Report No. 43 of 1998 Date: 30 October 1998
This report includes: A) Central America: Hurricane Mitch B) Guinea Bissau C) Sierra Leone D) Central and East Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo/Brazzaville and Rwanda E) FR Yugoslavia and region: Kosovo crisis.
>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 06 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 06 6513 2004 or 06 6513 2250. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. CENTRAL AMERICA: IMPACT OF HURRICANE MITCH ON NICARAGUA, HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA
1. Current situation and hurricane relief operations as of 3 November a) Hurricane Mitch results in five days of heavy rain, floods and mudslides in Central America; regional death toll estimated at over 7,000 with at least another 13,000 people missing. b) Countries of the region make appeal for international assistance; WFP relief operations for hurricane victims begin. WFP and other UN agencies are currently assessing needs. Impact of rain and flooding on crops in the region severe. c) Hardest hit have been Nicaragua and Honduras; 420,000 persons have been left homeless in Nicaragua; 1.5 million people have been displaced in Honduras. Roads and bridges destroyed, leaving many areas inaccessible. Major rescue operations continue. Deaths and storm damage also reported in Guatemala and El Salvador.
B. GUINEA BISSAU
1. Update - information as of 2 November
a) Peace agreement signed in Abuja, Nigeria 1 November, between President Joao Bernardo Vieira and General Ansumane Mane. b) WFP food convoys from Bafata reach Safim, north of Bissau, with 150 tons of food, where Caritas will distribute food; three WFP trucks deliver food from Bissau to Prabis, near the city, where food is distributed to the displaced under a Swedish project. c) Refugees from Guinea-Bissau arrive at Dakar port.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 27 October a) Foday Sankoh, leader of the RUF rebels, sentenced to death for treason; 24 court-martialled AFRC members have been executed; AFRC/RUF followers say they will escalate activities following the executions. b) Attack on Alikalia on 24 October leaves more than 70 dead; heavy fighting reported in and around Joru and Nyiema, in Kenema and Kailahun districts. c) Displacement of people in Kambia district occurs as a result of mid-October attack at Mange town.
D. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: DR CONGO, CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE AND RWANDA
1. Update - information as of 29 October a) In Congo/Brazzaville, people reported to be displaced in southern regions due to skirmishes between military and unidentified gunmen; many take refuge in the forest. b) Continued suspension of railway traffic from Pointe-Noire and river traffic from Kinshasa further affects food supply situation in Brazzaville. WFP to airlift some food commodities from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville and Kinshasa in early November. c) In Rwanda, the number of displaced persons in Ruhengeri prefecture doubles since beginning of October, to 301,700. d) Also in Ruhengeri, some formerly displaced persons have started returning home, in time for the planting season.
E. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION: KOSOVO CRISIS
1. Update - information as of 30 October a) Large numbers of IDPs return to the Malisevo/Pagarusa/Dragobilj area as a result of withdrawal of troops by the Yugoslav Government, begun 27 October. b) Yugoslav Government decision makes possible WFP free access to isolated villages; 15 tons of wheat flour delivered to people in Rasane and Bare, who had not received aid since they were displaced six weeks ago. Since beginning of emergency operation in Kosovo in June 1998, WFP has delivered 403 tons of food aid to more than 130,000 people. c) In Montenegro, planned food distributions in November will be affected by lack of accurate information on number and location of IDPs. Arrivals of people from Kosovo have virtually stopped.
PART II - DETAILS
A. CENTRAL AMERICA: IMPACT OF HURRICANE MITCH ON NICARAGUA, HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA
1. REGIONAL - information as of 3 November 1998
1.1 Hurricane Mitch, the fourth most powerful Atlantic hurricane on record, bore down on Central America early in the week of 27 October, then became stationary off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, resulting in five days of relentless rain, tremendous floods and landslides. Although Hurricane Mitch weakened to a tropical storm and later began dissipating, it dumped more than 50 cm of rain on the region, which had already been saturated with unusually heavy rains since July. The week of catastrophic floods have resulted in a death toll of over 7,000 in the region. Another 13,000 people, possibly more, are missing. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless.
