Report No. 04 of 1998 Date: 23 January 1998This report includes: A) East Africa I: Impact of East Africa floods on regional operations, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda B) East Africa II: Floods - Somalia and Kenya C) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo D) Iraq.
>From Manuel Aranda da Silva, Chief, Technical Support Service. Available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page at http://www.wfp.org/ or by electronic mail from Deborah.Hicks@wfp.org (fax 39 6 6513 2837). For information on 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.
Note: the new address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, Rome 00148. Telephone and fax numbers remain the same.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. EAST AFRICA I: IMPACT OF EAST AFRICA FLOODS, BURUNDI, RWANDA, TANZANIA AND UGANDA
1. General - Impact of floods in East Africa on regional operations
a) Heavy rains in Tanzania continue to seriously interrupt transport routes in region. Rail line from Dar es Salaam/Dodoma remains cut. Traffic along road from Mombasa to Nairobi has resumed but rail line still interrupted on Ugandan side of the border. b) WFP is using a number of alternate means to supply food to the region, including trucking food from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma for loading onto rail wagons; using TAZARA rail line from Dar es Salaam to Kasama in Zambia then onforwarding by road and by Lake Tanganyika; railing food from Mombasa to Kisumu on Lake Victoria, then shipping via the lake to Kampala; and transferring food already in Kampala to Mwanza on Tanzania via Lake Victoria. c) Food deliveries to Burundi reduced from 5,000 metric tons a month to 2,500 metric tons and deliveries to Rwanda scaled down by forty percent.
2. Rwanda a) Security situation continues to deteriorate north-western prefectures of the country and elsewhere. Joint UN mission visits prefectures of Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. b) Over 800 metric tons of food shipped by barge through Lake Kivu, from Cyangugu to Kibuye in western Rwanda, to avoid insecurity and poor road conditions in the area.
3. Burundi a) Fighting between rebels and the military continues in the hills surrounding Bujumbura. b) Action Contre la Faim reports alarming situation at Rwegura therapeutic nutrition centre in Kayanza province.
4. Tanzania a) Heavy and prolonged rains destroy crops and wash away large areas of cultivated land; FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission presently in Tanzania. b) In Kasulu and Ngara refugee camps, rations affected by low availability of some food commodities. c) Over 19,000 metric tons of food dispatched in drought operation; due to flooded secondary roads, food distributions are at less than fifty percent of planned amount.
5. Uganda a) Displaced in Gulu district now around 324,000 (compared to planning figure of 250,000); WFP to carry out a needs and vulnerability assessment of the camps. b) Upsurge in fighting in western Uganda delays resettlement of displaced Ugandans from camps in Bundibugyo and Nyahuka.
B. EAST AFRICA II: FLOOD OPERATIONS - SOMALIA AND KENYA
1. Update a) Additional donor funding urgently needed for air operations. WFP will be forced to halt emergency airlift operations Somalia and Kenya at the end of January unless further funding is made available on an urgent basis. USD 10 million needed to deliver 10,000 metric tons of emergency food assistance to one million people to end of March. b) In Somalia, reports received of movement of people in the Lower Juba area (Afmadou, Hagar, Bilis, Qocani, Doble) towards the Kenyan border. c) In Kenya, some 500,000 people remain in need in seven districts severely affected by the floods. Roads are impassable and food supplies are low; disease and water pollution are serious problems. d) WFP continues to run an air bridge into Dadaab refugee camp in north-east Kenya.
C. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1. Update a) WFP coordinates logistics arrangements for operation to assist some 13,000 flood affected persons in Kisangani. Total of 216 metric tons of food airlifted between 12 and 25 January on planes chartered by WFP and by UNDP.
D. IRAQ
1. Update - information as of 22 January a) Government of Iraq threatens to expel all arms inspectors within six months if sanctions are not lifted. Head of the UN Arms Inspection programme holds talks with Iraqi authorities in Baghdad. b) Distributions under Security Council Resolution 986 continue without problems except for postponements due to severe weather in some mountainous areas in the north.
