Report No. 49 of 1997 Date: 5 December 1997This report includes: A) Iraq B) Afghanistan C) East Africa: Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania D) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) E) Recently approved WFP Emergency and Protracted Relief Operations.
>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. IRAQ
1. Update a) UN Security Council renews Iraq oil-for-food agreement for a further 180 days; increase in amount of oil Iraq allowed to sell to be considered after review of humanitarian needs completed. b) Secretary-General's report highlights on-going humanitarian crisis and emphasizes that what is provided under SCR 986 and SCR 1111 is insufficient to address all humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. c) WFP appeals to the international community for resources to bridge gap in meeting food needs of thousands of malnourished children and anaemic mothers, internally displaced persons, refugees, the elderly and people in hospitals and other institutions. Donor pledges urgently required to meet these needs over the winter period.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - Hazarajat Region a) WFP airlift of food to Hazarajat region from Peshawar to start in coming days. b) Severe weather and logistical constraints faced in Bamyan province relief operations. c) WFP truck convoy from Hairaton in the north to Bamyan turns back because of skirmishes between local commanders along route south of Mazar. d) Further donor cash contributions sought for airlift and for increased WFP local purchases of potatoes and wheat.
C. EAST AFRICA: SOMALIA, KENYA, ETHIOPIA, UGANDA AND TANZANIA
1. Somalia and Kenya a) WFP to airdrop 1,000 metric tons of food in the Lower Juba Valley over the next four weeks. b) Joint appeal issued by WFP and UNICEF for four helicopters. c) WFP air operation in Kenya will deliver survival food and non-food items to flood-affected persons in Coast, Eastern and North Eastern provinces and to refugees in Dadaab camps, Garissa district. WFP appeal for this operation to be issued in near future.
2. Ethiopia a) Heavy rainfall also affects Ethiopia; serious flooding in Gode area when the Wabi Shabelle bursts its banks. b) Ethiopian Government's Disaster Preparedness Prevention Commission (DPPC) airlifts supplies to area using Ethiopian Defence Forces helicopters; additional airlift supplied by French armed forces from Djibouti. c) Biscuits and 118 metric tons of sorghum supplied by WFP; DPPC has not requested further food assistance. Main needs are health, sanitation and shelter.
3. Uganda a) Heavy rains in eastern parts of Uganda cause flooding and landslides, displacing several thousand people and destroying crops and property. Serious flooding also reported in western areas. Government issues appeal for food assistance. b) WFP despatches 108 metric tons of food for immediate distribution to the flood victims. c) Expansion to WFP emergency operation for persons displaced by insecurity in northern Uganda (EMOP 5816.2) approved.
4. Tanzania a) Food distributions under the WFP drought relief operation start in Dodoma, implemented by Norwegian People's Aid.
D. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. Update a) UNHCR/DR Congo and Republic of Congo sign tripartite agreement for the voluntary repatriation of remaining Congo/Brazzaville refugees in DR Congo. b) WFP food distributions to needy war-affected persons in Brazzaville continue; security situation in the city improves. c) Further Rwandan refugees repatriated by UNHCR from Loukolela and surrounding areas in Congo/Brazzaville to Kigali; security incidents in Loukolela, lead to aid agencies evacuating part of their staff. d) In eastern DR Congo, security situation worsens in Goma, where relief agencies increasingly harassed; staff detained, questioned and searched, and property requisitioned. Some telecommunications equipment and trucks seized by military authorities; 107 metric tons WFP food expropriated.
E. RECENTLY APPROVED WFP EMERGENCY AND PROTRACTED RELIEF OPERATIONS
1. Operations approved between 11 November and 2 December 1997 a) Details given below for the following WFP operations recently approved: Ecuador EMOP 5952; Nicaragua EMOP 5954; Somalia EMOP 5956; Uganda 5816.01; Nicaragua Regional (El Nino) EMOP 5949; and Iran PRO 5950 (for Executive Board 1/98 approval).