1.2 The Governments of Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala have appealed for international relief assistance. According to the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs, donor Governments and UN agencies have sent more than USD 3 million in cash or supplies to Central America, including USD 150,000 from WFP.
1.3 Using food stocks for current development projects and El Nino operations in the affected countries, WFP has started relief operations for victims of the hurricane and the accompanying floods. WFP is assessing food aid needs in the region as part of UN assessment missions.
2. NICARAGUA
2.1 The situation is deteriorating rapidly throughout Nicaragua. The latest official figures received report that some 420,000 persons have been left homeless. Families fleeing the floods are being relocated in hospitals, schools, churches and other temporary shelters.
2.2 WFP is working with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defense and CARE in assessing damage and responding to the most urgent needs of the hurricane victims. The armed forces have been mobilized by the Government for the evacuation process in the least accessible communities.
2.3 The estimate of the dead and missing, victims of mudslides and high waters, continues to rise. As of 3 November, figures given by Nicaraguan authorities were for 1,350 confirmed dead.
2.4 In response to the Government request for immediate food assistance, WFP has prepared an emergency package to assist some 125,000 persons for an initial period of seven days (52 tons of rice, 24 tons of beans and split peas, 70 tons of maize, and 2.4 tons of vegetable oil). The food will be taken from current WFP stocks in the country, available because of on-going WFP development activities, and will be distributed through the National Emergency Committee and in coordination with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The distribution will be carried out by helicopters due to the inaccessibility of the hurricane-damaged zones. WFP high-protein biscuits are being distributed in the affected areas.
2.5 The Departments of Chinandega, Leon, Esteli, Nueva Segovia, Madriz, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Granada and Rivas have been officially declared disaster zones. WFP will concentrate its efforts to provide assistance to the northern severely affected departments with the support of technical staff on the spot. Major infrastructure destroyed includes the Guasaule bridge linking Nicaragua and Honduras in the north.
3. HONDURAS
3.1 Government of Honduras figures for the numbers of dead and displaced in the country, as of 3 November, were as follows: 6,000 to 10,000 people dead; 1.5 million people displaced; 427,000 people displaced in community shelters. The Government also reports 86 bridges and 70,000 houses destroyed. Destruction of livestock and crops all over the country will have a severe impact on food availability.
3.2 The electricity system is interrupted, making communication with Tegucigalpa very difficult. Scores of bridges have been knocked out and nearly every major road in the country has been blocked. The transport system is paralyzed in most areas of the capital, which has been badly hit by the floods, and fuel is being rationed. Food is becoming scarce in the city, where supermarkets are running out of basic commodities.
3.3 Bay Islands of Guanaja, Roatan and Utila, and the areas of La Ceiba, Tocoa and Trujillo have been the most severely affected. La Ceiba is flooded and totally cut off from aid. Army helicopters have been mobilized for the rescue process.
3.4 The UN agencies are defining priorities for their interventions and areas of assistance. A UN mission will evaluate the full extent of the damage and needs during the immediate relief phase and will identify requirements. WFP has requested an Immediate Response emergency operation to assist 101,000 persons for an initial period of 12 days.
4. GUATEMALA
4.1 The Pacific coast of Guatemala has been severely damaged by the torrential rains caused by Hurricane Mitch since Saturday 31 October. A 30-day state of emergency has been declared in the country. Agricultural production has been severely damaged and serious production losses (rice, bananas) are expected. Some 500,000 people have been affected and 189,000 have been evacuated or are in the process of being evacuated. As of 3 November, 157 people were reported dead because of the hurricane.
4.2 A meeting has been held between UN agencies, embassies and NGOs to identify the most urgent needs and areas of intervention. A National Emergency Committee has been set up by the National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the army has been mobilized for evacuations.
4.3 WFP is providing emergency food assistance to some 37,500 persons for an initial period of 15 days starting 2 November. The ration per person will include maize (200 g), canned fish (53 g), peas (20 g) and salt. WFP's food assistance will be channelled through Save the Children and CRS Guatemala.
