining WFP needs for this period are USD 13.6 million. C. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA 1. Eastern Zaire - most information as of 27 January a) Number of displaced Zaireans increasing as a result of renewed fighting in Eastern Zaire. b) WFP efforts to reach needy persons seriously hindered by constraints in transport operations out of Kisangani. c) A total of 1,660 metric tons food transported by WFP to Kisangani between 18 December and 27 January. d) Nutritional centres, run by ACF, MSF and Caritas, established in Tingi Tingi to cope with deteriorating nutritional situation. 2. Tanzania a) Refugee influx from Burundi and Zaire in to Kigoma at 1,000 to 1,200 average refugees per day. b) UNHCR reopens Lake Tanganyika Stadium transit camp for Zairean refugees in Kigoma region. 3. Rwanda a) Security in Gisenyi worsening despite increased military presence throughout Rwanda. b) Repatriation from Bukavu still high with 1,000 to 2,000 people crossing every day into Rwanda. WFP Bukavu reports movement came to a sudden standstill on 24 January. c) 1.5 million monthly rations provided by WFP to returnees since mid-November. 4. Burundi a) A total 191,187 people received WFP food assistance between 20-26 January. b) Collection camps set up be the Government housing now an estimated 146,000 persons. D. UGANDA 1. Update a) WFP is preparing a new emergency operation to assist 110,000 displaced persons in northern Uganda. b) Donor contributions of 40,000 metric tons various foods urgently required to meet needs of Sudanese refugees in Uganda. E. SIERRA LEONE 1. Update a) Launch of WFP emergency operation to encourage repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation of 775,000 people displaced by civil war in Sierra Leone. WFP will also assist Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea and Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone. Total cost of the operation is USD 19.4 million. Components include vulnerable group feeding programmes, emergency school feeding for displaced and resettled children, food-for-work activities, and assistance to demobilising combatants. PART II - DETAILS A. AFGHANISTAN 1. UPDATE 1.1 More than 250 United Nations/donor and NGO representatives (including WFP) attended the Ashgabad International Forum on Assistance to Afghanistan from 21 to 22 January 1997. The Forum took place against a backdrop of continued fighting in and around the capital, Kabul, and in the Western Badghis province. At the Forum, it was noted that UN agencies in Afghanistan have clear policy guidelines on gender issues. In the application of principles of human rights, it was agreed that there was a need to distinguish between emergency life-saving interventions, which need to continue and other humanitarian activities. 1.2 As reported earlier, the Executive Director updated WFP's policy on Afghanistan on 24 December 1996 which is in line with the Ashgabat Forum's reading of the human rights issue. The Programme has refocused its operations slightly more in favour of relief activities while at the same time continuing to support life sustaining rehabilitation activities. To date, donors have confirmed pledges for only 30 percent of WFP requirements for 1997. In view of low in-country stock levels in Afghanistan and the critical shortage of cash for monitoring, donors are kindly requested to urgently confirm additional contributions to the Programme. 1.3 Large numbers of internally displaced persons have fled the front line areas and have entered Kabul, Mazar and Herat, where, after needs assessment by WFP, and security permitting, thousands are being assisted initially with one month food rations. All roads, with the exception of the Salang Highway, are open to traffic thus allowing for the flow of humanitarian aid. 1.4 Many are also crossing the border into Pakistan, where the most destitute are housed in camps. WFP is currently processing an emergency operation to accommodate this additional caseload estimated at some 30,000 persons over a period of six months. B. IRAQ 1. UPDATE 1.1 The implementation of Security Council Resolution 986, which allows for limited sales of Iraqi oil to finance the importation by Iraq of humanitarian foodstuffs, medicines and health supplies, came into effect for an initial period of 180 days on 10 December 1996. The first contracts for the procurement of food commodities have been cleared by the Sanction Committee. 1.2 Until end March 1997, however, the humanitarian requirements of the targeted most vulnerable population groups will continue to need to be met through WFP emergency food aid operation EMOP 5311. The present phase of this operation covers estimated needs for a total period of six months, from October 1996 to March 1997, for a targeted beneficiary caseload of 2.15 million people. 