Report No. 22 of 1997 Date: 30 May 1997This report includes: A) Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania B) Uganda C) Sierra Leone D) Angola E) Guatemala.
>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 (Strippoli@wfp.org) or Ms. A. Blum (Blum@wfp.org), WFP Rome, telephone 39 6 5228 2504 or 5228 2004.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. REGIONAL OPERATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA (WITH INFORMATION FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
1. Democratic Republic of Congo - information as of 29 May a) Repatriation of Rwandan refugees from Mbandaka starts; 4,718 refugees return to Rwanda by air. b) In Goma, further violent acts against aid personnel in Goma lead to suspension of non-essential activities by UN agencies on 26 May.
2. The Republic of Congo a) Joint WFP/UNHCR evaluation mission visits Loukolela and Liranga, where 11,800 refugees, mostly Rwandans who fled DR Congo, are located. b) Approximately 4,500 refugees arrive by barge at government designated camp at Bilolo, 20 km north of Brazzaville.
3. Rwanda a) UN increases use of escorts for convoys in Rwanda, following series of incidents along main roads in western prefectures.
4. Burundi a) Heavy fighting takes place 27 May on the outskirts of Bujumbura, between Hutu rebels and the army. b) Assessment mission finds 20,000 residents of regroupement sites at Miyogoro, Munanira and Rusamaza in Karuzi prefecture urgently in need of food assistance. WFP assistance to be increased.
5. Tanzania a) Support for current drought operation urgently sought from donors. Rains of April and May mask on-going needs; the food supply of the poorest in drought-affected areas is extremely precarious. b) Further stocks released by Government of Tanzania from strategic food reserve, reducing level of the grain reserve to 14,000 metric tons.
B. UGANDA
1. Update a) Full-scale activities resumed by some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in East Moyo, as security improves. b) Situation in Gulu and Kitgum districts deteriorates, hampering delivery of much needed food assistance to 95,000 displaced persons in the area.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. UN evacuation a) Following a coup on 25 May, deteriorating security situation in Freetown leads to evacuation of all international UN staff and their dependants from the country.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update a) Travel permission for UN mission to assess Rwandan refugees near Angolan border not forthcoming. b) UNAVEM peacekeeper killed in ambush near Vila Nova in Huambo province. c) Report on FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission released.
E. GUATEMALA
1. Returnee operation a) Assistance to be provided under WFP EMOP 5821 to 29,000 returnees and formerly displaced persons for nine months, with 3,460 metric tons of food. Cost to WFP is USD 1.6 million. Agricultural inputs and other assistance to returnees and the displaced are provided by the government, UNHCR and NGOs.
PART II - DETAILS
A. REGIONAL OPERATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA (WITH INFORMATION FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - information as of 29 May.
1.1 Update regarding country name: the United Nations this week recognized the name change of the country formerly called "Zaire" to the "Democratic Republic of Congo." In the WFP Emergency Report, neighbouring Congo/Brazzaville will be referred to as the "Republic of Congo".
1.2 There are now only 5,050 refugees left in Kisangani and Obilo awaiting repatriation to Rwanda. The last 260 refugees who were in the hospital in Ubundu were transported to Kisangani on 25 May. As of 29 May, 37,221 refugees have been repatriated from this area. The repatriation of the last groups has faced some delays as many of the refugees are too sick to be moved.
1.3 The repatriation of Rwandan refugees from Mbandaka to Rwanda started on 23 May. So far 4,718 refugees have been flown back home. UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are now established in the area and community kitchens are becoming operational to provide cooked meals to the refugees. WFP has 500 metric tons of maize available in Mbandaka, and in order to provide a diversified ration, WFP has flown in other food commodities from Entebbe. The repatriation from Mbandaka is following the same pattern as in Kisangani: the refugees are transported from the various sites to the transit centre in Mbandaka and from there are flown to Rwanda. WFP planes are involved in this exercise.
1.4 The WFP airlift from Entebbe to Kisangani continued during the week; 224 metric tons of food were transported between 19 and 25 May. WFP is also flying to Mbandaka. In order to make use of stocks of pulses left over in Mwanza, the WFP planes have been shuttling food between this location and Kisangani and Mbandaka.
1.5 The rehabilitation of the 127 km rail track between Kisangani and Ubundu is fully under way. There are 272 workers involved in this food-for-work project; WFP food rations being provided to the workers also benefit 1,088 family members.
1.6 In response to the increasingly violent acts against aid personnel in Goma, UN agencies on 26 May suspended non-essential activities and submitted a four point proposal outlining protection measures to the Governor.
1.7 Rwandan refugees continue to cross into Rwanda through North Kivu, currently at an average of about 250 persons per day. A total 1,636 refugees crossed the border from 19 to 25 May, the majority under the organised repatriation programme; 317 of these refugees were flown into Goma from Punia and Amisi.
