This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) Uganda C) Sahel - Chad, Mauritania and Niger D) Mozambique and Malawi floods.
>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. Eastern Zaire
a) Refugees abandon Tingi Tingi camps on 28 February, and head into the forest; some reported moving towards Kisangani and Ubundu.
b) Zaire Government reacts to evacuation of aid agencies from Kisangani and orders expulsion of international UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff from the country.
c) Refugees of Shabunda and Kalima camps reportedly on their way to Punia.
d) WFP makes arrangements with the Catholic mission to continue food distributions to internally displaced persons and newly arriving refugees in Kisangani and to refugees in Punia.
2. Rwanda
a) Food deliveries improve; UN aid convoys operate under military escort between Kigali and Cyangugu, Kibuye, Gisenyi and Ruhengeri.
b) Some 428,000 persons, mostly returnees, benefit from food distributions in the period 24 February to 2 March.
3. Burundi
a) WFP together with NGOs is undertaking a food and seed distribution operation in many parts of the country.
b) Increased security incidents in Bujumbura, attributed to rebels hiding within internally displaced person sites around the city, leads to forced movement of people away from the city.
4. Tanzania
a) Kigoma refugee population now at over a quarter of a million and influx continues at steady rate.
b) In drought-affected regions, cereal prices are increasing daily, while in some of the worst affected areas, livestock is sharply declining in value to a fraction of usual prices.
B. UGANDA
1. Update
a) Numbers of affected Ugandans rapidly increasing at a time when food resourcing situation reaches alarming levels.
b) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission preliminary results indicate that rapidly deteriorating security situation in northern and eastern districts of Uganda has resulted in a doubling of food prices.
c) Constraints on WFP local purchase of food commodities because of impending shortages affects supply of food to Sudanese refugees in the north of Uganda, which had been based mainly on local purchases. Food stocks will be depleted end-March and resources are urgently required to cover needs of 230,000 refugees.
C. SAHEL - CHAD, MAURITANIA AND NIGER
1. Update
a) WFP emergency operation approved for Chad (EMOP 5798) to cover needs resulting from crop failure due to drought. Food requirements are 7,700 metric tons for 356,000 beneficiaries for three months.
b) Another drought emergency operation (EMOP 5819) is under preparation to provide 16,560 metric tons food aid for 200,000 beneficiaries in Mauritania for six months.
c) Harvest in Niger reported as average, but some areas of the country have been without rain for a second consecutive year. WFP is targeting most vulnerable zones under its existing development projects.
D. MOZAMBIQUE AND MALAWI
1. Impact of floods
a) WFP Southern Africa cluster, headquarters Maputo, is assessing the effect of severe flooding in February in Mozambique and Malawi. WFP response will be on a regional basis.
b) In Mozambique, immediate food needs are under control. An FAO/WFP crop assessment mission in April will establish the numbers of people affected by the impact on crops and resources required to respond to needs, but it is expected that no food imports will be required.
c) DHA situation reports on Malawi and Mozambique available on ReliefWeb at http://www.reliefweb.int/ (click on Emergencies).
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA
1. EASTERN ZAIRE
1.1 General
a) Expatriate staff from aid agencies were evacuated from Kisangani to Kinshasa on 1 March. This precautionary measure was dictated by signs of increased insecurity and operational difficulties related to military activities. The Government of Zaire strongly condemned the temporary withdrawal of aid agencies from Kisangani and retaliated by ordering the expulsion from the country of staff previously based in Kisangani. The UN is adhering to the expulsion order made by the Government, thus leaving the door open for further negotiations. UN expelled staff were expected to go to Brazzaville.
b) WFP has made arrangements with the Catholic mission to continue food distributions to internally displaced persons and newly arriving refugees in Kisangani and to refugees in Punia. WFP local staff will continue to assist this operation.
c) Refugee camps in Tingi Tingi have emptied. On 28 February, fearing that the rebels were fast closing in, the 160,000 refugees hurriedly left the camps. The rebels of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL) are reported to have taken the camp, its airport and the nearby town of Lubutu, on the following day, 1 March.
d) After deserting the Tingi Tingi camps, refugees started walking in different directions, some towards Kisangani. In an effort to try to prevent the refugees from reaching Kisangani, Zairean authorities tried to divert movement towards Ubundu, a river port on the left bank of the Zaire River, but some refugees have started to arrive in Kisangani, on trucks hired by WFP for food deliveries and returning from the Lubutu area.
e) An average of 4,000 displaced Zaireans a day are arriving in Kisangani, joining some 31,000 already in town. Food distribution by WFP national staff in collaboration with the Catholic Mission is scheduled to continue to the internally displaced persons and arriving refugees. WFP food stocks in Kisangani as of 4 March amounted to 409 metric tons.
f) Refugees who had left the former camps of Shabunda and Kalima are reported to be now on their way to Punia. Some 5,000 refugees were already gathered in Punia and an estimated 10,000 more are heading towards this town, 300 km south-east of Kisangani. The WFP plane was able to deliver 12 metric tons of food to Punia, for distribution by the Catholic mission.
