Report No. 08 of 1999 Date: 26 February 1999
This report includes: A) FR Yugoslavia - Kosovo B) Cambodia C) Sudan D) East and Central Africa: Tanzania, DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville E) Sierra Leone F) Guinea.
>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 or Natasha.Nadazdin@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.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. FR YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO
1. Update - information as of 25 February a) Provisional accord brokered by Contact Group between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians on 23 February. Peace talks to continue on 15 March. b) Fighting continues in northern areas. Further 9,000 displaced since 20 February. WFP contingency plan in place for emergency rations for 100,000 IDPs.
B. CAMBODIA
1. Update - information as of 26 February a) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission forecasts 98/99 rice harvest 3 percent above previous year production, 19 above last five years' average. b) Food insecurity for vulnerable groups persists. c) WFP two-year PRRO 6038 started 1 January 1999: USD 40.9 million needed for 75,100 tons of food to 1.3 million beneficiaries.
C. SUDAN
1. Update - information as of 25 February a) Critical WFP pipeline shortage of non-cereal commodities expected in early March. Gained improvements in nutritional situation will be reversed soon, unless necessary commodities provided. Contributions from donors required for pulses, oil, salt and CSB. b) Food deficits expected to increase towards hunger gap period in May-July. WFP estimated 50-60 percent food deficits possible before 1999 harvest season in September-October.
D. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: TANZANIA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE
1. Tanzania - information as of 26 February a) WFP preparing new emergency intervention: 20,000 metric tons of maize for population affected by serious food deficits in eleven provinces. Appeal to be issued to donors shortly. b) Food shortfall of current WFP emergency operation (EMOP 5889): 13,000 tons.
2. DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville - information as of 25 February a) WFP airlift operation from Pointe-Noire ended on 23 February, totalling some 2,330 tons of food since October. New airlift to start soon. b) Fighting in Dolesie near Brazzaville displaces some 50,000 persons. c) WFP to increase number of beneficiaries in Kinshasa from 34,800 to 52,000 in March. d) WFP making logistic arrangements to assist 57,000 Angolan refugees in DR Congo. e) In Goma, 19,000 IDPs and 1,420 malnourished children in need of food aid identified by WFP, Caritas and Save the Children Fund.
E. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 25 February a) WFP food distributions in Blama and in Bo town continue despite fuel shortages; no deliveries to IDPs outside Bo, in Mandu and Jembeh. b) Rebel attempts to cross Guinean border to reach Gbenle prevented by Guinean authorities. Due to restricted cross border movement WFP food aid monitor unable to reach remaining IDPs at Gbalamuya. c) Freetown not yet safe for international staff of humanitarian agencies to return. Government reports feeding programme in eastern Freetown continues. d) A WFP assessment of Freetown Port planned for 27 February, with Government and ECOMOG representatives. e) UN/WFP chartered humanitarian helicopter in place in Conakry as of 24 February. First flight scheduled for 27 February.
F. GUINEA
1. Update - information as of 18 February a) WFP continues to provide food aid to refugees in Guinea. Current caseload is 450,000 refugees (350,000 Sierra Leoneans, the remainder mostly from Liberia). b) WFP also supports repatriation and resettlement of Liberian refugees in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire, and assists Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea and Liberia. c) UNHCR plans to move 50,000 refugees from insecurity prone area near Sierra Leonean border.
PART II - DETAILS
A. FR YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO
1. UPDATE - information as of 25 February
1.1 On 23 February, after two weeks of peace talks under the auspices of the Contact Group in Rambouillet, the representatives of FR Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanians endorsed a provisional accord. Inter alia, this comprehensive agreement commits the parties to attend a peace conference on 15 March.
1.2 WFP non-essential staff returned to Pristina on 25 February, after the interim agreement in Rambouillet had been signed. Due to increased insecurity, the staff had been relocated to other parts of the country on 20 February, together with other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Pristina. During that phase, WFP national staff had remained in Pristina to oversee ongoing distributions of food aid.
