Report No. 36 of 1998 Date: 11 September 1998
This report includes: A) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Region: Kosovo crisis B) Bangladesh floods C) Sudan D) Angola E) Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo/Brazzaville F) East Africa: Burundi and Tanzania.
>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 Marius.deGaayFortman@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 6 6513 2004 or 6 6513 2250. This issue of the WFP Emergency Report prepared by Peter Erhardy and Deborah Hicks.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION: KOSOVO CRISIS
1. Update a) Kosovo: Total number of internally displaced persons in Montenegro and Kosovo and Kosovan refugees in Albania reaches 270,000 (some 200,000 in Kosovo alone). At Istinic, close to Pec, ICRC reports 100,000 IDPs on 9 September; Serb forces order the group to move on; WFP diverts convoys with emergency supplies for this group to Pec and Djakovica. b) Montenegro: Montenegro closes border with Kosovo after arrival of 3,000 new Kosovan IDPs. On 14 September, Government of Montenegro transports some 1,500 IDPs to the Prefecture of Shkoder in northern Albania. c) Albania: Tension escalates due to political assassination of 12 September. UN restricts movement of staff throughout Albania; delivery of assistance to refugees from Kosovo, including new arrivals sent from Montenegro, will be affected. d) Bosnia: UNHCR reports that number of refugees from Kosovo arriving in Bosnia increasing.
B. BANGLADESH
1. Update on WFP response to flood situation - information as of 16 September a) WFP Emergency Operation (EMOP 6043) for Bangladesh approved on 16 September; five-month emergency operation is for a total value of USD 84 million, to provide 352,000 tons of wheat and 3,500 tons of blended food to an increased target of 19 million flood victims. b) Details on the Bangladesh flood situation are available on a daily basis from the Daily Star: http://www.dailystarnews.com/
C. SUDAN
1. Update on WFP logistics requirements a) WFP food aid deliveries to southern Sudan reached 16,800 tons in August; 70 percent effected by air. b) Additional support sought for Special Operation (logistics) for southern Sudan, launched in July 1998; resourcing shortfall is currently 70 percent (USD 8 million out of total requirement of USD 11.3 million). Main emergency operation (EMOP 5826.01) running from May 1998 to April 1999 97 percent covered (USD 150 million out of a total requirement of USD 154 million). c) WFP in southern Sudan is already improving surface transport originating from northern Sudan; substantial barge rehabilitation plan designed in Khartoum; technical mission currently in Khartoum to assess priority needs for the Sudan Railway Corporation to resume rail transport from Wass to Babanusa.
D. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 8 September a) Insecurity intensifies in areas under the control of UNITA, a result of new political instability. Forces of both Government and UNITA are building up throughout the country, particularly in northern and central parts (Malange, Huambo, Bie, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul and Moxico provinces). In view of the increased insecurity in Malange province, WFP reduces presence to only essential staff. b) In Luena, de-mining NGO MAG suspends work due to widespread re-mining in the area. c) Rate of displacement of population continues to accelerate. Since end of August, 371,000 IDPs are receiving humanitarian assistance, of which WFP assists 303,000.
E. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. Update - information as of 10 September a) WFP starts airlift of food commodities from Pointe-Noire (in Congo/Brazzaville), to Brazzaville and Kinshasa; three-month operation planned, to benefit approximately 120,000 persons affected by the current conflict in DR Congo, including some 20,000 pregnant and nursing women, children and hospital patients. b) Barge transport of WFP food stocks in Brazzaville (700 tons) across the river to Kinshasa expected to begin 16 September.
F. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. Burundi a) CARE begins distribution of WFP seed protection rations in Karuzi province, part of FAO-coordinated country-wide seeds distribution programme. b) Severe shortage of fuel, due to interruption of imports from DR Congo, hampers food distributions and will jeopardize seeds distribution programme.
