Report No. 44 of 1998 Date: 6 November 1998
This report includes: A) Central America: Hurricane Mitch (details in Supplement) B) Somalia C) Sudan D) East and Central Africa: Rwanda, DR Congo, Congo/Brazzaville E) China F) Afghanistan G) WFP on the Web: Updated resources/food aid needs.
>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 HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA
1. Update - information as of 9 November a) WFP will issue emergency appeal for approximately USD 45 million (total food tonnage over 100,000 tons) to feed over one million people for six months in the four Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch. b) Additional details can be found in the form of a Supplement to WFP Emergency Report no. 44.
B. SOMALIA
1. Update - increasing food aid needs a) Dramatically reduced 1998 Gu season crop and poor crop prospects for current Deyr season have led to increasing food aid needs in southern Somalia. At least 631,000 people will require food aid assistance until next Gu harvest in July 1999. b) Current WFP EMOP was designed to cover needs of 470,660 people for the period August 1998 to March 1999 (uncovered pledging shortfall is 3,142 tons). To cover increased needs during the first half of 1999, WFP will be appealing for additional resources, tentatively 9,000 tons.
C. SUDAN
1. Update - information as of 5 November a) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission to begin mid-November; while outlook for harvest better than last year, crops poor in much of the south, including Bahr el-Ghazal. WFP to continue food deliveries (17,000 tons per month) to April 1999. Budget revision for additional 87,050 tons of food will cover needs until new EMOP for 1999 prepared. b) Although 100,000 tons of cereals confirmed for Sudan operation, further confirmation by donors of in-kind or cash contributions needed as soon as possible to avoid imminent breaks in cereals pipeline. c) Emergency operation for victims of recent floods submitted for approval.
D. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: RWANDA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE
1. Rwanda - information as of 1 November a) Humanitarian crisis growing for over 500,000 displaced Rwandans in north-western prefectures of Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. Joint missions visit Nyamugali and Nyarutovu camps in Ruhengeri, to coordinate response. b) WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR provide supplies to the camps in Ruhengeri; convoys to be expanded; sanitation and shelter remain major concerns.
2. Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo/Brazzaville a) In DR Congo, WFP participates in joint mission to Lubumbashi and Kisenge, along borders with Zambia and Angola, and reports food shortages in Lubumbashi. More refugees from Angola arrive in Kisenge. b) Ferry traffic between Brazzaville and Kinshasa resumes; reopening expected to ease food and fuel shortages in Brazzaville. c) Republic of Congo Government instructs its railway company to resume traffic between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
E. CHINA
1. Update - information as of 5 November a) WFP operation to aid flood victims, begun in October, targets 5.8 million of the most vulnerable in four of the hardest hit provinces along the Yangtze River. EMOP supports short term rehabilitation of private and public infrastructure as well as relief assistance to the flood victims, over the next four months. b) While many flood-displaced people return to their homes, up to 1.5 million people expected to remain in temporary shelters on the dykes for another two to three months. c) Confirmed contributions to date total USD 32 million, 35 percent of EMOP requirement.
F. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - information as of 6 November a) All WFP stocks in Bamyan and Yakawlang (1,500 tons) looted; protest sent by WFP to Taliban representative in Islamabad. b) Up to 160,000 people in Bamyan region, including new internally displaced persons (IDPs), need total of 5,300 tons of food aid for winter season. Some IDPs are returning to their homes. c) Food prices in Kabul expected to return to normal as WFP-assisted bakeries in Kabul were able to resume work two weeks ago.
G. WFP ON THE WEB - UPDATED RESOURCES/FOOD AID NEEDS
1. Resources publications on the WFP Web site a) Now available on the WFP Web site at http://www.wfp.org under Resources and Appeals: "Projected 1999 Needs for WFP Projects and Operations" and "1998 Estimated Food Needs and Shortfalls for WFP-assisted Emergency and Protracted Relief Operations, Development Projects, Special Operations - October 1998 update".
PART II - DETAILS
A. CENTRAL AMERICA: IMPACT OF HURRICANE MITCH ON HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA
1. REGIONAL - information as of 9 November 1998
1.1 WFP will soon issue an emergency appeal to the international community for approximately USD 45 million (total food tonnage is over 100,000 tons) to feed over one million people for six months in the four Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, which swept across the region early in the week of 27 October. 1.2 Up to three million people have been affected by the hurricane, the worst natural disaster to hit Latin America in 200 years. Basic social infrastructure was severely damaged including highways, roads, bridges, electricity, water and sewage systems, communication systems, housing and schools. Access is a major problem, and the WFP emergency operation is using both trucks and helicopters.
1.3 Further details on the current situation and WFP response are available in the form of a Supplement to WFP Emergency Report no. 44.
B. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE - INCREASING FOOD AID NEEDS
1.1 Food aid needs in southern Somalia are increasing in the wake of the dramatically reduced 1998 Gu season crop and in view of poor crop prospects for the current Deyr season. The Gu season (crops harvested in July/August) normally accounts for 75-80 percent of Somalia's annual cereal production. Cereal production in Gu 1998 was 83,000 tons, less than half of the normal average of recent years. The most recent Gu harvest was preceded by a poor Deyr 1997/8 harvest (Deyr crops are harvested in December), characterized by extensive flooding which seriously disrupted cropping patterns. Other factors contributing to the growing food crisis are the Saudi Arabia import ban on livestock from East Africa, the collapse of the banana industry (the mainstays of Somalia's economy) and in some areas, particularly Bay region, an increase in conflict. WFP's Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) forecasts a total net food gap of 35,000 tons in southern Somalia between November 1998 and July 1999. It has been estimated that at least 631,000 people will increasingly experience stress and will require food aid assistance until the next Gu harvest in July 1999.
1.2 Low food aid stocks and delayed pledges have severely curtailed WFP's response capacity to the needs during the present October-December 1998 period.
1.3 WFP is seeking to address food aid needs through an emergency operation (EMOP 5999 approved in August) for the period August 1998 to March 1999, originally for 470,660 people. Within the framework of the EMOP, WFP will require a total of 12,069 tons of food aid. The donor community has so far contributed 8,927 tons towards this EMOP, amounting to about USD 8 million (total includes USD 1 million allocated from WFP's Immediate Response Account which needs to be replenished), leaving an uncovered shortfall under this EMOP of 3,142 tons.
1.4 To cover increased needs during the first half of 1999, until the next Gu harvest in July/August, WFP will be appealing for additional resources, tentatively 9,000 tons.
C. SUDAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 5 November
1.1 The FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission is being fielded in Sudan starting mid-November. Although the preliminary outlook for the harvest is better than last year, overall crop production is expected to be poor in most of the southern states, including Bahr el-Ghazal. The poor harvest is the result of major population displacements prior to the planting period, an inadequate supply of agricultural inputs, a weakened labour force, and late and erratic rains.
1.2 In view of the expected poor harvest and in order to meet increasing food requirements in Sudan, WFP plans to continue average delivery of 17,000 tons of food per month from the period November 1998 to April 1999.
1.3 A new emergency operation is being prepared for the 1999 calendar year to coincide with the UN Inter-Agency Consolidated Appeal, which will take into account the findings of the crop assessment mission. In the interim, WFP is preparing a budget revision, which calls for an additional 87,050 tons of food.
1.4 Although 100,000 tons of cereals have been confirmed for the Sudan operation, WFP is facing imminent breaks in the cereals pipeline due to increasing needs and significant delays in the arrival of shipments. Donors are requested to confirm either in-kind or cash contributions as soon as possible to allow WFP sufficient lead-time to purchase and deliver food to distribution sites. The minimum lead-time required for non-cereal food items is 90 days. Also in order to avoid a break in the food pipeline, approximately 20,000 tons of non-cereal food commodities are needed urgently as from December 1998 (pulses, oil, salt, DSM and CSB).
1.5 WFP has submitted for approval an emergency operation for victims of recent floods, for the period November 1998 to January 1999 (EMOP 6072). Food requirements amount to 4,577 tons, with a total cost of USD 2.4 million. The operation is targeting 113,000 of the worst-hit by the recent flooding, in the following areas: 20,000 in White Nile; 20,000 in Kassala, 10,000 in Khartoum; 5,000 in North Kordofan; 18,000 in Gedaref and 40,000 in River Nile and Northern States.
1.6 The Government of Sudan has provided November flight clearances to all requested locations with the exception of: Panyagor, Duk Padiet, Yomciir, Boma, Maridi, Yei, and Niat. In addition, all locations in Eastern Equatoria region, except for Torit, Lafon, and Kapoeta, were denied clearance. Programmed WFP distributions targeting 64,000 beneficiaries in two locations in the Lopit Mountain area of Eastern Equatoria will be affected by this measure. The Government has also provided necessary clearances for three Caravan light passenger aircraft, for use from the Lokichokio airbase.
1.7 Given the expansion of WFP activities in southern Sudan, which include increased aircraft operations and the extension of WFP air services to UNICEF and NGOs, as well as related increases in administrative and human resources activities, a review of the WFP management structure is scheduled to take place from 5-25 November in Lokichokio.
D. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: RWANDA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE
1. RWANDA
1.1 A growing humanitarian crisis is evolving in the north-western prefectures of Ruhengeri and Gisenyi, where more than half a million Rwandans have become displaced. Joint missions including Government, donor and UN representatives visited the Nyamugali and Nyarutovu camps for displaced persons in Ruhengeri, to coordinate the response to this developing emergency. There are over 330,000 displaced persons in Ruhengeri and 212,000 in the neighbouring prefecture of Gisenyi.
1.2 In addition to the food commodities being provided by WFP, non-food items have been distributed by UNICEF and UNHCR to the displaced persons in the above two camps. CONCERN will assume the lead role in reorganizing the Nyaruvotu camp, where the population swelled from 5,000 in August to over 36,000 at the end of October. CONCERN is planning to reopen their office in Ruhengeri.
1.3 WFP is coordinating with other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in order to increase the capacity of the convoys. Public health and sanitation issues, as well as shelter requirements, continue to be a major concern in Ruhengeri.
