Report No. 10 of 1999 Date: 12 March 1999
This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea B) Sierra Leone C) Central and East Africa: Congo/Brazzaville, D.R. Congo and Burundi D) Mozambique E) WFP on the Web.
>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. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Update a) Serious food and health problems continue, as distribution of last year's harvest starts to run out in some areas. b) WFP is developing a locally produced enriched biscuit for consumption at schools in response to malnutrition amongst children over seven years. Younger children benefit from WFP wet feeding at nurseries and kindergartens. c) Large unmet requirements of beans, oil, high energy biscuits, blended foods and sugar need to be filled.
B. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 11 March a) Attack on Kambia on 8 March; WFP and NGO staff temporarily relocated to Forecariah in Guinea, from where they monitor situation in Kambia. b) Inter-Agency Team estimates 23,560 IDPs in Sierra Leone/Guinea border area. c) WFP assessment mission reports Nitti port can be used. Road between Bo and Nitti to be rehabilitated under WFP food-for-work project.
C. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE, D.R. CONGO AND BURUNDI
1. Congo/Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo a) Sixth WFP airlift from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville started; 910 tons of WFP food aid to be airlifted for 103,000 beneficiaries. b) Food shipments on Goma-Rutshuru route to be suspended due to recent attacks on convoys. c) Air and railroad traffic between Pointe-Noire and Dolisie resume; some IDPs from Mayombe forest return home. Security situation in Congo/Brazzaville still volatile, impeding humanitarian shipments. d) WFP food aid distributions to Angolan refugees in D.R. Congo started on 12 March. Distributions to be implemented in collaboration with UNHCR, World Vision and MSF.
2. Burundi a) WFP and CARE reach record distribution levels in FAO-coordinated seeds and food distribution campaign end February in provinces of Kirundo, Cibitoke, Kayanza, Gatega and Rutana. b) Total 6,500 tons of food to be provided by mid-March for 164,000 families under seeds protection rations programme. Distributions handled by CARE.
D. MOZAMBIQUE
1. Flood relief operation - information as of 11 March a) Donors respond to WFP appeal for funds for airlift to flood-affected province of Inhambane. b) Highway linking north and south blocked, towns of Vilanculos and Inhassoro isolated. Government requests USD 12.4 million from international donors/agencies for relief aid and repairs. c) So far 277 tons of maize and beans delivered by WFP by airlift and trucks, further 100 tons by boat. d) WFP to use two South African army helicopters for needs assessments and food deliveries.
E. GENERAL
1. WFP on the Web - update a) WFP home page at http://www.wfp.org includes sections: What's New, What's WFP, Public Information, Executive Board Documents, Resources and Appeals, Field Operations (by country), Emergency Reports, Disaster Mitigation, Partner Institutions and links to their Web sites, and other subjects.
PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE
1.1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea is emerging from another harsh winter, although less severe than normal. Serious food and health problems persist and there is widespread hunger. The country is entering the first of two lean periods, as distribution of last year's harvest starts to run out in some areas, whilst new private plot production is only just starting as the ground starts to warm up. The second lean period occurs between the summer, when fresh food and potatoes are available, and autumn when the harvest comes. The food import gap for 1998/99 identified by FAO/WFP of 1.3 million tons may be partly met by targeted food aid through WFP and other agencies if pledges materialize, but there remains nearly 700,000 tons identified as a programme food aid requirement that is still uncovered.
1.2 The winter period is usually accompanied by an increased number of reports from persons crossing into China, as the Tumen and Yala rivers that form the border between China and DPR Korea are frozen over and therefore easier to cross. The extreme conditions described in these reports are not actually observed by WFP or other agency staff in the country. However the situation in the country is extremely difficult and there is considerable hardship. WFP field staff report that conditions in the border areas with China are actually better than in other parts of the country, because of the informal trade and barter that takes place.
1.3 WFP staff in the country observe malnutrition daily, particularly amongst children over seven years. Younger children benefit from WFP wet feeding at nurseries and kindergartens, whereas children over seven years at primary schools can only be reached by the Public Distribution System as the schools do not have school kitchens, so food is likely to be shared amongst the family. WFP is developing a locally produced enriched biscuit that can be consumed at the schools.