5. EL SALVADOR
5.1 Heavy rainfall started on Saturday 31 October causing floods and mudslides affecting the south-eastern part of the country. Media reports speak of 225 having died in El Salvador by 3 November. At least 3,000 families had to be evacuated. It is expected that the numbers affected by the heavy rainfall will be much higher. WFP was already providing food aid in the area of San Miguel, La Union, through food-for-work relief activities under the on-going WFP El Nino emergency operation.
5.2 An initial distribution of 40 tons of food (rice, beans and vegetable oil) has been authorized by WFP El Salvador to meet the most urgent needs of the evacuated families.
B. GUINEA BISSAU
1. UPDATE - information as of 2 November
1.1 On Sunday, 1 November, the two warring leaders, President Joao Bernardo Vieira and General Ansumane Mane, signed an agreement to end the war. The main elements of the accord are:
- the reaffirmation of the cease-fire agreed upon in August - the withdrawal of all foreign troops, including the Casamance rebels - the deployment of ECOMOG force to guarantee the Senegalese border - the opening of a humanitarian corridor throughout the country - the immediate opening of Bissau airport - the creation of a government of national unity - the holding of legislative and presidential elections before the end of 1999 if possible.
1.2 As regards UN aid operations, the opening of humanitarian corridors will allow quick and secured access to affected population. This should be preceded by quick return of UN agencies into Guinea Bissau, still not authorized. The peace agreement is backed by wider representation since it was co-signed by the Nigerian leader and witnessed by representatives of the UN and ECOWAS. It is considered significant that Senegal has accepted the replacement of its troops in Guinea Bissau by ECOMOG forces.
1.3 Around 165 refugees (including 45 children) fleeing from Guinea Bissau arrived at Dakar port over the weekend. The boat was at first refused entry by Senegalese authorities, who only authorized the removal of a body of a dead woman, and allowed one wounded and four sick passengers to be taken to hospital. After refusing requests by UNHCR Dakar to allow the refugees to disembark, the Senegalese authorities finally let the boat dock at Dakar port on Monday 2 November.
1.4 A convoy of trucks carrying over 150 tons of various WFP food commodities from WFP Bafata warehouse managed to reach Caritas warehouse in Safim to the north of Bissau.
1.5 Food distributions: Caritas, one of WFP's implementing partners, is to distribute food in Safim, to the north of Bissau. ICRC is finalizing its distribution list to resume food distribution in Bafata while ADPP is doing the same in Gabu region. In Prabis, the Swedish Embassy is getting ready to allocate food released to them from WFP warehouse in Bissau. Already around 100 tons has reached Prabis and it is hoped that the remaining balance of rice (200 tons) will get in Prabis in time for distribution. In addition to rice, a quantity of beans, a donation from the Portuguese Government, and WFP canned beef are already stocked in Prabis. Food distribution took place in Prabis on 2 November using the food coupon system established by the Swedish BANDIM project.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 27 October
1.1 The leader of the RUF rebel movement in Sierra Leone, Corporal Foday Sankoh, has been sentenced to death for treason following a seven-week trial in which Sankoh acted as his own defense. Corporal Sankoh has 21 days in which to appeal his sentence. The sentence follows the execution by firing squad of 24 court-martialled AFRC members. AFRC/RUF claimed they would escalate their activities after the executions.
1.2 An attack on 24 October on the town of Alikalia has reportedly left more than 70 persons dead. Approximately 300 rebels are said to have attacked the town, burning houses and killing at least 17 civilians. Heavy fighting has been reported in and around Joru and Nyiema, in Kenema and Kailahun districts.
1.3 Displacement of several thousands of people from various areas in Kambia district occurred as a result of mid-October attack at Mange town, and residents' evacuation of Rokupr. WFP is providing vulnerable group feeding rations for approximately 4,000 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kambia town. An estimated additional 6,000 IDPs are in other areas of Samu and Gbinle Dixon chiefdoms. Large numbers of people have also reportedly gathered across the Great Scarcies river, north of Kambia town.