PART II - DETAILS
A. IRAQ
1. UPDATE
1.1 The United Nations Security Council voted on Thursday, 4 December to renew the Iraq oil-for-food agreement for a further 180-day period to run until 4 June 1998. While there was no specified increase in the USD 2.14 billion worth of oil that Iraq is currently allowed to sell in order to purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies, the Council expressed its willingness to consider favourably an increase once a complete review of humanitarian needs is undertaken in Iraq. The results of this inter-agency review are to be provided to the Secretary-General by the middle of January 1998.
1.2 In submitting his report on the past 180 days of the Iraq operation to the Security Council, the Secretary-General highlighted the on-going humanitarian crisis in the country. He stated that the slow and erratic pace at which humanitarian inputs have arrived in Iraq is unsatisfactory and needs to be addressed immediately. He also emphasized that even if all supplies arrived on time, what is being provided under resolutions 986 and 1111 would be insufficient to address, even as a temporary measure, all humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. The report referred to a recent UNICEF nutrition survey which indicated that 32 percent of children under the age of five - some 960,000 children - are chronically malnourished. He therefore urged agencies to continue with their humanitarian programmes throughout the country.
1.3. In light of the UN Security Council decision to renew the oil-for-food resolution in Iraq, WFP is appealing to the international community to continue to provide resources to bridge the gap in meeting the needs of thousands of malnourished children and anaemic mothers, internally displaced persons from past and recent conflicts, refugees, the elderly and people in hospitals and other institutions in the country in desperate need of food assistance and support for rehabilitation. WFP estimates that meeting emergency food aid needs in Iraq until the end of June 1998 will cost USD 15.5 million. Donor pledges are urgently required to meet these needs over the winter period.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - HAZARAJAT REGION
1.1 A WFP airlift of food to the airport at Bamyan in the Hazarajat region is expected to start early in the week of 8 December, and will originate from Peshawar, Pakistan. In the initial stage the operation will involve two Antonov 32 aircraft (6-ton carrying capacity each). The cost of this airlift operation is currently estimated at USD 1.425 million.
1.2 Over 35 national and international WFP staff have been deployed to Bamyan province, and are fighting against both weather conditions and enormous logistical constraints to bring assistance to the population. Winter has set in, temperatures are well below freezing, and some trucks have already been stalled by snow. WFP, together with a technical engineer deployed by the Shura of the Hezbe Wahdat (Northern Alliance), has arranged for gangs to clear the passes. Temporary storage units (Rubbhalls) will be moved in on the airlift from Peshawar and by road from Ghazni, if clearance is obtained by the Taliban for road transportation via the latter route. WFP is also facing difficulties because of the shortage of fuel. Arrangements are being made to move in fuel from the north.
1.3 The WFP truck convoy carrying wheat and oil, and escorted by Hezbe Wahdat, that had been dispatched from Hairaton in the north to Bamyan has had to turn back because of skirmishes between local commanders along the route south of Mazar. Deliveries by road from the north are therefore currently on hold pending the improvement of security in the area. WFP is exploring the possibility of utilizing alternative routes to avoid the conflict areas, and is negotiating with the local commanders for safe passage. Meanwhile, transport from the south is still not possible due the Taliban embargo on the Hazarajat region.
1.4 In view of these factors, WFP will need to locally purchase additional quantities of potatoes and draw on the more limited market supplies of wheat in the Hazarajat region. Donors are urged to pledge cash for these additional food purchase requirements and for the airlift described above.
C. EAST AFRICA: SOMALIA, KENYA, ETHIOPIA, UGANDA AND TANZANIA
1. SOMALIA AND KENYA
1.1 The situation in Somalia continues to deteriorate due to heavy flooding and continued rains.
1.2 WFP plans to airdrop 1,000 metric tons of food over the next four weeks in the Lower Juba Valley in Somalia, enough to feed 110,000 people on daily half rations. A public safety awareness campaign is being launched before the operation, which is scheduled to commence on 8 December, to avoid fatalities as the food is dropped in pallets from 210 metres.