g) Some 8,000 Zairean refugees have arrived in northern Zambia in recent weeks, entering through Mpulungu, via Lake Tanganyika. The refugees are accommodated in Kasama and Mbala. WFP has positioned 400 metric tons of food commodities in Kigoma, Tanzania, for onward transportation by lake barge to Zambia. WFP has also airlifted to Kasama 11 metric tons of non-food items for UNHCR from Mwanza in Tanzania.
h) An Ilyushin 76 is on stand by in Mwanza to resume airlifts into Zaire when circumstances permit. Air capacity in Kisangani for movements inside Zaire includes one Andover, capacity 6 metric tons, one DC3, capacity 3 metric tons and one Aztec with a capacity for 5 passengers.
1.2 Goma
a) UN agencies and NGOs are discussing assistance plans for local affected populations. Assessment exercises will be carried out to determine numbers and locations of people in need, with WFP taking the lead in this process. Aid agencies remaining in Goma include MSF-Holland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, Oxfam, UNICEF, UNHCR and WFP.
b) WFP has handed over the management of nutritional centres in Goma to UNICEF. There are presently 13 centres with 620 children.
1.3 Bukavu
a) Aid agencies have drafted a plan of activities to be carried out at transit centres and assistance points along the Bukavu/Kingulube road. Responsibilities will be shared among various agencies: SCF for nutrition, MSF/IRC for health and Care International for logistics. Between 24 February and 2 March, distribution of 1.5 metric tons of high protein biscuits at way stations along the Walungu/Bunyakiri axis benefited 1,102 returnees.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Regular UN aid convoys under military escort have started running between Kigali and Cyangugu, Kibuye, Gisenyi and Ruhengeri. Seven UN vehicles have been provided for these escorts. Regular flights to Gisenyi and Cyangugu have also been started by WFP.
2.2 Rwandan refugees continue returning from eastern Zaire. Between 24 February and 2 March 1,392 returnees came back via Cyangugu and 446 via Gisenyi. The recent upsurge in fighting in eastern Zaire is expected to result in increased repatriation. Over the past week 111 returnees came from Tanzania and 13 new refugees arrived from Burundi. In the same period, 1,745 Burundians returned to their country from Kibangira camp in Cyangugu prefecture. Another 2,400 Burundian refugees remain in that camp.
2.3 WFP is continuing efforts to speed up food distributions to returnees and to persons who have had to leave homes and land they were occupying due to the arrival of some of the returnees. Planned beneficiary figures for the months of March and April have been submitted to WFP by the National and Prefecture Food Committees. WFP has set a limit of 1.5 million beneficiaries for logistical and development reasons.
2.4 From 24 February to 2 March WFP distributed 2,678 metric tons of food to 428,000 beneficiaries. This represents a significant increase in deliveries as compared to February averages, when insecurity hampered access of convoys to many areas. Most distributions benefited returnees (65%), but also food-for-work programmes (25%), institutional feeding (5%) and targeted assistance programmes (5%).
3. BURUNDI
3.1 The seed distribution programme coordinated by FAO continues. In total WFP and NGOs will distribute 1,100 metric tons of seeds while the Government of Burundi will distribute 400 metric tons. Following joint assessments by WFP, FAO, NGOs and the Government, seed distributions were undertaken in Cibitoke, Bubanza, and Kayanza. Food distributions by WFP and NGOs are being undertaken simultaneously to minimize the risk that the seeds may be used for consumption, rather than for planting.
3.2 Teams conducting the joint UNICEF/FAO/DHA/WFP study of displaced populations went to sites in the provinces of Kayanza, Gitega, Muramvya, Makomba and Cibitoke during the past week. In addition to assessing food needs, the study examines the living conditions of these populations, including housing, water and sanitation, health, and access to education.
3.3 The security situation in the city of Bujumbura has worsened with recent incidents increasing. Concern is growing over the security risks posed by sites around the city holding internally displaced persons, such as the Johnson Centre, fuelled by accusations that rebels being harboured at these sites. The Minister of the Interior announced that several of the sites will be closed and the residents returned to their hills of origin. Observers who visited the places in question over the weekend confirmed that residents were in fact being moved out of the sites and that there are plans to move out another 4,000 people.
3.4 Mr. Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Great Lakes Region, has highlighted the concern of the international community in Burundi about the Government of Burundi's policy of regroupment, indicating that possibly up to 500,000 civilians might be affected.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 Refugee situation
a) The refugee influx into Kigoma continues at 1,000 to 1,500 persons per day. The total refugee population in Kigoma has reached 254,000, while the total refugee caseload for Tanzania is now over 350,000. In Kasulu district, the refugee population now equals the local population. The transfer of 15,000 refugees from holding centres to the new Lugufu camp has temporarily relieved crowding at the three centres in Kigoma. Poor road conditions and inadequate transportation continue to disrupt food deliveries.
b) A mission made up of the Government of Tanzania and senior representatives of UN agencies and donors visited Kigoma region 3-6 March. The visit is to followed in the immediate future by a technical mission which will identify how populations in the areas of the refugee camps may be assisted to alleviate the impact of the presence of the high numbers of refugees.
