This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) Uganda C) Sudan D) Sierra Leone E) Haiti F) Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
>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 - information as of 8 May
a) Ninety-one refugees die in overcrowded train going from Biaro to Kisangani. Train operations temporarily suspended but resumed two days later. Trucks also used to shuttle refugees to Kisangani. b) A total of 12,024 refugees repatriated by air to Rwanda between start of operation on 30 April and 7 May. c) Access of expatriate aid staff beyond Biaro still restricted by the authorities. d) Some 50,000 refugees reach Mbandaka, near Zaire/Congo border. Attempted looting of barges carrying WFP food takes place but 765 metric tons of food safely delivered for distribution by the Zairian Red Cross and IFRC.
2. Rwanda a) Tension still high in prefectures of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri due to ongoing repatriation. Seventeen students, a Belgian teacher and four others killed during an attack on a school in Gisenyi, and nine others seriously wounded. b) Rains affect delivery of food in many parts of the country and hamper project activities.
3. Burundi a) Bujumbura and the northern areas of the country relatively calm, but situation reported volatile in southern Burundi. Clashes reported along the border with Tanzania. In Bururi, 36 students killed when large group of rebels attack a seminary killing 36 students and 7 instructors and injuring 40 persons.
4. Tanzania a) Heavy rains continue to hamper food movements in districts of Kigoma, Kasulu and Kibondo.
B. UGANDA
1. Update a) Food deliveries continue for displaced persons in Gulu and Kitgum districts; supplementary food delivered to hospitals.
C. SUDAN
1. Update a) WFP airlift into Juba began on 10 April, to cover urgent food aid needs of 14,540 displaced persons and refugees. b) WFP and UNICEF humanitarian flights into Sudan airspace suspended by Sudanese authorities. Issue currently under discussion between UN and the Government of Sudan. c) WFP to supply 5,100 metric tons of food for 100,000 returnees in the Yei area from April through August 1997. Food is on the way to the area from Uganda.
D. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update a) Two UN vehicles ambushed 5 miles from Makeni en route to Freetown; a UN driver is killed and a UN official injured. UN road travel to Bo and Kenema from Freetown suspended. In earlier incident at mile 91 in Makeni on 17 April, some 32 metric tons of WFP food looted. b) WFP and other relief staff temporarily evacuated from Kenema due to heavy fighting between government soldiers and Kamajors. c) Food is supplied by WFP to first group of 600 refugees returning from Liberia. Some 2,400 refugees are to be repatriated by UNHCR during May.
E. HAITI
1. WFP drought relief operation a) WFP issues appeal for food to help victims of drought in North-West Department of Haiti. The emergency operation (EMOP 5828) is for 3,950 metric tons of food for 70,000 persons, at a total cost of USD 2,794,000.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update a) Vessel with US food aid begins offloading in Nampo port, the first emergency food aid to arrive under new WFP appeal to avert famine in DPR Korea. b) Of total USD 95.5 million requested in the appeal, some 40 percent received so far. c) Confirmed contributions to WFP mean some 130,000 metric tons of food commodities will arrive in DPR Korea over the next two months. d) WFP Executive Director warns that even if WFP's emergency operation is fully funded, large-scale and direct bilateral aid will be required to make up overall shortfall of 1.1 million tons.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL OPERATION FOR BURUNDI, RWANDA, ZAIRE, TANZANIA
1. ZAIRE - most information as of 8 May.
1.1 Ninety-one refugees were trampled to death or suffocated in an overcrowded Kisangani-bound train, on Sunday 4 May. Panic seized the refugees while they were boarding the train at Biaro and the safe capacity of the train was exceeded. As a result of this accident and in order to allow better coordination of refugee movements, the transport of refugees by train was temporarily suspended. Train operations resumed on 6 May and in addition to the two trains, there are now 11 trucks shuttling refugees from Biaro to Kisangani.
1.2 Since the beginning of the air repatriation operation on 30 April, until 7 May, 12,024 refugees were flown home to Rwanda. Three WFP planes are involved in this operation. The two Il-76 are flying the refugees directly to Kigali while the Hercules C-130 takes refugees to Gisenyi and Cyangugu. The same planes continue shuttling food and non-food items into Kisangani. From 28 April to 4 May, WFP delivered 182 metric tons of food.
1.3 A transit centre has been established near Kisangani International Airport to accommodate the refugees while they are waiting for air transport to Rwanda. An average of 4,000 refugees have been staying at the centre, planned to host a maximum 1,000 persons. WFP has provided food commodities for a wet feeding programme, run by the NGO OMNIS. Community kitchens are also operating at Biaro, where some 40,000 refugees await repatriation. Presently eight kitchens, run by OMNIS, EUB and Caritas, provide meals to over 5,000 refugees, mainly unaccompanied children and sick refugees. WFP plans to increase the number of kitchens at the camp.
1.4 Biaro refugees are now also benefiting from general distributions. Since 30 April, WFP has moved 70 metric tons of food to this site, despite an acute lack of trucks to shuttle food between the rail depot and the refugee camp. There has also been an improvement in the provision of health services and water, however these still need to be augmented to cover the number and state of the refugees.