1.3 WFP, in a joint appeal with UNICEF, has requested the supply of helicopters for the Somalia emergency relief operation. Four helicopters are needed urgently to reach some 65,000 Somalis who are otherwise cut off from any type of humanitarian assistance.
1.4 WFP continues regular air operations from Nairobi and Garissa, Kenya, into flood-affected regions in Somalia. Currently two Buffalo and a Twin Otter aircraft are making daily rotations into Bardera, Kismayu, Buale, Hagar and Afmadu. A Caravan and Hercules aircraft which are under maintenance in Nairobi are expected to be back in operation on the weekend (7 December). WFP is also carrying supplies of UNICEF and non-governmental organization food and non-food items in its air rotations.
1.5 A fleet of 20 boats and 20 boat operators are now deployed in southern Somalia. The boats, with 600-800 kg capacity each, are based in Bardera, where supplies are brought in by air.
1.6 An air operation is also being organized in Kenya, where heavy rains continue to fall, to bring in survival food and non-food items to 295,700 flood-affected persons in the Coast, Eastern and North Eastern provinces. This is in addition to food being organized for delivery to 122,000 refugees in Dadaab camps, Garissa district. WFP is in the process of preparing an appeal for this operation. Preliminary food supplies will be advanced from WFP Kenya's on-going drought emergency operation.
1.7 A Belgian Air Force C-130 will be available from early next week to support the flood relief operations in Kenya and Somalia.
2. ETHIOPIA
2.1 Over the last three weeks Ethiopia has been affected by the same heavy rainfall pattern as has prevailed over the rest of east Africa and the Greater Horn. Serious flooding in the Gode area has been caused by the overflow of the Wabi Shabelle which has burst its banks. Several towns are reportedly cut off from road transport and the Disaster Preparedness Prevention Commission (DPPC) of the Ethiopian Government has set up a task force and is airlifting in supplies using Ethiopian Defence Forces helicopters with additional airlift being supplied by French armed forces from Djibouti.
2.2 The DPPC has flown in biscuits and 118 metric tons of sorghum supplied by WFP. The DPPC has not requested further food assistance. The main needs at present are health, sanitation and shelter. WHO has provided emergency health kits with three months supplies for 100,00 people, and these are en route to the affected region. ICRC and the Ethiopian Red Cross are also providing assistance.
2.3 A WFP assessment team visited the affected area between 22 and 25 November and confirmed that the situation whilst serious was currently being addressed by the DPPC intervention. WFP will monitor the situation to be ready to provide further food relief as and when needed. The main constraint at the present will be airlift capacity if more helicopters are needed.
3. UGANDA
3.1 Heavy rains in eastern parts of Uganda are causing flooding and landslides. More than 30 persons are reported dead and several thousand displaced, and crops and property lost. Serious flooding is now being reported also in western areas. A joint mission of the UN and non-governmental organizations visited some of the flood affected areas, following an appeal for food assistance from the Government. WFP has despatched a total of 108 metric tons of food for immediate distribution to the flood victims. Blankets, tents, water containers and soap were sent by UNHCR and the Ugandan Red Cross.
3.2 The WFP Executive Director approved on 2 December an expansion to the emergency operation which provides food assistance to displaced persons in northern Uganda (EMOP 5816). The expansion will target 257,600 internally displaced persons in the districts of Gulu and Kitgum, providing 21,044 metric tons of food over a six month period. The target group include 65,000 school age children most of whom have had their education seriously disrupted as a consequence of the disturbances. More than half the households receiving food aid are female headed.
3.3 A total of 46,317 displaced Ugandans in Gulu (10,018 households) were provided with 288 metric tons of WFP food during the last week of November. This bring the total WFP food distributed in Gulu by the Norwegian Refugee Council during November to 850 metric tons, benefiting 28,349 female-headed households.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 Food distributions under the WFP drought relief operation started in Dodoma on 30 November, and are being implemented by Norwegian People's Aid. WFP has available in the country 4,500 metric tons of food in stock for distribution under this programme, and another 4,200 metric tons in transit from Uganda to Tanzania. In addition, a loan of 9,000 metric tons from the Government's Strategic Food Grain Reserve has just been approved.
