Report No. 31 of 1997 Date: 1 August 1997This report includes: A) West Africa: Sierra Leone B) East Africa: Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Burundi and Tanzania C) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).
>From J.-M. Boucher, 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. WEST AFRICA: SIERRA LEONE
1. Sierra Leone
a) WFP protests against the requisition of all its food stores in Freetown by the AFRC junta.
B. EAST AFRICA: SUDAN, UGANDA, SOMALIA, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. Sudan
a) First WFP Gender Training Workshop held in Khartoum from 19-23 July, to look at issues related to a practical gender-conscious approach to food aid needs assessment and distribution.
b) WFP carries out registration in villages around Kadugli, in camps around Wau and in the town of Wau. Assessment of food needs of displaced persons in Kosti carried out by WFP/HAC.
b) Barge convoys on the Nile river resume operations along several corridors: Tonja-Fanjak, Renk-Malakal, C.O.N.-Sobat.
2. Uganda
a) Karuma-Pakwach road, south of Gulu, opened for all traffic, without military escort.
b) First relief food since 21 July reaches Nyahuka in Bundibugyo district on WFP convoy of 31 July.
3. Somalia
a) WFP emergency food assistance to drought-affected populations distributed in Bakool and Gedo regions of southern Somalia.
b) Security situation in Mogadishu tense; two international aid workers kidnapped.
4. Burundi
a) Assessments carried out in Kayanza province.
5. Tanzania
a) Preliminary results of registration exercise in refugee camps show adjusted total estimated refugee population in Tanzania of 336,070, down from previous estimate of 414,000.
C. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE),
1. Democratic Republic of Congo
a) Six hundred refugees from Congo/Brazzaville moved from Kinshasa to site 50 km from the city; majority of the total 5,000 refugees opt not to move to the site.
b) Security problems continue in Goma.
c) Field mission to Mushaki, on edge of Masisi area, conducted by WFP and UNICEF on 27 July. Some 3,570 internally displaced persons from the Masisi area are camped at this location.
2. The Republic of Congo (Congo/Brazzaville)
a) Security deteriorates at Loukolela in the north, as Cobra militias attack government positions around Loukolela in Liranga and Ndjoundou. Total number of refugees in Liranga, Ndjoundou and Loukolela is at 8,350.
PART II - DETAILS
A. WEST AFRICA: SIERRA LEONE
1. SIERRA LEONE
1.1 Shops remain closed and essential commodities like rice, oil and sugar are scarce. Prices are still increasing and the price of rice especially has shot up. The shortage of fuel is becoming alarming, and is resulting in increased transportation costs, which affects the movement of people and goods.
1.2 As food becomes more and more scarce in the market, the army continues to target food warehouses. WFP has strongly protested against the requisition of all its food stores in Freetown by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), which has ruled Sierra Leone since the May 25 coup.
1.3 To ensure that the WFP operation continues for the next few months in the Western area, WFP is giving two to three months stocks of food to institutions and implementing partners.
1.4 In Freetown, an assessment and verification exercise took place and an emergency food distribution of bulgur and corn-soya blend was made to an estimated caseload of 4,500 internally displaced persons at the Lungi Airport on 29 July.
1.5 In the countryside, the security situation is still fluid, and WFP sub-offices remain closed. Food distribution started this week in Kambia. All staff in Freetown and at the sub-offices in Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kambia are safe.
1.6 A two-day meeting between Representatives of the AFRC junta and ECOWAS Foreign Ministers Delegation was held in Abidjan on 18-19 July to attempt to settle the conflict through negotiations. However, at a press conference called by the junta on 21 July, the AFRC showed no sign of being willing to hand over political power to the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) Government. Further meetings were scheduled.
1.7 Notwithstanding the cease-fire between the RUF/AFRC and ECOMOG, violence and harassment of civilians continue on a daily basis.
B. EAST AFRICA: SUDAN, UGANDA, SOMALIA, BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. SUDAN
1.1 During July, WFP Northern Sector delivered a total of 1,391 metric tons of emergency food for 177,132 beneficiaries.
1.2 WFP Sudan carried out its first Gender Training Workshop in Khartoum from 19-23 July. The workshop, attended by 35 participants, addressed the basic conceptual and operational tools needed to collect gender based information and statistics, assess related beneficiary needs and improve the ability to identify and mobilize the existing resources for a practical gender-conscious approach.
1.3 During July, WFP carried out registration in nine villages around Kadugli, in the three displaced persons camps around Wau and in the town of Wau itself. A food needs assessment for displaced persons in Kosti was carried out by WFP/HAC. In August, WFP plans to conduct assessments and to monitor food distribution in Torit, Bentiu, Meiram, Bor, Pibor and Mayom. WFP also plans to assess the displaced camps not previously covered in Blue Nile State.
