Report No. 03 of 1999 Date: 22 January 1999
This report includes: A) Sierra Leone B) Angola C) Somalia D) East and Central Africa: Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville E) Bangladesh F) Democratic People's Republic of Korea G) FR Yugoslavia - Kosovo.
>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.
This issue of the Emergency Report was prepared by Natasha Nadazdin and Deborah Hicks.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - most information as of 22 January a) Tens of thousands of civilians reported to be fleeing intense fighting between pro-government forces and rebels in eastern suburbs of Freetown on 23 and 24 January. b) UN/NGO mission travels to Freetown by helicopter 21 January. c) Distribution of relief food by national staff of WFP, international NGOs and local NGOs starts in Freetown, using accessible World Vision stocks, targeting some 30,000 people. Status of CRS, CARE and WFP food stocks in Freetown uncertain.
B. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 22 January a) Military situation in Angola, including Huambo and Kuito, relatively calm last week, except for increased military activity at end of week in northern provinces of Zaire, Uige and Malanje. b) UN staff start return to Kuito and Huambo following UN security assessment; WFP resumes delivery of food to these locations. c) In Malanje, shelling somewhat abated; no resumption of UN flights; continued concern that food security situation is deteriorating, affecting IDPs and residents.
C. SOMALIA
1. Update - information as of 21 January a) In southern Somalia, UNICEF estimates that close to 25,000 IDPs have moved to Gedo, Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Hiran regions, from Bay and Bakool. b) In Gedo and Bakool, WFP is conducting parallel food aid distributions in IDP camps and in places of origin; movement of IDPs continues.
D. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: BURUNDI, RWANDA, UGANDA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE
1. Update a) Regional economic sanctions against Burundi suspended 23 January. b) In Rwanda, WFP plans response to food shortages in parts of Kibungo prefecture; some 70,000 persons reportedly affected by failure of the bean crop. c) Donor pledges urgently sought for WFP EMOP 5816.02 in aid of IDPs in northern Uganda; 58,000 tons of food required for 347,000 IDPs for one year. Food distributions in IDP camps in Gulu now limited because of lack of resources d) In Congo/Brazzaville, airlift of 600 tons of food from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville ongoing; a fifth airlift operation is under preparation for another 973 tons of food.
E. BANGLADESH
1. Update a) WFP emergency operation for flood victims currently 96 percent resourced. b) Half of total confirmed contributions now either in-country or on the high seas. By end January, total food distributed will be 284,000 tons (84 percent of planned). c) WFP food reaching 4 million households; with additional cards distributed by the Government, food is reaching a combined total of 20 million beneficiaries. Ration increased to 20 kg as of December 1998. d) Rehabilitation phase will follow end of relief operation in March 1999, to cover the most affected districts of Serajgunj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha; total additional requirement is 180,000 tons of food.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update - most information as of 21 January a) Cereal requirements for WFP operation fully resourced until mid-1999. b) First tranche of 31,395 tons of US donation of 300,000 tons of wheat finished unloading at Nampo port on 10 January. c) WFP consultative meeting to be held in Rome on 3 February, on food security in DPR Korea.
G. FR YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO
1. Update - information as of 22 January a) WFP support to areas affected by deteriorating security situation in Kosovo since December 1998 includes 8 tons of wheat flour delivered to the town of Rakac. b) In past two weeks, 2,000 tons of mixed commodities moved by WFP from port of Bar to Kosovo via regional logistics unit. c) WFP Kosovo Operation Situation Report No. 2 dated 10 January 1999 available soon on WFP Web site at http://www.wfp.org - click Field Operations.
PART II - DETAILS
A. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE
1.1 Update 24 January: WFP has received confirmation of reports from Freetown that tens of thousands of civilians have been fleeing from intense fighting between pro-government forces and rebels in the eastern suburbs of the city over the past two days.
1.2 Situation in Sierra Leone based on a Situation Report of 22 January by WFP Sierra Leone (in Conakry)
a) A UN/NGO mission travelled by helicopter to Freetown on 21 January. Participants included the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, the WFP Representative, the UNICEF Representative, OCHA, HACU, CRS, MSF, and UNOMSIL. UNOMSIL facilitated the mission by providing the helicopter, vehicles and arranging necessary clearances.
b) More of Freetown has been free of fighting and some civilians move back towards the eastern parts of the city. The Government advised that Freetown was cleared up to Ferry Junction. ECOMOG considered the city safe but were prepared to provide escort for humanitarian activities. The area around Kissy was being cleared by ECOMOG, while there was still fighting in Calaba Town (far east of Freetown) and Aberdeen (the western parts of Freetown). Guinean ECOMOG forces are reported to have reached Freetown via Port Loko, Masiaka and Waterloo, boxing in the rebels at Wellington. In the west of the city, UNOMSIL observers reported that the streets are crowded with people walking and queuing for food supplies. No vehicular traffic was seen.