1.4 A trend toward increasing displacement of civilians due to the ongoing conflict has been registered since May. UN-OCHA has collated available data which indicate that the number of IDPs has increased by 27 percent between September and October. It is considered unlikely that this trend will shift in coming months.
1.5 Earlier in the month, four persons were killed on 7 October when a Red Cross relief convoy was ambushed at Joru, Kenema district. The dead, all Sierra Leonean nationals, were employees of a commercial transport company contracted by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The convoy was returning from Zimmi, where it had delivered WFP food.
D. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: DR CONGO, CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE AND RWANDA
1. DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - information as of 29 October
1.1 A second UN mission to Kalemie in eastern DR Congo took place during the past week to reassess needs of the most vulnerable groups among the local population and remaining caseload of persons displaced by recent armed conflict. The mission recommended that 10-day rations be distributed to 2,000 persons in Kalemie.
1.2 Congo/Brazzaville
a) Skirmishes between the military and unidentified gunmen are reportedly causing population displacement in the southern regions of Brazzaville. Many of these persons are taking refuge in the forest and have no access to food.
b) The food supply situation in Brazzaville remains problematic due to the suspension of railway traffic from Pointe-Noire and river traffic from Kinshasa, and food prices are on the increase. Local suppliers reportedly started food airlifts from Pointe-Noire to the capital. WFP is also planning to airlift some food commodities from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville and Kinshasa during the first week of November.
1.3 During the week WFP distributed 419 tons of food in Brazzaville, Kinshasa and Goma but stocks of some food commodities are low.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Since the beginning of October the number of displaced persons in the north-western prefecture of Ruhengeri has almost doubled with 301,700 persons presently displaced in the prefecture. Long columns of displaced persons were observed moving towards communal headquarters throughout the prefecture. Health and sanitation are a major concern and immediate interventions are being sought by the Region Sanitaire together with NGOs, WHO and WFP. WFP continues to provide emergency food distributions to the displaced persons.
2.2 At the same time that thousands of displaced are arriving at the commune headquarters, an estimated 22,000 formerly displaced persons in Ruhengeri have started returning home, in time for the planting season. WFP will assist this returning population with food aid until the December-January harvest.
2.3 Distributions in Gikongoro prefecture began on 22 October These distributions are scheduled to last three weeks and will target over 25,000 families or 100,000 persons with over 1,200 tons of WFP food commodities.
E. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION: KOSOVO CRISIS
1. UPDATE - information as of 30 October
1.1 Kosovo humanitarian situation: As a result of the decision taken by the Yugoslav Government on 27 October to withdraw troops and to dismantle checkpoints around the province, large number of IDPs have returned to the Malisevo/Pagarusa/Dragobilj area. Nevertheless, many villages which were severely damaged during the conflict still show little sign of life. According to a WFP field assessment mission on 28 and 29 October, few people have returned to the Pec and Decane area, because of insecurity and lack of money to repair the houses.
1.2 Kosovo WFP operations: The Yugoslav Government decision also allows WFP free access to isolated villages. On 28 October, WFP managed to deliver 15 tons of wheat flour to people in Rasane and Bare, who have not received aid since they were displaced six weeks ago. WFP is planning to bring food to 6,000 IDPs in Kostrce, 5,000 IDPs in Kisna Reka and 2,500 IDPs in Nekovce on 30 October. Since the beginning of the emergency operation in Kosovo in June 1998, WFP has delivered 403 tons of food aid to more than 130,000 people.
1.3 Montenegro: Lack of accurate information on the number and location of IDPs within Montenegro will affect planned November food distributions. The Montenegrin Red Cross had listed 49,000 IDPs as of 16 September, when it stopped collecting information. This figure is considered to be inflated now that arrivals from Kosovo have virtually stopped and many Kosovar Albanians are either returning home, or leaving for Albania and Western Europe.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 43 of 1998 - October 30, 1998)
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