2. Tanzania a) Ten percent of newly arriving Burundian refugees in Kigoma suffer from severe malnutrition or serious bullet and machete wounds; those referred to hospital benefit from WFP hospital feeding programme.
PART II - DETAILS
A. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION: KOSOVO CRISIS
1. UPDATE - information as of 14 September
1.1 Kosovo
a) On 14 September, media reports that the new Serbian military operation against ethnic Albanian rebels on 12-13 September in the area surrounding Cirez, a village in central Kosovo on the Drenica river, resulted in the displacement of 10,000 people. Aid agencies estimate that the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Montenegro and Kosovo and Kosovan refugees in Albania has reached 270,000. Some 200,000 IDPs are in Kosovo alone.
b) On 12 September, WFP travelled to Istinic, close to Pec, where ICRC staff had reported on 9 September the existence of 100,000 IDPs. The displaced were being forced to move on. In one field, WFP noted that Serbian forces ordered a group of some 10,000 IDPs including women, children, and elderly to leave. Later in the day, very few were still remaining. Two convoys containing humanitarian daily rations and other emergency supplies directed to IDPs in Istinic were then diverted to Pec and Djakovica. WFP has been organizing convoys to this region over recent weeks. It is believed that the international presence, including WFP has helped to ensure that violence was not perpetrated.
1.2 Montenegro
a) On 11 September, Montenegro closed the border with Kosovo after the arrival of 3,000 new ethnic Albanian IDPs. The authorities initially stated only women and children could stay, the others having to return to Kosovo. There were also claims that some IDPs were in possession of arms and ammunition. New arrivals in Montenegro established in two villages near Plav will be receiving family food parcels from ICRC. On 13 September, UNHCR asked the Government of Montenegro to reconsider their new policy towards IDPs.
b) On 14 September, some 1,500 IDPs were transported by the Government of Montenegro to the Prefecture of Shkoder in northern Albania.
c) It is not clear how many people are displaced. UN and international agencies estimate that there are currently 44,000 IDPs in Montenegro. The Government authorities state that the number of IDPs is 72,000, corresponding to 12 percent of the total Montenegrin population. WFP and other agencies are providing food aid to 42,700 persons.
1.3 Albania
a) Tension has been escalating as a result of the murder on 12 September of Azem Hajdari, a leader from the opposition Democratic Party of former President Sali Berisha. On 14 September, a demonstration which was organized by the opposition after the funeral of Azem Hajdari erupted into violence and the death of three people. The media report that more unrest against Prime Minister Fatos Nano is expected in the next few days.
b) For security reasons, the UN restricted the movement of staff throughout Albania on 15 September. The delivery of assistance to refugees from Kosovo will be affected. In particular, the 1,500 ethnic Albanians which arrived on 14 September in northern Albania will not receive assistance before the security situation improves. WFP has not pre-positioned food stocks in Shkoder, where the new refugees are located, because it was already a politically unstable and insecure area.
1.4 Bosnia
a) UNHCR reports that the number of refugees from Kosovo arriving in Bosnia has been increasing. As of 15 September, more than 5,000 had been registered in Sarajevo, and about 200 are arriving per day.
B. BANGLADESH
1. UPDATE ON WFP RESPONSE TO FLOOD SITUATION - information as of 16 September
1.1 WFP Emergency Operation (EMOP 6043) for Bangladesh approved by FAO and WFP on 16 September. The five-month emergency operation is for a total value of USD 84 million, to provide 352,000 tons of wheat and 3,500 tons of blended food to an increased number of 19 million flood victims in Bangladesh (EMOP 6043). According to sources in the country, it is estimated that there will be crop losses of up to two million tons of rice due to the flooding, and farmers in the affected areas will not have time to prepare their seedbeds for crops that are traditionally planted during this season. The food deficit of Bangladesh may therefore nearly double from the figure of approximately 2.2 million tons (in "normal" years).