PART II - DETAILS
A. EAST AFRICA I: IMPACT OF EAST AFRICA FLOODS, RWANDA, BURUNDI, TANZANIA AND UGANDA - information as of 22 January
1. GENERAL - IMPACT OF FLOODS IN EAST AFRICA ON REGIONAL OPERATIONS
1.1 Heavy rains continue in most parts of Tanzania creating havoc with transport routes. The road and rail line are still interrupted at various points along the stretch Dar es Salaam/Dodoma and the last WFP deliveries along this route were in mid-December. It is estimated that this stretch of the rail line will remain cut off for another two months. The railway line between Dodoma and Tabora has now been reopened.
1.2 In order to bypass the disruptions in the transport routes along the southern corridor, WFP is planning to truck food from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma and from there load it onto rail wagons for delivery to Kigoma and Isaka. This movement is expected to begin in the immediate future.
1.3 WFP has also begun on 22 January the movement of 5,000 metric tons of food using the TAZARA rail line, from Dar es Salaam to Kasama in Zambia, then by road to Mpulungu and via Lake Tanganyika to Bujumbura and Uvira, as well as to Kigoma for the refugee camps. This lengthy route has however limited capacity.
1.4 Food movements along the northern corridor running from Mombasa have also been affected, albeit less than in the southern route. Traffic along the road Mombasa/Nairobi has resumed, although with some difficulty. The rail line is still interrupted on the Ugandan side of the border and it is expected to reopen by the end of the month.
1.5 As an alternative, WFP is railing food from Mombasa to the port of Kisumu in Kenya, on the shore of Lake Victoria. From there, the food is shipped via the lake to Kampala, for inward delivery to northern and western Uganda and to Rwanda and Burundi. WFP is also transferring 1,500 metric tons of food received in Kampala to Mwanza in Tanzania, via Lake Victoria. This arrangement will allow deliveries to various sites in Tanzania.
1.6 Despite these transport constraints, food distributions in the Great Lakes region have continued, even if at reduced levels, making use of the buffer stocks pre-positioned in the various countries. However, the delivery capacity has been seriously curtailed and this is affecting food availability. Food deliveries to Burundi, the most affected by these events, have been reduced from 5,000 metric tons a month to 2,500 metric tons and deliveries to Rwanda are being scaled down by forty percent. Food releases to non-essential programmes have been stopped over the next month. The effect of reduced deliveries on affected populations is being closely monitored by WFP.
2. RWANDA
2.1 The security situation continues to deteriorate, particularly in the north-western prefectures of the country. A joint UN mission is visiting the prefectures of Ruhengeri and Gisenyi to assess the needs of those affected by the conflict and to evaluate ongoing assistance programmes.
2.2 Over 800 metric tons of food have to date been shipped by barge through Lake Kivu, from Cyangugu to Kibuye, in western Rwanda. This supply route, although more expensive than road transportation, is the best alternative in view of insecurity and poor road conditions in the area.
2.3 WFP is supplying with food some 50,000 refugees still in Rwanda: 15,000 Congolese are in Kageyo camp in Byumba, transferred from Mudende following the attacks on the camp; another 14,500 Congolese refugees are in Kibiza, Kibuye and UNHCR plans to transfer them to a new and more accessible location; the camp of Kibangira in Bugarama holds 15,000 Congolese refugees, and approximately 5,000 Burundian refugees are in camps in Kigeme.
2.4 UNHCR has organized an airlift, using three planes, to move 140 refugees, the remainder of the Mudende caseload who survived the last attack. These refugees are being transported to Kigali and then they will be transferred by road to the new camp in Byumba.
3. BURUNDI
3.1 Fighting between the Burundian rebels and the military continues in the hills surrounding Bujumbura. An estimated 4,000 - 8,000 people fled their homes in Kamenge parish since military operations began in the area, searching for the rebels involved in recent attacks near the capital.
3.2 The Route Nationale 1 was opened for traffic but due to continuing insecurity along the road, the UN has declared the route off limits to UN staff, until further notice.
3.3 The non-governmental organization Action Contre la Faim (ACF), has reported an alarming situation at the Rwegura therapeutic nutrition centre in Kayanza province. The centre has a capacity for 50 persons but ACF is currently assisting 450 patients who have gathered there with over 500 family members. ACF is building a therapeutic feeding centre nearer to town, which should be completed within the next two weeks.
