Report No. 25 of 1998 Date: 19 June 1998This report includes: A) Yugoslavia: Kosovo B) Guinea Bissau C) Ethiopia/Eritrea D) Afghanistan E) East Africa: Burundi and Uganda F) Sudan: OLS Northern and Southern Sectors.
>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 Aleesa.Blum@wfp.org or Claudia.VonRoehl@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 6 6513 2004 or 6 6513 2504. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, Rome 00148.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO
1. WFP response to the Kosovo crisis - update as of 19 June a) Attempts at political solution to Kosovo crisis fail to ease tensions. b) Albanian authorities have registered some 7,000 Kosovar refugees in need of assistance; all accommodated with host families. UNHCR estimates total influx to Albania including non-registered refugees, at 13,000. Number of arrivals slows. c) WFP food in Albania will cover needs of 10,000 refugees for three months. NGOs and private organizations are covering immediate food requirements. d) Kosovar internally displaced persons in Montenegro assisted by Government of Montenegro and NGOs. e) Access within Kosovo still limited; WFP stock of high energy biscuits in Kosovo for distribution to women and children. f) UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Flash Appeal for humanitarian assistance needs related to the Kosovo crisis launched.
B. GUINEA BISSAU
1. Population displacement - information as of 22 June a) Fighting in Bissau leads to displacement of most of city's population. Many reported in need of relief assistance. b) WFP food stocks in Bissau, totalling 2,500 tons, are under the control of the Ministry of Health; Ministry releases some food to ICRC. c) Main movement of displaced population is towards the north-east of the country. d) Border with Senegal closed by the Senegalese army. Border area reported very dangerous with mines on Guinea Bissau side and fighting by Casamance rebels; UNHCR reports 1,700 refugees counted along the border.
C. ETHIOPIA/ERITREA
1. War-displaced in Tigray and Afar regions - information as of 19 June a) Situation remains tense since eruption of hostilities along the Ethiopia/Eritrea border on 20 May. b) Ethiopia's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission appeals to international community for assistance for a total of 143,000 war-displaced persons. c) UN assessment teams depart for Tigray and the Afar region; WFP leads mission to Tigray and participates in Afar mission.
D. AFGHANISTAN
1. Earthquake relief operations a) Update on earthquake relief operations in northern Afghanistan given below; more urgently needed helicopters arrive. b) UN appeals for USD 7 million for emergency rehabilitation assistance for the 50,000 victims of the 30 May earthquake.
E. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI AND UGANDA
1. Update a) Joint assessment mission visits Mabayi commune in Cibitoke province; WFP airlift from Mombasa to Bujumbura continues. b) In Uganda, security in Gulu and Kitgum remains precarious. NRC distribution of WFP food to displaced in Gulu resumes; limited food distributions in Kitgum.
F. SUDAN: OLS NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SECTORS
1. Update a) Airdrop operation from El Obeid to Panthou, Akak, Dhiak and Wunrock in northern Bahr el-Ghazal continues. Air deliveries from El Obeid to Wau also continue; influx of returning residents and IDPs to Wau now at about 300 persons a day. b) Under southern sector operations, WFP delivers 2,134 tons of food aid for 462,000 beneficiaries between 1-14 June. c) Further details given below.
PART II - DETAILS
A. YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO
1. WFP RESPONSE TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS - information as of 19 June
1.1 Attempts at reaching a political solution to the Kosovo crisis, including agreements reached between Yugoslav President Milosevic and Russian President Yeltsin on 15 June, have not eased tensions in Kosovo.
1.2 In Albania, around 7,000 Kosovar refugees in need of assistance have been registered by the Albanian authorities (information as of 23 June). Virtually all have been accommodated with host families. However, the total influx to Albania resulting from recent clashes, including non-registered refugees, is estimated by UNHCR to be 13,000. Insecurity increased along the border following an incident of 16 June. The number of refugees arriving over the mountain passes into northern Albania since then has slowed down.