1.5 It has been reported that some 5,000 refugees are presently at Obilo, km 82 and a few also at Ubundu. As of 8 May, WFP was awaiting clearance to despatch 26 metric tons of food by train to these locations. Access of expatriate staff from aid agencies beyond Biaro is being restricted by the authorities, and it is now more than three weeks since aid workers were last able to visit there.
1.6 Approximately 50,000 refugees formerly in camps in Goma and Bukavu have reached Mbandaka, near the border Zaire/Congo and have started to receive food assistance. WFP has transported 765 metric tons of maize by barge from Kinshasa to Mbandaka, for distribution to these refugees. Upon arrival at the port, a large number of people attempted to loot the maize from the barges and these had to be moved offshore. Update, 9 May: the 765 metric tons have been safely received by the Catholic diocese of Mbandaka, the Zairian Red Cross and IFRC, who are undertaking the distribution.
1.7 In eastern Zaire, humanitarian traffic along parts of the Bukavu/Goma road has been suspended owing to insecurity. In Bukavu, a curfew is now in place, allegedly due to the infiltration of armed ex-FAR and Interahamwe into Rwanda. Access to refugees and way stations is restricted to two axes, Walungu and Mwenga.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Tension remains high in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri with the ongoing repatriation from Zaire. Various incidents were reported in the area, the most serious being an attack by a group of armed men on a school in Gisenyi. Seventeen students were killed along with four residents of the area and a Belgian teacher, and nine other students were seriously wounded.
2.2 Over 1,000 unaccompanied children have so far arrived in Rwanda from Zaire. Supplementary rations are being provided to these children. All arriving returnees are being provided with high-energy biscuits and wet feeding while at the transit centres. A one-month food ration is also distributed to all returnees.
2.3 Rains are affecting the delivery of food in many parts of the country and hampering project activities. A land slide damaged already completed sections of the Mizingo/Arusha road. No food deliveries could be made to the communes of Gituza and Cyumba in Byumba, as the roads have become impassable.
3. BURUNDI
3.1 Bujumbura and the northern areas of the country remained relatively calm, with a single mine incident reported, killing two people. In southern Burundi, the situation is however volatile. In Makamba, rebel attacks caused the displacement of some 20,000 persons. Clashes were also reported along the border with Tanzania and in Bururi, a large group of rebels attacked a seminary killing 36 students and 7 instructors and injuring another 40 persons.
3.2 Joint assessment missions visited Bubanza, Bururi and Muramvya provinces. In Bubanza, 86,190 Burundians are grouped in 36 displaced and regroupement camps. In this province people in camps have access to their fields and military escorts are provided for harvesting. A good harvest is anticipated. In Bururi and Muramvya, WFP is considering options for food assistance to some of the most vulnerable areas.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 Another 6,165 Burundian refugees were registered at the Kasulu and Kibondo camps in Tanzania, fleeing violence in Burundi. Tanzania now hosts over 390,000 refugees: 105,000 in Kagera region and 285,652 in Kigoma region.
4.2 Deplorable road conditions due to heavy rains in the districts of Kigoma, Kasulu and Kibondo continue to hamper food movements. Seven trucks carrying food commodities from Isaka to Kibondo got stuck and had to be diverted. A shortfall of pulses was experienced in all camps in Kigoma, caused by the late arrival of trucks and wagons. Further shortages are likely if road conditions are not improved. Efforts to repair some of the worst road stretches continue.
B. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Food deliveries to Gulu and Kitgum districts, for distribution to displaced persons continue. From 28 April to 4 May, 80 metric tons of maize meal were despatched to Kitgum and 181 metric tons of various commodities were sent to Gulu. WFP also despatched to Kitgum 28 metric tons of seeds procured by the French Embassy. ICRC and ACCORD/OXFAM are planning distributions of seeds and hoes and WFP food will be supplied at the same time.
1.2 All five major hospitals in the districts of Gulu and Kitgum were supplied with corn soya blend, sugar, pulses and vegetable oil for supplementary and therapeutic feeding programmes.
1.3 Eighty people who had been abducted were recovered by the Ugandan Army at the border of Sudan and were handed over to the World Vision Trauma Centre in Gulu. Some of these were severely malnourished and dehydrated and were admitted into Lacor Hospital, for supplementary or therapeutic feeding.
C. SUDAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP began a 200 metric ton airlift operation into Juba on 10 April to cover urgent food aid needs of 14,540 displaced persons and refugees. A total of 132 metric tons have been delivered to date. Displaced persons and refugees in Juba (caseload 162,000) are receiving full rations. Nutritional status in Juba is reported as stable.
1.2 During the month of April, a total of 166 metric tons of food commodities were distributed to 52,640 displaced persons and returnees in Equatoria. Beneficiaries received food in Mundri (6,000), Maridi (3,840), Yambio (7,000) and Yei (35,800). WFP has agreed to supply some 5,100 metric tons of food to partly meet the relief food needs of a total of 100,000 returnees in the Yei area from April through August. Some 350 metric tons of maize meal are currently en-route to the area via Uganda.