4.2 Registration for repatriation in Nyarugusu and Lugufu camps has gained momentum following the resumption of the repatriation operation to DR Congo. A total of 54,528 refugees have now registered, representing 73 percent of the official caseload of Congolese refugees in the Kigoma Region.
D. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1.1 Kinshasa and Congo/Brazzaville
a) UNHCR and the authorities of DR Congo and the Republic of Congo have signed a tripartite agreement for the voluntary repatriation of the Congo/Brazzaville refugees still in DR Congo. Of the estimated 40,000 Congolese who fled Brazzaville and who are still in Kinshasa and surrounding areas, some 16,500 are at the Kinkole camp, benefiting from WFP food assistance.
b) WFP food distributions to war-affected persons in need continue in Brazzaville. CRS/Caritas, WFP's implementing partners, continued the registration process and to date 25,000 beneficiaries have been registered and given one-month ration cards. As the security situation has improved in the city, humanitarian assistance activities were carried out without major constraints.
c) Rwandan refugees continue to be repatriated by UNHCR from Loukolela and surrounding areas in Congo/Brazzaville to Kigali. During the last week of November, a total of 317 refugees were returned to Rwanda, and the remaining caseload stands at 9,497 refugees. Security incidents in Loukolela, including the theft of food and equipment, have prompted aid agencies to evacuate part of their personnel, leaving only a skeleton staff in the area.
1.2 Eastern DR Congo
a) The security situation worsens in Goma as relief agencies are targeted for harassment. Staff are being irregularly detained, questioned and searched, and property requisitioned. Both WFP and World Vision have had telecommunications equipment and trucks seized by military authorities. A total of 107 metric tons of WFP food commodities have also been expropriated.
b) The organized repatriation of Congolese refugees from Kigoma to the Uvira region has resumed with a first barge carrying 600 refugees arriving on 28 November.
E. RECENTLY APPROVED WFP EMERGENCY AND PROTRACTED RELIEF OPERATIONS (EMOPs AND PROs)
1. Operations approved, 11 November to 2 December 1997 (figures rounded off):
Ecuador EMOP 5952 - Victims of severe floods on the coastal region in Ecuador caused by El Nino. Duration: 90 days; 310 metric tons (mt); 112,060 beneficiaries; total WFP cost: $200,000. Approved by the Country Director under delegated authority for Immediate Response on 11 November.
Nicaragua EMOP 5954 - Drought as a result of El Nino. Duration: 30 days; 480 mt; 290,000 beneficiaries; total WFP cost: $192,400. Approved by the Country Director (delegated authority) on 21 November.
Somalia EMOP 5956 - Assistance to victims of floods resulting from El Nino. Duration: 90 days; 50 mt; beneficiaries among estimated 240,000 affected persons; total WFP cost: $163,240. Approved by the Country Director (delegated authority) on 20 November.
Uganda EMOP 5816.01 - assistance to displaced persons in Northern Uganda. Duration: 180 days; 21,050 mt; 246,000 beneficiaries; total WFP cost: $12.8 million. Jointly approved by FAO and WFP on 26 November.
Nicaragua EMOP 5949 - Central America Regional: Emergency food assistance for families affected by El Nino in Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama). Duration: 180 days; 19,600 mt; 323,000 beneficiaries; Total WFP cost: $9.4 million. Jointly approved by FAO and WFP on 2 December.
2. Protracted Relief Operations cleared by the Executive Director for submission for approval by the WFP Executive Board in January 1998:
Iran PRO 5950 - Food assistance and support for repatriation to Iraqi and Afghan refugees. Duration: 365 days; 18,400 mt; 118,000 beneficiaries; total WFP cost: $5.85 million. Cleared by Executive Director 30 November for recommendation for EB.1/98 approval.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 49 of 1997 - December 5, 1997)
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