Report No. 23 of 1997 Date: 6 June 1997This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea B) Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Burundi, and Tanzania C) Sudan D) Angola E) Sierra Leone F) Iraq.
>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. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
a) FAO/WFP Special Alert, issued on 3 June, warns that severe food shortages are faced by the population throughout the country. b) Substantial food aid shipments are arriving in DPR Korea: 69,000 tons arrived in May; confirmed shipments for June total 192,000 tons.
B. 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 5 June
a) UN missions are going to Ubundu, Ikela and Boende, to make preparations for repatriation of Rwandan refugees at these locations. b) Serious security incidents reported in Uvira and in Goma area. UNHCR temporarily suspends repatriation operations in Karuba following the killing of a local Save the Children worker and four accompanying refugees.
2. The Republic of Congo
a) Fighting in Brazzaville interrupts planned move of Rwandan refugees by barges from Liranga and Lukolela to Bilolo accommodation centre 20 km north of the city. Repatriation operation due to commence on 6 June.
3. Burundi
a) Heavy fighting takes place close to Bujumbura. b) WFP assesses needs of displaced and regroupement sites in Bubanza and Kayanza provinces.
4. Tanzania
a) WFP to provide food for in-patients in five hospitals in areas of Kagera region hosting refugee populations. b) Barge operations out of Kigoma port to Uvira resume; operations to Bujumbura will start when food commodities allocated to Burundi arrive in Kigoma. c) WFP begins local procurement of 5,000 metric tons of maize and 480 metric tons of pulses for drought operation.
C. SUDAN
1. Update
a) June clearance for WFP/OLS flights into south Sudan not received; all relief flights from Lokichokio, Kenya, suspended since 3 June. Continued ban on WFP Hercules flights. b) Impact of ban especially felt in Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Jonglei, where serious food shortages are reported. c) First tranche of 350 metric tons of cereals dispatched by truck by WFP Kampala reaches southern Sudan for distribution to Sudanese returnees and displaced persons.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update
a) WFP to airlift food to displaced persons in Lunda Norte fleeing fighting between government troops and rebels.
E. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 5 June
a) Fighting in Freetown following coup of 25 May subsides but harassment of civilians by street gangs and armed robbery continue. b) Large numbers of people from Freetown have reportedly left for the interior; small groups have arrived in Guinea.
F. IRAQ
1. Update
a) UN Security Council approves six-month renewal of the oil-for-food deal (SCR 986). b) As at 30 May, 132 of the 151 UN international observers deployed in central and southern Iraq; the role of the 37 WFP observers is to provide data on the movement of commodities from warehouses/silos to beneficiaries and information on household food security.
PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited DPR Korea from 17 to 24 May. Its finding have been summarized in a Special Alert issued on 3 June.
1.2 The Mission concluded that the food crisis is worsening, with a grave food security situation developing in all parts of the country.
1.3 The Government's records showed that the food stocks of the Public Distribution System (PDS) on which some 80 percent of the population rely for their basic requirements, were expected to run out by the end of June. The food situation was equally desperate for the five million collective farm workers and their families who are not covered by the PDS but receive their share of the crops at the time of harvest.
1.4 Commercial imports are mainly limited to barter arrangements because of the country's serious hard currency constraints, and are inadequate to ensure regular food supplies, even at severely reduced levels, to the majority of the population.
1.5 In assessing the prospects for the main harvest in October, the Mission found that early winter thaw in March and good rains in May had benefitted the germination and establishment of maize and also supplemented soil moisture and irrigation supplies for paddy. Maize planting had been completed by mid May and paddy transplanting was expected to be completed by early June, some two weeks in advance of normal sowing periods. However, in spite of a mass Government programme to replenish top soils last winter and increase the supply of organic fertilizers, food production this year will continue to be seriously constrained by the lack of essential inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fuel and spare parts for machinery.
1.6 The Mission concluded that the total import requirements for the 1996/97 marketing year (November 1996 to October 1997) amounted to some 1.9 million tons. Out of this, 430,000 tons might be imported commercially with confirmed food aid contributions providing an additional 323,000 tons. The remaining uncovered requirement would thus be close to 1.2 million tons.
1.7 Recorded arrivals during the month of May total some 69,000 tons. This can be compared to 40,100 tons of food which arrived during the six-month period November 1996-April 1997. Confirmed shipments for June amount to 192,000 tons, including a bilateral contribution of 70,000 tons of maize from China. Total arrivals in June are expected to increase even further: the European Community, which in May sent a shipment of 35,400 tons of rice and maize meal, is currently discussing with WFP the possibilities of further large-scale contributions to DPR Korea.
