This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea B) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania C) Uganda D) Sahel E) Iraq F) Albania. 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) Food situation worsens. UN Inter-Agency appeal launched 7 April includes enlarged WFP food aid component valued at USD 95.5 million, out of total requirements of USD 126.2 million. b) WFP food shipments to arrive in DPR Korea in early May. B. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE AND TANZANIA 1. Zaire - most information as of 23/24 April a) Some 55,000 refugees flee Kasese camp, heading south, after unrest disrupts relief activities and delays air repatriation operation. b) Apr 24: Reports from MSF indicate that 12,500 refugees have arrived at Ingende, 100 km east of Mbandaka, on the Zaire river, about 600 km from Kinshasa. Another 50,000 refugees reported between Boende (300 km east of Mbandaka) and Ingende. c) Some 200 metric tons (mt) of WFP food looted during recent incidents. d) Camps on west bank of the river cut off for several days while access by personnel denied. Access once more granted on 24 April. 2. Rwanda a) Number of returning refugees through Gisenyi diminishes as Karuba camp empty. 3. Burundi a) Visits to regroupement sites by WFP and USAID take place in Kayanza province. C. UGANDA 1. Update a) WFP is preparing a response to meet the food requirements of some 612,000 drought-affected people in eastern Uganda for a period of three months. b) Rebel activities near Gulu increase. c) WFP logistic mission finds that most of the 75,000 returnees from camps in Uganda registered by the SPLA at Kaya crossing point have settled in surrounding villages. Roads in satisfactory condition for food deliveries to be made from Uganda. D. SAHEL 1. Drought update a) WFP emergency operations for Chad will provide 7,700 mt of food commodities for 356,000 beneficiaries. Resourcing needs of the operation have been met, but local purchasing process slow due to high cereal prices and difficulty in obtaining commodities. Subsidised sales of cereals from Government stocks will fill the gap until purchasing completed and shipments of in-kind donations arrive. b) In Mauritania, WFP emergency operation to provide 16,560 mt of food aid to 200,000 beneficiaries approved. Donors are urged to provide cash donations to cover local purchases for immediate distribution until food shipments arrive in July. c) Assistance in drought-affected areas of Niger continues under existing development projects. E. IRAQ 1. Update a) Distributions of wheat flour purchased under SCR 986 continue. Other food commodities have arrived, for distribution once sufficient stocks have built up to allow equitable distribution. b) WFP emergency operation for the period April to December 1997 (EMOP 5311.06) approved early April, to target the most nutritionally and economically vulnerable people in Iraq, whose supplemental food requirements are not covered under SCR 986. Total resources required amount to USD 33 million, of which USD 23 million is food cost of 68,000 mt. F. ALBANIA 1. Update a) NGOs and institutions collect wheat flour, vegetable oil and beans from WFP at port of Durres on 18 April, for distribution to hospitals and orphanages. b) Distributions of WFP food aid to destitute families begin on schedule in Elbassan on 22-23 April. Trucks delivered 222 mt of wheat flour to warehouses under the protective assistance of the Multinational Force. PART II - DETAILS A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA 1. UPDATE 1.1 The food situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is worsening. Information released by the Government and assessments conducted by humanitarian agencies confirm the very precarious situation with clear signs of nutritional deterioration. In particular the health and nutritional status of the children have become matters of grave concern, as highlighted by the WFP Executive Director after her visit to DPR Korea in March. 1.2 A UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Flood-Related Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for the period April 1997 to March 1998 was launched on 7 April. Out of the total requirements of USD 126.2 million identified in the Appeal, USD 95.5 million, or 76 percent, refer to WFP food aid. 1.3 The focus of WFP work in the months following the October/November main harvest has been support to clearing of flood-affected agricultural land and the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure. The major part of the current operation concerns nutritional support for all children six years of age and under. Rations will be provided in nurseries and kindergartens. A small component of the WFP assistance will be used for hospital feeding. 1.4 Commitments so far towards the current emergency operation (EMOP 5710.02) total USD 33.9 million. Major donors include the USA (USD 25 million), South Korea (USD 6 million), and Australia (USD 2.2 million). Denmark, Finland, Norway, New Zealand and a Japanese NGO have also confirmed contributions. 1.5 Expected shipments during May include two vessels from the USA with a total of 15,400 metric tons (mt) of maize, 6,600 mt of rice and 6,700 mt of corn-soya blend (CSB) of which 5,000 mt is part of the US contribution and the balance bought for other cash contributions. An additional 28,775 mt of rice, bought within the region by WFP using fund donated mostly by the European Community for the previous phase of the operation will also arrive during May. Other regional purchases for a total of about 10,000 mt of cereals are being processed. Shipping arrangements are being made for a further 50,000 mt of maize from the USA. 1.6 An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to DPR Korea is scheduled for 17-24 May. B. