Report No. 07 of 1997 Date: 14 February 1997
This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea
B) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania C) Uganda D) Angola
E) Tajikistan F) Former Yugoslavia.
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. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
a) WFP launches an urgent appeal for emergency food aid for DPR
Korea.
b) Food situation alarming, with food stocks feared exhausted
soon.
B. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND
TANZANIA
1. Eastern Zaire - information as of 13 February
a) Shabunda and Amisi camps dismantled and refugees seek safer
locations. A reported 10,000 to 15,000 refugees from Shabunda now
in Kalima, west of Shabunda and half-way towards Kindu. Refugees
from Amisi are camped outside Tingi Tingi.
b) Zaireans and refugees alarmed by rebel advances flee to
neighbouring countries; several thousand reported to have arrived
by barge in Mpulungu, Zambia, at the southern tip of Lake
Tanganyika.
c) WFP air operations to Kisangani and Tingi Tingi continue.
d) Operations north and west of Goma remain suspended.
2. Tanzania
a) Influx of Zaireans and Burundians into Kigoma on-going.
b) New camp at Lugufu, Kigoma region being opened.
3. Rwanda
a) Expatriate aid workers still confined to Kigali and truck
movements restricted.
b) 59,823 Rwandans returned to the country during January.
c) Large-scale food monetization programme for Rwanda now under
discussion..
4. Burundi
a) Improved security facilitating access to areas serviced by aid
agencies
C. UGANDA
1. Update
a) The number of needy displaced Ugandans in northern districts on
the increase.
b) WFP mission visits Kitgum district and reports deteriorating
situation.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update
a) De-mining in northern Bengo Province proceeds at an
unprecedented rate, using new techniques by WFP partner, the
de-mining German NGO, MGM. De-mining of road from Luica Bridge to
Quicunzo will enable the return of 20,000 internally displaced
persons to their homes in Quicunzo and Caje.
b) Irregular rainfall in Cuanza Sul leads to concern about poor
maize production.
c) Quartering process will be prolonged to end of August.
E. TAJIKISTAN
1. Update
a) Hostage crisis continues. One UNMOT hostage feared killed.
Still held by the rebel group: three UNMOT staff members, four
UNHCR staff members and the government security minister, seized
when he arrived to negotiate the hostages' release. Rebel group
have stepped-up their demands.
b) Most international UN personnel relocated to Uzbekistan; small
team of UNMOT staff remains. UN activities, including WFP food
distributions, suspended.
F. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. Update
a) Widespread violence in Mostar between Bosniaks and Croats on 10
February, followed by ethnic evictions from West Mostar. Curfew
imposed and movement restricted. WFP deliveries from Ploce into
Bosnia temporarily affected. Operations within Mostar Area of
Responsibility (AOR) have continued.
b) Tension high in the Brcko region. Arbitration committee's
decision of Friday 14 February is that the town of Brcko is to be
placed under international supervision pending a final decision on
control of the town in March 1998.
PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP on 12 February launched an urgent appeal for USD 41.6
million in emergency food aid for DPR Korea to assist 1,730,000
children and flood-affected adults - the most seriously affected by
worsening food shortages - over a period of one year. The aim is to
raise 100,000 metric tons of food, together with cash to cover
operational costs.
1.2 Under this operation, WFP will provide nutritional support for
360,000 children under five years of age in order to compensate for
the reduction of food provided by the State to nurseries and
kindergartens.
1.3 In addition, emergency food-for-work activities will be
assisted through the provision of rations to enable workers to
participate in heavy physical work involving clearing of
agricultural land and rehabilitation of rural infrastructure.
Removal of sand, silt and debris deposited by floods on farming
land will be undertaken. It is also proposed that vital rural
infrastructure and access roads will be rehabilitated or repaired.
To mitigate the effects of future floods, watershed management
schemes will be supported in particularly vulnerable areas. It is
estimated that some 250,000 collective farmers will receive WFP
rations under the food-for-work component of the operation.
1.4 WFP and others have noted that the situation in the country
has worsened with rations as low as 100 to 150 grams of cereal per
person now received through the Public Distribution System. This
corresponds to about one-quarter of basic nutritional requirements.
1.5 A joint FAO/WFP assessment mission in a report dated 6
December 1996 confirmed that DPR Korea approached 1997 in a far
worse situation than 1996, and would depend heavily on large-scale
international assistance. The mission recognized the most critical
period to be from July 1997 onwards. More recent assessments have
advanced that date to April or May. The mission noted that, because
of the 1995 floods, food reserves had been virtually exhausted. It
also observed that over half of the livestock had been culled to
provide meat but also to reduce demand for feed grains. As this and
other short-term coping mechanisms gradually were exhausted, the
food shortages have become even more critical.
B. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE,
TANZANIA
1. EASTERN ZAIRE - information as of 13 February
1.1 General
a) Following the capture of Shabunda and Amisi by Zairean rebels,
refugees fled the camps and moved further west, inside Zaire.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 refugees from Shabunda are now in Kalima,
west of Shabunda and half-way towards Kindu. A joint WFP/UNHCR
mission visited Kindu to discuss with the authorities assistance to
the refugees.
b) In the wake of rebel advances in the Kalemie area, panic seized
Zaireans who started crossing Lake Tanganyika and arriving by barge
in Mpulungu, Zambia, at the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika. Some
2,000 Zaireans have already arrived and thousands of others are
reportedly on their way, stuck in the middle of the lake in barges,
without fuel.
c) UNHCR reported that in north-western Zaire, Sudanese refugees
previously in camps in Zaire are crossing into the Central African
Republic, joining other Sudanese refugees in camps across the
border, trying to avoid the approaching conflict. This follows an
earlier movement of Sudanese refugees into Sudan.
1.2 Kisangani
a) WFP airlifts to Kisangani continue after having been resumed on
February 6. Two and occasionally three rotations a day are being
made daily with the Boeing 707, thus improving the supply
situation. Between 6-11 February WFP delivered to Kisangani 480
metric tons of food and close to 10 metric tons of UNHCR non-food
items. WFP has available another plane, a Buffalo, ready to
initiate operations from Kisangani to Tingi Tingi as soon as staff
clearance is obtained from the Zairean authorities.
b) The second batch of 250 metric tons of maize despatched from
Zambia has arrived: 212 metric tons arrived in Kisangani and 38
metric tons remained in Kindu for distribution to newly displaced
populations in this area. Another 500 metric tons have now been
despatched from Zambia. These lots are part of a consignment of
2,000 metric tons of maize being railed from Lusaka up to Kindu,
then shipped by barge until Ubundu and then again by rail up to
Kisangani.
1.3 Tingi Tingi
a) Part of the refugee population previously staying in Amisi have
arrived in Tingi Tingi and are camped just outside the town, in
what is now called Tingi Tingi II. These refugees are not being
allowed to mingle with the old caseload. WFP is providing
assistance to this group. Expatriate aid workers visit the camps
during the day but return to Kisangani every night due to security
concerns.
1.4 Goma
a) Following the incident involving the killing of a refugee woman
in a UNHCR truck, operations at refugee assembly points and way
stations along the northern and western axis remain suspended.
Assistance continues to be provided however to hospitals and
centres for unaccompanied children sponsored by UNICEF and local
NGOs.
b) Although organised repatriation is still suspended, 185
spontaneous refugees crossed the "petite barriere" into Rwanda
between 3 and 9 February.
1.5 Bukavu
a) An assessment mission travelled the Bukavu/Shabunda road as far
as Kingulube. The road was found to be in extremely bad condition.
Only small numbers of refugees were seen along the way although the
mission was informed that refugees are concentrated in the forest.
Some food and medicines will be sent for distribution to passing
refugees on their way to Bukavu. A mission will attempt to reach
Shabunda in the near future.
b) Following the fall of Shabunda, where significant numbers of
refugees were concentrated, humanitarian organisations in Bukavu
are preparing contingency plans in case of an influx of refugees.
WFP will contribute commodities for food-for-work activities,
namely the rehabilitation of bridges on the road to Kingulube. CARE
and MSF-Holland will be responsible for distribution of high-energy
biscuits.
2. TANZANIA
2.1 Zairean and Burundian refugees continue to arrive in Kigoma,
Kasulu and Kibondo. Recent events at Kalemie are believed to have
forced many people to move, and villages along the lake are
reporting the presence of many refugees.
2.2 The new refugee camp at Lugufu in Kigoma is being opened to
accommodate refugees currently in holding centres in Kigoma town
and new arrivals. WFP will be delivering food commodities directly
to this camp and arrangements are being made for the
pre-positioning of food supplies.
3. RWANDA
3.1 Security is the main limiting factor for WFP activities. After
a series of incidents targeting aid workers, most expatriate staff
were called to Kigali. Movement of WFP trucks is presently limited
to a minimum.
3.2 A total 59,823 people returned to Rwandan during the month of
January 1997. During this period, WFP reached 1.2 million people
with food, through a combination of free food distributions,
food-for-work activities and institutional feeding. Monitoring
activities were however restricted to Cyangugu, Ruhengeri, Gisenyi
and Kibuye prefectures.
3.3 WFP, in collaboration with donors, UN agencies and the
Government of Rwanda, is analysing the feasibility of implementing
a large-scale food monetization programme for Rwanda. Initial
discussions now taking place are to be followed by joint missions
to the country.
4. BURUNDI
4.1 Improving security situation is facilitating access to most of
the areas assisted by humanitarian agencies. Only three security
incidents were recently reported, as compared to an average of 10
to 20 incidents per week in the past.
4.2 Between 3 and 9 February, WFP assisted 180,849 persons. During
the same period, distributions to displaced people in Karuzi
province were completed, with a total 1,234 metric tons of food
distributed to 98,173 beneficiaries, the majority of whom were
moved to regroupement camps during 1996.