1.2 On 11 September, as reported by the Daily Star, a Bangladeshi Daily Newspaper on the Web, WFP in Dhaka suggested that after water recedes, farmers may be left with only the option of cultivating wheat or local varieties of paddy, as the time was running out for planting rice paddy for the November/January harvest. The date 10 September is usually considered to be the cut-off date. If water starts receding from then on, there can be still some plantation. News reports on 14 September indicate that according to present weather forecasts, it could be another two weeks before the floods recede fully. The major threat to the flood victims is now the health consequences related to the lack of clean drinking water. More details on the Bangladesh floods are available on a daily basis from the Daily Star: http://www.dailystarnews.com/
C. SUDAN
1. UPDATE ON WFP LOGISTICS REQUIREMENTS
1.1 The WFP delivery of food aid to southern Sudan increased from some 10,300 tons in July, to 16,800 tons in August, 70 percent of which was effected by air.
1.2 The Special Operation for southern Sudan which was launched in July 1998 to support the main Emergency Operation (EMOP) shows a resourcing shortfall of 70 percent (USD 8 million) out of the total requirement of USD 11.3 million. The main emergency operation (EMOP 5826.01) running from May 1998 to April 1999 has been funded at 97 percent (USD 150 million out of a total requirement of USD 154 million). The Special Operation was produced to identify various essential logistics interventions as needs had doubled since the EMOP was launched. The Special Operation intends to limit costly air deliveries of food aid only to those areas traditionally inaccessible by surface transport due to insecurity and mostly inadequate road infrastructure.
1.3 The Special Operation requirements for the air traffic control package as well as Lokichoggio airstrip repairs have been met. However, the truck fleet (USD 4.3 million) and road and bridge repairs in Eastern and Western Equatoria (USD 4 million) demand urgent funding mostly since time is required for these funds to translate into tangible operational benefits. Road repairs must begin during the dry season (October - March) and trucks must be purchased as soon as possible in order to be fully operational in 3 to 4 months. Tenders for the road rehabilitation project split into various phases according to their priority are being prepared. They will be launched as soon as sufficient funds are made available.
1.4 Outside of the Special Operation requirements, WFP in southern Sudan is already working on the improvement of surface transport originating from northern Sudan. A substantial barge rehabilitation plan has been designed in Khartoum, following a detailed technical assessment. Six engines for the barge pushers have been ordered as well as barge equipment (including boats and communication equipment). The USD 800,000 investment will be recovered from the EMOP river transport cost. A technical mission is currently in Khartoum to assess the priority needs for the Sudan Railway Corporation to resume rail transport from Wass to Babanusa as soon as possible.
1.5 An informal donor consultation meeting which included discussions on Sudan took place at WFP Headquarters in Rome on 11 September. It is now clear that the upcoming October harvest will yield less than anticipated. In this context, WFP delivery figures from October onwards will be higher than planned, resulting in an earlier depletion of the food pipeline. A new Consolidated Inter-agency Appeal is therefore anticipated after the completion of the WFP/OLS assessment missions in October. A new EMOP covering January - December 1999 will be submitted for approval in December 1998, following the recommendations of the Joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission, scheduled in November 1998.
D. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 8 September
1.1 Since the end of August, insecurity has intensified in areas under the control of UNITA as a result of the new political instability characterized by worsening relations between the Government of Angola and UNITA following the expulsion of UNITA members from the Cabinet, and by dissidence within UNITA itself. Both parties are building up forces throughout the country but particularly in the northern and central parts of the country (Malange, Huambo, Bie, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul and Moxico provinces). Some 107 people were reported to have been killed in an attack in Katata, Huila province, on 4 September. In Luena, the de-mining non-governmental organization MAG has suspended working due to widespread re-mining in the area. In view of the increased insecurity in Malange province, WFP has reduced its presence to only essential staff.
