Report No. 25 of 1997 Date: 20 June 1997This report includes: A) Resourcing Update B) Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania C) Uganda D) West Africa - General E) News on emergency situations via the Web.
>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. GENERAL
1. Summary of resourcing situation for selected WFP Emergency and Protracted Relief Operations a) Relief operations facing resourcing problems are listed below, in order of priority based on the urgency of resourcing needs.
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 19 June a) Repatriation of Rwandan refugees from areas west of Bukavu (Shabunda, Lulingu and Katshungu) to begin. b) Joint UN/NGO mission visits Fizi and Baraka, south of Uvira, in preparation for the return of Congolese refugees from Tanzania and displaced persons from Kalemie. c) Continuing problem of insecurity in the Goma area. Karuba, 45 km west of Goma, is cut off, preventing access to some 1,600 refugees. d) Arrival in Goma from Kampala of the first food convoy since May 1995 to use the route through Rwanda.
2. Republic of Congo (Congo/Brazzaville) a) WFP aircraft evacuates a total of 715 persons from Brazzaville to Pointe Noire and Libreville between 12 and 14 June. b) Refugees in Bilolo transit centre continue to be without relief food and other assistance due to the fighting of the past two weeks in Brazzaville. ICRC resumes deliveries to Lukolela on 12 June. Total number of refugees in the Republic of Congo estimated to be 15,000.
3. Rwanda a) Three UN staff members were killed by unidentified assailants in Ruhengeri in three separate incidents over the past week.
4. Burundi a) New security procedures in place for all UN missions travelling to Cibitoke and parts of Bubanza.
5. Tanzania a) A new donor contribution towards the drought operation facilitates procurement and delivery of food in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. b) Barge transport from Tanzania to Burundi restarts after a ten-month blockage related to economic sanctions.
C. UGANDA
1. Update a) Joint WFP/UNHCR/Government of Uganda food assessment mission visited camps and settlements for Sudanese refugees in Uganda. b) Cross-border road operation delivering food from Kampala to Yei in southern Sudan continues. Deliveries are to average 700 metric tons of food a month between June and August.
D. WEST AFRICA - GENERAL
1. DHA IRIN West Africa initiative a) UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs news and information network for West Africa established.
E. NEWS ON EMERGENCY SITUATIONS VIA THE WEB
1. Update on news sources a) Various Internet sources for information on emergency operations are given below.
PART II - DETAILS
A. GENERAL
1. SUMMARY OF RESOURCING SITUATION FOR SELECTED WFP EMERGENCY AND PROTRACTED RELIEF OPERATIONS
1.1 Donor response to WFP emergency and protracted relief operations has been very generous thus far in 1997, but certain operations face resourcing problems.
1.2 Among the relief operations which are not fully resourced, the operations listed below are of significant concern to WFP. Unless contribution towards the food needs of these operations are confirmed in the near future, serious gaps in distributions will occur during the coming months. In the following lists, operations are given priority based on the urgency of resourcing needs. Figures are from the May summary made available to donors, updated where possible. Percentages shows shortfalls compared to net 1997 needs.
1.3 Current highest priority Emergency Operations (EMOPs)
% shows shortfall:
Former Yugo 108,700 mt - US$ 67.5 mill. - 61 % (May) Iraq 66,000 mt - US$ 32.2 mill. - 97 % (May) Laos 23,700 mt - US$ 11.7 mill. - 78 % (Jun) Ethiopia 22,560 mt - US$ 8.6 mill. - 87 % (Jun)
Other priority EMOPs:
Angola 35,500 mt - US$ 19.8 mill. - 78 % (May) Haiti 3,950 mt - US$ 2.8 mill. - 100 % (Jun) Guatemala 3,460 mt - US$ 1.6 mill. - 100 % (Jun) Pakistan 3,160 mt - US$ 1.5 mill. - 100 % (Jun) Armenia 5,450 mt - US$ 3.3 mill. - 64 % (Jun) Tajikistan 11,710 mt - US$ 2.6 mill. - 45 % (Jun)
List does not include foreseen expansion of DPR Korea emergency operation.
1.4 Current highest priority Protracted Relief Operations (PROs)
Cambodia 11,400 mt - US$ 8.3 mill. - 65 % (Jun) Afghanistan 65,120 mt - US$ 29.8 mill. - 40 % (Jun) Kenya 27,000 mt - US$ 16 mill. - 90 % (Jun) Angola 40,150 mt - US$ 27.7 mill. - 60 % (Jun) Iran 10,400 mt - US$ 4.1 mill. - 54 % (Jun)
Other priority PROs:
Ethiopia 12,400 mt - US$ 7 mill. - 26 % (June) Mali Reg. 2,460 mt - US$ 2.1 mill. - 25% (June)
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 19 June
1.1 Following the mass repatriation of the Rwandan refugees in Kisangani and Mbandaka, preparations are now under way to initiate a similar operation in Shabunda, Lulingu and Katshungu, areas west of Bukavu. UNHCR plans to establish offices in these locations. Way stations will be set up every ten kilometres between these three locations, and the air evacuation is planned to take place from Shabunda and Lulingu to Cyangugu. WFP will provide food commodities for the refugees as required.