1.4 During October WFP distributed 6,409 tons of food in Rwanda. More than half of this food was distributed in the prefectures of Gikongoro, Gisenyi and Ruhengeri. In November, WFP plans to assist a total of 700,000 beneficiaries.
2. DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - information as of 1 November
2.1 WFP participated in a joint mission to Lubumbashi and Kisenge, southern areas of DR Congo along the borders with Zambia and Angola. The mission reported food shortages in Lubumbashi. Between 20,000 to 40,000 displaced persons have been reported north-west of Lumumbashi, however the mission was unable to locate them. These people have left their farms in the Kalemie area, fleeing insecurity. Food surpluses are reported to be available in neighbouring areas but inaccessible due to military activities. Refugees from Angola are reportedly still crossing into Kisenge where an estimated 40,000 Angolans have settled.
2.2 Ferry traffic across the river between Brazzaville and Kinshasa has resumed, after being suspended during August. During this period, only government officials and humanitarian staff were allowed to cross using small speed boats. This reopening is expected to ease food and fuel shortages in Brazzaville.
2.3 The Republic of Congo Government has instructed its railway company to resume traffic between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, but prevailing security constraints will allow only limited traffic. Reports of armed attacks continue to be received with many people hiding in the forests.
E. CHINA
1. UPDATE - information as of 5 November
1.1 On 29 October, implementation of the WFP emergency operation for the China flood victims began. Over the next four months, food distribution and emergency rehabilitation projects are to be conducted in 320 townships from 23 counties. While the floods affected an estimated 223 million people, the WFP emergency operation (EMOP) targets 5.8 million of the most vulnerable in four of the hardest hit provinces along the Yangtze River area (Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi), providing immediate relief assistance to the flood victims and supporting short term rehabilitation of private and public infrastructure. Subject to donors contributions, the EMOP aims at delivering 347,000 tons of food - 247,000 tons through the WFP EMOP and 100,000 tons through a Government of China contribution.
1.2 As the water recedes, people are slowly returning to their homes to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. In some areas, however, WFP estimates as many as 1.5 million people may be forced to remain on the higher levels of the dykes in temporary shelters, some for as long as two to three months more. Even for those who can return, the damage is massive. In the target areas as much as 75 percent of the arable land and crops have been either damaged or destroyed, and in many areas the damage to houses and infrastructure is immense.
1.3 WFP teams are currently monitoring program implementation in cooperation with Government of China counterparts. Recruitment for additional emergency operations staff, both local and international, has been accelerated with the recent confirmation of contributions from Sweden, Spain, Australia, and the United States. To date contributions confirmed by donors total USD 32 million or approximately 35 percent of the total EMOP requirement.
F. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 6 November
1.1 Bamyan/Yakawlang
a) The total food stocks, some 1,500 tons of mainly wheat, have been looted from WFP warehouses in Bamyan and in Yakawlang. In addition, office equipment and trucks have disappeared. On 4 November, the WFP Regional Office issued a Note Verbale to the Taliban representative in Islamabad protesting that its offices in Bamyan and Yakawlang have been occupied by Taleban authorities and requesting the restoration of all goods and property.
b) The looted food stocks were part of 1998/1999 WFP winter emergency operation pre-positioned before the pull-out of international staff following the August military operations. An inter-agency mission is still waiting for security clearance to re-assess the situation particularly in view of the new IDP caseload. Meanwhile, WFP is pre-positioning some of the needed quantity of wheat in Kabul and in Ghazni since timing is crucial as the winter arrives early in the mountainous region. Previous assessments of the food-deficit area indicated that up to 160,000 people, including new IDPs, the poor who have exhausted their assets, and the landless, are in serious need of about 5,300 tons of food aid for the winter season. Preliminary information indicates that some of the displaced persons are returning to their homes. Many trucks are on the move into and through Bamyan.
1.2 Food prices
a) Food prices have shown slight increases in Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad because of the depreciation of the afghani. Temporary price increases for bread have been attributed to the curtailment of WFP-assisted bakery projects in the recent months of September and October. Since the Taliban took over in August, food prices in Mazar-i-Sharif have decreased and are now in line with prices in other Taliban-controlled locations. Since the WFP-assisted bakeries in Kabul were able to resume work two weeks ago after the arrival of 1,085 tons of wheat flour, the price should have gone back to normal.
G. WFP ON THE WEB - UPDATED RESOURCES/FOOD AID NEEDS
1. RESOURCES PUBLICATIONS ON THE WFP WEB SITE
1.1 The following documents are now available on the WFP Web site at http://www.wfp.org then click on Resources and Appeals:
a) "Projected 1999 Needs for WFP Projects and Operations". This document provides an overview of projected food aid needs in 1999, and brief descriptions of WFP activities throughout the world. It is published annually to provide the international community with advance estimates of food aid needs.
b) "1998 Estimated Food Needs and Shortfalls for WFP-assisted Emergency and Protracted Relief Operations, Development Projects, Special Operations - October 1998". This document highlights needs and shortfalls through 1998, summarizes funding trends, and provides regional descriptions of selected relief operations. It is published three times annually to coincide with Consultations on Resources meetings.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 44 of 1998 - November 6, 1998)
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