B. 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 5 June
1.1 The Mbandaka repatriation is nearing its end. By 5 June, 6, 904 refugees had been repatriated to Rwanda and only a few hundred people are now left in the area. As the number of Rwandans flown home from Kisangani is 39,394, this brings the total number of refugees evacuated by air to Rwanda from these two locations to 46,298.
1.2 Approximately 2,500 refugees remain at the Kisangani transit centre awaiting evacuation to Rwanda. All the 659 refugees at Obilo, km 82, will be transported to Kisangani with the next train. Unconfirmed reports indicate that around 2,000 refugees have just arrived by boat in Ubundu, further south. A UN mission is planned for 6 June to visit the area to confirm the presence of the refugees and make the necessary preparations for their repatriation. Other UN missions are flying to Ikela and Boende with the same purpose.
1.3 The WFP airlift of food into Kisangani continues, to build up stocks for the rehabilitation programme in DR Congo.
1.4 Various security incidents were reported in Uvira, now that preparations are under way for the return of thousands of refugees from Tanzania and the return of displaced Congolese (Zaireans), who left the area in October 1996, from Kalemie. The escarpment road between Bukavu and Uvira is facing increasing security problems and a UNHCR vehicle was attacked by armed men along this route.
1.5 The security situation in the Goma area is also steadily deteriorating and the number of violent incidents targeting aid agencies is on the rise. UNHCR has temporarily suspended its operations in Karuba, a major collection point for refugees who wish to return to Rwanda, following the killing of a local Save the Children worker and four accompanying refugees. Staff of World Vision, recently established in Goma, were also attacked by armed men on 4 June.
2. REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Congo/Brazzaville)
2.1 The air repatriation from Brazzaville is planned to commence on 6 June. There are now some 5,000 Rwandan refugees at Bilolo, the accommodation centre 20 km north of this city. Eight barges provided by the Government left Brazzaville to fetch another 8,000 refugees in Liranga and Lukolela, but due to heavy fighting in Brazzaville and in the north of the country, the barge convoy returned to Brazzaville on 4 June.
2.2 A round trip by barge takes a minimum of seven to ten days but as the airstrips in the area are too small to receive large aircraft, all the refugees are to be moved to Brazzaville before being flown to Rwanda.
3. BURUNDI
3.1 Insecurity increases near the capital with sustained heavy fighting clearly audible in Bujumbura.
3.2 WFP assessment teams are evaluating the needs of displaced and regroupement sites in Bubanza and Kayanza provinces, amid reports that the food security situation of some groups is rapidly deteriorating. Once this assessment exercise is completed, WFP will start targeted distributions to needy groups, while waiting for similar exercises to cover the whole of the provinces.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 WFP, Kagera authorities and the regional Hospital Administration have signed an agreement covering WFP's assistance to in-patients in five hospitals in areas of Kagera region which have hosted refugee populations. Under this programme, WFP will provide food commodities to these hospitals, thus reducing expenses to patients and increasing their access to a basic diet while they are in hospital.
4.2 The influx of Burundian refugees into Kasulu and Kibondo districts continued during the week. Some 6,500 refugees were registered in Kasulu, most of whom had transferred from the holding centre in Kigoma town. Nduta and Mkugwa camps in Kibondo district received 261 new arrivals.
4.3 Barge operations out of Kigoma port have resumed. The first barge from Uvira arrived in Kigoma, was loaded, and departed on 4 June to Uvira. Lake operations to Bujumbura are also due to begin soon, once food commodities allocated to Burundi arrive in Kigoma.
4.4 Drought operation: WFP has begun the local procurement of 5,000 metric tons of maize and 480 metric tons of pulses in Tanzania. These commodities are expected to be delivered starting next week, for distribution to drought-affected persons. NGOs will effect distribution to those families identified as no longer having any purchasing power. Special attention will be given to vulnerable persons, children and the elderly. WFP teams will monitor the distribution and ensure those targeted are reached. The impact of the food distributions will also be assessed.
C. SUDAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP/Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) have still not received June clearance for flights into the south, resulting in suspension of all relief flights from Lokichokio, Kenya, since 3 June. In addition, a continued ban on WFP C-130 flights, in place since 30 March (with the exception of one air drop which took place on 30 May), has had serious consequences on displaced and war-affected persons throughout the south.
1.2 The situation is especially critical in Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Jonglei, where significant food shortages and cases of severe malnutrition have been reported by OLS.
1.3 Over the past two months, an average of 20 percent of the total planned beneficiaries in the South have received food assistance, with only 9 percent of planned air deliveries taking place in southern Sudan. WFP delivery into the south with Buffalo aircraft was 450 metric tons. The flights of the Buffalo aircraft were also suspended between 6-16 May and since 3 June.