1.3 Between October and December 1996, emergency food aid supplies for the centre and south amounted to no more than 10,888 metric tons, compared to estimated monthly requirements of 17,461 metric tons. WFP was, therefore, compelled to suspend distributions to destitute persons and internally displaced, and to cut, sometimes to less than half, the rations distributed to women headed households and to beneficiaries in hospitals and social institutions. Although the food pipeline in the north was healthy, fighting in the northern governorates of Erbil and Sulemaniyah forced WFP to delay distributions, at times for up to ten days. Fighting also led many to flee to other areas in the north of Iraq or to Iran. By December 1996, most of the refugees who went to Iran had returned, and as at January 1977, WFP was providing emergency food aid to 200,000 internally displaced and returnees who lost all of their belongings and cannot regain their home areas because of the winter and/or insecurity. Thanks to a steadily improving pipeline, WFP could expand its beneficiary caseload in the north from 300,000 people in October and November, to 525,000 people in December and January. In February and March 1997, WFP expects to be able to fully cover the needs of all the 666,000 targeted beneficiaries in the north. 1.4 For the second half of EMOP 5311.05 (January - March 1997), generous response by the United States, Germany and the Netherlands to the joint press statement of the Executive Heads of WFP, UNICEF and DHA has enabled full coverage of WFP food requirements for the northern governorates. Over this same period, for beneficiaries in the centre and south, WFP provided an advance from the Immediate Response Account (IRA) to help cover needs of the most destitute. Following the joint press statement, generous contributions from Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, France, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Japan and Norway have enabled food coverage of 52 percent of estimated requirements in the centre and southern governorates, leaving a food shortfall of 26,716 metric tons, valued at USD 9.6 million, and a cash shortfall of USD 4 million to finance related transport and support costs. The total WFP shortfall for the January - March 1997 period thus amounts to USD 13.6 million. C. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE, TANZANIA 1. EASTERN ZAIRE - most information as of 27 January. 1.1 Kisangani a) The number of displaced Zaireans in the Lubutu and Kisangani areas is rising as a result of increased fighting in Eastern Zaire. With the counteroffensive by Zairean Government troops under way on various fronts, more people are fleeing the areas of fighting and arriving at Kisangani, Tingi Tingi. b) Flights to Kisangani resumed on 26 January, but were halted on 30 January. In total, 1,660 metric tons of food were transported by WFP into Kisangani between 18 December and 27 January. Of this, 1,380 metric tons were airlifted from East Africa, 80 metric tons received by air from Kinshasa and 200 metric tons by barge/rail. 1.2 Tingi Tingi and Amisi a) Less food is being delivered to the camps due to disrupted transport operations. Increased military operations, commandeering of planes and trucks and extremely poor road conditions seriously hinder WFP efforts to reach needy populations. Weekly requirements are over 800 metric tons of food but only 262 metric tons could be delivered to the camps between 20-26 January. Cumulative food deliveries from Kisangani to Tingi Tingi and Amisi since mid-December amount to 1,260 metric tons, of which 446 metric tons by air and 814 metric tons by land. b) Since 22 January no flights could be made to Amisi due to non-availability of aircraft; no flights have been made to Tingi Tingi since 27 January due to increased military air operations in the area. c) Nutritional centres are being established to cope with the deteriorating nutritional situation. The main centres operating in Tingi Tingi are run by ACF, MSF and Caritas. A total of 152 deaths were reported in Tingi Tingi between 18-24 January, an average of 21 per day. WFP has been providing food to 120,000 refugees in Tingi Tingi. 1.3 Shabunda a) 42 metric tons of various food items were shuttled by air from Kisangani with UNHCR DC3. WFP is planning together with UNHCR a one-week food distribution to 40,000 people in Shabunda. 1.4 Goma a) The number of Rwandan refugees returning home through Goma has stabilised at around 500 persons per week but more displaced Zaireans seem to be returning to home areas. b) Three metric tons of biscuits were distributed by WFP between 20-26 January to a total 5,385 people: returning refugees (559), displaced persons (1,246), and patients in hospitals and nutritional centres (3,580). 1.5 Bukavu a) The repatriation movement in the Bukavu area came to a sudden standstill on 24 January as refugees started hiding in the forests, fearing to be caught in the crossfire as military activity increased. The repatriation had been steadily increasing in recent weeks. b) Distribution of biscuits to returning refugees proceeded during the week with close to 7 metric tons distributed. Due to the increasing malnutrition rate, new rehabilitation centres are being opened. WFP has signed agreements with ICRC and Malteser to support therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes to assist the malnourished and in-patients at Hospital General de Bukavu. 