Report No. 06 of 1998 Date: 06 February 1998This report includes: A) West Africa: Sierra Leone and Liberia B) East Africa I: Somalia and Kenya Floods C) East Africa II: Regional Transport, Burundi and Rwanda D) Sudan E) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo/Brazzaville F) Democratic People's Republic of Korea G) 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. New address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, Rome 00148.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. WEST AFRICA: SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA
1. Sierra Leone a) Inter-agency UN mission to assess the humanitarian impact of UN and regional sanctions in Sierra Leone arrives Conakry; mission to proceed to Sierra Leone on 9 February. UN security mission has been assessing security situation in Makeni area.
2. Liberia a) WFP operations continue in Liberia; current beneficiaries include some 1,500 UNHCR-assisted returning refugees from Ghana. b) Donor support sought for Liberia Special Operation for major rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure up-country, to facilitate return of displaced populations. Food distributions for displaced in and around Monrovia to cease by end of February.
B. EAST AFRICA I: SOMALIA AND KENYA FLOODS
1. Update a) WFP Emergency Operations signed for continued assistance to flood victims in Kenya and Somalia (Kenya EMOP 5969 and Somalia EMOP 5976). b) Under Somalia operation, some 657,000 flood-affected beneficiaries to be assisted for seven months. Total net requirements are 9,744 tons of food (USD 12.4 million). c) Under Kenya operation, 390,700 beneficiaries to be assisted for 90 days. Most food requirements met from committed food stocks under drought emergency operation; 40 tons of high protein biscuits still required. d) WFP extends vital air service through first week of February by advancing USD 500,000 each to Kenya and Somalia air operations. USD 12 million still required.
C. EAST AFRICA II: REGIONAL TRANSPORT, RWANDA AND BURUNDI
1. Update on Great Lakes Transport Corridors a) Mombasa road link to inland countries of the region again interrupted when road collapses at Thange; temporary bridge installed. Majority of WFP cargo for Great Lakes region continues to move by rail. b) First lot of 2,000 tons of food currently en route from Dar es Salaam to Bujumbura and Kigoma through Zambia and Lake Tanganyika. c) Cost of needed repairs to roads damaged by floods in Tanzania estimated at over USD 11 million; a further USD 18 million needed to repair damage to rail network.
2. Rwanda a) Food deliveries into Rwanda decrease from 1,200 tons during last week of December to only 270 tons during last week of January. Food requirements of refugees in Rwanda continue to be met.
3. Burundi a) Food stocks remain extremely low; general relief food distributions and the provision of food return packages halted. b) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission begins assessment of impact of rains and flooding on Burundi's 1998 A season crops; staple bean crop especially hard hit.
D. SUDAN
1. Update a) Government of Sudan temporarily prohibits humanitarian relief flights into the Bahr el-Ghazal region. Flights into other areas are not affected.
E. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. Update a) WFP survey indicates that nutritional situation of displaced persons in Brazzaville remains precarious. b) In DR Congo, UN/Government joint mission visits Kisangani to asses needs of population affected by floods and cholera epidemic.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update a) US Government announces pledge of 200,000 tons of food commodities to WFP emergency programme in DPR Korea.
G. IRAQ
1. Update a) Stand-off with Iraq over full access of UN weapons inspectors to all sites in the country continues. b) UN Secretary-General proposes increase in amount of oil that Iraq can sell to purchase food and medicine from USD 2.14 billion to USD 5.2 billion. Proposal would add USD 2.1 billion in humanitarian supplies to the current USD 1.32 billion.
PART II - DETAILS
A. WEST AFRICA: SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA
1. SIERRA LEONE
1.1 An inter-agency UN mission, consisting of OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - the former Department of Humanitarian Affairs), WFP, UNICEF and WHO is due to arrive in Conakry on 6 February and proceed to Sierra Leone on 9 February, to assess the humanitarian impact of UN and regional sanctions imposed following the military coup d'etat last May.
1.2 The mission plans to visit the northern areas of the country, and possibly Freetown and the eastern and southern parts of the country, if security permits and necessary clearances are granted. This visit follows a UN security mission, which commenced on 1 February and made assessments of the security situation in the Makeni area and of road access to Sierra Leone from Guinea.
1.3 With increased reports of malnutrition and food insecurity in Sierra Leone, WFP hopes to begin cross border operations from Guinea as soon as possible. Currently the only WFP food reaching Sierra Leone is that being delivered by the International Committee of the Red Cross and MSF-B.
2. LIBERIA
2.1 WFP continues operations in Liberia; over the last week of January, a total of 23,000 beneficiaries received food under food-for-work, emergency school feeding, and vulnerable group feeding programmes throughout the country. This includes some 1,500 UNHCR-assisted returning refugees from Ghana, who received return food packages. UNHCR has recently reported that 700 refugees in Cote d'Ivoire have signed up for repatriation to Liberia.
