Report No. 24 of 1997 Date: 13 June 1997This report includes: A) Sierra Leone B) Afghanistan C) Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania D) Uganda E) Somalia F) Sudan.
>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. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update a) WFP to start limited food distributions with ICRC and NGOs and community groups to certain hospitals, clinics, orphanages and schools in Freetown, Kenema, Bo and Makeni. WFP international staff left Freetown two weeks ago. b) Food stocks very low in Freetown and up-country, and prices high.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update a) Survey by WFP and other UN agencies finds that food prices in Afghanistan which had risen in March and April began decreasing mid-May. b) Situation in Kabul tense; UN missions to the city are limited to two days. c) Fighting north of Kabul results in movement of people to Kabul and may jeopardize crop production. d) In Mazar-i-Sharif, WFP international staff evacuated during recent fighting, and projects temporarily suspended. Food prices rise due to looting and closure of shops. e) Iranian government prohibits transit of goods, including food items, to Afghanistan.
C. REGIONAL OPERATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA (WITH INFORMATION FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
1. The Republic of Congo a) Repatriation of Rwandan refugees by air prevented by heavy fighting in Brazzaville between government forces and supporters of the former president. Expatriate staff of relief agencies evacuated and assistance to refugees suspended. b) Access to refugee transit camp of Bilolo not possible. ICRC halts flights into Lukulela; relief stocks depleted. Transfer of refugees to transit centres on hold. c) WFP evacuates 323 UN staff from Brazzaville to Libreville on 12 June using Hercules C-130 aircraft from Angola operation.
2. Democratic Republic of Congo a) New way stations to be set up by UNHCR in Shabunda, Kachungu and Lulingu, to repatriate some 15,000 refugees reported to be in the area by the Government. b) Repatriation of some 100,000 refugees from Kigoma to Uvira may be postponed due to ongoing insecurity in Uvira area.
3. Rwanda a) Food deliveries in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi affected by security incidents.
4. Burundi a) NGO convoy in Cibitoke province ambushed north of Ndava. Staff escape uninjured, but Cibitoke now off-limits to humanitarian personnel.
5. Tanzania a) Further donor pledges sought for drought operation.
D. UGANDA
1. Update a) New and previous Sudanese refugees continue to arrive in northern Uganda. b) Security situation permits food distribution to displaced Ugandans in all parts of Kitgum and Gulu districts.
E. SOMALIA
1. Update a) WFP appeals to donors for USD 2 million cash for transport costs for a two-month emergency food distribution to 360,000 people in 15 districts of southern Somalia. b) Alarming increase in malnutrition among children over recent weeks reported.
F. SUDAN
1. Update on air operations a) Clearance for flights into southern Sudan obtained from Government of Sudan; flights resume 13 June.
PART II - DETAILS
A. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP plans to start limited food distributions to vulnerable people in Freetown, Kenema, Bo and Makeni on 14 June. Most beneficiaries, who are located in hospitals, clinics, orphanages and schools, were being assisted by WFP before the outbreak of fighting following the coup of 25 May. Distribution will be handled by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community groups who are still able to operate in Sierra Leone. All WFP international staff members and several national staff members and their families have been evacuated from Freetown.
1.2 Food stocks are reported to be very low both in Freetown and up-country, and prices of many staple commodities, such as rice, have doubled. Only 20 percent of shops and markets have opened since the coup. Despite some looting of stocks, WFP has approximately 10,000 metric tons of relief food available throughout the country (enough to feed more than 600,000 people for one month). An additional 11,000 metric tons of relief food belonging to other relief agencies is also available.
1.3 WFP is also making contingency plans for affected persons in rural areas, and pre-positioning additional quantities of food stocks in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire for a possible cross-border operation. A reported 100 persons are arriving daily at Guinean crossing points on the Sierra Leonean border.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 General: WFP and other UN agencies conducted a food and nutrition rapid assessment in the third week of May. The survey found that although food prices had gone up in Afghanistan in March and April due to the non-availability of food during the lean season and the closure of the Pakistani border, after mid-May food prices began coming back down with the onset of the harvest in eastern and southern Afghanistan and with the movement of some wheat into the country from Pakistan.
1.2 Kabul region
a) Food availability has improved in most of the Kabul region, and the price of wheat flour has accordingly fallen by 10 percent in one week, as a result of the factors mentioned above. The security situation in the city is tense. The UN is scheduling three flights per week into Kabul, but missions into the city have a two-day limit.
b) North of Kabul, ongoing fighting could jeopardize crop production. Many inhabitants of the Shomali valley have fled to the capital, while inhabitants of insecure areas in Kapisa and Parwan provinces were ordered over the radio on June 9 to leave their homes for their own protection. They are expected to seek refuge in Kabul, which remains outside the war zone.
c) The bakery projects in Kabul region continue in their expanded phase, with another 52,000 people added to the rolls, bringing the total to around 260,000 persons benefiting from the projects in Kabul.
d) Kabul has thus far in 1997 received over 50 convoys with 15,000 metric tons of food; in June, another 7,000 metric tons of wheat and wheat flour will be delivered.