1.3 To assist Kosovar refugees in Albania, the 500 tons of vegetable oil, wheat flour and pulses pre-positioned by WFP in the port of Durres in Albania will cover the needs of 10,000 refugees for three months. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private organizations are covering food requirements for the next 20 days. On 16 June, a truck carrying 10 tons of WFP wheat flour left Tirana, in convoy with UNHCR trucks of non-food items, to Bajram Curri in northern Albania, where refugees are gathered. This was the first convoy of humanitarian relief to leave Tirana for Bajram Curri. A WFP emergency officer is currently in Bajram Curri.
1.4 According to UNHCR, since the beginning of this new crisis, there has been an influx of 9,000 Kosovar internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Montenegro, where they are assisted by the Government of Montenegro with the help of NGOs. In response to reports of increased food aid needs, WFP Sarajevo is also preparing to send food to Montenegro from regional contingency stocks.
1.5 When humanitarian agencies are given greater access within Kosovo, WFP and other UN agencies will be better able to assess humanitarian needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) within the area. WFP has pre-positioned 64 tons of high energy biscuits in Kosovo for distribution to women and children. Three trucks transported the food overland from Bosnia and Herzegovina, unloading in Pristina on 17 June. IDP needs in Kosovo are currently being met by other humanitarian organizations or from supplies stock-piled by families in anticipation of hostilities. A WFP emergency officer is currently in Pristina further assessing the situation.
1.6 On 16 June, six UN agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNDP and OCHA) launched a "UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Flash Appeal for humanitarian assistance needs related to the Kosovo crisis" for a total of USD 18 million based on the findings of an inter-agency assessment between 6 and 11 June. The flash appeal lists urgent needs in three countries: Albania, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, underlining the regional nature of the crisis.
1.7 Out of the Flash Appeal, WFP is requesting USD 1.87 million to provide some 2,800 tons of food aid. The majority of the food aid, 1,990 tons, is currently planned for Albania to meet the needs of up to 40,000 refugees for three months. The remaining 810 tons are to cover basic food needs of up to 50,000 internally displaced persons in Kosovo/Montenegro for one month. The stock used for the Kosovo crisis from WFP regional contingency stocks will need to be replenished to avoid shortage of commodities in the regional emergency operation for the former Yugoslavia. For the present, the IDP caseload in Kosovo and Montenegro will be included in the regional emergency operation. The refugee caseload in Albania will be covered by a new emergency operation.
B. GUINEA BISSAU
1. POPULATION DISPLACEMENT - information as of 22 June
1.1 Hostilities broke out in Guinea Bissau on 5 June between the Government and parts of the army, following the appointment of a new army chief by President Joao Bernardo Vieira. Senegal and the Republic of Guinea have sent in troops to stop the rebellion and international efforts are being made to reestablish peace.
1.2 It is reported that hundreds of people have been killed and many buildings, including diplomatic missions, have been damaged or destroyed in the fighting. Up to 80 percent of Bissau's pre-war population of some 300,000 persons has fled the capital; an estimated 50,000 people remain in the city. Many among those who have left the city and among those who have remained behind are reported to be in need of relief assistance.
1.3 WFP and other UN and NGO international staff have been evacuated to Dakar, Senegal, along with other expatriates. At present, no UN staff remain in Guinea Bissau.
1.4 WFP learned on 19 June that WFP food stocks in Bissau, totalling 2,500 tons of commodities, are now under the control of the Ministry of Health, which has accepted the initial request by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for food. Nevertheless, WFP would prefer that the government give full control of the warehouse to ICRC (currently the lead humanitarian agency in Bissau).
1.5 So far, small quantities of food (14 tons) have been distributed by ICRC in the capital, to hospitals and through church groups, to a total of 3,500 people.
1.6 The ICRC has reported that 30,000 civilians have sought refuge some 25 km away from the capital. The main movement of displaced population is towards the north-east of the country. Relief workers reported a concentration of about 100,000 displaced people from the capital near Mansoa, 60 km north of Bissau. There are currently no food aid stocks available outside of Bissau to assist these people.
1.7 The border with Senegal has been closed by the Senegalese army. The border area is reported to be very dangerous as there are mines on the Guinea Bissau side and fighting by Casamance rebels in the region.
1.8 UNHCR reports that 1,700 refugees have been counted along the border with Senegal. Food and water supplies are available. UNHCR has set up a refugee camp at Thies, 70 km from Dakar, to host possible refugee influxes. Some refugees have arrived over recent days by boat.