c) National staff of WFP, international NGOs and local NGOs in Freetown have arranged for the transport and distribution of relief food to the city population affected by the fighting. Distributions are being made from some 3,000 tons presently available from accessible World Vision warehouses. Registration of beneficiaries has been completed and the distribution, to begin on 22 January, will be implemented at some eight sites, targeting some 30,000 people. Priority will go to those living in makeshift shelters (including the Stadium), and to hospitals and social institutions. Only World Vision warehouses are accessible at this time; with the status of CRS, CARE and WFP food stocks uncertain, it is estimated that food aid stocks in Freetown are presently somewhere between 3,000 and 8,000 tons.
d) The number of displaced in the National Stadium had decreased by 22 January to between 6,000 and 10,000 persons, from an estimated 35,000 reported on 20 January. Most of the displaced had left because no food assistance was available; many are now living with families in the west or have returned further east. Two clinics are operating at the stadium. Updated information as of 25 January: the number in the Stadium is reported to be increasing once more as a result of the recent movement of people from the eastern part of the city.
e) The Government of Nigeria convened a meeting of ECOWAS foreign ministers in Abuja after it was clear that neither side in Freetown had adhered to the proposed ceasefire. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General has travelled to Abuja to attend.
B. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information from WFP Luanda on 22 January
1.1 During much of the last week the military situation in Angola, including Huambo and Kuito, remained relatively calm. Towards the end of the week increased military activity was reported in the northern provinces of Zaire, Uige and Malanje.
1.2 A UN security assessment team (composed of UNDP, UCAH and WFP) visited Kuito. As a result of their visit, UN security clearance has been given for the resumption of humanitarian flights and the return of humanitarian staff to Kuito and Huambo. Flights began on 22 January, when WFP staff from these two sub-offices started to return to their duty stations and WFP resumed delivery of food to both cities.
1.3 Shelling of Malanje continues although it has somewhat abated for the time being. So far UN flights to Malanje have not been resumed and the humanitarian community has not returned to the city. WFP is concerned that the food security situation in Malanje is deteriorating, affecting not only internally displaced persons (IDPs) but also residents. At present WFP is continuing distributions to vulnerable groups through CARITAS and the Ministry of Social Affairs. However, due to lack of security and staff, WFP has not been able to increase distribution to cover a larger number of beneficiaries. WFP stocks in Malanje are enough for some 45 days based on the number of just under 70,000 beneficiaries.
C. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 21 January
1.1 Southern Somalia
a) UNICEF estimates that close to 5,000 families (25,000 people), most of them from Bay and Bakool regions, have moved to the Gedo, Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Hiran regions of southern Somalia due to insecurity and in search of food.
b) Movement of IDPs in Gedo and Bakool continue to increase despite WFP parallel food aid distributions in places of origin; food distributions in IDPs camps are addressing the immediate needs of the displaced. Since November 1998, a total of 3,008 tons have been distributed to drought-affected people in Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions.
c) Recent nutritional assessments among IDPs showed acute malnutrition among children below five: 11 percent in Luqq (Gedo region) and 19 percent in Wajid (Bakool region).
1.2 A non-seasonal migration of 10,000 to 12,000 people from southern Somalia into Dolo Odo, Ethiopia, fleeing drought and insecurity, has been reported by the Government of Ethiopia.
1.3 In the northeast of Somalia (Puntland), the authorities have appealed to the international community for assistance. The Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) will commence an assessment in the area on 23 January.
1.4 Assessments are also under way among the agropastoralist food economy group in the northwest of Somalia (Somaliland). The Deyr season, normally of lesser significance in the north, has this year been near normal, but cattle are forced to move away from traditional grazing areas in search of water.
D. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: BURUNDI, RWANDA, UGANDA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - most information as of 18 January
1. BURUNDI - information as of 23 January
1.1 The suspension of regional economic sanctions against Burundi, announced on 23 January by the countries which imposed the sanctions, Tanzania, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia, has been welcomed by WFP as a major step in restoring the country's ability to meet its food needs.
2. RWANDA
2.1 Food shortages are being reported in parts of Kibungo prefecture, in eastern Rwanda, and WFP is devising an appropriate response. According to local authorities, a total of 70,000 persons are affected by the failure of the bean crop and are subsisting on cassava, stocks of which are dwindling. Food-for-work activities will likely be implemented instead of general free food distributions.
2.2 A total of 661,560 internally displaced Rwandans in the north-western prefectures of Ruhengeri and Gisenyi are currently benefiting from WFP food assistance. Between 10 and 17 January, WFP provided 1,900 tons of various food commodities for distribution in Rwanda, of which 850 tons were distributed in these two prefectures. Monitoring activities in Ruhengeri prefecture have shown an improvement in the situation, following increased cooperation between local authorities and WFP.
2.3 Health authorities have confirmed a decreasing number and degree of malnutrition cases in Gisenyi. Results of a screening carried out in early December show a reduction in the number of malnourished persons in special feeding programmes. Supplementary wet feeding is to be phased out in most centres during February.