1.2 WFP continues to distribute mixed food commodities to nutritional centres and food-for-work projects in Bukavu. The rehabilitation of the Ruzizi bridge, at the border between Bukavu and Cyangugu, has been completed, through a food-for-work programme.
1.3 In preparation for the return of Congolese refugees from Tanzania and displaced persons from Kalemie, a joint mission comprising UN agencies and non-governmental organisations visited Fizi and Baraka, south of Uvira, the place of origin for many of these refugees and displaced. Although the full repatriation is not expected to start before August, it is planned to take advantage of the favourable conditions of the current dry season, in terms of road access, land preparation for planting and brick making for house and school reconstruction.
1.4 A total of 250 displaced persons from Kalemie have arrived in Uvira by boat. Upon arrival, these persons received non-food assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Caritas. ICRC has been assisting vulnerable groups among spontaneous displaced and refugees arriving in Uvira.
1.5 WFP has started a food-for-work programme involving 1,000 persons, for a labour intensive rehabilitation of the road between Uvira, Baraka and Fizi. It is planned that these works will last for a period of a month, making the road accessible before the September rains.
1.6 Insecurity continues to worry residents in the Goma area. Access to Karuba, 45 km west of Goma, is still restricted and some 1,600 refugees are reportedly stranded at the collection point. Meanwhile, the first food convoy sent by WFP Kampala through Rwanda since May 1995 has now arrived in Goma.
2. REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Congo/Brazzaville)
2.1 Between 12 and 14 June, WFP aircraft evacuated a total 715 persons from Brazzaville to Pointe Noire and Libreville, including 431 UN staff and 284 non-UN expatriates. On Tuesday 17 June, the factions involved in fighting in Brazzaville agreed to a three-day cease-fire.
2.2 Over 5,000 refugees in Bilolo transit centre, 20 km north of Brazzaville, have been stranded without food and other assistance since the fighting broke in Brazzaville two weeks ago. On 12 June the International Committee of the Red Cross resumed air deliveries to Lukolela and flew in seven metric tons of food and half a ton of medicines. The requirements for the refugees amount to some six metric tons per day. There are an estimated 15,000 refugees in the Republic of Congo.
3. RWANDA
3.1 In separate incidents over recent days, three UN staff members were killed by unidentified assailants in Ruhengeri. In the first incident, on the night of 14 June, a WFP national officer and his family were shot to death in their home in Ruhengeri. On 16 June, another WFP national staff member, who had disappeared on 9 June, was found dead in a forest near Ruhengeri town, after being shot in the head. On 19 June, unknown gunmen shot and killed a UNHCR driver, his wife and two children.
3.2 Following the pre-assessment field work carried out by local teams made up of staff of FAO, WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture, the FAO/WFP crop assessment mission is currently visiting the country to assess the prospects of the upcoming harvest.
3.3 Over 6 million rations have been distributed by WFP in Rwanda since the beginning of the year. From 9 to 15 June, over 2,245 metric tons of food were distributed nation wide, reaching some 200,000 beneficiaries. In Ruhengeri, food distributions have been delayed in some areas and the situation will be assessed by WFP during the coming days. It is anticipated that by the end of June most prefectures will have received the full amount of food to cater for the returnee and displaced caseload.
3.4 Food receipts in Rwanda through the southern corridor showed a marked improvement with 440 metric tons received during the past week and another thirty trucks on the way. Stock levels for relief supplies of cereals in the country are quite healthy but stocks of pulses are depleted pending the arrival of pulses from the EU stocks in Tororo, Uganda and Mwanza, Tanzania.
3.5 WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR are coordinating the utilisation of in-country stocks of UNIMIX, high-protein biscuits and therapeutic milk. Over 300 metric tons of UNICEF?s UNIMIX will be used for targeted distribution in WFP-supported programmes. WFP has also been requested by the Ministry of Health to effect the distribution of sardines and oil donated by Norwegian People?s Aid and intended for health centres.
4. BURUNDI
4.1 Few security incidents were reported during the past week. However, following the recent attack on a vehicle carrying staff from a non-governmental organisation, new procedures are now in place for all UN missions travelling to Cibitoke and parts of Bubanza. All missions planned must be announced to the military and civil authorities five working days in advance and UN staff must be transported in armoured vehicles; staff movements will be restricted and only a limited number of missions will be permitted each week.
