Report No. 19 of 1999 Date: 14 May 1999
This report includes: A) Democratic People's Republic of Korea B) FR Yugoslavia and region - Kosovo crisis C) Angola D) Guinea Bissau E) East Africa: Regional and Burundi F) Somalia G) Central America - Hurricane Mitch operations.
>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 2854). 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 - information as of 12 May a) WFP donor mission led by Director of WFP Resources and External Relations Division visits Chongjin and Hamhung in the north-east on 4-11 May; mission observes positive impact of WFP food aid in areas affected by severe food shortages through direct contacts with beneficiaries. b) Government reports increased mortality rate, from 6.8 per 1,000 in 1995 to 9.3 per 1,000 in 1998.
B. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1.1. Update - information as of early 13 May a) Donors pledge 64,000 tons for WFP operation; current shortfall at 29,000 tons. b) UN inter-agency meeting in Geneva on 13 - 14 May to review UN Kosovo relief programmes. c) Albania: WFP beneficiary caseload now at 258,000 refugees; total refugees estimated at 431,500. In April WFP distributed 1.5 million rations of bread, 290,500 rations of humanitarian daily rations, 250,00 rations of biscuits and 130,000 rations of canned meat or fish. d) FYR of Macedonia: now 233,000 refugees. Between 4 May and 11 May, some 510 tons of WFP relief food distributed (wheat flour, canned meat or fish, and some 20,000 humanitarian daily rations).
C. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 11 May a) Lack of security and difficult access for humanitarian assistance persist on all major roads; donor pledges required toward the additional USD 8.8 million needed by WFP for increased air transport costs. b) Current resourcing shortfall of WFP operations until end 1999 stands at USD 40 million, or some 68,000 tons of food aid. Stock levels in Luanda low and food pipeline insufficient; new food pledges required. c) Number of IDPs in Angola now estimated at 1.5 million.
D. GUINEA BISSAU
1. Update - information as of 12 May a) President Vieira ousted in military coup 6-7 May; all international UN staff remained in Bissau during the fighting. b) WFP distributions resumed on 10 May; as of 12 May some 100,500 beneficiaries received WFP food aid in 18 distribution centres in Bissau. c) Trucks carrying FAO seeds, fertilisers and tools delayed as border with Senegal closed since 7 May. WFP food distribution to farmer families to be carried out simultaneously with FAO distribution, to protect seeds.
E. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL AND BURUNDI
1. Update a) Infestation by army worms threatens cereal crops in the region; reports say crops affected in north-eastern Burundi, parts of Rwanda, northern, central and southern parts of Tanzania and northern districts of Uganda. b) In Burundi, estimated 26,000 persons in need of WFP aid in Bujumbura Rural and Ngozi between May and September; WFP distributes 15-day rations to 2,335 persons among12,500 new IDPs reported along Tanzanian border.
F. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 15 May a) Distribution of emergency food aid in Bay region reduced in April due to heavy rains, insecurity and delayed shipments. b) Rains bring relief to livestock and population in Haud, between Sool, Nugaal and Mudug; Gu rains in north-west region of Somaliland improve pasture and water supply. c) Delivery of 1,676 tons of seeds received in time for distribution to most affected farming communities in the Middle Juba, Gedo, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Hiran, Bay and Bakool regions. d) Further funding needed for WFP protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 6073), to start in July.
G. CENTRAL AMERICA - HURRICANE MITCH
1. Update a) WFP emergency operation for victims of hurricane Mitch received 80 percent of its money requirement; during the six-month emergency phase, some 71,000 tons of WFP food aid received in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. b) Food for work used to repair infrastructure. c) New one-year protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 6089) follows the emergency operation; WFP requests further donor contributions.
PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. UPDATE - information as of 12 May
1.1 A WFP donor mission led by the Director of WFP Resources and External Relations Division travelled to DPR Korea from 4 to 11 May. The mission, consisting of representatives from Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States, visited Chongjin and Hamhung in the north-east, areas most affected by serious food shortages. The mission members were able to randomly select houses for family visits, as well as select and interview on random basis participants in WFP food-for-work projects. Members of the mission observed the impact of severe food shortages and noted that WFP food aid was reaching intended beneficiaries. The mission established that the WFP operation, with support from other agencies, has helped to alleviate the effects of the food crisis. Current figures indicate that targeted food aid has resulted in increased school attendance and improved feeding for patients in hospitals. The mission members encouraged the Government to continue to collaborate with WFP, UNICEF and other relevant partners in carrying out follow-up nutritional surveys and to grant access to all counties where people may be in need of food and other humanitarian assistance.
1.2 The Government has informed WFP that the mortality rate has increased from 6.8 per 1,000 prior to 1995 to 9.3 per 1,000 in 1998. During the same period the rate of increase of the population of the DPR Korea has reduced from 1.5 percent to 0.9 percent. WFP is in a process of re-verifying these figures with the Government for accuracy and correctness.
