Report No. 49 of 1998 Date: 11 December 1998
This report includes: A) Sierra Leone B) Angola C) East and Central Africa: Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville D) Central America: Hurricane Mitch E) Caribbean: Dominican Republic, St Kitts and Nevis and Cuba.
>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. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 14 December a) WFP Executive Director visits Sierra Leone 10-12 December. b) Continued fighting in the north and the east causes displacement of people from Masiaka towards Freetown and from Lunsar towards Makeni and Kambia; displaced leave camps in Waterloo, south of the capital, fearing spread of rebel attacks. c) Nearly one-third of the country currently cut off from food and medical supplies; some 670,000 people are displaced or living as refugees in Guinea and Liberia.
B. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 14 December a) IRIN-Southern Africa reports UN and NGO humanitarian staff temporarily withdrawn from Huambo and Kuito amid heavy fighting between Government forces and UNITA rebels. Heavy shelling reported in the Kuito area, where large numbers of displace have recently arrived from Catabola and Camacupa.
C. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: RWANDA, BURUNDI, TANZANIA, UGANDA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - most information as of 6 December
1. East Africa: Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda a) In Rwanda, following improvements in security situation in Ruhengeri prefecture, movement of displaced from some camps to home areas reported. b) In Burundi, additional numbers of people in need identified in Kayanza and Bubanza provinces. WFP and FAO joint mission planned for January to assess possible decreased bean harvest. c) Some 2,000 Congolese refugees arrive in Rukwa in south-western Tanzania. Voluntary repatriation of Burundians from Tanzania continues. d) Heightened insecurity in Gulu and Kitgum districts of Uganda lead to reinstatement of convoys on roads in the districts.
2. Central Africa: DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville a) In the Republic of Congo, WFP airlifts 400 tons of food commodities into Brazzaville from Pointe-Noire; some of the food to be transferred by barge to Kinshasa; 3,300 tons of WFP food currently blocked in Pointe-Noire. b) Some 10,000 people from Mindouli in the Pool area south of Brazzaville reported to have crossed to Bas-Congo in western DR Congo as a result of armed attacks c) In DR Congo, fighting in the north-east of Katanga province and nearby provinces causes displacement of people. Joint UN/Government of DR Congo mission travels to Lubumbashi to assess situation. d) WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6035) for assistance to Angolan refugees in DR Congo approved.
D. CENTRAL AMERICA: RELIEF OPERATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH IN HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA
1. Update - information as of 10 December a) UN Inter-Agency Transitional Appeal for Relief and Immediate Rehabilitation in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize, for USD 153 million, launched on 3 December. WFP part of the appeal is for USD 63.3 million. b) Under the WFP Rapid Response Facility (RRF), telecommunications mission deployed to the region, and standby agreement triggered with the Swedish Rescue Services Agency. Specialist WFP telecommunications staff also seconded from the WFP Great Lakes operation in eastern and central Africa.
E. CARIBBEAN - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ST KITTS AND NEVIS, AND CUBA
1. Update on WFP Hurricane Georges operations a) Information on WFP emergency operations in the Dominican Republic and in St. Kitts and Nevis given below. US contribution to Dominican Republic EMOP covers 43 percent of required resources.
2. Cuba drought operation - update a) Donor support for Cuba drought operation still sought; only 8 percent of requirement of USD 20.3 million has been pledged by donors.
PART II - DETAILS
A. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 14 December
1.1 The WFP Executive Director arrived in Sierra Leone on Thursday 10 December and after completing a programme of meetings and field visits departed on Saturday 12 December for Abidjan and Rome. During her visit she had an opportunity of meeting recipients of WFP food aid. The Executive Director also met with the President, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heads of UN System Agencies, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, various bilateral donors and heads of NGOs. Her visit is considered of particular importance by the Government and the UN System in terms of her message of support to the war victims in Sierra Leone, her appeal for peace, her confirmation of WFP support for as long as necessary to Sierra Leone, and her stress on WFP's role in promoting food self-sufficiency. Her field visit to Bo, Gerihun and Blama were an affirmation of WFP's close links to and partnership with poor communities in rural areas and WFP's on-going collaboration with other UN agencies and NGOs.
