Report No. 38 of 1998 Date: 25 September 1998
This report includes: A) Angola B) Zambia C) Sudan D) Central and East Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda E) Afghanistan F) Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
>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. ANGOLA
1. Update a) Large displacements of rural populations due to heightened military activity. b) Temporary suspension of all escorts throughout Angola by MONUA, after an attack on 16 September in which one driver killed, lifted on 29 September. In separate incident, WFP convoy leader killed in road accident in Huila province. c) Donor support sought to cover air delivery of food to areas which can no longer be reached by truck due to increased road insecurity, and for passenger air service. d) Conditions for people in province of Kuando Kbuango worsen; increase in number displaced in Menongue, and drought in parts of both north and south of the province.
B. ZAMBIA
1. WFP drought and flood operation a) Letter of Understanding re implementation of WFP emergency operation for assistance to flood and drought victims in Zambia (EMOP 6025) signed in Lusaka. Under the EMOP, approved 12 August, WFP to provide 45,000 tons of cereals (total costs USD 20.7 million) to some 1.3 million people.
C. SUDAN
1. Update a) Food deliveries to southern Sudan during September will be close to that of August, at around 15,000 tons. b) WFP fleet of aircraft expanded with addition of two German C-160 Transall planes operating from El Obeid. c) Fighting in Eastern Equatoria, which is not under cease-fire agreement, affects population in Torit county, an area already considered food insecure. d) In Bahr el-Ghazal, EC mission observes improvements in situation in Ajiep. e) OCHA appeal for flood victims issued.
D. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, BURUNDI AND UGANDA
1. Update a) In DR Congo, WFP food distributions begin in Kinshasa, to people affected by recent fighting. b) In Rwanda, food distributions in Ruhengeri and western Gitarama prefectures remain suspended after anti-tank mine incident in early September in Ruhengeri. c) WFP operations in Burundi continue to be affected by fuel shortages. d) In north-eastern Uganda, food delivered to drought-affected areas of Moroto and Kotido under a recently approved WFP operation.
E. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - information as of 25 September a) Central Bamyan province taken by Taliban on 10 September. WFP local staff report displaced families on the move, coming from central Bamyan, Wardak, and Ghazni. b) Taliban appeals to the UN and the international community for humanitarian assistance for the people of Bamyan province.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update - information as of 28 September a) Joint WFP, EC, UNICEF and Government of DPR Korea nutritional assessment begins. Data collection to be completed by 10 October. b) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment scheduled to begin 10 October. c) WFP Deputy Executive Director to visit DPR Korea next week. d) UN OCHA mission visited DPR Korea 14 - 25 September to develop the 1999 Consolidated Humanitarian Action Plan.
PART II - DETAILS
A. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - most information as of 23 September
1.1 The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Angola continues to rise. Heightened military activity in many areas of the country has resulted in large displacements of rural populations. The number of people in need of emergency food is reaching alarming proportions.
1.2 A temporary suspension of all escorts throughout Angola by MONUA, in response to the attack on 16 September in which one MONUA driver was killed and several others wounded, was lifted by MONUA as of 29 September. In a separate incident, WFP convoy leader Antonio Martinho Concalves was killed in a recent road accident in Huila province while returning to Lubango from making a food delivery to newly displaced people in Caconda.
1.3 WFP recently launched two appeals to defray air operations. Because of increased road insecurity, some of the food aid originally scheduled to be delivered by truck, will now have to be delivered by airlift. The UK has announced a donation equivalent to USD 164,000 to be applied towards airlift costs. Additional funding of approximately USD 640,000 is still needed to cover the airlift anticipated cost shortfall until the end of the year. The UK has also announced a contribution equivalent to USD 328,000 towards the passenger air service. Additional funding of approximately USD 560,000 is still needed to cover the passenger air service anticipated cost shortfall until the end of the year.
1.4 Situation in northern and southern Kuando Kubango
a) On 11 September WFP and MINARS made a joint assessment of the IDP situation in Menongue. The team concluded that the increase in IDPs and the continuing effects of the drought in the south-east has made the humanitarian situation in the province of Kuando Kubango extremely serious. Newly displaced people are being registered daily upon arrival in Menongue, reaching 4,900 at the time of assessment. The movement of new IDPs started at the end of July following reported sacking and burning of villages.
b) In addition, some 21,830 people recently resettled in northern Kuando Kubango are affected by drought and in need of further assistance. WFP is currently providing food to 25,730 people in and around Menongue.
c) A further mission to drought-affected southern Kuando Kubango was cancelled due to lack of security clearance to visit the area. Earlier assessments have already warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in the area, should timely assistance not be provided. As soon as UN agencies and partners are able to resume humanitarian operations in these areas, and where security permits, the plans previously developed for an appropriate response to this situation will be implemented. Two WFP emergency operations for responding to the effects of drought in southern Kuando Kubango and in neighbouring Namibia are currently being processed in WFP headquarters.
