Report No. 32 of 1997 Date: 8 August 1997
This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea B) East Africa: Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda C) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo D) West Africa: Angola E) Iraq.
>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 6513 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 6513 2504 or 6513 2004. Please note new telephone numbers: 6513 replaced 5228 in all WFP telephone and fax numbers as of 2 August 1997.
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PART I - HIGHLIGHTS
(Details below in Part II)
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update
a) Government and UN agencies warn of drought conditions.
b) Continued good response to WFP's latest appeal for food aid.
B. EAST AFRICA:
1. Burundi
a) Continuing high numbers of casualties from explosions, attacks and mine incidents, in Bujumbura, Bujumbura Rural and Bubanza provinces.
b) CARE to take over distribution of WFP food in Burundi, starting mid August. WFP will focus on food needs assessments and monitoring, as well as ongoing logistics.
2. Tanzania
a) Joint Government/UN field missions conclude that further relief food aid required in several areas where current production is well below normal; food shortages expected to last for six to eight months, beginning in September.
3. Rwanda
a) WFP's six-month operation of assistance to returning refugees completed.
b) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission of July estimates that increase in total B-season crop production off-set by vast increase in population. WFP estimates that 60,000 metric tons of emergency food aid will be required to feed some 690,000 vulnerable people during the period July to December 1997.
4. Uganda
a) Rebel attacks in West Nile region; traffic on Yumbe-Moyo road halted. Military escorts continue for WFP trucks for routes Gulu-Adjumani and Gulu-Atiak.
C. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1. Democratic Republic of Congo - update
a) During the period 28 July to 3 August, 800 refugees repatriated to Rwanda through Bukavu. WFP assistance continues to 1,500 refugees who remain in Shabunda area.
b) Some 1,000 Burundian refugees arrive in Uvira fleeing insecurity in the border province of Cibitoke. Total Burundian refugees in the area estimated at 3,000.
c) Around 1,000 Congolese refugees returned to the Uvira region from Kigoma in Tanzania by their own means between 28 July to 3 August.
D. WEST AFRICA: ANGOLA
1. Angola - update
a) WFP airlifts food to refugees in Moxico province.
b) Assistance continues for internally displaced persons in Lunda Norte.
E. IRAQ
1. Update
a) UN Secretary-General endorses distribution plan for the second phase of the oil-for-food agreement (SCR 986) on 4 August; crude oil expected to start flowing again by mid-August.
b) As of 1 August, Iraq had imported 1,245,000 metric tons of food under SCR 986, or 52 percent of planned food deliveries for the first six-month phase.
c) Joint FAO/WFP Food Supply and Nutrition Assessment Mission of 9 June to 8 July emphasizes pressing need for increased vulnerable group feeding. Report of mission to be released shortly.
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PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 The Permanent Representative of DPR Korea to the Rome-based UN agencies has informed WFP that drought conditions are currently affecting the country. Agencies represented in DPR Korea have made a preliminary assessment of the situation, reporting that very little rain has fallen during the months of June and July. This has been particularly damaging to non-irrigated maize, as tasseling and pollination take place during this period.
1.2 WFP and FAO will jointly field a food and crop assessment mission to review the situation and determine the extent of crop damage. The mission is scheduled to arrive in DPR Korea on 16 August.
1.3 In response to the latest WFP appeal dated 4 July, donors continue to contribute generously. Out of the additional USD 45.7 million requested (resulting in a revised total of USD 141.5 million for the current operation), USD 32.8 million (72 percent) had been pledged as of 7 August. Donors to the latest appeal include USA, the European Union, Australia, Greece, Ireland, Norway, the Philippines, OPEC, a number of non-governmental organizations (Concern, George Ty Foundation from the Philippines, Korean Resource Centre from Australia, and Shinnyo-En and Sotoshu Volunteer Association from Japan) and ADM (a US firm).
1.4 Shipments over the next few months also include 50,000 metric tons of maize from the Republic of Korea, previously pledged and scheduled to arrive in August.
1.5 In addition to their contributions to the WFP emergency operation, USA and the European Union will contribute 55,000 metric tons and 95,000 metric tons of cereals respectively on a bilateral basis but in close coordination with WFP.
B. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI, RWANDA, TANZANIA AND UGANDA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 Burundi continues to be plagued by insecurity and the number of casualties from explosions, attacks and mine incidents remains very high, particularly among civilian populations. During the past week, in addition to explosions that rocked Bujumbura on August 1 and 2, there were mine incidents and confrontations between the army and the rebels in Bujumbura Rural and mine incidents and rebel attacks in Bubanza province.
1.2 WFP and CARE have reached an agreement whereby this non-governmental organisation (NGO) will take over emergency distributions of WFP food in Burundi, starting mid August. WFP will continue to carry on food needs assessments to determine where, when and to whom food assistance is required and CARE will effect the distributions throughout the country, security permitting. Due to a lack of distribution partners in the country, WFP had been filling this role to date. Now that CARE will assume this responsibility WFP will be able to focus its efforts on assessment and monitoring activities, in addition to its ongoing major logistics role. Food distribution arrangements in Burundi have been made possible following grants from USAID/OFDA, first to WFP and now to CARE.