1.2 Fighting continues in the north and the east of Sierra Leone. Over the past week, heavy fighting was reported in Masiaka (47 km from Freetown), the main junction of roads to Port Loko, Guinea, Makeni, Bo and Kenema, between RUF rebels on the one part and ECOMOG and CDF on the other. Earlier, Lunsar town was attacked on 5 December by RUF rebels, who killed at least 30 residents and abducted more than 80 civilians. People have been fleeing Masiaka towards Freetown and fleeing Lunsar towards Makeni and Kambia. In addition, people in camps for the displaced in Waterloo, south of the capital, which housed some 12,000 displaced, have left the area, fearing a spread of rebel attacks.
1.3 ECOMOG troops on the weekend of 12/13 December repulsed an attack by rebels on the village of Yilleh, 60 km east of Freetown. ECOMOG troops in nearby Masiaka were called in. Further numbers of civilians from Masiaka fled, fearing an extension of the fighting. Truckloads of people were reported to be still arriving in Freetown on 14 December. Rebels are also reported to have attacked the Port Loko area, 60 km north-east of Freetown, and Kambia, some 20 km farther north, over the weekend.
1.4 Although ECOMOG has secured most towns and main arteries, some two-thirds of the country is currently considered vulnerable to rebel threat. According to Government sources, nearly one-third of the country is cut off from food and medical supplies and some 670,000 people are either in camps for IDPs or living as refugees in neighbouring Guinea and Liberia.
B. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 14 December
1.1 IRIN-Southern Africa reported on 14 December that humanitarian staff working for the UN and NGOs have been temporarily withdrawn from the central Angolan towns of Huambo and Kuito amid heavy fighting between Government forces and UNITA rebels. IRIN-SA has been told by the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) in Luanda that it had been decided on 13 December to withdraw 111 UN and humanitarian staff and their families from Huambo, and 60 others from Kuito some 120 km to the north-east. Heavy shelling is reported in the Kuito area. Officials told IRIN they were also checking reports that a cargo plane might have been shot down near the town. Flights to and from Huambo, however, were proceeding normally.
1.2 IRIN-SA also quotes from the latest UCAH situation report, which states that military activities over the past week have forced NGOs to temporarily withdraw their personnel working in agricultural and de-mining projects from the towns of Catabola and Camacupa in Bie province. As UNITA forces moved into the two towns, according to the UCAH report, "a considerable number of people" had fled to Kuito.
1.3 The full text of the IRIN-SA report is available by e-mail by contacting the OCHA Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa <irin-sa@irin.org.za>. IRIN-SA material also appears on ReliefWeb at http://www.reliefweb.int/
C. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: RWANDA, BURUNDI, TANZANIA, UGANDA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - most information as of 6 December
1. RWANDA
1.1 Population movements were reported over the week leading to 6 December in some of the larger displaced persons camps in Ruhengeri prefecture. An estimated 14,000 people have moved from Nyarutovu and Nyamugali camps and returned to their home sectors. Similarly movements are expected for another 7,000 persons from Mucaca camp. These movements follow improvements in the overall security of the prefecture. Meanwhile, in Ruhengeri commune, a new camp hosting 15,000 persons has been established. WFP will be visiting this camp to assess needs.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 During the first week of December, WFP assessment teams identified another 9,576 people in Bubanza and 1,050 people in Kayanza province who are in need of food assistance until their next harvest in February. WFP is planning an immediate intervention in Gokomero site, in Rango commune, Kayanza province, after recent attacks by rebel groups left most of the crops either destroyed or looted.
2.2 WFP and FAO representative held a meeting on the possible decrease of the bean harvest in January owing to the lack of rains throughout the current agricultural 99A season. Main areas affected are the lowland areas of the country. A joint mission is planned to assess the expected bean crop in early 1999.
3. TANZANIA
3.1 An estimated 2,000 Congolese refugees have arrived in Rukwa, in south-western Tanzania. Although many of these Congolese refugees are unwilling to be moved to the established camps further north, UNHCR has transported 431 refugees to Kigoma. A small refugee camp in Rukwa has been proposed by local authorities.
