Report No. 42 of 1997 Date: 17 October 1997This report includes: A) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) B) East Africa: Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Sudan C) West Africa: Angola D) Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia E) Afghanistan.
>From J.-M. Boucher, Chief, Programming Service. Available on the Internet at WFP Home Page http://www.wfp.org/ or by e-mail from Deborah.Hicks@wfp.org (fax 39 6 6513 2837). For information regarding resources, donors are requested to contact Francesco.Strippoli@wfp.org or Aleesa.Blum@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 6 6513 2504 or 6513 2004.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. Update a) Forces under Congo-Brazzaville's former military leader Denis Sassou Nguesso take control of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. b) In eastern DR Congo, no field work possible in Goma 6 to 13 October due to insecurity, accentuated by situation in neighbouring Rwanda. Some food distributed to displaced Congolese from Masisi in Goma and Burundian refugees in Mbuji Mayi. c) Rains arrived in Bukavu, improving agricultural conditions but interrupting food deliveries. Insecurity prevents monitoring outside of town.
B. EAST AFRICA: RWANDA, BURUNDI, UGANDA AND SUDAN
1. Rwanda a) Food prices continued to rise throughout September. With growing food insecurity, more people are participating in food-for-work programmes implemented by WFP. b) Increasing numbers benefit from food distributions, reflecting assistance provided through seeds protection programme, now extended to end December.
2. Burundi a) Reinstallation of 41,000 regrouped people still in camps in Kayanza province expected to resume in near future. b) Further seed protection rations delivered by WFP for distribution to conflict-affected populations in Bubanza, Ngozi and Makamba provinces.
3. Uganda a) Recent FEWS report indicates that food security in eastern and northern districts extremely fragile.
4. Sudan a) Preliminary findings of OLS Annual Needs Assessment reports indicate higher food aid requirements than those of previous years. WFP estimate of needs for November and December are three times more than same period in 1996. b) Fighting south of Juba over the past month has resulted in new groups of displaced.
C. WEST AFRICA: ANGOLA
1. Angola update a) New donations cover WFP air passenger services through to end of November; additional funding still needed. b) Violence in Casseque municipality in Benguela province causes displacement of some 9,000 persons. Region currently accessible only by helicopter. c) Internally displaced persons continue to arrive in N'Zaji, Lunda Norte province.
D. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES: ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA
1. Caucasus update a) Targeted groups in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia include refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees, totalling 545,000 people in aggregate. b) WFP relief operations in the region have been scaled down, using stricter targeting and expansion of food-for-work activities. c) Donor contributions needed to cover winter months. Confirmed contributions for Azerbaijan will last until early 1998, but WFP Georgia stocks will be exhausted this month; Armenia supplies, equalling one month of rations, are being held back for winter distribution unless donors indicate further support.
E. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update a) Contact re-established with WFP Hairatan. Some 500 metric tons wheat have been reportedly taken from WFP stocks in Hairatan. b) ICRC resumes flights to Mazar-i-Sharif.
PART II - DETAILS
A. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. UPDATE
1.1 Congo/Brazzaville and Kinshasa - information updated 16 October
a) The situation in Congo/Brazzaville as of 16 October, as summarized in DHA IRIN weekly update: After four months of fighting, forces loyal to Congo-Brazzaville's former military leader Denis Sassou Nguesso on Tuesday, 14 October, took control of the presidential palace, Brazzaville's Maya Maya international airport and most of the rest of the city. On Wednesday, his Cobra militia, backed by Angolan troops, overran Pointe-Noire, the country's second city, and on Thursday, 16 October, Sassou Nguesso declared a formal end to the war.
b) Refugees continued to cross the river into DR Congo, to Kinshasa and Kinkole camp, and the refugee population now stands at 35,120 people. Over 5,000 refugees at the camp are without any shelter.
c) In view of the uncertainty of the security situation in Congo/Brazzaville, WFP food distributions benefiting 60,000 displaced Congolese in Pointe-Noire and other areas in the south were accelerated during the week preceding the fall of the city.
d) The total beneficiary population assisted by WFP Kinshasa exceeds 106,000 people: 60,600 displaced Congolese in southern Congo/Brazzaville, including Pointe-Noire, 10,425 Rwandan refugees in Loukolela and Bilolo in Congo/Brazzaville and 35,120 Congolese refugees in Kinshasa and Kinkole in DR Congo. Aid activities were becoming increasingly difficult in the Bilolo area over the past week, and groups of refugees awaiting repatriation could not be evacuated.