1.3 Fighting in the northern parts of Kosovo, particularly around Vucitrn, continued in spite of the peace negotiations, and caused a displacement of some 9,000 persons since 20 February. Under a new WFP contingency plan, some 44 tons of high energy biscuits are ready to be distributed as immediate emergency rations to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Basic dry rations for approximately 100,000 people are available in Kosovo. In addition, some 5,000 tons of food products stored in the port of Bar can be transported to Kosovo at a rate of 1,000 tons a week.
1.4 In February, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, WFP has been able to provide monthly food rations to beneficiaries. Previously, distributions had been on an ad hoc basis due to lack of security and the constant movement of beneficiaries. Through implementing partners, WFP plans to transport some 2,800 tons of food aid to 47 delivery points providing a one-month ration for 200,000 beneficiaries in March.
1.5 In Montenegro, WFP is carrying out its monthly food distribution to 32,160 IDPs. In addition, MCI and Christian Relief Service are providing food to host families accommodating four or more IDPs.
1.6 In Albania, WFP continues to cover the basic food needs of about 9,870 refugees.
B. CAMBODIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 26 February
1.1 A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Cambodia from 11 to 29 January 1999 to estimate the 1998/99 wet season rice harvest, forecast the dry season rice production and assess national food supply situation for 1999. El Nino related drought of 1997 was followed by late arrival of the wet season rains in 1998, which were below normal, threatening the harvest. The Mission forecasts the 1998/99 total rice harvest at 3.52 million tons, some 3 percent above the 1997/98 production and 19 percent above the average of the last five years. This output includes an estimated 2.88 million tons of 1998/99 wet season rice harvest and a forecast 0.64 million tons of dry season rice harvest. 1.2 Despite a small surplus of rice production estimated at 30,000 tons at the national level, vulnerable segments of the population continue to face varying degrees of food shortage. For the year 1999, WFP aims at providing 40,000 tons of rice as relief food aid to the most vulnerable and food insecure groups under the current WFP Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO 6038). The PRRO, which started on 1 January 1999, also provides repatriation rations for the Cambodian refugees currently returning from Thailand, as well as further support for their reintegration through food-for-work activities. Under the two-year PRRO, WFP is requesting USD 40.9 million for the purchase and distribution of 75,104 tons of food to cover the needs of 1.3 million beneficiaries during 1999 and 2000. So far, WFP has received 10,270 tons.
1.3 Food insecurity among vulnerable segments of the population is mainly caused by the following factors: a) uneven production capacity and inadequate distribution of food between areas; b) a serious nutritional situation within the vulnerable population, especially among the children under five years of age and women; c) a large number of indebted rural poor who are using their crop production as re-payment; d) distinct livelihood structures creating a different dependency on rice production even in food secure zones; e) high-risk coping strategies involving long-term migration, selling of productive assets such as animals, and working in forests or fields with landmines.
1.4 The FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment report dated 17 February 1999 is available on FAO Web site at http://www.fao.org click Economics, GIEWS then Special Reports and Alerts. More information on the nutritional status of vulnerable groups in Cambodia can be found in the joint UNICEF/WFP report issued in December 1998 on a 1998 baseline survey which is available on the WFP Web site at http://www.wfp.org click Field Operations then Cambodia.
C. SUDAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 25 February
1.1 WFP is facing critical pipeline shortages of non-cereal food commodities for Sudan, foreseen as from early March. The shortages of non-cereal food commodities will particularly have an adverse impact on the overall nutritional situation amongst the most vulnerable persons. Thanks to large quantities of pulses, blended foods (CSB) and other nutritious commodities that were supplied during the past six months, the critical nutritional situation has improved considerably in many beneficiary locations. Many supplementary and therapeutic feeding centres have been closed since the beginning of 1999 and in most remaining centres, the beneficiary numbers have decreased dramatically. If these very important commodities are not made available in the near future, WFP fears that the gained improvements in the nutritional situation will be reversed in the coming months.