1.3 Due to extended delays in obtaining Government clearance for the departure of a barge loaded with 3,960 metric tons of food in Kosti since early April, WFP has decided to cancel the operation. Food intended for Juba will be utilised for other projects requiring immediate assistance, while the balance will be distributed in Tonga/Fanjak, pending government clearance.
1.4 The recent suspension of WFP and UNICEF humanitarian flights into Sudan airspace, under the Operation Lifeline Sudan umbrella, is the subject of high level discussions between the UN organizations concerned and the Government of Sudan.
D. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE
1.1 On 6 May, two vehicles carrying UN and Concern Universal staff were caught in an ambush in Madina, approximately 5 miles outside of Makeni en route to Freetown. Gunfire hit both vehicles, leaving a UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) driver dead and injuring the DHA head of operations in Sierra Leone. UN road movements to Bo and Kenema from Freetown have been suspended in light of this incident and other security problems at mile 91 in Makeni, where more than 32 metric tons of WFP bulgur wheat, vegetable oil and CSB were looted on 17 April following fighting between soldiers and Kamajors (traditional hunters who form militia units).
1.2 In Kenema, heavy fighting between government soldiers and Kamajors resulted in the temporary evacuation of WFP and other humanitarian agency staff to Freetown early this week. To date, a total of 25 people have been killed and 60 injured due to the fighting, which broke out on 2 May. Additionally, at least 180 people are reported displaced as a result of fire to houses. In response to open soldier and Kamajor fighting, President Kabbah has established a commission of inquiry to investigate the situation.
1.3 WFP is providing a three-day wet ration and a one-month resettlement ration to the first batch of 600 refugees returning from Liberia. A total of 2,400 refugees are expected to be repatriated by UNHCR over the next month. Meanwhile, WFP continues to distribute one-month resettlement rations to returning internally displaced persons from Freetown camps. From 16 April to date, 950 internally displaced persons have been resettled in Bonthe, Kenema and Kono districts.
E. HAITI
1. WFP DROUGHT RELIEF OPERATION
1.1 Severe drought in the North-West Department of Haiti has caused crops to fail and has left tens of thousands of people in need of emergency food aid at least until the next harvest. WFP has issued an appeal for 3,948 metric tons of food to be distributed to 70,000 persons in the most severely hit area over a four-month period, at a total cost of USD 2,794,000.
1.2 WFP in Haiti reports that food supplies in the local markets are extremely scarce, products transported from neighbouring departments are very expensive and NGOs began last year to reduce the food aid they had been providing. If there are no rains in the near future, this will worsen the situation in terms of malnutrition, severe food shortages, and population displacement.
1.3 The food assistance will be used to replace depleted household stocks and for food-for-work activities. The assistance is aimed at providing a basic diet and eliminating the need for families to migrate from their home areas in search of food or employment. The Government is also funding a cash-for-work programme in the area.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 On 8 May, a vessel chartered by the WFP began discharging the first shipment of emergency food aid under the new WFP appeal to avert famine in DPR Korea. The U.S. flagship Galveston Bay docked in Nampo with a cargo of 8,500 metric tons of maize and 4,992 metric tons of corn soya blend donated by the United States government. The shipment was the first to arrive at the port in response to a joint appeal by WFP and FAO on 2 April for USD 95.5 million in emergency assistance to provide DPR Korea with an additional 203,000 metric tons of food assistance for 4.7 million people this year. So far, WFP has received pledges totaling USD 37.5 million, or about 40 percent of the requested amount.
1.2 A second shipment consisting of 13,500 metric tons of rice and maize from the US government, 1,700 metric tons of corn soya blend bought using various donations and 90 metric tons of canned meat given by the Mennonite Central Committee, is scheduled to arrive at Nampo 19 May. Other shipments will include 28,775 metric tons of rice purchased by WFP with funds mostly from the European Union under a previous appeal launched in 1996 and about 9,500 metric tons of maize meal, also donated by the EU.
1.3 South Korea has provided funds for the purchase of 9,500 metric tons of corn-soya blend to be used for feeding infants and malnourished children. Contributions received from Australia, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, a Japanese NGO and Friends of WFP, a US-based support group, will be used to buy an estimated 10,000 metric tons of various commodities.
1.4 Arrangements are also under way for the United States to deliver another 50,000 metric tons of maize on two vessels scheduled to arrive in June.
1.5 Confirmed contributions will thus result in WFP shipments of well over 130,000 metric tons of food commodities, to arrive in DPR Korea during the next two months.
1.6 Most of the food will be used for feeding children aged six and under at nurseries and kindergartens. Patients in hospitals will also be assisted. Farmers and workers participating in food-for-work activities including restoration of flood-damaged agricultural land and repair of rural infrastructure will also receive WFP rations.
1.7 Ms. Catherine Bertini, the Executive Director of WFP, who visited DPR Korea in March, reported that the country urgently needs food aid to avert famine in the months before the next harvest in October/November. Renewing the appeal on 28 April, the Executive Director warned that even if WFP's emergency operation is fully funded, there will still be an overall shortfall of about 1.1 million tons, and that the only realistic way to make up the shortfall is through large-scale and direct government-to-government aid.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 19 of 1997 - May 9, 1997)
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