3.4 WFP is participating in the planning for the next country-wide distribution of seeds, coordinated by FAO. The seeds will be distributed for the 1998 B season for which planting should start between mid-February and mid-March. WFP has been requested to provide seed protection food packages in food-deficit areas. Due to current transport constraints affecting the food pipeline, priority areas will be identified for initial distributions.
3.5 WFP continues to face difficulties in securing a replacement aircraft for internal flights due to delays in the clearance by the Regional Sanctions Coordinating Committee.
4. TANZANIA
4.1 The heavy and prolonged rains have also affected food production activities in Tanzania. Crops have been destroyed in the fields and large areas of cultivated land have been washed away. A FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission is presently reviewing the damage to the crops but aerial assessments are needed in parts of the country. Government officials, non-governmental organizations and the USAID Famine Early Warning System are participating in the mission as observers.
4.2 Between 12 and 18 January, a two-week full food ration was distributed in the Lugufu camp and in all refugee camps in Kibondo district. In Kasulu, due to low availability, the refugees were provided with only a one-week ration of pulses but all other commodities covered a two-week period. In Ngara, a one-week ration of cereals and a two-week ration of other commodities were distributed. The refugee caseload in Tanzania stands presently at 346,373 persons.
4.3 Drought Operation Update: To date, WFP has despatched over 19,000 metric tons of food for distribution to persons affected by the earlier drought in Tanzania. Food movements from the district warehouses to targeted villages remain a challenge due to flooded secondary roads, and food distributions under this programme are at less than fifty percent of the plan.
5. UGANDA
5.1 Although the planning figure for the caseload of displaced persons in Gulu district has been set at 250,000, local authorities put the number now at over 324,000 persons, representing almost 65,000 households. WFP, in collaboration with local authorities, will carry out a needs and vulnerability assessment of the camps for internally displaced, to prioritize food distributions and relief interventions.
5.2 The resettlement of displaced Ugandans from camps in Bundibugyo and Nyahuka in western Uganda has faced a set-back due to an upsurge in fighting in the area. This follows a period of over a month of relative calm. Seeds and tools are needed for the resettlement programme, and additional plastic sheeting is also needed to help move people out of public buildings. Food distributions in Bundibugyo have stopped, pending an agreement with a new implementing partner. In Nyahuka only resettlement packages are being distributed.
B. EAST AFRICA II: FLOOD OPERATIONS - SOMALIA AND KENYA
1. GENERAL
1.1 WFP will be forced to halt emergency airlift operations Somalia and Kenya at the end of the month unless additional funding is made available on an urgent basis. Operations began in November in response to widespread flooding in the area. Current contracts for 2 DC3, 2 Buffalo aircraft, 1 helicopter, 1 Cessna Caravan and 1 Twin Otter will be terminated on 31 January if funding is not forthcoming. Lease agreements on the three Hercules C130s currently in operation in the flood operations will also have to be terminated in the very near future unless there is further donor support. The two additional helicopters in use in Somalia are funded by UNICEF.
1.2 WFP needs USD 10 million to deliver 10,000 metric tons of emergency food assistance between now and the end of March to one million people still affected by floods in both countries.
2. SOMALIA
2.1 In Somalia, nearly 5,000 metric tons of food assistance have been distributed to flood affected populations. In addition to extensive air operations, boat operations continue in Somalia. Boats are currently concentrated along the Juba river from Sakow to Jamame with two boats left in Bardera.
2.2 Many roads, especially into Lower Juba, are still under water. A number of villages have emerged from the flood waters, but some are surrounded by mud and still cut off.
2.3 WFP has received field reports from the Lower Juba area (Afmadou, Hagar, Bilis, Qocani, Doble) that a significant number of people are in distress in the area and have begun to move towards the Kenyan border. According to the source, stocks of goats have been considerably reduced, and camels which had already been moved out of the area before the flooding are not expected back in the near future, as the area is still flooded. Primary reasons for the move appear to be spreading diseases among livestock, and subsequent food shortages. WFP has delivered about 180 metric tons of cereals and pulses through airdrops to the area; further airdrops are planned for February provided that sufficient funding becomes available.