4.3 A joint evaluation mission will be visiting nine of the
country's provinces, to assess needs of displaced and people in
regroupement camps. In one such camp visited in Muramvya province,
residents do have access to land but require armed escorts to go and
work the fields. However, residents of other regroupement camps do
not have possibilities to work the land.
4.4 Kigoma port remains closed to barge traffic to and from
Burundi. Therefore, WFP truck convoys from Ngara, Tanzania to Ngozi
are being increased from one to three per week. This will allow the
importation of the allowed 2,500 metric tons of food commodities
per month. Cargoes for FAO, Christian Aid and UNDP are now arriving
in Bujumbura under the umbrella of the WFP convoy.
C. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Continued insurgency in northern Uganda has led to increasing
numbers of displaced persons in need of assistance. WFP is now
planning to assist 110,000 persons but it is feared this number
could double, should the situation continue to deteriorate.
1.2 In Lokung, north of Kitgum district, a WFP mission observed
that the situation has dramatically worsened since the last visit
to the area, less than a month ago. Over 11,000 people are camped
in the local school compound, many without shelter. A food
distribution scheduled for 7 February had to be cancelled for
security reasons. In addition to food rations and therapeutic
feeding commodities being supplied by WFP, plastic sheeting and
essential drugs are very much needed. A number of bore holes need
to be drilled.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update
1.1 De-mining in northern Bengo Province is proceeding at an
unprecedented rate due to the use of the new MAM-System, which
combines reliable manual de-mining with mechanical assistance. A
total of 24.2 km and 121,000 sq. meters have been cleared by WFP
implementing partner MGM (German NGO) in just over two weeks.
De-mining and rehabilitation started on the road from Luica Bridge
to Quicunzo on 7 January and is expected to reach Quicunzo and Cage
shortly. NGO convoys and commercial trucks are already using the
reopened road, which will enable the return of 20,000 internally
displaced persons from Boa Esperanca camp in Caxito to their homes
in Quicunzo and Caje.
1.2 WFP provided a one-month food ration to 10,889 persons in
Casseque at the beginning of February. This population fled
Cauiungolo following attacks. Non-food items were distributed by
CRS and UNICEF.
1.3 Local authorities and NGOs in Cuanza Sul are concerned that
irregular rainfall in the districts of Seles, Sumbe, and Porto
Amboim, and in certain areas of Conda and Amboim Gabela, will
result in poor maize production in the first quarter of the 1996-97
agricultural season. Reports from the provinces of Cuanza Norte,
Bengo, Luanda and Zaire also warn that lack of rain could seriously
damage this year's crop prospects.
1.4 The quartering process is expected to be prolonged through the
end of August 1997. A total of 1,686 soldiers had been demobilised
as at 3 February. Some 35,000 troops and 108,000 dependants are
currently residing in Angola quartering areas.
E. TAJIKISTAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 An UNMOT (United Nations Military Observers) officer being
held hostage by a rebel group in Tajikistan is reported to have
been shot dead on 13 February. The identity of the victim is not
yet established. The hostage crisis began early last week. The
rebel group still holds three UNMOT staff members (two Swiss and
one Ukrainian), four UNHCR staff members and the government
security minister, who was seized when he arrived to negotiate the
hostages' release. The captives are being held near Obigarm, 80
kilometres east of Dushanbe.
1.2 Due to the hostage crisis, some 40 UN staff had already been
temporarily relocated to Uzbekistan on 8 February. Following the
reported killing of a hostage, UN agency activities, including WFP
food distributions, have been suspended until further notice. Apart
from a small team of UNMOT staff, all international UN personnel
are being relocated to Uzbekistan. UNMOT is continuing to lead
negotiations with the rebels.
1.3 The rebel group, led by Bakhram and Rizvon Sadirov, is
demanding an exchange of the hostages for the safe passage of a
group of their supporters from Afghanistan. The government appears
ready to accept most of the rebels' demands. It flew 35 rebel
supporters into Tajikistan from Afghanistan on Thursday 13
February, but the exchange has been delayed by dispute over the
venue of the swap and the arming of the Sadirovs' supporters.
Subsequently, the rebels are reported to have stepped-up their
demands, insisting on the release of 136 more supporters.
F. FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
1. BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
1.1 On Monday 10 February, there was widespread violence in Mostar
between the Bosniaks and Croats. A wave of ethnic evictions from
West Mostar has followed. Security is tight in the town with a
curfew imposed and restrictions on freedom of movement. WFP
deliveries from Ploce into Bosnia have been temporarily affected.
However, operations within Mostar Area of Responsibility (AOR) have
continued without any delays but with increased security measures.
1.2 Tension was high in the Brcko region in anticipation of the
arbitration committee's decision of Friday 14 February. The
contested strategic northern Bosnian town of Brcko is to be placed
under international supervision pending a final decision on control
of the town in March 1998. Brcko is in a narrow corridor linking
eastern and western halves of Serb-controlled territory in northern
Bosnia. It was taken by Bosnian Serbs early in the war and the
dispute over its control almost stopped the talks which ended the
conflict in November 1995.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 07 of 1997 - February 14, 1997)
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