1.4 Adults are not normally recipients of food aid which is targeted to young children. The only exceptions are pregnant and nursing women, hospital patients and workers in food-for-work projects.
1.5 Whilst WFP has a good pipeline of cereals, there are large unmet requirements of beans (37,605 tons), oil (35,052 tons), high energy biscuits (67,800 tons), blended foods (40,476 tons) and sugar (12,280 tons). The serious nutritional problems cannot be addressed by the provision of cereals alone. To overcome these shortfalls, WFP is endeavouring to produce blended foods and enriched biscuits locally using the available cereals, but inputs of other raw materials or cash for local purchase are still required.
B. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 11 March
1.1 Kambia: WFP staff and NGOs from Kambia, currently monitoring the situation in Kambia from Forecariah in Guinea, reported that a RUF attack on Kambia had taken place on 8 March. Rebels of the RUF had crossed the Kolenten river near Kambia and attacked Pamlap in the Guinean territory. WFP, UNICEF, WHO/ONCHO, Action Aid and other humanitarian agencies were in the town during the attack. Kambia Inter-Agency Team has estimated a population of some 23,560 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the border area, where food will be supplied as soon as the situation returns to normal. The Inter-Agency Team members have selected Gbalamuya and New Customs as distribution points, both on the main road. The Guinean authorities indicated they cannot guarantee security beyond New Customs which is less that one mile from the Guinean border.
1.2 Nitti port assessment mission, undertaken by a WFP team on 9 March, was successful. Preliminary findings indicate that the port can be used for bringing in humanitarian supplies including food commodities. WFP will provide food for work and other agencies will supply technical services and non-food inputs for the rehabilitation of the road between Nitti and Bo.
1.3 OCHA Mission expected in Conakry on 11 March and will be visiting Freetown to review the humanitarian situation.
C. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: CONGO/BRAZZAVILE, D.R. CONGO AND BURUNDI
1. CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE AND D.R. CONGO
1.1 On 27 February, WFP started the sixth airlift from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville. A total of 910 metric tons of food will be airlifted to assist 103,000 vulnerable people including 50,000 in Brazzaville and 53,000 in Kinshasa. A part of this shipment, 500 tons, will be transferred by barge to Kinshasa.
1.2 Insecurity remains a concern in many parts of Congo/Brazzaville and D.R. Congo, including Dolesie, Pointe-Noire, Brazzaville and Goma. On 24 February, a convoy of 10 vehicles on the Goma-Rutshuru route in eastern D.R. Congo was attacked by unidentified armed men. Forty-seven people were killed and several others wounded. One of the trucks used by WFP to carry food was burned during the attack. Food shipments through this route will be suspended. WFP is closely monitoring the situation.
1.3 Air and railroad traffic between Pointe-Noire and Dolisie in Congo/Brazzaville resumed during the last week of February allowing IDPs from Mayombe forest to return home. In spite of the resumption of railroad traffic, the security situation remains volatile, impeding secured shipment of food and medical supplies through this line.
1.4 Acts of armed banditry continue to be reported in Brazzaville, hampering the provision of relief aid.
1.5 During the last two weeks, a total of 438 tons of WFP food aid was distributed to 54,464 refugees, displaced persons and vulnerable groups, including malnourished children, in Brazzaville and Kinshasa.
1.6 WFP food aid distributions to Angolan refugees in D.R. Congo started on 12 March. During the week of 8 March 170 tons of maize meal were despatched by train to Kisenge in Katanga province, after a five-day journey from Lubumbashi. Distributions will be implemented in collaboration with UNHCR, World Vision and MSF.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 In the largest seeds and food distribution campaign for several years, WFP and CARE achieved record distribution levels during the period 15 - 28 February, providing a total of 3,725 tons to 543,000 beneficiaries. WFP, CARE and other partners completed distributions in the provinces of Kirundo, Cibitoke, Kayanza, Gatega and Rutana. WFP is considering a follow-up food distribution in Kirundo.