3. KENYA
3.1 More normal dry conditions returned to Kenya between 18-23 January. This has allowed the vital road links between Mombasa and Nairobi, and Nairobi and the WFP air operations base at Garissa to be restored on 20 January and 18 January respectively. However, major delays are still being experienced on the Mombasa to Nairobi road and the truck transit time is four days compared to the usual one to two days.
3.2 Around 500,000 people remain in need in seven districts severely affected by the floods. Due to the persistent flooding which first started in mid-October 1997, most roads serving these people are still impassable. People are running short of food. They are afflicted by a variety of mosquito-borne diseases together with cholera. Many livestock have died or aborted due to disease. In addition, water supplies are heavily polluted, a problem which will become worse as the flood waters begin to recede.
3.3 WFP has been running air deliveries to the stranded communities from Garissa, Mombasa and Nairobi. Between 10 December and 22 January a total of 1,146 tons of relief items had been delivered by WFP fixed wing aircraft. These included 417 metric tons of WFP food dropped to isolated communities and a further 344 metric tons of air lifted WFP food and fuel. In addition, about 200 metric tons of food and medicines have been delivered by the WFP operated helicopter. WFP had appealed for USD 3.6 million to cover the cost of these air deliveries until the end of February. So far about USD 2.1 million has been received for this purpose of which to date USD 1.2 million has been spent.
3.4 WFP continues to run an air bridge into Dadaab refugee camp where 125,000 refugees live. Between 7 December and 22 January a total of 935 metric tons of WFP food had been air-lifted to Dadaab and a further 788 metric tons air-dropped to the camp. The cost of continuing this operation until the middle of March is estimated to be USD 2.3 million of which only USD 500,000 has been pledged to date.
3.5 On 20 January, the Government of Kenya declared a state of emergency in Isiolo district, bringing to 10 the number of districts for which such a declaration has been made.
C. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1. Update
1.1 WFP is coordinating the logistics arrangements for the operation to assist some 13,000 flood affected persons in Kisangani. Between 12 and 25 January a total of 216 metric tons of food commodities donated by WFP, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Government, and 21 metric tons of non-food items from the Government, UNICEF and UNFPA were airlifted into Kisangani. UNDP contributed by chartering planes for this operation, to complement WFP chartered aircraft. Breakdown for the week ending 25 January: 149 metric tons moved to Kisangani from both Goma and Kinshasa (30 metric tons with UNDP leased planes and 119 metric tons with WFP aircraft).
D. IRAQ
1. UPDATE - information as of 22 January 1998
1.1 Richard Butler, the head of the UN Arms Inspection programme (UNSCOM) arrived in Baghdad on 19 January in the midst of another stand-off between the Government of Iraq and UNSCOM over weapons inspections. The Government of Iraq has threatened to expel all arms inspectors within six months if sanctions are not lifted. In talks in Baghdad, agreement was reached on a process to begin reviewing Iraqi claims that some weapons had already been eliminated. Butler was due to present his report to the UN Security Council on January 23.
1.2 Meanwhile, distributions under Security Council Resolution 986 are continuing throughout Iraq for the month of January without problems except in some mountainous areas in the north, where deliveries of food supplies were postponed as a result of severe weather. In Suleimaniyah, it was only possible to distribute commodities in and around Suleimaniyah city, not in the mountain villages. In Dohuk, WFP observers were able to carry out 225 observations this past week, however, due to heavy snow fall, they were blocked from reaching Amadiya, Sarsink, Sheldadiza, Bagova and Kani Masi.
1.3 WFP has been registering additional displaced persons in the north due to on-going fighting between rival Kurdish factions. Some 160 persons were recently registered in Erbil having arrived from Suleimaniyah and Kirkuk. All have been provided with WFP Emergency rations pending re-registration for SCR 986 rations.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 04 of 1998 - January 23, 1998)
distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: listproc@vita.org sitreps nat-dsr appeal fireline web: www.vita.org dprk - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Food Program Reports: http://www.vita.org/disaster/wfp