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE, TANZANIA 1. ZAIRE - most information as of 23/24 April 1.1 Unrest in refugee concentration areas south of Kisangani led to the interruption of relief activities and deferred the beginning of air repatriation operations. Attacks on refugee camps and workers of aid agencies started 17 April, a day before the first group of unaccompanied refugee children was due to be flown out of Kisangani. Local villagers resent the provision of assistance to the refugees, whom they accuse of killing local people. Following military action in the areas, it is feared that another refugee exodus will occur. Update: by 24 April, WFP staff had confirmed that some 55,000 refugees have fled the Kasese camp, heading towards the south. 1.2 Close to 200 mt of WFP food was looted during the recent incidents in eastern Zaire. Some 54 mt of food were stolen from a train heading to Biaro camp at Km 41, which was to have been distributed on 21 April. Other WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR supplies were taken from stores at Km 25 and 41. Staff from aid agencies were not allowed to cross the river to the west bank for several days during the period of unrest, thus cutting off access to the camps. On 24 April, a mission was allowed to cross the river to monitor the situation. 1.3 Information received late 24 April: MSF has reported that some 12,500 Rwandan refugees have arrived at Ingende (some 100 km east of Mbandaka, on the Zaire river, approximately 600 km from Kinshasa). Many ex-FAR (former Rwandan soldiers) are apparently amongst this population. Another 50,000 refugees are reported between Boende (some 300 km east of Mbandaka) and Ingende. 1.4 From 13 to 20 April, WFP airlifted 617 mt of food and 35 mt of other commodities into Zaire. WFP has now two IL-76 and a C-130 operating from Entebbe in Uganda and Mwanza in Tanzania. Although food distributions have been suspended, flights into Kisangani have continued in order to build stocks and resume operations as soon as the situation permits. Another 120 displaced Zaireans were flown to Goma by WFP on 22/23 April and this operation will continue in coming days. UNHCR has also repatriated 100 refugees from Amisi. 1.5 On 18 April, staff of humanitarian agencies working in Kingulube in South Kivu were evacuated, following reports of confrontation between the rebel army and armed gangs. Night travel in South Kivu has been restricted and the flow of refugees returning through this axis had markedly decreased. Some returning refugees are now using a new axis for repatriation, through Mwenga, 143 km from Bukavu. MSF-H and IRC are responsible for the transport of the refugees on this axis. 2. RWANDA 2.1 Gisenyi continues to receive the bulk of the returning refugees, with 9,158 returnees passing through Nkamira Transit Centre from 14 to 20 April. The total returnee caseload during this period amounted to 10,141 persons. The number of returning refugees has now diminished as the Karuba camp in Zaire, from where most of these returnees were coming, has emptied. Eighty percent of the new arrivals are women and children, and many are in poor physical condition. WFP is providing a special supplementary ration to those who are in need of extra assistance. 2.2 Some 278,000 beneficiaries received 3,475 mt of WFP food commodities between 14-20 April. Most of this food was distributed under the assistance programme for returnee and displaced persons. During the same period, WFP managed to deliver over 4,000 mt of food to the various prefectures, the highest tonnage to date. Current stocks in Rwanda stand at 7,096 mt of food. 2.3 All new returnees are now receiving a one-month ration before leaving transit centres for home areas. Slow procurement is hindering the distribution of agricultural tools and seeds to these returnees. 3. BURUNDI 3.1 Joint WFP/US visits to regroupement sites continued during the past week. In Kayanza province, the mission visited the camps of Buraniro and Nyarurama. The total regrouped population in this province stands at 105,000 persons. 3.2 The provision of non-food assistance in Karuzi regroupement camps is under discussion between WFP, DHA and concerned NGOs. CRS, Christian Aid, Oxfam Quebec and IFRC teams will be visiting the province in the coming week and WFP is starting an emergency food distribution in Karuzi camps. 3.3 Between 14-20 April WFP assisted 344,813 persons in Burundi: 280,765 beneficiaries received emergency relief (ad hoc) distribution, 2,168 persons benefited from general distributions, 32,851 people received return packages, 18,097 participants received food through diversified food for work projects and 10,932 beneficiaries were provided with food through selective feeding programmes. From 1 January until 20 April, WFP has distributed 8,021 mt of food commodities. 4. TANZANIA 4.1 Current caseload in Tanzania stands at 382,191 refugees. Close to 5,000 Zairean refugees, mostly from Uvira, Fizi and Bukavu, have so far registered for repatriation. This exercise is expected to start as soon as the security situation in Uvira permits. However, Zairean and Burundian refugees continue to enter Tanzania. Over 1,200 refugees were received in Mtabila II and Nduta camps from 14 to 20 April. 4.2 Rains are delaying the repairs being effected on the access road to Mtabila and Muyovosi camps. In general, the security situation in refugee camps is reported as calm. The water supply situation is Lugufu has improved. C. UGANDA 1. UPDATE 1.1 Following the joint assessment mission to drought affected areas in Uganda, WFP is preparing a response to meet the food requirements of some 612,000 people in eastern Uganda, for a period of three months. The assistance to be provided by WFP will be targeted to high-risk groups, including severely malnourished children, expectant and lactating mothers and primary school children. 