2.4 During the second week of January, some 2,000 Rwandans returned to Gisenyi from Masisi, in eastern DR Congo. On their return, these returnees turned over weapons and ammunition to the local authorities who provided them with temporary shelter n Rwerere commune. This commune has a displaced population of close to 58,000 persons, mostly residents in the Busasamana camp, where WFP distributed 54 tons of food on 13-14 January.
3. UGANDA
3.1 Donors are urged to pledge support for the emergency operation for displaced persons in northern Uganda. Food distributions in the IDP camps in the district of Gulu are temporarily restricted to priority nutritional programmes because of lack of resources for this operation. The WFP EMOP 5816.02, approved in December, requires close to 58,000 tons of food for a one-year period, for distribution to 347,000 displaced Ugandans in need of on-going assistance.
3.2 WFP is trying to secure loans from other operations to resume full distributions in Gulu. Distributions in the district of Kitgum have been less affected due to remaining food stocks at the location, but replenishments are due immediately.
3.3 During the reporting period, security conditions were tense in Gulu, with looting of food reported in four of the existing twenty camps for displaced persons in this district. Some civilians were reportedly killed during rebel incursions.
4. DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - information as of 18 January
4.1 The airlift of 600 tons of food from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville is ongoing and a fifth airlift operation is being prepared by WFP to transfer another 973 tons of food. Rail communications between these two cities remain suspended, road transportation is not possible and sea transfers to Matadi are costly and undependable. During the past few months WFP has airlifted over 1,000 tons of food, urgently needed for distribution in Brazzaville and Kinshasa.
4.2 The food situation remains precarious in Brazzaville and Kinshasa and in eastern parts of DR Congo, where insecurity is preventing traders' access to food producing areas, thus limiting supplies into urban centres. Prices of basic food commodities have also registered increases in Kinshasa as a result of the Government's announcement on a limitation of local currency transactions.
E. BANGLADESH
1. UPDATE
1.1 As of 21 January, 96 percent of the total wheat and rice requirements of 333,167 tons (updated requirement) for the WFP emergency operation for the people affected by the floods in Bangladesh has been confirmed by donors. Pledges originate from the UK, EU, US, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland. The food requirements of the operation include an unresourced 164 tons of high energy biscuits and 3,500 tons of blended-food fully resourced by the UK.
1.2 Some 48 percent of the total confirmed contributions are either delivered or are on their way to Bangladesh. Pending deliveries of WFP's committed food, the distribution of food to beneficiaries was on-going out of Government national reserve, with the understanding that their stocks are to be replenished out of incoming shipments. By the end of January, a total of 284,000 tons of food (84 percent of the originally planned) will have been distributed.
1.3 The number of households being reached with WFP food resources are 4 million with additional cards distributed by the Government, reaching a combined total of 20 million beneficiaries. Since the ration of 16 kg/family/month was considered inadequate, WFP's proposal to increase the current food ration to 32 kg/family/month was answered by an increase in the ration to 20 kg as of December 1998.
1.4 The relief operation will continue until March 1999. Following this, a rehabilitation phase will be introduced, for which the total additional requirements will be 180,000 tons. The most affected districts of Serajgunj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha will be covered under this phase. Although no formal survey has been conducted, WFP field monitors are regularly observing/monitoring the distribution process to ensure food reaches the most vulnerable beneficiaries.
F. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE - information as of 21 January
1.1 As of 20 January, the cereal requirements of the WFP operation for DPR Korea are fully resourced until mid-1999. There are, however, varying degrees of commodity shortfalls for non-cereal commodities, including pulses, oil, blended food, and biscuits.
1.2 The first tranche of 31,395 tons of the US donation of 300,000 tons of wheat, completed unloading at Nampo port on 10 January. The entire contribution is expected to be in the country by early April. In total, WFP delivered some 393,000 tons of food aid to DPR Korea during the period January through December 1998.
1.3 On 3 February, WFP is organizing a consultative meeting at its Rome headquarters, on food security in DPR Korea. The objectives of this meeting include the identification of constraints, challenges and opportunities for solving the country's food security problems and the development of a WFP strategy for enhancing food security in the country. The meeting will be attended by donors, certain NGOs, representatives of the UN agencies active in DPR Korea.
G. FR YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO
1. UPDATE - information as of 22 January
1.1 Since the security situation in Kosovo deteriorated in December 1998, WFP has been responding with immediate food distributions to areas affected by the fighting, including 8 tons of wheat flour to the town of Rakac, where on 15 January an attack left a number of civilians dead. Forty-five bodies were discovered by international monitors investigating the incident.
1.2 The flow of food aid to Kosovo has improved over the past two weeks. WFP has moved some 2,000 tons of mixed commodities during this period from the port of Bar to Kosovo via the special regional logistics unit (REGLOG) established in late 1998 under the sponsorship of USAID. Close coordination between the three primary agencies participating in food distributions - WFP, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Mercy Corps International - has resulted in the pooling of resources; agencies are distributing food when the security situation permits.
1.3 WFP Kosovo Operation Situation Report No. 2 dated 10 January 1999, will be available soon on the WFP Web site at http://www.wfp.org - click on Field Operations.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 03 of 1999 - January 22, 1999)
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