1.3 Mazar-i-Sharif
a) All WFP international were evacuated from Mazar-i-Sharif during recent fighting, and have been re-deployed elsewhere. One staff member was sent to Termez, Uzbekistan to liaise with WFP Mazar. All national staff are safe. WFP assisted projects, including the bakery, are temporarily suspended.
b) Following the abortive Taliban take-over of the north, security in Mazar-i-Sharif is still poor. The city is tense, despite reports that the Taliban have been pushed back from Pulikhomri. National staff in Mazar report that food prices have risen lately due to looting and closure of shops.
1.4 Jalalabad: Rapid food and nutrition assessment in selected districts around Jalalabad has confirmed the lack of purchasing power among the poor. The survey recorded an increase in the number of beggars, especially children, and an increase in the numbers of people selling their possessions, but the assessment also found indications of a better harvest than usual in the area.
1.5 Herat: The food security situation had been previously reported to be improving in Herat. However, it has recently been reported in the press that the Iranian government has prohibited the transit of most goods through its land border with Afghanistan, including wheat and other food commodities. WFP Afghanistan is now monitoring the effect of this partial border closure on western Afghanistan.
C. REGIONAL OPERATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA (WITH INFORMATION FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
1. REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Congo/Brazzaville) - information as of 13 June.
1.1 Heavy street fighting in Brazzaville between government forces and supporters of the former president prevented the beginning of the planned air operation to repatriate Rwandan refugees from Congo/Brazzaville. Expatriate staff of relief agencies were evacuated and assistance to the refugees suspended.
1.2 The fighting also prevented access to the refugee transit camp of Bilolo, 20 km north of Brazzaville. The International Committee of the Red Cross has had to halt flights into Lukulela and stocks for distribution to the refugees in this area have been depleted. Transfers from northern sites to transit centres near the capital are on hold.
1.3 WFP has some 288 metric tons of maize in stocks in Brazzaville, which were being milled before the riots, and which will be despatched to the refugees as soon as the security situation allows. Some 1,500 metric tons of maize are in stores in Pointe Noire.
1.4 Using its aircraft capacity from Angola, WFP was able to evacuate 323 UN staff from Brazzaville to Libreville on 12 June. The two WFP Hercules C-130 aircraft continue to participate in the evacuation exercise, as of Friday 13 June.
2. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
2.1 The number of Rwandan refugees being repatriated from Kisangani and Mbandaka has drastically reduced. At the Kisangani transit centre, there are still 2,000 sick refugees who are receiving treatment and supplementary feeding. These refugees will be repatriated as soon as they recover and are capable of travelling.
2.2 As of 11 June, the number of Rwandan refugees flown home since 30 May totals 48,306, of whom 40,153 are from Kisangani and 7,153 from Mbandaka. Only a small number continues to appear at collection points south of Kisangani. The last train arriving from Obilo brought only 27 refugees, of which 11 unaccompanied minors. The reported arrival of 2,000 refugees in Ubundu could not be confirmed.
2.3 On two consecutive nights, armed men in uniform entered the Kisangani transit centre, looking for food and other commodities. The camp security requested reinforcements and the group left. In Obilo, 5 metric tons of WFP food commodities were looted by local villagers after the last group of refugees left the area. Villagers in the area expect assistance from UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, in compensation for damages caused by the refugee presence.
2.4 The assessment mission that visited Ikela and Boende on 5/6 June could not find any significant number of refugees, despite reports from villagers that many are still in nearby areas.
2.5 The Government has reported the presence of some 15,000 refugees in Shabunda, Kachungu and Lulingu. After visiting the area, UNHCR is preparing to set up new way stations and collection points in these sites to collect the refugees, provide them with immediate assistance and repatriate them to Rwanda.
2.6 Uvira continues to be affected by insecurity, a situation which could postpone the repatriation of some 100,000 refugees from Kigoma. Nevertheless, 6,300 refugees and displaced Congolese (Zaireans) have spontaneously arrived in Uvira during the month of May, coming from Kalemie, Kigoma and Zambia. WFP in Uvira continues to distribute food commodities through food-for-work programmes for health workers, primary school teachers and those involved in rehabilitation activities.