1.8 The rate of repatriation through Bukavu has drastically reduced. There are restrictions on road access and most axes used to transport refugees remain closed. Between 19 and 25 May only 545 refugees were repatriated, of which 24 were Burundians.
2. THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO
2.1 A joint WFP/UNHCR evaluation mission visited Loukolela and Liranga in the Republic of Congo, the present location of 11,787 refugees, mostly Rwandans, who fled neighbouring DR Congo. Reportedly, another 3,000 to 6,000 refugees are awaiting to cross the river. Between 300 and 600 refugees can cross the river each day, using canoes of local fishermen.
2.2 UN agencies and NGOs in Brazzaville have agreed on coordinating mechanisms for assistance to the refugees. WFP will deliver the food to Brazzaville and UNHCR will deliver it to the refugee sites for distribution. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will carry out food distributions, Medecins Sans Frontieres, France, will be responsible for health and nutrition and OXFAM will be in charge of water supply. WFP shuttled 25 metric tons of food from Entebbe to Brazzaville on 24 May, for use in this operation.
2.3 On 28 May, a first group of approximately 4,500 refugees arrived at Bilolo camp by barge. Bilolo is located some 20 km north of Brazzaville, and has been identified by the Government of the Republic of Congo as the place which is to host these refugees.
3. RWANDA
3.1 The UN has increased the use of escorts for its convoys in Rwanda, following a series of incidents along main roads in western prefectures. Road travel by UN staff along these routes is to be reduced. Disturbances over the past week were reported in Gisenyi, Kibuye and Gikongoro prefectures, as well as in Kigali.
3.2 WFP projects in the country continue to be hampered by reduced food deliveries. In order to address the problem of delivery of food on the Mombassa-Kampala railway, WFP is organising the direct trucking of about 2,000 metric tons of food commodities from Mombassa to Kigali.
3.3 Market food prices continue to rise throughout the country. Kibuye has experienced particularly marked increases between March and May, with maize prices rising by 200 percent and potatoes by 50 percent. Factors causing these price rises include increased demand due to the number of refugees who returned to the area, and the negative impact of heavy rains on harvests. The full impact of the rains on the anticipated harvest is yet to be assessed.
4. BURUNDI
4.1 On 27 May, there was heavy fighting on the outskirts of Bujumbura between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated Burundian army. The situation in the city is tense. Southern provinces remained fairly calm during the week, but one incident in Rutana left twenty people dead. Mine incidents continue to result in death and maiming among the civilian populations.
4.2 WFP provided food for 214,114 persons during the period 19 to 25 May. Distributions continued in the six regroupement camps in Karuzi holding the most vulnerable populations, while needs assessment missions visited other sites in the province. Some 20,000 residents of three sites, Miyogoro, Munanira and Rusamaza, were found to require urgent food assistance. In these three sites, food consumption per day is drastically below minimum requirements. Most residents survive on cassava leaves and flour, some sweet potatoes and avocado. WFP is reviewing the situation, and will increase the level of food distributions to the most affected populations.
4.3 A food convoy successfully reached southern provinces recently affected by disturbances. The six HINO trucks just deployed by WFP to Burundi were used for this operation and delivered a total 173 metric tons of food commodities. Due to recent violence in the area, there was close coordination with the Burundian military during the mission, and no incidents occurred.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 Burundian refugees continue to cross into the Kigoma region. Between 19 and 25 May, some 1,366 refugees were registered in Kasulu and 305 in Kibondo districts. Refugees residing in the holding centre in Kigoma town are being transferred to the camps to reduce the movement of "recyclers" (multiple registration). Following a one-month verification exercise of ration cards in Mtabila II camp, there was a reduction of 2,200 from the official figure. A re-registration exercise is to be conducted in June.
5.2 Logistics bottlenecks affecting food deliveries to refugee camps in Kigoma region are being addressed through increased road repairs and the leasing of ten short-haul 10-ton trucks. The rainy season in the area is coming to an end, which will also considerably improve road conditions.
5.3 Drought operation
a) Thousands of Tanzanians affected by the drought face increased hardship and famine due to inadequate international response to requests for relief food aid. The arrival of the rains during April and May appears to have created a false sense of complacency among the international donor community. Delayed food distributions due to the lack of resources is causing a serious deterioration in the health of many families. Many of the poorest are now reduced to living on daily food in-take substantially below minimum requirements.
b) The Government of Tanzania has released a total of 20,000 metric tons of food from their strategic food reserve, for relief distribution. Financial support to the Government for transport would result in a speedier delivery and distribution of the relief food already released. The strategic grain reserve is now reduced to 14,000 metric tons. Private traders are still holding some stocks of food in the country, and if funding were to be made available, maize could be procured and delivered to the most needy without further delay. Donors are urged to confirm pledges against the WFP drought emergency operation, which has a resourcing level of 10,080 metric tons of relief food.
B. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 As a result of improved security in East Moyo, some NGOs are moving back to the area, particularly to the Palorinya settlement, to resume full-scale activities. This settlement presently holds almost 22,000 Sudanese refugees. It is anticipated that refugees who were displaced due to insecurity may also return to the settlement.