2.2 WFP is currently seeking donor contributions to fund Liberia Special Operation 9701, for major rehabilitation of roads and infrastructures, such as hospitals and schools, up-country. The rehabilitation of communities is imperative for the successful return of some 400,000 Liberian refugees in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire, as well as numerous displaced persons in Monrovia shelters. Sufficient structures and facilities for displaced persons and refugees in their home communities is especially critical following the recent agreement between the Government of Liberia, donors and aid agencies, to stop food distributions in shelters in and around Monrovia by the end of February.
2.3 Meanwhile, some 10,000 West African ECOMOG peace keepers have started their withdrawal from Liberia on 2 February. Negotiations are underway to retain 4,000 troops as a capacity-building force, made up of contingents from Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
B. EAST AFRICA I: KENYA AND SOMALIA FLOODS
1. UPDATE
1.1 WFP Emergency Operations were signed this week for continued assistance to victims of floods in Kenya and Somalia (Kenya EMOP 5969 and Somalia EMOP 5976).
1.2 In Somalia, WFP plans to carry out relief assistance for some 657,500 flood-affected beneficiaries over a seven-month period. Total net requirements are 9,744 tons of food at a cost of USD 12.4 million.
1.3 In Kenya, 390,700 beneficiaries are to be assisted under the extended emergency operation, for a 90 day period. Total requirements for this operation amount to 7,560 tons of food, of which 7,520 tons have already been met from committed food stocks under the previous drought emergency operation, EMOP 5803.01. Forty tons of high protein biscuits are required for the operation.
1.4 Meanwhile, funding is still sought for the continuation of vital air operations in Somalia and Kenya. In anticipation of donor contributions, WFP was able to extend air service through the first week of February by advancing USD 500,000 each to both the Kenya and Somalia air operations. An estimated USD 12 million is required to deliver food assistance between now and the end of March.
1.5 The US has indicated that a Hercules C-130 aircraft will be deployed to Mombasa this weekend to start air operations on 8 February. Further C-130 aircraft as well as helicopters may be provided by the US in the next few days.
C. EAST AFRICA II: REGIONAL TRANSPORT, RWANDA AND BURUNDI
1. Update on Great Lakes Transport Corridors
1.1 The Mombasa road linking this port city to the inland countries of the region was once again interrupted during this past week after a section of the road collapsed at Thange. A temporary bridge has been installed and traffic has resumed. The majority of WFP's Great Lakes cargo along this route continues to move by rail, to Kampala and Kisumu/Mwanza.
1.2 Road movements from Kampala to Rwanda and Burundi continue. The northern corridor currently represents the only transport route being used by WFP for these two countries, although it is hoped that movements will begin soon on the southern corridor to increase delivery capacity.
1.3 The trucking of WFP food from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, for delivery to Kigoma and Isaka by rail, continues. Given capacity limitations in Dodoma, WFP is considering erecting mobile storage units at this site. Additional costs related to this transhipment operation are in the range of USD 40 per metric ton, an increase of 50 percent when compared with the direct railway despatch from Dar es Salaam. Transit times also increased, by at least two days. WFP estimates that 6,000 tons of food aid will move through this corridor.
1.4 The use of the alternative route from Dar es Salaam through Zambia and Lake Tanganyika, with a combination of rail, road and barge transportation, represents an estimated cost increment of USD 45 per metric ton for cargo destined to Bujumbura and USD 75 per metric ton for Kigoma. The first lot of 2,000 tons of WFP food along this route is currently in Kasama, Zambia, and will be forwarded by road to Mpulungu and by barge to Bujumbura and Kigoma soon.
1.5 The Tanzanian Government has now completed a report on the road situation in the country, listing damages on the trunk and regional road networks caused by the recent flooding. The report indicates that the cost of urgent and essential repairs on the roads amounts to over USD 11 million. An assessment of damages on the rail network has also been completed and the cost of the needed repairs is estimated at USD 18 million: USD 7.5 million for the immediate, temporary works and another USD 10.5 million for the more permanent repairs.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Food arrivals in the country remain extremely low. The level of food deliveries into Rwanda has been steadily decreasing, from close to 1,200 tons during the last week of December to only 270 tons during the last week of January.
2.2 Despite the serious food pipeline problems caused by interruptions in the transport routes, WFP continues to meet the food requirements of the refugees in camps in Rwanda. During the week, a second distribution was completed in Bymba, with rations provided to 15,000 refugees. Close to 100 tons of food was also dispatched to Kibiza camp in Kibuye.