3.2 During the month of November, statistics from UNHCR Ngara on facilitated voluntary repatriation of Burundians totalled 1,211. According to UNHCR most of this caseload returned to Muyinga and Kirundo provinces which are reported to be stable and secure. Total number of Burundians assisted in returning home since January was reported to be 8,566.
3.3 In Dodoma, under the current drought operation (EMOP 5889), a total of 4,950 tons of WFP food commodities were delivered to 102 villages. This represents an average of 96 percent of the total allocation for the region for two months. Out of the 196,130 planned beneficiaries some 154,020 persons have received their two-month allocation. In Singida, for the same drought operation, 1,472 tons of WFP food has been delivered from the 3,456 tons of food allocated.
4. UGANDA
4.1 Due to heightened insecurity in the northern districts of Gulu and Kitgum and numerous ambushes on the roads, convoys have been reinstated on almost all the roads in these districts. During the week, two separate ambushes were reported on the Kampala-Arua road and along the Gulu-Kitgum road. Ten people were reportedly killed and several persons injured and five vehicles set ablaze. Some food distributions had to be cancelled as a result of the insecurity in these districts.
4.2 The rebels, who were repulsed 5 km on the outskirts of Gulu town by Government forces, were reported to be targeting schools with the aim of abducting school children. At a security meeting held between WFP and non-governmental agencies, it was agreed that movement to the field would be decreased. Private trucks hired by WFP for the delivery of food have cancelled their contracts for fear of rebel attacks.
5. DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - information as of 8 December
5.1 As of 8 December WFP had completed two airlifts, with a total of 400 tons of WFP food commodities, into Brazzaville from Pointe-Noire. Plans are under way to transfer this food by barge to Kinshasa. The planned airlift into Kinshasa did not start because of administrative constraints. Due to the prevailing security conditions in the Republic of Congo, the Government has decided not to resume railway traffic between Point-Noire and Brazzaville until further notice. WFP plans for using the railway for food transhipment will have to be reconsidered. Some 3,300 tons of WFP food are currently blocked in Pointe-Noire.
5.2 Reports have been received from Brazzaville of armed attacks in Mindouli in the Pool area south of Brazzaville which have displaced thousands of people. It has been reported that approximately 10,000 people have crossed to Luozi, a village located in Bas-Congo in the west of DR Congo. A joint mission including WFP, UNHCR and ECHO have travelled to the area to assess the situation.
5.3 In DR Congo, fuel suppliers had threaten the suspension of the sale fuel unless prices are established in line with the exchange rate on the black market. The Government reportedly agreed to reduce taxes and arrange to compensate eventual losses resulting from the fluctuating exchange rate. As yet, no agreement has been reached with fuel suppliers and this has resulted in fuel shortages with subsequent increases in the prices of food and transport.
5.4 Fighting in the north-east of Katanga province and nearby provinces is reported to have caused displacement of thousands of people. A joint mission including WFP, UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF and Government officials travelled to Lubumbashi to assess the situation. Although security conditions in the north of Katanga province did not allow access for humanitarian agencies, it was reported that an estimated 40,000 persons are scattered in the area. More people are expected to arrive in Lubumbashi, as the town is considered a safe haven. A Provincial Crisis Cell has been set up to assist the war-affected people. An additional 15-18,000 people are also thought to be displaced in the area of Manono-Ankoro, north of Lubumbashi.
5.5 WFP has approved an emergency operation (EMOP 6035) for assistance to Angolan refugees in DR Congo. Since May 1998, armed conflict in the neighbouring Angolan province of Lunda Norte has resulted in a large number of people crossing into DR Congo. A joint assessment mission by UN agencies, NGOs and the Government of DR Congo concluded that an estimated 40,000 Angolan refugees were hosted in the western provinces of Katanga, Bandundu and Bas-Congo. The Government requested WFP to provide relief assistance to these refugees and support the local population in rehabilitation work. A total of 46,000 beneficiaries are targeted under the operation, which is expected to last six months and will require in total 4,825 tons of food resources. Total cost to WFP is USD 3.7 million.