1.9 Update as of 23 June: An assessment of conditions in the interior by ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is scheduled to start today or tomorrow.
C. ETHIOPIA/ERITREA
1. WAR-DISPLACED IN TIGRAY AND AFAR REGIONS - information as of 19 June
1.1 The situation remains tense since the eruption of hostilities along the Ethiopia/Eritrea border on 20 May. However no new clashes have been reported since the end of last week (11 June).
1.2 Under an initiative of the Organization of African Unity, a delegation of African leaders met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa and with Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki in Asmara to try to resolve the ongoing conflict, but information as of 22 June indicates that talks were not successful.
1.3 Ethiopia's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) has appealed to the international community for assistance for a total of 143,000 war-displaced persons (126,000 in Tigray region and 17,000 in Afar region). The commission is seeking 27,000 ton of food as well as non-food items including tents and blankets.
1.4 UN agencies have received clearance to send two assessment teams to Tigray and the Afar region. The UN missions were due to depart from Addis Ababa on 19 June and are expected to return on 23 June. WFP will lead the mission to Tigray and participate in the Afar mission.
D. AFGHANISTAN
1. EARTHQUAKE RELIEF OPERATIONS UPDATE - information as of 18 June
1.1 Since the 30 May earthquake which struck parts of two provinces of northern Afghanistan, WFP has provided a total of 242 tons food aid (as of 16 June) destined for some 90-100 villages. All 56 of the most seriously damaged villages (those that are more than 50 percent destroyed) have received wheat and oil. During the crucial early days of the relief operation, the inaccessibility of the affected villages was compounded by the lack of sufficient helicopters/aircraft for deliveries and bad weather, which hindered air operations. A recent improvement in the supply of helicopters has assisted delivery operations.
1.2 WFP has contracted two aircraft (one Antonov and one IL 76) for deliveries of food and non-food materials to the two emergency operation headquarters at Faizabad and Rustaq, from storehouses in Dushanbe and Peshawar.
1.3 Three helicopters contracted by ICRC have been part of the relief operation for some time. On 15 June, the large MI26 helicopter provided by EMERCOM, the Russian emergency organization, and a smaller MI8 began operating between Dushanbe and Faizabad/Rustaq. By the end of this week (20 June), a second MI26 and MI8 (US-donated) are expected in Dushanbe, dedicated to the emergency operation. With their deployment, a total of eight (small) helicopters will be available.
1.4 Where roads are inaccessible, efforts have been made to utilize donkeys for deliveries to isolated villages. In the Rustaq area this is by donkey convoys organized by the French NGO ACTED. Afghan Aid and Norwegian Afghan Committee, with UN financial support, have also organized convoys of several hundred donkeys to deliver WFP wheat to Shar-I-Buzurg.
1.5 The UN has appealed for almost USD 7 million to provide emergency rehabilitation assistance for the 50,000 victims of the 30 May earthquake. Donors have already pledged or contributed around USD 2.5 million, enough to fund initial relief efforts. A further USD 7 million is needed to support the rebuilding of houses and public buildings, to repair roads and bridges, to upgrade the air-strip at Khwaja Ghar to the west of the affected area, and to carry out work on water supplies.
E. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI AND UGANDA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 A joint mission comprising WFP and implementing partners visited the Mabayi commune in Cibitoke province. The team found that various sites for displaced persons had been closed or were in the process or closing, and that the former residents have either returned to their home areas or moved to other sites nearby. Due to security restrictions, visits to the home areas could not be carried out.
1.2 WFP continues to airlift food commodities from Mombasa and during the week over 400 tons of food were transported to Bujumbura. WFP anticipates a serious shortage of oil in the coming weeks and will restrict the distribution of oil to high priority programme such as therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes.
2. UGANDA
2.1 Security in Gulu and Kitgum remains precarious. Traffic along the road Gulu/Kitgum requires military clearance and military escorts are being used for food convoys travelling from Gulu to Pakelle. The Norwegian Refugee Council, WFP's implementing partner, has now resumed the distribution of WFP food commodities, targeting 324,000 displaced persons in Gulu.
2.2 In Kitgum, only limited food distributions were carried out during the week, benefiting some 26,000 displaced persons and 20,000 drought-affected persons. Movements outside of town are restricted, and some international non-governmental organizations have temporarily relocated staff form Kitgum.