1.3 Close to 160,000 beneficiaries received food assistance from WFP between 28 July and 3 August. The majority of these beneficiaries are displaced persons receiving free food rations or engaged in food-for-work programmes. Almost 15,000 beneficiaries are currently engaged in these food-for-work schemes, receiving food rations for themselves and their families. Some 19,000 vulnerable persons are presently also receiving WFP food under selective feeding programmes.
2. TANZANIA
2.1 Recent joint field missions by the Tanzanian Government, WFP, FAO, USAID and UNDP have established that further relief food aid is required in several areas where current production is well below normal, to address serious food shortages expected from September onwards. A contingency plan will be put in place to respond to the potential crisis which could last six to eight months.
2.2 WFP will support and participate in a pilot programme of the Save the Children Fund/UK (SCF/UK) in Lindi and Mtwara regions, during September and October. This study is in line with the WFP Vulnerability Assessment strategy of collaboration with SCF/UK, and follows the food monitoring of the drought emergency operation. This pilot study will assess the food situation in drought-affected areas covered by WFP's emergency operation EMOP 5825 and will provide information on the impact of relief food distr ibutions. The results of the study will be used to assess the vulnerability of the rural populations in the two regions.
2.3 Refugee operations: While caseload data from the recent registration/verification exercise is still being processed, food distributions to refugees continued, based on preliminary figures. A two-week ration of all food commodities was distributed in all Kigoma camps. Full food basket rations were distributed at Lukole B camp in Ngara and food for the coming distribution was pre-positioned at Lukole B. A one-month ration of food was issued to Mwisa camp in Karagwe.
3. RWANDA
3.1 In mid-July, WFP completed its operation to provide six months of food resettlement rations to returning Rwandan refugees. Since the end of January 1997, over one million returnees received a monthly food basket comprising 12.5 kg of cereals, beans, vegetable oil, salt and corn-soya blend.
3.2 In collaboration with the Rwandan Government, WFP's food assistance was part of an overall package provided by UN agencies and NGOs to help reintegrate refugees. As part of the assistance programme, WFP also made intensive efforts to help refugees rebuild their homes and rehabilitate their farms.
3.3 The FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission of July 1997 estimates that, while total crop production for the B-season harvest will be slightly above the same harvest last year, the increase is not commensurate with the vast increase in population, following the return of the 1.2 million Rwandans from Zaire and Tanzania in late 1966. A significant number of this returnee population were unable to fully recommence agricultural activities in time to plant. A general lack of agricultural inputs and unfavourable rainfall in many parts of the country will also have a negative impact on national food production.
3.4 WFP estimates that almost 60,000 metric tons of emergency food aid will be required to feed some 690,000 vulnerable people during the period July to December 1997. The situation will be closely monitored by WFP, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda and other agencies, and food needs adjusted if necessary, as additional information on the current season becomes available.
3.5 WFP plans to focus its operations in Rwanda for the remainder of 1997 on the rehabilitation of the agricultural production systems and destroyed infrastructure. In addition, nutritional support will continue to be provided to vulnerable groups such as orphans, malnourished children and the elderly.
3.6 Areas which are highly susceptible to drought and crop failure will continue to receive a large share of food assistance.
4. UGANDA
4.1 Security in the West Nile region remains poor with various rebel attacks reported and as a result, traffic on the Yumbe-Moyo road has been halted. In East Moyo, no security incidents were reported but military escorts continue to be necessary for WFP trucks travelling between Gulu and Adjumani. The same need for military escorts remains for the route Gulu-Atiak.
4.2 From 28 July to 3 August, WFP moved 1,664 metric tons of food to various destinations within Uganda. The bulk of these deliveries was made to camps and settlements holding Sudanese refugees. Food was also delivered to displaced persons and Rwandan and Congolese refugees in south-western parts of the country.
4.3 WFP also delivered 148 metric tons of food to southern Sudan for distribution to Sudanese returnees. The despatch of food from Kampala to Koboko, transhipment point for southern Sudan, has been temporarily halted as stock are building up in Koboko as a result of slow onward delivery to final destinations.
C. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - UPDATE
1.1 The security situation in Kisangani remains somewhat tense, with various attacks and looting of personal property reported. Distributions of WFP food continued during the week, without changes in the number of persons currently receiving assistance: refugees still at the transit centre, displaced Congolese receiving free food rations and in nutritional programmes and participants of 27 small food-for-work schemes. New proposals for food-for-work programmes are currently being evaluated.
1.2 In Goma, WFP food continues to be distributed to displaced Congolese, persons engaged in food-for-work programmes, mainly tree planting and park protection, as well as to vulnerable groups in nutritional centres and special feeding programmes. In total, 50 metric tons of various commodities were distributed from 28 July to 3 August.