B. ZAMBIA
1. WFP FLOOD AND DROUGHT OPERATION - information as of 25 September
1.1 A Letter of Understanding re the implementation of the WFP emergency operation for assistance to flood and drought victims in Zambia (EMOP 6025) was signed by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development and office of the Vice President on behalf of the Government of Zambia 24 September.
1.2 The total estimated food relief requirements are 56,000 tons of cereals. Under the emergency operation, which was approved on 12 August, WFP will supply, subject to availability of resources, 45,000 tons of maize/sorghum while the balance will be covered from EuronAid donations (estimated at 12,500 tons maize). Relief assistance will be targeted to about 1.3 million people among vulnerable groups, mainly women and children, in 44 districts throughout the country. The total cost to WFP of the assistance amounts to USD 20.7 million.
1.3 The food production levels in the country have been affected by the El Nino weather related anomalies during the 1997/98 crop season. The northern parts of the country experienced excessive rains, with severe flooding in many areas. In contrast, rainfall in the southern parts of the country was erratic and poorly distributed. Consequently, crop yields were drastically reduced, with a large number of farmers harvesting almost no crops at all. Maize crops were especially badly hit. In the southern province, "corridor" disease (a form of thileriosi) caused a massive loss of cattle including work-oxen.
1.4 The affected population is divided into two categories: severely affected who will receive food assistance for five months and moderately affected who will receive food assistance for three months.
1.5 Implementing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for each district have been identified and distribution plans are being finalized. Guidelines for food distribution, monitoring and reporting formats/mechanisms are already prepared by the country office. Relevant Government ministries, implementing NGOs and donors have fully participated in the preparation process through a series of consultative meetings organized by the country office. The Office of the Vice President through the National Disaster Management and Mitigation unit (NDMMU) is in charge of coordination of the implementation and monitoring of the emergency operations.
C. SUDAN
1. UPDATE - SOUTHERN SUDAN - information as of 24 September
1.1 In spite of fuel shortages for WFP air operations out of El Obeid and Khartoum, (due to interruption of supplies because of the floods that damaged roads and bridges between Port Sudan and Khartoum), and scheduled maintenance on several aircraft in both northern and southern sectors, the food delivery rate to southern Sudan during September will be close to that of August. Total deliveries for the month will be around 15,000 tons. On 22 September, the WFP fleet of aircraft was expanded from 16 to 18 with the addition of two German C-160 Transall planes operating from El Obeid.
1.2 Eastern Equatoria: Fighting has recently been reported in Torit county, between government and non-government forces (this area is not within the region covered by the cease-fire, which only covers Bahr el-Ghazal province). The possible affected population in non-government areas - part of southern sector Operation Lifeline Sudan - is estimated at approximately 40,000 people. Some 75 percent of Torit county is considered food insecure. Norwegian Church Aid is the lead agency for contingency planning and assessment in Torit County, while CRS is responsible for food aid in areas not served by WFP. WFP will move food by air to Lokutok (north-east of Torit town) and by road to Kiyala (west of Torit town).
1.3 Bahr el-Ghazal: A mission from the European Commission visiting Sudan observed improvements in the situation in Ajiep on 18 September, where according to UNICEF, mortality has declined from its highest rate of 63/10,000 per day (in July) to 3/10,000 per day at present. Some 48,000 people are beneficiaries of WFP food assistance in Ajiep. The EC mission also visited other locations, including Mapel and Wau.
2. FLOOD RELIEF OPERATIONS
2.1 As an emergency response to the late August floods, which peaked mid-September, affecting one million people in 12 out of Sudan's 26 states, nearly USD 9 million is sought by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on behalf of UNDP, OCHA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO to meet the urgent needs of 100,000 flood-affected people. Relief food assistance has not emerged as one of the priority needs, and as such has not been considered in this appeal. However, WFP is undertaking food distribution in Kassala (160 tons), is closely monitoring food needs in other flood-affected areas as well, and will respond if the circumstances require. The OCHA flood appeal is in addition to the on-going USD 204 million UN Consolidated Inter-agency Appeal for Sudan, of which 75 percent is to cover WFP needs. More information on the flood response is available in the latest OCHA Sudan Floods Situation Reports on ReliefWeb at http://www.reliefweb/int/
D. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, BURUNDI AND UGANDA
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1.1 On 21 September, WFP began the distribution of food commodities to needy residents of Kinshasa. A first consignment of maize meal is being distributed to 43,000 people being treated at nutritional centres, clinics and orphanages. In total WFP plans to assist 120,000 persons from Kinshasa and outskirts, affected by recent fighting.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Food distributions in Ruhengeri and western Gitarama remain suspended, following the incident of early September, when an anti-tank mine hit a WFP convoy delivering food aid to needy internally displaced persons in Ruhengeri prefecture. In view of the precarious security situation in the north-western prefectures a joint mission visited Gisenyi to discuss with local authorities ways of strengthening security.