1.4 In July, the market price of sorghum in Juba increased beyond local purchasing power. In Wau, market prices of staple foods remain steady, although the price of sorghum is expected to decrease after the maize harvest.
1.5 As from mid-July, barge convoys on the Nile river resumed operations along the following corridors: Tonja-Fanjak, with a total of 1,210 metric tons of food for an estimated 111,000 beneficiaries; Renk-Malakal, 563 metric tons for 79,000 people; and C.O.N.-Sobat, 676 metric tons for 96,000 beneficiaries.
2. UGANDA
2.1 The West Nile region remained calm during the period of 21 to 27 July. The Karuma-Pakwach road, south of Gulu, has been opened for all traffic, without military escort. As a result, WFP will be able to ensure more timely food deliveries to the Gulu and Arua area.
2.2 A WFP emergency officer was able to reach Nyahuka town at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, 6 km west of Bundibugyo. A total of 48 metric tons was delivered by a WFP convoy to the town, to feed 15,540 internally displaced persons registered by World Harvest Mission in Nyahuka. This was the first relief food since to reach Nyahuka since 21 July. WFP has signed an agreement with Action Aid for the implementation of food assistance to the displaced in Bundibugyo and Nyahuka.
3. SOMALIA
3.1 Between 7 and 20 July, WFP delivered more than 1,000 metric tons of emergency food assistance to beneficiaries affected by drought in the Bakool and Gedo regions of southern Somalia. Of this amount, 135 metric tons was delivered to El Berde, the furthest and most difficult area to access under this operation. Remaining distributions planned under the emergency operation were expected to be complete by the end of the month. All humanitarian activities continue to be suspended in the Bay region as a result of the killing of a MSF international staff member.
3.2 WFP's Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) held a workshop in Jowhar from 26-28 July to collect data on the Gu harvest assessment in southern and central Somalia. The final Gu crop assessment report will be issued in mid-August.
3.3 Overall security situation in Mogadishu is reported tense; two international aid workers were kidnapped in recent weeks.
4. BURUNDI
4.1 WFP teams completed assessments on two sites in Kayanza province. Some 5,000 people at Rubirizi site, Rango commune, were found to be in poor condition and will be assisted by WFP. Four hundred displaced persons at Kinyovu site, located in Matongo commune, were found to be in good condition with food stocks present in most households.
4.2 Between 21 and 27 July, WFP distributed 493 metric tons of food commodities to 141,869 beneficiaries, of which 90,255 were beneficiaries of emergency relief distributions.
5. TANZANIA
5.1 The registration exercise in Lugufu Congolese (ex-Zairean) refugee camp, which was not properly conducted because of resistance from the refugees the previous week, was finalised by 26 July. Preliminary results indicated a possible drop of 19 percent from the previous total of 46,067 persons. The preliminary caseloads for the camps in Kasulu district was 113,867 and for the camps in Kibondo district 73,200. The estimated number of refugees in Tanzania as of 27 July is therefore 336,067, down from the previous total of 414,000 due to the registration exercise.
C. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1.1 Some 608 refugees, out of a total of 5,000 refugees from the Republic of the Congo (Congo/Brazzaville) in Kinshasa, were transferred last week to a camp site 50 km away from the city, in Kinkole. The majority of the refugees opted not to move to the site in spite of the fact that good facilities exist at the camp. WFP distributed various food commodities to the refugees. In other recent relief activities in Kinshasa, during the period 1 June to 26 July WFP Kinshasa in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) distributed 178 metric tons of food commodities to internally displaced persons, handicapped persons and children. The distributions were effected through health centres, churches and hospitals.
1.2 Since the beginning of July several security incidents were experienced in Kisangani, mostly caused by armed men, often in uniform. WFP distributed 68 metric tons of food commodities to 11,750 beneficiaries between 21 and 26 July. The caseload included 780 remaining refugees at the transit centre in Kisangani.
1.3 Security remained troubled in Goma and daily armed robberies and shootings were reported. The office of World Vision, WFP's implementing partner in the area, was attacked by armed men for the second time in a month, on 26 July.
1.4 On 27 July, WFP and UNICEF conducted a field mission to Mushaki, 15 km north of Sake at the edge of the Masisi area. Some 3,570 internally displaced persons from the Masisi area were camped there and were found to be in good condition.
2. REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
2.1 Security at Loukolela, in the north of the Congo, deteriorated as Cobra militias attacked government positions around Loukolela in Liranga and Ndjoundou. In spite of the security situation 130 refugees were repatriated between 21 and 26 July bringing the total repatriated from Loukolela to 876. As of 26 July, the total number of refugees in Liranga, Ndjoundou and Loukolela stood at 8,349 persons. WFP distributed 40 metric tons of food to the refugees; stocks presently in Loukolela are sufficient to cover needs to the end of August.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 31 of 1997 - August 1, 1997)
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