2. TANZANIA 2.1 The average daily influx into Kigoma from Burundi and Zaire stands at 1,000 to 1,200 persons per day. Tanzania hosts now 315,384 refugees in Kagera and Kigoma regions. Meanwhile, during January 2,376 refugees were repatriated from Karagwe to Rwanda. 2.2 The Lake Tanganyika Stadium transit camp in Kigoma region was once again opened by UNHCR to accommodate Zairean refugees. The transit camp had been closed for three weeks after the transfer of its population to Kasulo. Mtabila II camp is due to open shortly with a capacity for 20,000 to 24,000 plots. Construction of water and sanitation infrastructure and the setting up of agricultural plots is being finalised. 3. RWANDA 3.1 The Government of Rwanda has increased military vigilance throughout the country but security continues to deteriorate in several communes of Gisenyi prefecture. Some aid agencies have withdrawn international staff from Gisenyi, operating now from Kigali. WFP office remains open but food distributions and monitoring activities are restricted to Gisenyi town. 3.2 Until the recent decrease reported by WFP Bukavu, the number of refugees repatriating to Rwanda from the Bukavu area in South Kivu was still high, with 1,000 to 2,000 people crossing each day. Between 20-26 January 16,971 refugees returned home, bringing the total number of returnees from the Bukavu region since November to over 40,000. Most of these returnees are travelling to the prefectures of Cyangugu, Butare, Gikongoro and Kibuye which had so far received small caseloads. 3.3 Food aid packages continue to be distributed to returnees in Rwanda Since the beginning of the repatriation in mid-November, WFP has provided and distributed through NGO partners some 24,000 metric tons of food, representing 1.5 million monthly rations. Distributions are carried out to heads of households at commune level. 4. BURUNDI 4.1 WFP food distributions in Burundi between 20-26 January benefited 191,187 people, of which 88,347 are persons affected by fighting inside Burundi. Other beneficiary groups include refugees and returnees, displaced and vulnerable populations engaged in small scale short-term projects and participants of selective feeding programmes. 4.2 Population of collection camps set up by the Government continue to expand with 146,000 people accommodated in camps in the provinces of Kayanza (70,000), Karuzi (60,000) and Muramvya (16,000). Assistance needs for these people are being evaluate by WFP, together with local authorities and NGOs. D. UGANDA 1. Update 1.1 A new emergency operation to assist an estimated 110,000 persons displaced by rebel attacks in Gulu and Kitgum districts in northern Uganda is being proposed by WFP. The beneficiaries will be people entirely dependant upon assistance to meet their basic dietary needs, as confirmed by joint assessment missions to the affected areas. Close to 10,000 metric tons of various food commodities are required for a period of six months, including supplementary rations to vulnerable groups. 1.2 WFP has been providing assistance to Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda since the first influx in 1988. Despite land allocations by the Ugandan Government in some areas, insecurity in the settlements prevents refugees from working the land and reaching self sufficiency. Approximately 90,000 Sudanese refugees still remain in camps, without access to land for cultivation. 1.3 The food pipeline for Uganda PRO 5623, Assistance to Sudanese Refugees, remains precarious. Contributions are urgently required for 31,505 metric tons of grain, 4,500 metric tons of pulses, 2,563 metric tons of oil, 760 metric tons of sugar, 721 metric tons of blended foods and 282 metric tons of salt. Monthly needs for the 211,000 Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda amount to 3,468 metric tons of food. WFP is borrowing cereals from regional stocks, to allow a two-month distribution. E. SIERRA LEONE 1. Update 1.1 On 29 January, WFP launched a US$ 19.4 million emergency operation in Sierra Leone. The operation is aimed at encouraging the repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation of 775,000 people displaced by civil war. WFP will also assist Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea and Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone. 1.2 WFP will continue vulnerable group feeding programmes to malnourished children, elderly people and pregnant and nursing women. Emergency school feeding will continue in schools for displaced children and in areas where children resettle with their families. 1.3 Food-for-work activities will be implemented to aid in the reconstruction of village infrastructure and support agricultural production. 1.4 Ninety-day food packages will also be distributed to demobilising combatants following the disarmament and demobilisation process, which is expected to commence next month. (End WFP Emergency Report No. 05 of 1997 - January 31, 1997)
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