1.3 WFP Emergency Officers have confirmed that the Public Distribution System has run out of food commodities to distribute. This is the leanest time of the year before the harvest of potatoes, barley, and other foods in early June, thus recently arrived shipments of WFP food commodities are particularly significant.
B. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1. GENERAL - information as of early 13 May
1.1 On 5 May, the budget of WFP Kosovo's Emergency Operation was revised to cover the costs of converting 5,900 tons of wheat into rice and to incorporate 300 tons of iodized salt. The overall budget remains at USD 86 million. As of 11 May, donors had pledged some USD 65 million for the WFP emergency operation. WFP is planning to deliver more than 93,000 tons over the period May to September, of which 64,000 tons have been resourced, leaving a shortfall of 29,000 tons including contingency quantities.
1.2 A UN inter-agency meeting in Geneva on 13 and 14 May was called by the Secretary-General to review the Kosovo relief programmes, with a focus on resourcing, coordination and planning.
1.3 On 14 May, UNHCR estimated the total number of refugees and displaced people in the region at some 747,300.
2. UPDATE BY COUNTRY/REGION
2.1 Albania:
a) There are currently some 431,500 refugees in Albania. Since March, nearly 350,000 refugees from Kukes have moved on to other locations in the country. UNHCR continues to advise remaining refugees in Kukes, which is near the border, to move to the interior for security reasons.
b) During April, WFP distributed 1.5 million rations of bread, 290,500 rations of humanitarian daily rations, 250,00 rations of biscuits and 130,000 rations of canned or fish to beneficiaries in Albania. In addition, some 36,200 weekly rations of basic commodities were distributed. As of the first week of May, WFP's beneficiary caseload in Albania is 258,000 refugees.
c) Some 7,000 loaves of bread are being produced per day by the new WFP moveable bakery in Shkoder. In April, WFP bakeries produced more than 765,000 loaves of bread in Tirana, Durres, Elbasan and Kukes.
2.2 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Between 4 and 11 May, some 510 tons of WFP relief food were distributed to Kosovo refugees in FYR of Macedonia, including wheat flour, canned meat or fish, and some 20,000 humanitarian daily rations. Since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis, WFP has delivered approximately 2,500 tons of food commodities to refugees living in camps and refugees living with host families. UNHCR currently estimates Kosovo refugees in the FYR of Macedonia at 233,000.
2.3 Montenegro (FR Yugoslavia): As agreed with the various agencies involved in the food aid operation in Montenegro, WFP is responsible for feeding 50 percent of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) caseload including all IDPs living in camps, while the other 50 percent is being fed by the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) CRS and MCI. As of 14 May, there are 64,300 IDPs in Montenegro.
C. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 11 May
1.1 A request by the WFP Executive Director for improved humanitarian access to all parts of Angola, including the opening of humanitarian corridors, was denied by President Eduardo dos Santos in April. Attacks on road traffic between Malange and Luanda, Kuanza Sul, and several stretches of road in Benguela have increased the difficulties of access for humanitarian assistance. The WFP appeal in April for an additional USD 8.8 million to support increased air transport costs for the next few months still awaits donor contributions.
1.2 WFP estimates that approximately 10,000-12,000 tons of food will be necessary each month for the remaining months of 1999. Of the necessary projected requirements until the end of 1999, some 30,000 tons have already been resourced by donors, leaving a shortfall of around 68,000 tons, or approximately USD 40 million. With stock levels in Luanda low and an insufficient Angola food pipeline, WFP requests donors to make new food pledges.
1.3 The number of new IDPs in Angola is now estimated to be 780,000, bringing the total number of registered IDPs in the country to over 1.5 million, most of them concentrated around major provincial cities, with little or no access to food aid. There is grave concern for the populations of besieged cities such as Kuito, Malange, and Huambo, where practically the entire population, IDPs and residents alike, is in need of food assistance. WFP cargo flights to Kuito continue, although recent fighting close to the city (between 18-25km) has caused some delays.
1.4 Allegations appeared in the media this month that significant quantities of WFP food have been finding their way into markets in Malange. The investigation showed that local authorities acting as distribution intermediaries were diverting some food aid. WFP will continue distributions in Malange, where it reaches over 100,000 beneficiaries, without the use of intermediaries.
D. GUINEA BISSAU
1. UPDATE - information as of 12 May
1.1 President Vieira was ousted by soldiers supporting the Junta in a military coup on 6-7 May. After the fighting ended, Prime Minister Fadul met the heads of UN agencies in Bissau and informed them that the current cabinet would remain unchanged. All of the 19 international UN staff had remained in Bissau.
1.2 WFP food distributions resumed on 10 May. As of 12 May some 100,500 people received 12 kg monthly rations at 18 distribution centres in Bissau. In addition, WFP provided food aid to hospitals to cover the needs of those injured during the fighting.