1.2 By contrast, the situation in Gulu and Kitgum districts has again deteriorated. On 21 May, there was an incident less than a kilometre away from the centre of Gulu, during which 88 huts were burned and a child killed. Kitgum was attacked on the same day and then again, on 23 May. Mines, both anti-personnel and land mines, are increasingly being used, and mine-related incidents have consequently also increased. Insecurity has hampered the delivery of much needed food aid to the estimated 195,000 displaced persons in Gulu and Kitgum areas.
1.3 A WFP Kampala logistics mission visited Koboko and Arua in northern Uganda to look into the modalities of food deliveries from Uganda to southern Sudan. As this operation is likely to expand, it is planned that WFP will set up a base in Koboko to assist in the monitoring and distribution across the border.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. UN EVACUATION - information as of 30 May
1.1 In view of the deteriorating situation in Freetown, following a coup on 25 May and ensuing violence and looting, WFP and all other UN agencies have evacuated international staff from Sierra Leone. Two rotations of the Salvator II, a 1,200-ton WFP-chartered supply and communications vessel, evacuated a total of almost 200 non-essential UN staff and dependants, employees of non-governmental organizations and diplomats to Conakry.
1.2 All remaining UN international staff left Freetown with the assistance of US marines on the afternoon of 30 May. During the evacuation operation, several hundred foreigners were ferried by helicopters to the US helicopter carrier USS Kearsarge lying 12 miles offshore. Other foreigners left the country on scheduled and chartered air flights before coup leaders banned all flights late on 29 May.
D. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Government clearance has not been obtained for travel permission for a mission led by UNHCR, with representatives from WFP, WHO, UCAH and UNICEF, to assess the situation of Rwandan refugees reported to be on the DR Congo side of the Angolan border, near Dundo in Lunda Norte province. Another mission, to the N'Zaji area south-east of Dundo, was cancelled due to security concerns. There are reports of other smaller groups of Rwandan refugees in this area, which is under UNITA control.
1.2 A Brazilian UNAVEM peacekeeper was killed and another seriously injured in an ambush on 19 May near Boas Aguas on the road from Huambo to Vila Nova. The peacekeepers were escorting a civilian vehicle when unknown gunmen opened fire on both vehicles. In addition to the peacekeepers, seven civilians were reported to have been injured. WFP's Huambo sub-office, along with many NGOs in the area, has temporarily banned travel outside the city for all staff. WFP convoys serving the quartering area of Vila Nova, however, will continue as planned, but will travel with a UNAVEM escort.
1.3 Extracts from the FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission report:
a) In the Special Report released on 26 May, the Mission forecasts 1996/97 cereal production at 431,000 tons, some 14 percent lower than last year's good harvest, due to below normal rainfall. Production of other crops, particularly roots, tubers and perennials, is estimated to be normal from an increased area largely accounted for by a re-estimation of such crops cultivated in UNITA-held areas. This resulted in an estimated 85 percent increase in overall cassava production. Domestic availability is 441,000 tons, of which 85 percent is maize and the remainder sorghum and millet. Domestic utilization is forecast at 972,000 tons, leaving a deficit of 530,000 tons to be met by imports.
b) Public and commercial cereal imports are estimated at 279,000 tons indicating a shortfall of 251,000 tons to be met by food aid. Vulnerable groups requiring emergency assistance include internally displaced persons, returnees and demobilized soldiers. It is estimated that 128,000 tons of emergency food aid will be needed to meet their requirements.
c) In addition, food aid will be required to assist the rehabilitation process. Even among settled populations, food vulnerability remains high due to lack of income generating opportunities, low purchasing power, poor infrastructure, and an absence of transport and materials for movement of goods and commodities.
E. GUATEMALA
1. RETURNEE OPERATION
1.1 Following the signature of the Peace Accords in late December 1996 between the Government of Guatemala and the URNG guerrilla movement, the return of refugees and displaced persons to their original communities has increased the requirements for emergency food aid. WFP has recently issued an appeal for 3,459 metric tons of food to be distributed to 29,000 returnees and formerly displaced persons for a period of nine months, with a total cost to WFP of USD 1.6 million.
1.2 The returnees and displaced population is considered the poorest in Guatemala and at the highest risk of food insecurity. The food insecurity problem in the country is reflected in the low nutrition and health levels (57.8 percent of children between 3 and 36 months and 50 percent of school children over six years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition).
1.3 Through this emergency project, EMOP 5821, WFP will provide a basic diet to returnees until they have obtained their first harvest and can fend for themselves. Special attention will be given to widows and their dependants, children under five years old, households headed by women, and the elderly. Assistance to the returnees and displaced persons also includes agricultural inputs and support for the improvement of basic infrastructure and sanitation facilities, provided by UNHCR, NGOs, and the government.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 22 of 1997 - May 30, 1997)
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