WFP EMERGENCY REPORT Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food Programme Report No. 01 of 1999 Date: 8 January 1999
SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 11 January
1.1 Heavy fighting broke out in Freetown on 6 January between ECOMOG forces supporting the Government and rebel forces invading the city. Since then, residents have been confined to their homes with little or no food, water or electricity. Because of the heavy exchanges of gunfire and a de facto 24 hour curfew, the population has been unable to venture out to obtain essential supplies; those attempting to do so are forced back into their houses by soldiers. All shops and markets are shut. The city normally receives almost all its food supplies from the country's interior but fighting has effectively closed the highway linking the capital to the rest of Sierra Leone. All commercial food imports have also been interrupted by the hostilities.
1.2 In Freetown, at the ECOMOG base in Lungi, the ECOWAS representative and the Foreign Ministers from Cote d'Ivoire and Togo are trying to get the parties to agree to a cease-fire. The humanitarian community is stressing the need for a negotiated settlement as soon as possible in order to stop the needless suffering and save the lives of thousands of people at risk in Sierra Leone.
1.3 All efforts must be made to urge parties to the conflict to provide for humanitarian access corridors to reach needy people throughout the country. The international community is very concerned that if humanitarian organizations are unable to resume activities there will be very serious consequences for specific target groups both in Freetown and up-country.
1.4 Situation as of 11 January 1999
a) Although as of 11 January there are reports that ECOMOG has regained control of much of Freetown, small groups of rebels and isolated gunmen are still said to be roaming the streets in some areas.
b) ECOMOG troops in Freetown are reported to be shooting looters. The city power supply is still out - possibly due to damage to the power station - and telephone communications are likewise down. Cars are being commandeered and the only ones moving usually have a military escort.
c) Food supply for Freetown will now be a critical issue and the extent to which commercial and food aid stocks have survived is still unknown. The food aid agencies will assess their respective stores when it is possible to safely do so. They have already begun to draw up contingency plans for humanitarian interventions based on existing and soon to arrive food commodities, assessment of need and access requirements. They believe that any agreement must include provision for humanitarian access to all parts of Sierra Leone and will press for inclusion of this in the on-going political discussions as an integral part of the peace process.
d) Tension in Kenema was reported following news of an attack on Tongo and its capture by the rebels, but eased following a radio broadcast by the ECOMOG commander. IDP numbers registered are now 31,940 of whom a total of 20,374 have already received food from WFP. The caseloads from Tongo, Falla, Punduru, Gendema and Konta are now being assessed. WFP is restricting its vehicles movements because of the danger of commandeering by the security forces. Bo has returned to normal and the local radio station has resumed operation. Mile 91 is reported as remaining abandoned although ECOMOG troops have reportedly returned there. IDPs continue to arrive in Bo and are registered. Current numbers are 2,510 people. A decision on where to locate new arrivals is still pending. WFP has sufficient food stocks in Bo and Kenema to feed the current caseload at these locations for at least two months.
e) The Nigerian contingent in Kambia has been relocated to Lungi in Freetown and the town is now protected by Guinean troops only. Guinea has closed frontier crossings - except that at Pamalap (where controls of IDs are meticulous which retards large movements across the border) - but humanitarian staff have been allowed to transit after some discussions. Kambia town itself is calm. The total number of IDPs in Kambia is now 13,922. Between 5 and 10 January there were 3,598 new arrivals, all reported to be in good condition and not requiring any immediate food intervention.
1.5 In addition to WFP and NGO stocks in Freetown (which cannot at this time be confirmed), up-country in Sierra Leone there are sufficient WFP stocks in Kenema to feed 65,000 people for two months. Stocks in Kenema can also provide food to Bo to cover the needs of 30,000 people. Kambia needs are estimated at 100 tons per month; WFP has only 50 tons in Kambia at present, and ways are being sought to replenish stocks in the near future.
1.6 All WFP national staff in Freetown are accounted for, and most are still in radio contact, though some are unable to charge handset batteries due to lack of electricity. As the movement of people is still severely constrained, WFP national staff are unable to verify condition of stocks and stores in Freetown.
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The WFP Emergency Report is issued by 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.
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