1.3 WFP is planning to distribute food aid to 21,000 farmers who are also to receive FAO seeds, fertilisers and agricultural instruments, in order to prevent the consumption of seeds which happened last year. The FAO distribution is now delayed as the border between Senegal and Guinea Bissau has been closed since 7 May. Unless the trucks with seeds and fertilisers arrive the next week, the agricultural production may be affected as rains are expected to start in June, and sowing should take place at the very start of the rainy season.
1.4 WFP resumed its aircraft operation on 11 May, with two flights a week.
E. EAST AFRICA: REGIONAL AND BURUNDI
1. REGIONAL
1.1 Most countries of the Great Lakes Region are reporting crop infestation by army worms which threatens to reduce cereal crops, including wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum and sugar cane crops. Pasture lands are also affected, causing a negative impact on livestock.
1.2 FAO has identified some 20,000 hectares threatened by the infestation in the north-eastern areas of Burundi; WFP and government officials in Burundi have held a meeting to review the situation and to discuss possible resulting food aid needs. In Rwanda the government has requested assistance from the donor community to curb the infestation. There are reports that some 289,000 hectares of crops in the northern, central and southern parts of Tanzania have also been affected and yields are expected to fall because of resulting crop destruction. The northern districts of Gulu, Soroti, Lira and Kitgum in Uganda have reported an infestation of army worms as well.
2. BURUNDI
2.1 Assessments carried out in Bujumbura Rural and Ngozi identified over 26,000 persons in need of WFP food assistance between May and September.
2.2 Violence in Makamba province has caused the displacement of 12,500 people in areas along the Tanzanian border. The local authorities have requested WFP's assistance. Following an inter-agency mission which included WFP, IRC and MSF France, WFP provided 15-day rations to 2,335 people at one site and will provide food to two further sites.
2.3 WFP is also responding to a request for food assistance for 17,000 people in Cibitoke province after torrential rains in early February destroyed crops in Bukinanyana commune. The crops most affected were beans, bananas, maize and tubers.
F. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 15 May
1.1 Heavy showers and increasing insecurity in southern Somalia, compounded by procurement delays and late food aid shipments, reduced the distribution of emergency food aid in Bay region to 1,200 tons in April. Occasionally heavy but scattered and inconsistent rains were reported during the first 10 days of May. In most parts of southern Somalia, the onset of rains in late April aided crop establishment; localized dry spells and heat in a few areas are reportedly causing stress on emerging crops.
1.2 In the Haud, between Sool, Nugaal and Mudug, adequate rains during the first week of April brought relief for both livestock and humans. A high number of livestock migrated from Sool to neighbouring areas.
1.3 In the north-west region of Somaliland, the Gu rains began well (end of March and slightly earlier than usual), resulting improved pasture and a decrease in water prices for herdsmen. In 1998, due to abnormal rains, both the Gu and Deyr harvest in the rainfed areas were badly affected. Below average harvests resulted in low stocks of seeds for the 1999 agricultural season which just started.
1.4 Following urgent appeals, 1,676 tons of seeds were received just in time for distribution to most affected farming communities in the Middle Juba, Gedo, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Hiran, Bay and Bakool regions (meeting 85 percent of estimated needs). In a joint effort, and with the overall guidance of FAO, various NGOs and UN agencies were involved in the distribution.
1.5 The general security situation in southern Somalia is increasingly influenced by mounting tension in the region which could seriously affect relief activities in the south.
1.6 The WFP protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 6073), which is scheduled to start in July, still needs urgent donor contributions in order to preposition food to the most needy areas in a timely manner.
G. CENTRAL AMERICA - HURRICANE MITCH RELIEF OPERATIONS
1. UPDATE
1.1 Total food received between November 1998 and end April 1999 under the WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6079) in the four Central American countries most affected by hurricane Mitch is as follows: Honduras 33,598 tons; Nicaragua 31,893 tons; El Salvador 2,455 tons; Guatemala 2,999 tons, totalling 70,945 tons. Commodities distributed include maize, rice, pulses, vegetable oil, canned fish, CSB, high protein biscuits, DSM, baby food, pasta and wheat flour. The WFP emergency operation received approximately 81 percent of the money requirement or some 70 percent of its food requirement.
1.2 Apart from the direct food aid, WFP has been able to provide food for work in projects for infrastructure repairs such as rehabilitation of farms and roads, reconstruction of houses, forest protection, watershed protection, well cleaning and construction of latrines. WFP activities have been carried out in close cooperation with many national and international NGO partners in all four affected countries (including ADRA, ALISTAR, IFRC, Save the Children UK, American Red Cross Society, CARE International and many others).
1.3 As of 6 May, the WFP regional one-year protracted relief and recovery operation for families affected by hurricane Mitch in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador (PRRO 6089), which follows EMOP 6079, has received 18 percent of its money requirement or 26 percent of its food requirement. France has contributed USD 3.5 million for the purchase of maize; Switzerland USD 446,000 for the purchase of pulses and sugar and some USD 9.2 million have been received from multilateral funds to be used for the purchase of rice, pulses and CSB. WFP requests further donor contributions.
Note: all tonnage figures in report above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 19 of 1999 - May 14, 1999)
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