F. SUDAN: OLS NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SECTORS
1. NORTHERN SECTOR - information as of 16 June
1.1 WFP has received clearance from the Government of Sudan for a barge convoy to Juba, tentatively scheduled to set off at the end of June. Clearances from the SRRA are awaited. The barge convoy will deliver 2,100 tons of food aid for distribution to 373,088 beneficiaries in 33 locations along the Nile river corridor.
1.2 Aweil (Upper Nile): WFP and HAC conducted a food needs assessment in Aweil and recommended food aid intervention for 9,143 beneficiaries for three months. People who fled the area during the January fighting have been returning to Aweil. Agricultural activity is severely restricted since residents of Aweil town have only limited access to the outlying areas, which are under SPLA control.
1.3 By 16 June, some 340 tons of food aid had been delivered by airdrop to four locations in northern Bahr el-Ghazal (Panthou, Akak, Dhiak and Wunrock) since the C-130 airdrop operation from El Obeid commenced on 6 June. The current airdrops are to deliver 458 tons of food to 61,600 beneficiaries at the four locations.
1.4 A total of 179 tons of mixed food commodities have been delivered to Wau, in Bahr el-Ghazal, in the airlift which started from El Obeid on 31 May, using a chartered commercial aircraft. A total 218 tons of food will be airlifted, for distribution to 13,592 beneficiaries so far registered by WFP in Wau town. In the town, WFP has distributed some 151 tons of food aid to 10,654 beneficiaries. Among the beneficiaries are 2,306 returning residents and 6,931 returning and new internally displaced persons. The returnees are in a poor nutritional state, and there has been a sharp rise in the numbers of malnourished under five children receiving assistance. The influx of returning residents and IDPs is continuing, at a rate of about 300 persons a day.
2. SOUTHERN SECTOR - information as of 14 June
2.1 During the period 1-14 June, WFP under the OLS southern sector operation delivered 2,134 tons of food aid and distributed the food to 462,000 beneficiaries; 1,466 tons were distributed in Bahr el-Ghazal, to 292,500 people at risk, 325 tons in Upper Nile and Jonglei to 115,000 people and 342 tons in Equatoria to 54,000 beneficiaries.
2.2 Bahr el-Ghazal
a) During the reporting period, distributions were completed in Wunrok (14,000 people), Panliet (15,000), Akon (20,000), Thiek Thou (15,000), Panthou (32,000), Majakliet (15,000), Ajak (18,000), Mapel (24,000) and Dhiak (24,000).
b) In Thiek Thou and Majakliet, distributions were completed for the Toch and Alek Payam communities. Of the total population in these communities, 40 percent were returnees and internally displaced. Over one-fifth of the registered children in the World Vision International feeding centre in Majakliet are severely malnourished. The number of children at the feeding centres in Thiek Thou (MSF-B) and Majakliet (WVI) continues to increase. These communities have recently received some rain; WVI and SCF-UK distributed seed in Majakliet and Thiek Thou. The community in Thiek Thou reported that as a result of insecurity in the area the seed was looted and consumed.
c) In Twic County, due to recent raids the population in Northern Twic County (Maper and Turalei) moved south toward Wunrok. Majority of the Twic County residents have returned, but because of continued insecurity many are reported to be still in Gogrial and Aweil East county. Those who have returned to Twic County have been relying on fish and wild foods (water lily and lalop). In spite of recent rain, people in the area not optimistic about the rains, and explain that it is very unusual for the rains to delay to June.
2.3 Upper Nile/Jonglei - During the first two weeks of June, WFP distributed food in Koch (16,000 people), Ganyiel (10,000), Nhialdiu (26,000) and Waat (20,000).
2.4 Eastern Equatoria - During the reporting period, distributions were completed in Limbe/Yei county(2,000 people), Kalacha (5,000), and Natinga (13,338). WFP has received several reports regarding the deterioration of the food security situation in Torit county. The number of households moving to Kakuma refugee camp in Northern Kenya continues to increase.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 25 of 1998 - June 19, 1998)
distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: listproc@vita.org sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org appeal fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Food Program Reports: http://www.vita.org/disaster/wfp