3. BURUNDI
3.1 Food stocks remain extremely low and priority is being given to food distributions to programmes for vulnerable persons, nutritional programmes and some seeds distributions. Daily rations for the seeds programmes are being reduced from 350 gr. to 300 gr. of cereals and from 120 gr. to 100 gr. of pulses. General relief food distributions and the provision of food return packages have been halted.
3.2 Rains and flooding have taken a heavy toll on Burundi's 1998 A season crops. Lowland crops have been especially hard hit, including beans, the staple food crop in the country. The joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission began on 2 February, comprising also representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture. Another team led by UNICEF will look at the nutritional situation in several of the country's provinces.
3.3 CARE has begun another distribution of WFP food return packages to formerly regrouped populations in Kayanza province. This programme started in August 1997 with 51,855 persons receiving food, before distributions were suspended in October due to insecurity. In December distributions were re-initiated and 19,575 persons received return packages, until the programme was again suspended. Following recent assessments, distributions are now planned to benefit another 16,500 persons resettling in home areas.
D. SUDAN
1. UPDATE
1.1 Following intensified fighting in the south of Sudan at the end of January, especially around the town of Wau, the Government of Sudan temporarily prohibited humanitarian relief flights into the Bahr el-Ghazal region. Flights into other areas are not affected. Negotiations with the government continue concerning the resumption of flights into Bahr el-Ghazal. Alternate road access is also being explored. An estimated 150,000 persons displaced in the Wau area are reported to be in critical need of food assistance.
E. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. UPDATE
1.1 Congo/Brazzaville
a) A survey carried out by WFP in sites for displaced persons in Brazzaville indicates that the nutritional situation remains precarious. WFP food distributions to these displaced persons continues, as well as to refugees in Kintele and Loukolela camps.
1.2 Kisangani/Eastern DR Congo
a) A joint mission comprising representatives from UNDP, WFP, UNHCR, OCHA (former DHA) and the Government, visited Kisangani to asses the needs of the persons affected by floods and the cholera epidemic. The Governor informed the mission that over 1,500 persons have been affected by cholera, with 270 deaths reported.
b) During the last week of January, WFP airlifted a total of 72 tons of food and non-food items into Kisangani. This includes food commodities from WFP and UNDP, as well as other items from the Emergency Cell of French Cooperation and UNDP.
c) A total 362 Burundian refugees were received during the week in areas south of Uvira. These refugees received a one-month food ration from WFP.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 The US Government on 5 February announced a pledge of 200,000 tons of commodities in response to WFP's appeal for its emergency programme in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The pledge comprises 120,000 tons of maize, 25,000 tons of rice, 30,000 tons of corn-soya blend (CSB) and 25,000 tons of soy-fortified maize meal. This US contribution is valued at USD 75 million. Shipments will be spread over the year.
1.2 A WFP appeal for close to 658,000 tons of food commodities worth USD 378.2 million was launched on 6 January. The WFP food will be used to maintain and/or improve the health/nutritional status of children, expecting women, nursing mothers, handicapped people and hospital patients, and will also support agricultural rehabilitation and construction through food-for-work activities.
G. IRAQ
1. UPDATE
1.1 The stand-off with Iraq over full access of UN weapons inspectors to all sites in the country continues, with several diplomatic attempts being made to seek Iraqi compliance and to avert the possibility of the use of force in the present crisis. Russia and France have sent envoys to Baghdad and are working with China to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The Secretary-General of the Arab League and the Foreign Minister of Turkey have also arrived in Baghdad to try to diffuse the stand-off.
1.2 On 2 February, the UN Secretary-General proposed, on the basis of a complete humanitarian review, that the amount of oil that Iraq can sell to purchase food and medicine be increased from USD 2.14 billion to USD 5.2 billion. The proposal would add USD 2.1 billion in humanitarian supplies to the current USD 1.32 billion. In the food sector, the proposal would mean an improvement in the daily caloric intake of the Iraqi population from the current 2,030 kilocalories per day to 2,463 kilocalories per day. This includes a proposed addition of milk and cheese to the current food basket. If approved, this would increase allocations in the food sector from USD 870 million to a total value of over USD 1.5 billion.
1.3 WFP observers have noted an improved distribution performance of Security Council Resolution 986 commodities over the past month. In the northern governorates, the entire available general ration was distributed before the month's end. WFP successfully phased in the distribution of supplementary food purchased under SCR 986 in the northern governorates. Over 262,000 vulnerable persons received a total of 1,003 tons of food under the supplementary ration in January. A total of 3.97 million tons of food have now arrived and been distributed in Iraq since the inception of SCR 986.
1.4 The Government of Iraq has announced that the general food ration for February will be slightly reduced for several commodities due to low stock levels. Rations of tea, salt and infant formula will be reduced. All other commodities will be distributed at planned levels throughout the country.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 06 of 1998 - February 6, 1998)
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