2.2 By mid-March WFP will have provided 6,500 tons of food to more than 164,000 families (822,000 persons) with CARE handling distributions, under the seeds protection rations (SPRs) programme. WFP, CARE and other partners completed distributions in the worst affected province of Kirundo, and in Cibitoke, Kayanza, Gitega and Rutana. Given the gravity of the situation in Kirundo, WFP is considering a follow-up food intervention in the months prior to the June harvest. WFP is making every effort to hasten the delivery of food into the country in order to meet the distribution deadline of 15 March, after which time the germination of the bean seeds is likely to decrease exponentially.
2.3 This campaign, co-ordinated by FAO, has been launched on a large scale in response to unfavourable rainfall conditions in late 1998, which affected the 99 A season bean harvest. Beans are the main staple food in Burundi and this harvest provides the seeds for the main B season harvest in June. The combined efforts of NGOs and UN agencies in the distribution of tools, seeds and food protection rations is expected to have a major positive impact on the main B season harvest in June.
D. MOZAMBIQUE
1. FLOOD RELIEF OPERATION - information as of 11 March
1.1 The WFP appeal for funds to run the airlift to deliver emergency food rations for 70,000 flood-affected people in southern coastal towns of the province of Inhambane has had a very favourable response from donors. Funds have been requested for transport costs, as food needs are being covered by the existing in-country stocks of the ongoing WFP emergency operation EMOP 5832.01.
1.2 WFP has so far delivered 277 tons of maize and beans to the area by aircraft and lightweight trucks, with a further 100 tons on its way by boat. As WFP has started using new access roads, more deliveries will be effected. The South African army has lent two helicopters to WFP which will be used for ongoing needs assessments and food deliveries.
1.3 The recent flooding in the province has killed 12 people, stranded more than 200,000, and affected about 400,000 people, according to Government information. The main highway connecting north and south of the country is blocked, leaving towns of Vilanculos and Inhassoro isolated. More than 123,500 acres of crops have been destroyed. The Government has requested USD 12.4 million from international donors and agencies for disaster relief and bridge and road repairs.
1.4 The estimates of affected and food insecure population are based so far only on preliminary assessments and are as follows: Vilanculos, two thirds of the district population of 75,000 people; Govuro, total district population of 30,000 people; and Inhassoro, total district population of 42,000 people.
E. GENERAL
1. WFP ON THE WEB UPDATE
1.1 WFP home page at http://www.wfp.org is a recommended source of information on the Programme and its activities. Amongst the sections offered at the WFP home page are the following:
a) What's New. The section contains the latest general and country reports, press releases, strategic and operational documents.
b) What's WFP. General information on WFP, Executive Director's page, mandate and strategy, annual reports, policy themes.
c) Public Information. Latest press releases, archives and a photo gallery.
d) Executive Board Documents. Documents can be both viewed and downloaded.
e) Resources and Appeals. Information on needs and shortfalls of emergency and protracted relief and recovery operations available at this location.
f) Field Operations. Clicking on a country, specific information on current WFP country programmes can be accessed (emergency operations, development projects, country strategy outlines, country programmes, situation reports, operational guidelines and evaluations/studies).
g) Emergency Report. This and previous issues of the WFP Emergency Report on major WFP relief operations are available here.
h) Transport. Statistics and logistic preparedness in ocean, air and overland transport.
i) Disaster Mitigation. WFP Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping Unit provides per country vulnerability analysis and VAM database with project overviews and reference documents. Clicking on "What's new" under this section opens the latest information on WFP activities in FR Yugoslavia/Kosovo.
j) Partner Institutions. A catalogue of institutions with expertise in food assistance, relief and development is provided along with a list of related relief and development Web sites. Links to Official Web Site Locator for the United Nations System of Organizations.
For the International Women's Day, the WFP Web page included a WFP Gender Newsletter on WFP's commitment to gender issues.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 10 of 1999 - March 12, 1999)
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