4.2 WFP teams completed assessments undertaken over a two-week period at 16 sites in Bubanza and Kayanza provinces. Seven of the sites showed serious food insecurity and clear signs of malnutrition, as well as an extremely urgent need for water, sanitation and non-food assistance.
4.3 A joint UN and Government mission visited Kayanza to review, together with the provincial authorities, the situation in the province and ascertain possibilities of the reinstallation of regrouped and displaced populations. The Governor informed the mission that these populations should be able to return to home areas soon and that he hoped the reinstallation process would be completed by September.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 A further contribution had been received from a donor, for the procurement and delivery of food in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. The food will be distributed to households facing serious shortages as a result of the drought. Transportation of the food to the affected households has already commenced.
5.2 The outlook for the Masika (long rains) harvest is still unclear but crops in coastal and northern areas are reportedly doing well. However, the rains came too late for many households in the central regions where many are reported to have lost their entire harvest or salvaged very little.
5.3 The transport of commodities from Tanzania to Burundi via Lake Tanganyika was finally reinstated after a ten-month blockage related to economic sanctions. On 14 June, a barge loaded with a total of 400 metric tons of WFP food commodities departed from Kigoma port for Bujumbura. Another barge has been loaded in Kigoma with 540 metric tons of maize meal, pulses, oil and salt destined to Uvira.
C. UGANDA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Between 11 and 16 June, a joint WFP/UNHCR/Government of Uganda food assessment mission visited camps and settlements for Sudanese refugees in Uganda. The mission assessed the level of agricultural production, the extend of land allocation to refugees and the efficiency of food distribution methods.
1.2 Security in camps and settlements for Sudanese refugees was found to be adequate. In Palorynia, a number of army detachments have been established to ensure the security of both local residents and refugees. Food distributions were effected in camps and settlements in the West Nile Region, East Moyo and Palorynia.
1.3 In Gulu district, a total of 445 children in hospitals and health units are presently receiving therapeutic and supplementary feeding provided by WFP. Displaced persons in both Gulu and Kitgum districts have also benefited from food, seeds and tools distributions.
1.4 The second tranche of food deliveries from WFP Kampala to Yei in southern Sudan has now started to be transported. Under this cross-border road operation, food is trucked from Kampala for distribution in southern Sudan. Between June and August, WFP plans to deliver an average of 700 metric tons of food per month.
D. WEST AFRICA - GENERAL
1. DHA IRIN West Africa initiative
1.1 The UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs has recently launched a news and information network for West Africa on the model of UN DHA IRIN-Great Lakes. The Integrated Regional Information Network-West Africa will be based in Abidjan. For further information, contact IRIN-West Africa at: Tel: +225 217367 Fax: +225 216335 e-mail: IRIN-WA@AfricaOnline.co.ci
1.2 Anyone wishing to subscribe to news, reports and analyses on the emergencies affecting West Africa can send a subscription request, including name, organization and location, to irin@dha.unon.org or irin-wa@dha.unon.org
E. NEWS ON EMERGENCY SITUATIONS VIA THE WEB
1. UPDATE ON NEWS SOURCES - A SELECTION
1.1 For readers wishing to follow events on specific emergency situations via the Internet Web, continually updated selected items from the Reuters news wire can be found by going through the home page of the search engine Infoseek at http://www.infoseek.com/Content/ Change the location search box to News Wires (by clicking on the arrow beside the default setting of The Web next to the "Seek" button), then in the search box above, type in the name of the country for which information is required. Adding, in quotation marks, "United Nations" or "World Food Programme", will pull up news items which include these terms. (Note: using certain other search engines, the variation "World Food Program" will need to be entered to find news items using American spelling.)
1.2 The Washington Post's Search the World facility gives recent Washington Post news articles and AP wire items on specific countries, and is a useful jumping off point for related Web pages: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/front.htm#search/
1.3 The popular CNN home page is continually expanding its links to related reference material, such as brief biographies of major figures in the news, chronologies, and earlier related stories. To go straight to the World News section, go to http://cnn.com/WORLD/index.html/
1.4 Relief Web at http://www.reliefweb.int/ remains a valuable source of updated information on many emergency situations. The WFP Home Page at http://www.wfp.org also provides links to NGO Home Pages, and emergency related United Nations Home Pages. The main UN page is at http://www.un.org/
1.5 Several Web sites, including Relief Web, currently have links to Sierra Leone Crisis pages. A useful site for daily summaries of the current situation is the Sierra Leone Home Page at http://www.winternet.com/~andersen/salone.htm/ Also of relevance are several reports and background papers on Sierra Leone prepared by the International Crisis Group, at http://www.intl-crisis-group.org/projects/sierral/sl.htm/
1.6 While WFP has reviewed the Home Pages given above, mention of a Web site in the WFP Emergency Report, or as a link via the WFP Home Page, does not imply WFP endorsement of the site.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 25 of 1997 - June 20, 1997)
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