3. BURUNDI
3.1 WFP operations continue to be affected by fuel shortages. Distributions have been rescheduled to take into account distances, and to make best use of private trucks whenever possible. Assessment and monitoring visits are also being limited to areas close to the WFP offices. WFP has now purchased 15,000 litres of diesel and 20,000 litres of Jet A-1 fuel, following an agreement with the Burundian authorities.
3.2 The Governor of Kayanza province requested urgent assistance from WFP for the population of Rugazi, Kabarore commune, following poor wheat and potato harvests. Following a rapid assessment of the situation by WFP it was recommended that food assistance should be provided to approximately 2,000 households until the "A" 1999 harvest.
3.3 Distributions of seed protection rations have not resumed in Bururi and Kayanza provinces, due to the continuing shortage of fuel. In the meantime, CARE distributed 562 tons of 30-day seed protection rations to 41,890 people in Cibitoke province.
4. UGANDA
4.1 A total of 248 metric tons of food commodities have been delivered to date to the drought-affected areas of Moroto and Kotido, in north-eastern Uganda, under a recently approved WFP operation. Most of the food will be used for food-for-work activities involving construction of schools, pit latrines and road repairs.
4.2 The same operation is already benefiting 1,140 persons in three parishes in Kitgum district. A WFP team visited the project site and found that land had already been cleared for the planting of sorghum, beans and sunflower seeds. WFP recommended that cassava should also be planted. This WFP operation covers drought-affected areas in three districts and will assist a total of 126,000 persons.
4.3 This year the rains in Gulu district have been steady and regular compared to last years' season and harvests are anticipated to be above average in areas where rebel activities are not pronounced. The first harvest of maize grain was good although it varied from camp to camp and area to area. Less rebel activity and more accessibility to land coupled with assorted seeds being distributed to displaced camps will diminished the necessity for relief food in the near future.
E. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 25 September
1.1 Bamyan
a) Following the Taliban take-over of the central Bamyan province on 10 September, WFP initially maintained radio contacts with local staff at two separate locations outside the city of Bamyan. Daily radio contacts indicated that all was quiet so far in central Bamyan province and that all staff/property were safe. They reported displaced families were on the move spread out along 50 kilometres of road, coming from central Bamyan, Wardak, and Ghazni. There are also reports of an as yet unknown number of people on the move to Ghor, Uruzgon, Wardak and towards Waras in southern Bamyan province. WFP lost radio contact with two local staff at one of the locations on 17 September and have received news since then that the two staff have moved: one is in Bamyan city and the other is in Mazar. For the time being there are no reports from the city of Bamyan.
b) On 11 September the Taliban officially appealed to all UN missions in Islamabad and on 14 September to the UN in New York and the international community for humanitarian assistance for the people of Bamyan province. The UN in its 16 September press release outlined the conditions (related to security of staff, provision of safety escorts and unfettered access to all affected parts of the province) for setting up an assessment mission to the province, and reported that the Taliban have agreed to these conditions. WFP will participate in this mission, which is temporarily in abeyance due to the poor condition of the Bamyan airfield (bombed during recent fighting), unsafe road conditions and the general insecurity in the region.
1.2 Kabul: The 1,200 tons of wheat dispatched from WFP stores in Peshawar have arrived in Kabul, permitting the bakery projects and the four institutional feeding projects currently supervized by local staff to continue for another month.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE - information as of 28 September
1.1 The joint WFP, European Community, UNICEF and Government of DPR Korea nutritional assessment began on 23 September. Data collection should be completed by 10 October. Under the signed protocol, the plan is for a random sample selection al all levels: thirty counties, four communities per county, and thirty households per community are being selected for a total sample of 3,600 households. Anthropometric measurements will be collected on all under-seven-year old children.
1.2 FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment is scheduled to begin 10 October. This will be the ninth assessment since December 1995. The mission will assess this year's harvest and evaluate food supply prospects for the 1998/99 marketing year. The findings, expected to be released in early November, will form the basis for further alerts and appeals for assistance to DPR Korea. The ongoing nutritional assessment and the forthcoming Crop and Food Supply Assessment will provide data which are expected to complement the still limited information available about the situation in DPR Korea.
1.3 WFP Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Namanga Ngongi, will be travelling to China, DPR Korea and Japan. He will visit DPR Korea from 6 to 10 October, when he will meet Government officials and UN partners to discuss the current WFP operation and plans for 1999 and visit several WFP project areas.
1.4 A UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) mission visited DPR Korea during 14 - 25 September to develop the 1999 Consolidated Humanitarian Action Plan, and to review the present situation and achievements under the 1998 consolidated appeal. Participants included the DPR Korean Government, OCHA, WFP, UNICEF, WHO, NGOs (OXFAM and Children's Aid Direct) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Representatives from the donor community and observers from the European Community in-country team assisted the process. Consensus was reached on the 1999 Consolidated Humanitarian Action Plan and on principles aimed at improving programme management and increased accountability/transparency.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 38 of 1998 - September 25, 1998)
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