1.4 The breakdown of the total limited food distribution (830 metric tons) which was possible during the period 1-31 May, to a total of 212,230 war-affected and displaced persons, is as follows: Bahr el Ghazal: 150 metric tons to 50,250 beneficiaries; Jonglei/Upper Nile: 73 metric tons to 61,675 beneficiaries; and Equatoria: 607 metric tons to 100,300 beneficiaries.
1.5 WFP Kampala reports that the first tranche of 350 metric tons of cereals dispatched by WFP from Uganda has now arrived in southern Sudan for distribution to Sudanese returnees and displaced persons. Between June and August another 1,828 metric tons of mixed commodities will be sent by WFP Kampala to Yei County and 167 metric tons to Western Equatoria. This operation, initiated in late April, involved the use of 10 long-haul private trucks for the route Kampala/Koboko, near the border with Sudan, and a dozen short-haul trucks for the rest of the route.
D. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP will begin an emergency food airlift to assist displaced persons in Lunda Norte. Internally displaced began arriving in N'Zaji village on 19 May, reportedly fleeing fighting between government troops and rebels in surrounding areas. By 1 June, 2,100 persons had arrived and reports speak of 200 new arrivals per day since then. Most of the displaced people, who are being accommodated in a makeshift camp, are in good condition. Some children, however, show signs of malnutrition.
1.2 Emergency food assistance for 3,000 persons and supplementary food rations for 100 malnourished children will be airlifted. A team from WFP Luanda and the WFP Saurimo sub-office in Lunda Sul province has been dispatched to the area to supervise and monitor food distribution. Meanwhile, WFP implementing partner in N'Zaji, the Lutheran World Federation, is distributing food from stocks of a WFP-assisted project to the displaced persons until airlifted commodities arrive.
E. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 5 June
1.1 Fighting in Freetown which followed the coup of 25 May has subsided significantly over recent days. However, there are on-going reports of the harassment of civilians by street gangs, and an increase in armed robbery.
1.2 Civilians from Freetown have been reportedly fleeing in large numbers to the interior regions and small influxes of refugees have been reported in Guinea. The situation remains stable in Liberia, where no new refugees have been reported. WFP staff is on stand-by in border areas to monitor the situation. Contingency plans are in place in preparation for any sudden mass influxes from Sierra Leone.
1.3 WFP Sierra Leone international staff, all of whom were evacuated last week, are being redeployed to WFP operations in Guinea and Liberia until such time as their return to Sierra Leone is possible. WFP national staff in Freetown are reported safe.
F. IRAQ
1. UPDATE
1.1 On 4 June, the UN Security Council approved a six-month renewal of the oil-for-food deal (SC Resolution 986), allowing Iraq to sell oil up to a value of USD 2 billion to finance the importation of humanitarian supplies.
1.2 By the end of May, Iraq had exported 120 million barrels of oil and received 692,000 metric tons of food, 29 percent of what had been expected under the deal. Out of the 574 contracts submitted to the Sanctions Committee for exports of humanitarian supplies to Iraq, 331 were approved, 191 placed on hold, 14 blocked, and 38 are awaiting clarification.
1.3 WFP is responsible for the distribution of commodities in the three northern autonomous governorates and for the observation of food distributions throughout the country. The first food commodities arrived in late March, and first distributions of wheat flour started in April. In May, the distributions included rations of wheat flour, rice, pulses, oil and detergent. Deliveries of salt, sugar and tea were not sufficient to be included in the monthly distribution. WFP is concerned about rice shortfalls for the June distributions and possible wheat shortfalls for July. While in the centre/south such shortfalls can be bridged from Government of Iraq sources at a reduced ration scale, in the northern governorates the gap will remain unfilled. Because of insufficient quantities and mixes of the remaining commodities, a full basket, composed of the planned eight commodities, is not likely to be available before July.
1.4 As at 30 May, 132 of the 151 UN international observers were deployed in central and southern Iraq. The role of the 37 WFP observers is to provide data on the movement of commodities from warehouses/silos to beneficiaries and information on household food security. In his report to the Security Council on the first six months of the programme, the Secretary-General said that the observation system has confirmed that commodities have been transported efficiently throughout the country, that the distribution system is working equitably to bring available commodities to all governorates, and that in terms of adequacy, the food ration under resolution 986 provides food nutrient supply at basic survival level.
1.5 A nutrition survey carried out by UNICEF, with the participation of WFP and Iraq's Ministry of Health, indicates that 27 percent of Iraq's three million children are now at risk of acute malnutrition, a situation which could lead to a serious problem of stunting within this generation of children.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 23 of 1997 - June 6, 1997)
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