1.2 Eastern DR Congo - information as of 14 October
a) No field work was carried out in Goma between 6 to 13 October due to the general atmosphere of insecurity, accentuated by disturbances in neighbouring Rwanda. Nevertheless, some food was distributed to displaced Congolese from Masisi located in Goma, to food-for-work participants, to Burundian refugees in Mbuji Mayi and to participants of therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes.
b) Between 2 September and 10 October, 4,640 Congolese refugees returned to Uvira from Kigoma, under the ongoing organized repatriation programme. Recent arrivals originate mostly from the Fizi area, south of Uvira, whereas those arriving earlier originated from Uvira town. Over 300 refugees have also spontaneously repatriated from Kigoma between 6 and 13 October. During the same period, 5,190 beneficiaries received 80 metric tons of WFP food commodities in Uvira.
c) After a long dry spell, rains have arrived in Bukavu. Although badly needed by farmers, the rains have already started to play havoc with the delivery of relief food to some areas, particularly along the Walungu axis. During the past week, WFP Bukavu provided 34 metric tons of food commodities benefiting 4,340 persons. No field monitoring was undertaken during this period as, due to insecurity, relief agencies were not allowed to travel by car outside of town.
d) Between November 1996 and mid October 1997, 69,500 Rwandan refugees returned to Rwanda through Bukavu. In recent weeks the repatriation rate has dwindled to a trickle, although it is estimated that some 23,000 refugees are still in this part of DR Congo. Security problems and inaccessibility are seen as the major obstacles to the repatriation of these refugees. Following the closure of its office in Goma, UNHCR has now also reduced its activities in Bukavu.
B. EAST AFRICA: RWANDA, BURUNDI, UGANDA AND SUDAN
1. RWANDA
1.1 Rains have arrived in all parts of the country. Through the month of September, food prices continued to rise, particularly for beans, Rwanda's staple food. As a consequence of weakening purchasing power and growing food insecurity of the most vulnerable populations, more and more people are participating in food-for-work programmes implemented by WFP.
1.2 WFP has recently approved eight new food-for-work programmes in Gikongoro and six in Butare, as part of the ongoing efforts to increasingly target prefectures with large food deficits. Another six new projects were approved for Kibuye, to be implemented in the worst affected communes of the prefecture. Kibuye is one of the most vulnerable prefectures in the country, and has been targeted for a high level of WFP food assistance.
1.3 WFP is currently distributing over 2,000 metric tons of food per week in Rwanda and it is anticipated that 800,000 persons will benefit from WFP food distributions during the month of October. This increase reflects the assistance being provided through the seeds protection programme which has now been extended into the months of November and December. An average of half a million persons each month will receive seed protection packages in Rwanda.
1.4 Authorities from DR Congo and UNHCR representatives met with Congolese refugees at Mudende to discuss the repatriation of over 12,000 refugees staying in this camp. No date has been set for the repatriation exercise, and WFP has started the delivery of a one-month food ration to Mudende. A military escort is being used for these deliveries.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 Provincial authorities indicate that the reinstallation of some 41,000 regrouped people still in camps in Kayanza province will resume shortly. The distribution of return packages to former inhabitants of Gisyo camp continued during the past week. In Muramvya province, CARE distributed return packages to 6,135 beneficiaries. Returnees form DR Congo and Tanzania also received WFP return packages distributed by UNHCR and Oxfam Quebec.
2.2 Seed protection rations continue to be delivered to WFP implementing partners for distribution to conflict-affected populations in Bubanza, Ngozi and Makamba provinces. Close to 40,000 beneficiaries will receive both seeds and food rations in programmes implemented by Equilibre, UNHCR, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Initiative Humanitaire Afrique.
3. UGANDA
3.1 The October Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) report for Uganda indicates that food security in eastern and northern districts is currently extremely fragile. Successive poor harvests since 1996, due to insecurity and/or poorly distributed rainfall, have increased household vulnerability in these areas. In Kumi, Moroto and Kotido districts many families are subsisting on wild plants; periods of high dependency on the consumption of these items are usually associated with times of extreme hunger and famine. In Tororo, a UN assessment observed evident signs of malnutrition in children under five years of age and found that many households are eating only one meal of millet or sorghum bread a day.
3.2 Following a request by the Government, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing seeds and tools to a total of twenty one districts in the north and east of the country. In a first phase, these distributions will benefit 52,000 families in Arua, Moyo, Gulu and Kitgum. The seeds and tools are already in place ready to be distributed and each family will receive a pack comprising maize, beans, sorghum and millet seed plus one hoe. Additional seeds and tools are presently being procured by FAO for distribution in another seventeen eastern and north-eastern districts.
4. SUDAN
4.1 Preliminary findings of the Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) Annual Needs Assessment reports indicate higher food aid requirements than those of previous years. The final ANA report and estimated WFP food requirements for 1998 will be released in November. A significant indication of the deteriorating situation in southern Sudan are November/December WFP-estimated food aid needs, which amount to some 3,700 metric tons, over three times more than deliveries for the corresponding period in 1996.
4.2 The eighth barge convoy for Juba departed Malakal on 10 October and has so far discharged a total of 125 metric tons for 179,000 beneficiaries in Jikany, Jagei and Adok. WFP is assisting 2,600 displaced persons in Adu Gebeihda and 2,220 flood victims in Abbasiya in south Kordofan, through implementing partner Save the Children/US. A further 1,000 metric tons of sorghum has been dispatched to Save the Children/US in Western Darfur, where they will assist more than 200,000 beneficiaries in five rural councils.
4.3 During the first week of October, WFP completed food distributions to 6,500 vulnerable beneficiaries in Wau town and displaced persons in Momoi camp. The results of a joint nutritional survey in Wau town and in the three Wau displaced camps (Eastern Bamk, Marial Ajith and Momoi) showed moderate levels of malnutrition in children under the age of five.