D. CENTRAL AMERICA: RELIEF OPERATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH IN HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, EL SALVADOR AND GUATEMALA
1. REGIONAL - information as of 10 December
1.1 The UN Inter-Agency Transitional Appeal for Relief and Immediate Rehabilitation in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize was launched on 3 December. The total sum requested under the appeal is USD 153 million. The full text of the Appeal can be found on ReliefWeb at http://www.reliefweb.int/
1.2 The WFP part of the appeal, which amounts to USD 63.3 million, includes WFP's Emergency Operation of USD 58 million to feed 1,125,000 persons over six months. So far, donor countries have responded generously to the WFP EMOP, providing some 57 percent of requirements in dollar terms, or 51 percent in tonnage terms.
1.3 The Consultative Group Meeting for the Reconstruction of Central American Countries organized by the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC will take place on December 10 and 11. WFP will be represented by the WFP Assistant Executive Director and by the WFP Country Director for Honduras.
1.4 WFP missions have been visiting the four most affected countries to formulate a project proposal that will be submitted to WFP headquarters by mid December for a regional Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO).
1.5 In support of WFP's response, the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) deployed a telecommunications mission to the region to establish connectivity at the regional, country and sub-office levels. A standby agreement has also been triggered with the Swedish Rescue Services Agency. This SRSA mission is to support provision of specialist equipment to augment existing WFP telecommunications infrastructure and to provide training. This corporate response was supported by secondment of specialist WFP telecommunications staff from the WFP Great Lakes operation in eastern and central Africa, which has an advanced radio-based "deep field mailing system" (DFMS) in place, a system which lends itself to emergency situations and the need to communicate with isolated or remote sub-offices which are otherwise without dependable communications. WFP has been working closely with UNICEF emergency response unit on this project in Central America, and is providing the service for UN agencies, NGOs and local relief authorities.
1.6 Further updates on Hurricane Mitch operations are found on the Web on the WFP Home page at http://www.wfp.org/ Information on the rapid response facility is at http://www.wfp.org/OP/Countries/mitch/RRF.html while the EMOP is available at http://www.wfp.org/OP/Countries/honduras/mitchemop.html
E. CARIBBEAN - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ST KITTS AND NEVIS, AND CUBA
1. UPDATE ON WFP HURRICANE GEORGES OPERATIONS
1.1 After Hurricane Georges swept through the eastern part of the Caribbean in September of this year, inflicting damage to infrastructure and agriculture and causing deaths, WFP initiated two emergency operations (EMOPs), one for the Dominican Republic, and the other for St. Kitts and Nevis, to mitigate the disastrous effects of the hurricane.
1.2 Dominican Republic: WFP and the Government of Dominican Republic signed on 24 November a Letter of Understanding on the WFP Emergency Operation (EMOP 6070), "Emergency Food Assistance to Households Affected by Hurricane Georges". This operation will provide food assistance for 200,000 persons affected by the hurricane and is expected to be completed by the end of January 1999. The total WFP cost of the operation is USD 4.7 million. A generous US contribution to this EMOP amounts to USD 2,029,000, some 43 percent of the required resources. The commodities donated by the US are 2,880 tons of rice, 430 tons of beans and 110 tons of vegetable oil.
1.3 St. Kitts and Nevis: A small scale WFP emergency operation St. Kitts and Nevis (EMOP 6069) was approved by the WFP Regional Director under his delegated authority for Immediate Response EMOPs in mid-October. On 19 November WFP spent USD 62,915 for local purchase of commodities for distribution to 3,000 affected persons on St. Kitts and Nevis.
2. CUBA DROUGHT OPERATION - UPDATE
2.1 Drought conditions earlier this year triggered sharp decreases in food production in eastern Cuba. In order to minimize the effects of food shortages, WFP approved an emergency operation targeting food aid to the eastern provinces of Holguin, Las Tunas, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. In late September, this same area of eastern Cuba was struck by Hurricane Georges, causing additional significant crop losses, especially to banana plantations. Under the EMOP, assistance was planned to be distributed to 524,000 children and 91,000 pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and elderly people. The operation was approved in late August, and distribution is to be for nine months, until the next major food harvest. The total WFP appeal is for USD 20.3 million. To date, only 8 percent of the requirement has been pledged by donors, with contributions received from Japan, Switzerland, Spain and Oxfam. To begin operations, WFP mobilized USD 1 million from the Immediate Response Account, for local purchases of oil, flour, pulses and rice.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 49 of 1998 - December 11, 1998)
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