1.2 The rate of displacement of population continues to accelerate. In Malange, more internally displaced persons are expected following fighting reported in recent days 25 km north of Malange city, between N'gola-Luigi and Kimbamba. Since the end of August, a total of 371,000 registered IDPs are receiving humanitarian assistance, of which WFP assists 303,000 (of this total, some 167,000 are new IDPs, registered since January 1998). In the first week of September, there were reports of at least 25,000 new IDPs. Overall, WFP is assisting 550,000 people, which includes WFP assistance for resettlement and reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, reduced since the beginning of 1998.
1.3 The preliminary recommendations of a WFP programmes assessment in all provinces (with the exception of Cabinda), during July and August, suggest a reduction of long-term resettlement programmes in insecure areas, and a corresponding increase of temporary or intermediate resettlement programmes, in safer areas which would be designated by the provincial governments.
E. CENTRAL AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE)
1. UPDATE - information as of 10 September
1.1 On 9 September WFP started an airlift of food commodities from Pointe-Noire, in the Republic of Congo (Congo/Brazzaville), to Brazzaville and Kinshasa, for distribution to persons affected by the conflict in DR Congo. The first food commodities, loaded aboard a Hercules C-130 from the Belgium airforce, landed in Brazzaville. On 10 September, following clearance from the authorities, the aircraft flew directly into Kinshasa.
1.2 WFP plans to provide emergency food assistance during a three-month period, benefiting approximately 120,000 affected persons, including some 20,000 pregnant and nursing women and children, particularly those from the most affected areas in the outskirts of the city, and hospital patients.
1.3 The food situation in Kinshasa has seriously deteriorated recently as this city of over 5 million inhabitants has been cut off from receiving food supplies. The main road and rail corridors from the port of Matadi have been closed for weeks due to the rebellion, and the prices of basic food commodities have more than tripled.
1.4 Currently, WFP has 700 tons of food stored in Brazzaville warehouses - enough to feed 100,000 people for two weeks. A first barge carrying some 250 tons of maize is expected to leave Brazzaville for Kinshasa on 16 September. WFP is also currently moving 3,500 tons of food by sea to reinforce its stocks in Pointe-Noire.
F. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI AND TANZANIA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 During the first week of September, CARE began the distribution of WFP seed protection rations in Karuzi province. A total of 264 tons of food commodities were distributed, benefiting 32,745 persons. The distribution of the 15-day WFP food rations are part of the FAO-coordinated country-wide seeds distribution programme.
1.2 Burundi continues to face a severe shortage of fuel as imports from DR Congo continue interrupted. The lack of fuel is hampering food distributions and will jeopardize also the seeds distribution programme, as it is vital that the seeds are distributed in time for the current planting season which lasts until mid-October.
1.3 The seed distribution and seed protection programme in Bujumbura Rural will go ahead as planned, now that the Italian non-governmental organization GVC has resumed its activities in the province. This follows confirmation from the authorities that an official investigation will be conducted regarding the arson that destroyed GVC's newly-constructed therapeutic feeding centre.
2. TANZANIA
2.1 Some 10 percent of the Burundian refugees arriving daily in Kigoma are being referred to the regional hospital, either because of severe malnutrition, mostly among children under five years of age, or due to serious bullet and machete wounds. All the new arrivals are provided with WFP high-energy biscuits and those referred to the hospital benefit from the WFP hospital feeding programme under which all hospital in-patients receive three meals a day.
2.2 The rate of influx into Kigoma has slightly increased from a daily average of 300 to 400 refugees per day. The total number of Burundian and Congolese refugees received since the beginning of August totals 6,492, with 3,853 being Congolese and 2,609 Burundians, and 30 Rwandans previously living in DR Congo.
2.3 Preparations are under way for this year's Joint Food Assessment Mission, to be carried out by WFP and UNHCR, with the participation of the Government and donor representatives. The mission will focus primarily on food related issues and will cover the refugee assistance programme in both Kigoma and Ngara regions.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 36 of 1998 - September 11, 1998)
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