1.3 During the same period, 794 refugees were repatriated to Rwanda through Bukavu. Another 1,500 refugees remain in the Shabunda area and are receiving food assistance from WFP.
1.4 Some 1,000 Burundian refugees have arrived in Uvira fleeing insecurity in the border province of Cibitoke. In total, an estimated 3,000 Burundians are reported to be living among local populations in the area. About 1,000 Congolese refugees from Kigoma in Tanzania have spontaneously arrived in the Uvira region from 28 July to 3 August. A small number of displaced Congolese have also returned to Uvira from Kalemie.
D. WEST AFRICA: ANGOLA
1. ANGOLA - UPDATE
1.1 Refugee situation:
a) WFP airlifted about 50 metric tons of emergency food to Luau in Moxico province during the past week to feed some 1,600 Rwandan and Burundian refugees who arrived recently from further north in Angola. Apparently the group tried to enter the country in April near Dundo in Lunda Norte province but was refused access. In May they reportedly settled in areas under UNITA control in Lunda Norte. However, fighting forced the group to flee further south and eventually the group came to Luau to seek assistance from the UNHCR office there.
b) An assessment mission to Luau on 26 July, which included representatives from UN agencies, NGOs and the Government, most of the refugees were in poor condition. A rapid assessment by MSF-Belgium of 145 children revealed a malnutrition rate of 34 percent, of which 11 percent was severe.
c) About 1,000 refugees are sheltered in UNHCR's Reception Centre in Luau, which was built for UNHCR's repatriation and reintegration programme. Extra tents have been set up to accommodate the rest. MSF-Belgium has opened a health post in the Centre and started therapeutic feeding for malnourished children. LWF has built more latrines and improved the capacity of the Centre's water system.
d) UNHCR has received reports that another 260 asylum seekers are on their way. In addition, UNHCR and ICRC will try to trace the family members who were left behind in Angolan villages because they were too weak to make the journey to Luau. UNHCR estimates that some 370 have been left behind, mainly children.
1.2 Internally displaced
a) The fighting in Lunda Norte has generally diminished and consequently, although displaced persons continue to arrive in the area around the town of N'Zaji in Lunda Norte, the influx has slowed down somewhat. Currently WFP is providing assistance to some 7,500 persons in N'Zaji. Although armed conflicts between Government troops and UNITA have been limited to north-eastern Angola, tension has generally spread throughout Angola, slowing down resettlement activities. The resettlement of internally displaced persons to various municipalities in Benguela province has been suspended until the security situation improves.
E. IRAQ
1. UPDATE
1.1 On 4 August, the UN Secretary-General endorsed the distribution plan for the second phase of the oil-for-food agreement (Security Council Resolution 986). In early June, when the Security Council approved the renewal of a second six-month phase, the Iraqi Government announced that it would stop pumping oil and cease submitting contracts to the Sanctions Committee until a new distribution plan was agreed upon with the UN.
1.2 It is expected that crude oil will start flowing again by mid-August. The Security Council has rejected Iraq's request to begin implementing the second 180-day term on the date the new distribution plan was approved, and has stated that the new phase began on 8 June and will end on 5 December. The oil-for-food deal allows Iraq to sell up to USD 2 billion worth of oil every six months to finance the importation of humanitarian supplies. The sales period is divided into two 90 day periods. Thus, Iraq can export USD 1 billion worth of crude by the cut-off date of 5 September. During the first phase of the programme, Iraq exported oil at a rate of 750,000 barrels a day. To meet the quota for the present 90 day period it will have to triple its production, which is considered unlikely in view of its limited pumping capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day.
1.3 Therefore, as Iraq stopped submitting contracts to the Sanctions Committee for more than two months and as it will not be able to meet its production quota for the first 90-day period of the second phase, a break in the food pipeline is foreseen sometime in the next few months. While in the centre/south such breaks can be bridged from Government of Iraq food supplies at a reduced ration scale, in the northern autonomous governorates the gaps will remain unfilled.
1.4 In July, the food basket included rations of all eight food commodities, as well as soap and detergent. However, due to limited deliveries, reduced quantities of rice and pulses were distributed. It is expected that for August a complete basket will be distributed, the first since the beginning of the operation. As of 1 August, Iraq had imported 1,245,000 metric tons of food under SCR 986. This represents only 52 percent of expected food deliveries for the first six-month phase.
1.5 Within the UN system, WFP is responsible for the distribution of commodities in the three northern autonomous governorates and for the observation system of food distribution throughout the country.
1.6 In parallel to SCR 986 food distributions, WFP is continuing its targeted emergency feeding operation, with the aim of responding to the special food needs of vulnerable groups weakened by malnutrition.
1.7 A joint FAO/WFP Food Supply and Nutrition Assessment Mission was fielded to Iraq from 9 June to 8 July 1997. In its preliminary findings, the mission stated that although there has been some improvement in the overall food supply situation following the implementation of SCR 986, malnutrition still remains a serious problem for vulnerable groups., the mission emphasized the pressing need for increased vulnerable group feeding. A report based on the mission will be released in the future.
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