2.7 In Goma, between 2 and 8 June, WFP distributed 32 metric tons of food commodities to 6,828 beneficiaries (participants of food for work activities, displaced Congolese and recipients in hospitals and nutritional centres). WFP commodities are also being distributed by SEIPI, a local non-governmental organisation, to displaced persons transiting through Goma to other destinations. World Vision, which had just started food distribution to displaced persons, has suspended its activities following a serious security incident.
3. RWANDA
3.1 Security incidents continue to occur in various prefectures in Rwanda, affecting food deliveries, particularly in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. Military operations continue, as infiltrators are tracked down in Ruhengeri and Cyangugu.
3.2 In-country food receipts have improved over the past week, but are still below requirements. Despatches via the southern corridor are increasing and food commodities are presently en route from Dar-es-Salaam through Isaka. The transportation of 1,000 metric tons of cereals and 1,000 metric tons of pulses directly from Mombassa to Rwanda has begun.
4. BURUNDI
4.1 A two truck convoy from the Initiative Humanitaire Africaine (IHA), a UNHCR implementing partner in the Cibitoke province, was ambushed on a main road north of Ndava. The staff escaped uninjured after a rocket propelled grenade hit one of the vehicles but bounced off and exploded in the ditch. Cibitoke is now off-limits to humanitarian personnel. In general, there was an increase in the number of security incidents reported over the last week, with the focus again having shifted from the south to northern areas. Various needs assessment and monitoring visits planned for Bubanza and Bujumbura Rural provinces were cancelled due to insecurity.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 Three hospitals in Karagwe district have started to receive WFP food commodities to cover needs during June and July. The rations to be provided to hospital in-patients include maize meal, pulses, oil, sugar, corn-soya blend and a fortified cereal mix, providing an average 2,613 Kcal per person.
5.2 During the month of May, WFP moved 19,650 metric tons of food commodities for the regional operation through the southern corridor. The commodities were received at the port of Dar-es-Salaam and were despatched by rail and truck to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, as well as to various locations within Tanzania, for distribution to refugees.
5.3 Drought operations: although several donor contributions have been confirmed recently, the operation is still not fully resourced, and donors are encouraged to support the operation with additional pledges.
D. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Refugees are arriving in Uganda from southern Sudan. Some are new arrivals, while others are refugees who were formerly in camps and settlements in northern Uganda. These refugees are arriving in Koboko, near the border, and are being transferred to Rhino Camp and Mvepi settlement. Full ration food distributions are being made to the refugees now arriving in the country.
1.2 Although skirmishes between rebels and government forces have been reported, no major incidents occurred over the past week. Vehicles travelling throughout Gulu district are still being escorted by the military. Food distributions to displaced Ugandans took place in all areas of Kitgum and Gulu districts.
1.3 A convoy of five trucks carrying diverse food commodities was sent by WFP Kampala to Goma via Rwanda. This is the first attempt to use this route, as opposed to the more direct route through Bunagana, in several years. This operation was dictated by the poor conditions of some stretches of the Bunagana road, but it is contingent upon the security situation in north-western areas of Rwanda.
E. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP has made an urgent appeal to donors this week for USD 2 million cash to help pay transport costs for a two-month emergency food distribution in 15 districts of southern Somalia. WFP plans to provide 4,300 metric tons of food to a total of some 360,000 vulnerable persons in areas where crop failure has led to food shortages and population movements. The time available to get assistance to the vulnerable groups is limited, because of the rainy season which begins at the end of June. The operation is to cover needs until the arrival of the Gu (main) cereal harvest at the end of July.
1.2 WFP will transport the food to 80 distribution points in the regions of Bay, Bakool, Hiran, Middle Juba, Lower Juba and Lower Shabelle, from where selected communities will collect it and bring it back to their villages.
1.3 Malnutrition rates, particularly among children, has been reported to be increasing over the past several weeks at an alarming rate. Many families in south-western Somalia have already begun migrating to urban areas and feeding centres in search of food and assistance.
F. SUDAN
1. UPDATE ON AIR OPERATIONS
1.1 The Government of Sudan has agreed to issue June flight clearance for aircraft operating into southern Sudan. The agreement was reached during a meeting on 9 June between the Government and UN representatives. The clearance includes the use of the C-130 aircraft for food deliveries to some 100 locations in the south (with only Yei, Tonj, Rumbek and Warrap denied).
1.2 Flights, including a WFP C-130 airdrop mission, resumed from Lokichokio on 13 June. This is only the second WFP C-130 airdrop mission since 29 March, due to continued denial of clearance by Juba air tower. Operation Lifeline Sudan aircraft, which had been grounded since 3 June, also resumed relief flights on 12 June. Current clearance is valid until 30 June; application for July clearance is to be submitted to the Government next week.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 24 of 1997 - June 13, 1997)
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