1.2 Rebel activities close to Gulu are again on the increase. Various ambushes occurred just 20 km north of town, land-mines were discovered on the Gulu-Kitgum road and the presence of large rebel groups was reported in several areas. A planned ICRC seeds and tools distribution had to be postponed due to the poor security situation. Various agencies continue operating in Gulu, carrying out distribution of food, agricultural implements, clothing, and continuing health and water related work. 1.3 A WFP team completed a fact-finding mission to several counties in southern Sudan to assess the situation of Sudanese returnees and the logistics facilities in the area. The mission was told that close to 75,000 returnees were registered by the SPLA at Kaya crossing point. Some 28,000 people are still in a transit centre in town, but the majority has moved and settled in neighbouring villages. On the logistics side, the mission assessed that roads to be used for food deliveries from Uganda are generally in reasonable condition. Some repairs are needed along some stretches and the lack of fuel could be a constraint. Storage facilities are available in all the towns visited by the mission. WFP is finalising preparations to send food to returnees in southern Sudan from Uganda. D. SAHEL 1. DROUGHT UPDATE 1.1 In light of drought in areas of the Sahel region, WFP has approved emergency operations in Mauritania and Chad. A total of 7,700 mt of food commodities will be distributed to 356,000 beneficiaries in Chad. WFP, in agreement with donors, will purchase part of these commodities at the local level. Although resources needed for this operation have been met, the purchasing process has been slow due to high cereal prices and overall difficulty in obtaining commodities locally. In order to fill the gap until purchasing can be complete and shipments of in-kind donations arrive, subsidised sales of 1,300 mt of cereals from Government Food Security Stocks are expected to begin immediately. Sales will terminate once commodities are available and distribution can commence, in mid-May. 1.2 In Mauritania, a WFP emergency operation providing 16,560 mt of food aid to 200,000 beneficiaries has also been approved. While the operation has been resourced at fifty percent, commodities are not yet available in-country for distribution. A long delay in free food distribution could have adverse affects on the agricultural season, which has already begun, as people are reportedly migrating from their fields towards urban centres in search of food. The first commodity arrivals are only expected in July. WFP urges donors to provide cash donations in order to make local purchases for immediate distribution. 1.3 Meanwhile, in Niger, WFP continues to provide food commodities totalling 17,760 mt under existing development projects. In Tanout, one of the worst hit areas in the drought-affected region, WFP is distributing 1,259 mt of cereals to vulnerable beneficiaries, including 2,000 children through school feeding projects and 1,900 vulnerable mothers and children in health centres. Unexpected rains have however been reported parts of south-west Niger and agricultural activity is underway. The Government of Niger is planning subsidised cereal sales in hard hit areas. E. IRAQ 1. UPDATE 1.1 As of 23 April, more than 300,000 mt of Security Council Resolution (SCR) 986 food have arrived in Iraq. The Government of Iraq has continued distribution of wheat flour to the food agents in the 15 governorates in the centre and south. Simultaneously, WFP has been distributing to the food agents in the three autonomous governorates in the north. Other food commodities have continued to flow into the country and distribution will commence as soon as sufficient stocks have built up to allow equitable distribution. Until that time, commodities from the Government of Iraq food rationing scheme will fill SCR 986 food gaps only in the centre and south, as the government scheme does not extend to the three autonomous governorates in the north (Erbil, Dohuk, Sulemanyia). 1.2 With distribution in progress throughout the country, observation activities have expanded to cover distribution systems and household food security in addition to food facilities (mills, silos and warehouses). WFP Iraq reports that arrivals, onward transit and distribution of food commodities took place without significant difficulties and in accordance with the SCR 986 distribution plan. 1.3 An expansion of the WFP emergency operation for the period April to December 1997, EMOP 5311.06, was approved by the Heads of FAO and WFP on 4 and 8 April, respectively. The operation targets the most nutritionally and economically vulnerable people in Iraq, whose special supplemental food requirements are not covered under SCR 986 (in hospitals, orphanages and other social institutions, and malnourished children under 5 in destitute households headed by women). While distribution of the SCR 986 ration expands to reach a full basket of commodities, the total emergency operation caseload will be phased down from the present 2.15 million to 688,000 beneficiaries. Beneficiary numbers have been determined through an assessment of the current situation in the country and following discussions with government departments, UNICEF, UNHCR and other international agencies. Total resources required amount to USD 33 million, of which USD 23 million is food cost for 68,000 mt. F. ALBANIA 1. UPDATE 1.1 The first distributions of WFP food aid to some 4,430 destitute families in Elbassan took place on 22-23 April, as planned. Nine trucks delivered 222 mt of wheat flour to three warehouses under the Multinational Force's protective assistance, from where final distribution was made. Previously, on 18 April, 23 NGOs and institutions collected wheat flour, vegetable oil and beans directly from WFP stocks at the port of Durres for distribution to hospitals and orphanages. Further deliveries, including to Kukes and Peshkopi are being planned for next week. Meanwhile, an additional 900 mt of wheat flour from a confirmed contribution are being purchased for delivery to Durres in early May. (End WFP Emergency Report No. 17 of 1997 - April 25, 1997) list 2
distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: listproc@vita.org sitreps nat-dsr appeal fireline web: www.vita.org rwanda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Food Program Reports: http://www.vita.org/disaster/wfp