4.4 New groups of displaced have been identified south of Juba, where fighting has been ongoing for over a month. WFP recently delivered food to 8,500 displaced in Lugware and Wonduruba.
4.5 In total, 1,104 metric tons of WFP food was distributed to 135,000 beneficiaries in the southern sector during the first two weeks of October,.
C. WEST AFRICA: ANGOLA
1. ANGOLA - UPDATE
1.1 Following the confirmation of new donations, WFP will be able to continue its current level of air passenger services in Angola through to the end of November 1997, but additional funding is still needed to ensure continuation of operations, which cost an average of USD 375,000 per month. More than 1,900 passengers were transported by WFP air operations in Angola over the period 1-12 October.
1.2 Local authorities in Casseque municipality in Benguela province have reported that a recent wave of violence in the region has caused the displacement of some 9,000 persons. According to MONUA, there are 7,269 displaced in Casseque, 1,300 in Santa Ana and more in Kawanga. WFP and other relief agencies will provide assistance to these persons following an assessment to the region, which is currently accessible only by helicopter. Some 2,000 villagers have also fled their homes in the Cubal area. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is registering the displaced persons and will provide emergency food and other urgently needed supplies.
1.3 WFP's Malange Sub-office reports that people held for several years in UNITA-held territory in Malange province have been released and are beginning to return to their homes.
1.4 According to WFP's team in N'Zaji, Lunda Norte province, some 200 internally displaced persons were registered during the last week of September, bringing the total number of displaced to 10,780. Many more are expected to arrive in the coming days. There are growing concerns about the town's capacity to continue to receive such a large influx of displaced persons. As of 30 September, the displaced camp on the outskirts of the town already accommodated 1,290 persons, while 9,050 were sheltered by family and friends in town.
1.5 The Lutheran World Federation reports that over 3,800 spontaneously returning Angolan refugees from nearby countries were registered during the month of September in UNHCR centres in Cazaombo, Luau and Lumbala N'Guimbo in Moxico province. According to UNHCR, the number of Rwandan and Burundian asylum seekers registered in Luau, Moxico is now 2,100, with an average of 5 new refugees arriving daily.
D. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES: ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA
1. CAUCASUS UPDATE
1.1 Operations in the northern Caucasus (the Chechnya region, including Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Daghestan) were terminated in September.
1.2 WFP relief operations are ongoing in the southern Caucasus, in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. WFP's target population is 545,000 people in aggregate. WFP food distributions are targeted to vulnerable groups affected by a combination of hostilities and economic collapse. The targeted groups include a large number of refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees. Though the cease-fires between Armenia and Azerbaijan and within Georgia have generally held over the past three years, there have been no agreements on durable solutions which would allow refugees and internally displaced persons to return to their places of origin. Market reforms have improved the overall economic conditions in all three countries but the situation for the poorest groups has improved little. WFP relief operations in the region have been scaled down, using stricter targeting and the expansion of food-for-work activities. Though humanitarian needs are greatest during the forthcoming winter months, the prospects for meeting these requirements are poor unless further donations are forthcoming.
1.3 Confirmed contributions for WFP's food pipeline will cover the needs in Azerbaijan until early 1998. However, WFP food will be exhausted in Georgia this month while WFP Armenia has only supplies enough for one month, supplies which are being held back for winter distribution unless donors indicate further support. Some donor representatives have visited the region recently and have shown interest in WFP activities, both for relief feeding and food for work. Donors are urged to confirm tentative pledges or consider new allocations for Armenia and Georgia.
E. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP in the north: Contact has been re-established with WFP Hairatan via Termez after a silence of more than two weeks during the Taliban occupation of the city. Of the WFP stocks in Hairatan of 2,354 metric tons of wheat, 500 metric tons had been reportedly taken by the time of the Taliban withdrawal from the area. WFP has received a request from General Rashid Dostum, the head of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (NIMA), now back in Mazar-i-Sharif, for assistance for the people of northern Afghanistan. ICRC resumed flights to Mazar as of 16 October. No non-governmental organization (NGO) staff or UN staff returned on this first ICRC flight since the evacuation of the city.
1.2 The situation in Kabul: Intermittent bombing and shelling continue in the capital, where currently only missions of a critical nature are allowed by the UN. The status of women's right to health care is still unclear. There are reports that the Taliban have restricted women to women-only hospitals; however there are also reports that women continue to have access to other mixed hospitals. Donors and UN agencies have requested clarification from the authorities and from WHO. The health sector in Afghanistan, especially in Kabul, is heavily dependent on UN/NGO assistance and WFP has played a significant role in providing assistance to this sector through its feeding programs in clinics and hospitals as well as by providing food for work for health sector rehabilitation.
1.3 Relief agencies are currently tackling problems on a case by case basis in view of the non-uniformity of government policy in different provinces. There is growing concern within the international community about the increasingly uneasy relations between the Taliban authorities and the UN agencies/NGOs.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 42 of 1997 - October 17, 1997)
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