4.2 Impact of drought
a) In drought-affected regions, cereal prices are increasing daily while livestock prices in some drought affected areas have dramatically dropped. Reports from north-eastern and Lake Victoria regions indicate that pastoralists are now so concerned by the complete lack of grazing and water that they are willing to sell cattle for 5,000 to 10,000 TZ SHS per head - twelve to fifteen times less than the normal prices of 70,000 TO 110,000 TZ SHS per head.
b) Drought assessment teams will visit priority areas between 10 and 25 March. These have been identified as Arusha and Kilimanjaro in the north-east coast area, Lindi in the east/south, Morogoro in the west, Dodoma, Singida, Tabora and Shinyanga in the central area and Mwanza and Mara in the Lake Victoria area.
B. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 The food resourcing situation for the Uganda programme has reached an alarming level, at a time when the number of affected people in need of immediate food assistance is likely to double.
1.2 An impending shortage of local food crops, due mostly to insecurity, has seriously affected the supply of food to Sudanese refugees in the north of Uganda. This supply was programmed mainly on local purchases. Food stocks for 230,000 Sudanese refugees under the WFP protracted relief operation PRO 5623 will be depleted end-March. The large balance of uncommitted resources for this operation needs to be mobilised and shipped immediately to avoid a prolonged interruption in distribution and increased malnutrition, already prevalent in most refugee settlements.
1.3 At the same time, the number of internally displaced in Kitgum and Gulu in northern Uganda is on the rise due to the continued insurgency, which has also prevented the internally displaced population from planting this season's crop. It is critical that the recently approved emergency operation to assist 110,000 persons (EMOP 5816) gets resourced fully on an urgent basis. The EMOP, currently covering needs for a six-month period, may need to be expanded until the displaced can harvest their next crop in February 1988.
1.4 Preliminary information from the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission indicates that the rapidly deteriorating security situation in northern and eastern districts of Uganda has resulted in food prices doubling, exceeding the purchasing capacity of the average consumer. Food reserves are expected to decrease further in the lean season with the number of affected people rising accordingly. Details of the findings of the Mission will be made available when the Report is finalized and released by FAO and WFP. The Report will be accessible on the Internet at http://www.fao.org (click on Global Watch, then GIEWS, Special Reports).
C. SAHEL - CHAD, MAURITANIA AND NIGER
1. UPDATE
1.1 Poor cereal harvests have resulted from rainfall shortages in the Sahelian regions of Chad, Mauritania and Niger. Under an emergency crop failure assistance project (EMOP 5798) approved on 3 March, WFP will provide 7,700 metric tons of food commodities for 356,000 beneficiaries in Chad. This three-month operation is expected to be implemented immediately. WFP is preparing an emergency operation (EMOP 5819) to provide 16,560 metric tons of food aid for 200,000 beneficiaries in Mauritania through a six-month emergency drought mitigation project.
1.2 While the harvest in Niger was near average, some areas of the country have not received rain for the second consecutive year. WFP has reinforced activities under its existing development projects, which are targeted at the most vulnerable zones and populations, to respond to the situation. WFP is also working in close collaboration with NGOs for the implementation of health projects and vaccination campaigns in vulnerable regions.
1.3 WFP has taken action to establish a regional cluster office in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This office will coordinate WFP assistance throughout the Sahel Region. The office is expected to be operational by the beginning of the second semester of 1997.
D. MOZAMBIQUE AND MALAWI
1. IMPACT OF FLOODS
1.1 The WFP Southern Africa cluster, which has its headquarters in Maputo, is assessing the effect of severe flooding in Mozambique and Malawi in February. WFP response will be on a regional basis, to cover both countries.
1.2 The government of Mozambique launched an appeal for assistance on 24 February, to cover short and medium-term needs for repairing structural damages and meeting the requirements of the population living in the flood-affected regions, in the central provinces of Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambezia.
1.3 Priority areas of food needs in Mozambique are presently covered through joint action by WFP, GTZ and other NGOs; WFP is providing assistance to 51,500 flood-affected beneficiaries within the existing emergency programme. WFP Mozambique considers the food situation presently under control. Although the exact numbers of beneficiaries and resources required will have to wait until an FAO/WFP crop assessment mission in April, food stocks in the country are good. As no food imports are needed, WFP's response will be in the form of local purchase and transport.
1.4 In response to the Malawian Government's appeal for international assistance, DHA's UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team arrived in the country on 19 February to assist in assessing flood damage and assistance needs in southern Malawi. Assessment results can be found in the report "Malawi - Floods, DHA Situation Report No. 4 International Appeal for Assistance" Date: 25 Feb 1997.
1.5 Further information on the impact of the recent floods in Malawi and Mozambique, including DHA Situation Reports, can be obtained by going to ReliefWeb at http://www.reliefweb.int/ and clicking on Emergencies.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 10 of 1997 - March 7, 1997) list 1
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