1.2 Confirmation of pledges, or in-kind contributions is required urgently, to allow WFP the flexibility to borrow from existing stocks either in-country or in the region, or to identify vessels on the high seas to be diverted, in order to address immediate shortfalls. Lead time to purchase non-cereal food items can take up to four months.
1.3 Critical shortfalls for period March through December 1999 are for the following commodities: pulses (average monthly requirements 1,265 tons) total shortfall 10,016 tons ; oil (average monthly requirements 775 tons) total shortfall 7,222 tons; salt (average monthly requirements 132 tons) total shortfall 1,440 tons; CSB: (average monthly requirements 1,290 tons) total shortfall 12,730 tons.
1.4 Meanwhile, ongoing WFP assessments in many locations in Sudan, including areas in Bahr el-Ghazal, Equatoria, Unity/Upper Nile/Jonglei regions, indicate that current food deficits are about 10-30 percent amongst the poorest sectors of population. The most vulnerable are the internally displaced.
1.5 It is expected that the current rather low levels of food deficits will increase gradually towards the hunger gap period of May-July 1999. The overall food deficit situation in many places depends greatly on the availability of wild foods and other local food sources. Famine, insecurity, flooding and huge influxes of displaced persons in 1998 have placed great strain on the host communities' food security situation and led to over-exploitation of wild foods. If the situation remains unchanged, WFP estimates that food deficits in many locations may reach as high as 50-60 percent before the 1999 harvest season of September-October 1999.
D. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: TANZANIA, DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE
1. TANZANIA - information as of 26 February
1.1 Following the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment mission which confirmed a serious food deficit in Tanzania, WFP has prepared a proposal for an immediate new emergency intervention of 20,000 metric tons of maize covering the most affected areas in eleven regions. Approval is expected very shortly, when an appeal will be formally issued to donors.
1.2 In Singida, under the current emergency operation (EMOP 5889), the second phase distribution of 3,467 tons of food has been completed in 88 villages benefiting 144,000 persons. This operation needs a contribution of further 13,000 tons to be fully resourced. WFP implementing partner Save the Children Federation (SCF) is preparing household food economy surveys to assess the impact of food aid on beneficiary households. Assessments carried out by SCF in Iramba district indicated a rapid deterioration in the food security situation. A further 52 villages have been targeted by SCF for WFP food assistance.
2. DR CONGO AND CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - information as of 25 February
2.1 The fifth airlift from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville/Kinshasa ended on 23 February. So far, 2,333 metric tons of food have been airlifted since operations began in October 1998. A sixth airlift of 910 tons of food is scheduled to start shortly.
2.2 Recent fighting in Dolesie, west of Brazzaville, forced some 50,000 persons to be displaced from their homes. Insecurity is still prevalent in Pointe-Noire. Although the power supply has been resumed, poor fuel supply frequently causes blackouts in the town.
2.3 The target population for WFP assistance in Kinshasa for March is 52,000 beneficiaries against the current caseload of 34,800. This increase is due to the general deterioration of the economic and financial situation in the town that has dramatically reduced access to basic food for the most vulnerable people.
2.4 The number of Angolan refugees in DR Congo is now estimated at 57,600. A WFP mission visited Lubumbashi and Kisenge in Katanga province with the objective of finalizing logistics arrangements for food dispatches/distributions.
2.5 In Goma WFP identified, in collaboration with Caritas, Save the Children Fund and local authorities, some 19,000 displaced persons and 1,420 malnourished children in need of relief assistance.
2.6 WFP food distributions in DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville totalled 147 tons over the week ending 21 February; 81 tons were distributed to the Angolan refugees in Bas-Congo and 66 tons were distributed in Brazzaville.
E. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 25 February
1.1 Kenema: ECOMOG is reported to be in control of the security situation, although rebels are suspected to be in the vicinity. WFP food distributions in Blama continue. The Regional Technical Committee has restarted its regular meetings and is reviewing the situation in the area. Out of 170 tons of WFP food allocated to Blama to meet the food needs of 15,000 IDPs for 30 days, only 92 tons have been delivered between 21 and 22 February due to fuel shortages. WFP food aid monitors from Kenema are presently in Blama to monitor the distributions of WFP food aid carried out by Kailahun District Development Foundation (KADDF). Some IDPs in Blama who have received food have started returning to Kenema town.
1.2 Bo: The total population currently receiving WFP food assistance stands at approximately 5,500. While food distribution in Bo town continues, it is being delayed by fuel shortages outside the town, in Mandu and Jembeh. Reports say that the IDPs are moving from Jembeh towards Blama, where food continues to be distributed to IDPs. The recent commandeering of vehicles by the Civil Defense Forces in Bo is causing concern among the humanitarian community.
1.3 Kambia: There are reports that rebels attempted to cross to Gbenle, on the western edge of the Greater Scarcies River. The Guinean authorities are taking necessary measures to contain rebel infiltration at the border. This has encouraged some IDPs to remain at Gbalamuya. A WFP food aid monitor is in Pamlap, Guinea and has not been able to reach the IDPs in Gbalamuya for the past ten days because the Guinean authorities at the border are restricting cross border movement due to these security concerns. WFP has a stock of over 120 tons of relief food in Forecariah (Guinea), near Kambia, ready for distribution to the IDPs as soon as security permits.
1.4 Freetown: UNOMSIL reports that ECOMOG has secured Waterloo, near Freetown, and is in control of Kabala, Daru, Joru and Bumbuna where the hydro dam is located. There are reports that 3,000 people have returned to Waterloo. The Commissioner of NRRR visited Conakry and met with the members of the humanitarian community based there. He reported that the feeding programme in the eastern part of Freetown continues and that the Government has opened a new centre at NATCO in Calaba town, Eastern Freetown. Although security situation has improved in Freetown, it is still not safe enough for the return of international humanitarian staff.
1.5 A technical WFP team comprised of the Logistics Officer, the Port Captain of the Sierra Leone country office and the Regional Logistics Officer from Abidjan will visit Freetown on 27 February. The team will make an assessment of the Port and other facilities. It is anticipated that the team will be joined by representatives from the Government, ECOMOG and Port authorities.
1.6 The UN/WFP chartered humanitarian helicopter arrived in Conakry on 24 February. The first flight to Freetown is scheduled for 27 February.
F. GUINEA
1. UPDATE - information as of 18 February
1.1 WFP reports that the current refugee caseload in Guinea is 450,000, including about 350,000 Sierra Leoneans, the reminder being mostly from Liberia. WFP is their sole provider of food assistance.
1.2 A WFP regional protracted relief operation (PRO 4604.06) provides food aid in the process of repatriation and resettlement of Liberian refugees in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire. The operation started in January 1997 and is planned to be completed in June 1999. This PRO will benefit over 400 000 beneficiaries in its various interventions.
1.3 Since the 25 May 1997 coup in Freetown, WFP has been providing assistance to the Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea and Liberia under a protracted relief operation (PRO 5802) whose resources have been, and are being, used in a flexible manner within a regional framework, depending on the movement of population across the borders in the sub-region.
1.4 In August 1998, WFP set up an emergency operation (EMOP 6032) for a period of six months to meet the basic food needs of the 200,000 newly arrived refugees from Sierra Leone in Gueckedou area in Guinea. The programme was to be completed in February 1999. Its four month extension is currently under preparation.
1.5 There is concern that refugee camps on the Guinean borders with Sierra Leone may be a target of attacks and infiltration by the Sierra Leonean rebel forces. In Guinea, UNHCR has already moved some 7,000 refugees away from the frontier. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, currently visiting the region, announced a planned move of another 50,000 before the rain season starts in July, if funding is provided.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 08 of 1999 - February 26, 1999)
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