Report No. 21 of 1999 Date: 28 May 1999
This report includes: A) FR Yugoslavia and region - Kosovo crisis B) Iraq C) Somalia D) Sierra Leone E) Angola F) General - Food Aid Needs and Shortfalls.
>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. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1. Update - information as of 28 May a) UN inter-agency mission to FR Yugoslavia completed on 27 May and full report to UN Secretary-General expected in early June. b) During the UN mission, WFP observed grave and widespread food shortages inside Kosovo. c) Albania: since 27 March, WFP distributed approximately 8,000 tons of basic commodities and 1,500 tons of ready-to-eat foods including 500,000 humanitarian daily rations. WFP signs agreements with more than 50 local bakeries to produce bread for refugees using WFP-provided flour. d) FYR of Macedonia: WFP daily bread production in FYR of Macedonia reached 60,300 loaves. To date, more than 3,930 tons of basic food commodities and 1,170 tons of ready-to-eat foods have been distributed.
B. IRAQ
1. Update - information as of 27 May a) Oil-for-food programme extended until 20 November; in the previous phase, Iraq sold USD 3.8 billion worth of oil, or USD 1.4 billion below ceiling. Government agrees to renewal, not linking approval for distribution plan to oil exports. b) Health and nutritional problems in Iraq continue due to polluted water, poor sanitation and health services; WFP humanitarian assistance programme in Iraq (PRRO 6085) urgently requests from donors 25,000 metric tons of food worth some 18 million dollars to meet vulnerable group needs through end January 2000.
C. SOMALIA
1. Update - information as of 26 May a) Reduced distribution of emergency food aid in May due to impassable roads and insecurity. b) The first direct shipment of aid from Europe since 1995, EU donation of maize, arrives in Merca port. c) Army worm infestation reported in Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle, Bakool and Hiran regions with possible grave effect on seedling crops in absence of spraying capacity. d) Government of Saudi Arabia lifts ban on livestock imports from Somalia on 25 May; livestock prices in north-west and north-east Somalia increase and livestock movements towards the sea ports reported.
D. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 25 May a) WFP operations confined to Freetown, Lungi, Kenema, and to Bo and its surroundings due to insecurity and lack of access. b) Needs assessments undertaken in Port Loko district and along Freetown-Bo highway. c) Restoration of safe supply routes to southern towns of Kenema and Bo a major concern; food stocks in Kenema depleted, in Bo expected to last only until end May. d) Reported violations of 24 May ceasefire in Kenema suburbs and in south-east of the country.
E. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 26 May a) Deteriorating humanitarian situation. b) WFP prioritizing needs of 61,000 IDPs in Kuito, distribution to start when security permits; high increase in attendance at therapeutic feeding centres for malnourished children. c) Fighting around Uige disrupts WFP activities, WFP cargo flights suspended and a road convoy stopped; WFP staff observe a worsening nutritional situation in the city. d) A joint inter-agency mission establishes the number of new IDPs at Kuito Kuanavale at 10,000; WFP working closely with other agencies to organize response to their needs.
F. GENERAL - FOOD AID NEEDS AND SHORTFALLS
1. Update a) May 1999 version of "1999 Estimated Food Needs and Shortfalls for WFP-assisted Operations and Projects" now available on WFP Web home page at <http://www.wfp.org>. b) Selected emergency operations urgently in need of resources listed below.
PART II - DETAILS
A. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1. UPDATE - information as of 28 May
1.1 The UN inter-agency mission to assess the humanitarian needs of civilians throughout the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between 19-27 May was completed as planned and its full report to the UN Secretary-General is expected in early June. On 31 May, Mr. Viera de Mello, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will head a meeting of the Inter-agency Standing Committee for humanitarian affairs in Geneva at which Kosovo humanitarian crisis will be discussed.
1.2 The WFP member of the UN inter-agency mission observed grave and widespread food shortages inside Kosovo. Thousands of people in the province have no access to food, cooking fuel or medical supplies. It is estimated that less than a half of Kosovo's arable land has been tilled this year, 76,000 out of 200,000 hectares and it is unclear how much of that will be harvested. In addition, destroyed houses and a collapsed economy will complicate the return of refugees. WFP is looking into ways to extend to Kosovo its ongoing regional emergency operation for Kosovar refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Albania, FYR of Macedonia and Montenegro.
1.3 According to UNHCR, the total number of Kosovar refugees and displaced people in the region was estimated at some 780,200 on 30 May, including 442,100 in Albania, 250,100 in the FYR of Macedonia (111,500 in camps, 108,600 with host families, and, according to Government, 30,000 refugees living elsewhere), 66,300 in Montenegro and 21,700 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to Government reports there are also 60,000 refugees in Serbia.
1.4 Albania:
a) Between 17 and 23 May, WFP delivered 417 tons of basic commodities (including wheat flour, oil, pulses and sugar) to a beneficiary caseload of 236,000 refugees which includes 184,000 living in camps. In addition, new arrivals and refugees in transit have received 84 tons of ready-to-eat foods (including humanitarian daily rations, high energy biscuits and canned fish and meat). In Durres and Shkoder prefectures, WFP is currently distributing a daily ration of bread to 109,000 refugees living with host families. Since 27 March, WFP distributed approximately 8,000 tons of basic commodities and 1,500 tons of ready-to-eat foods including 500,000 humanitarian daily rations.
b) Apart from the existing bakery in Shkoder, WFP has also signed agreements with more than 50 local bakeries in 9 out of 12 prefectures.
c) Altogether, there are more than 6,000 tons of food commodities available in country.
1.5 FYR of Macedonia: On 27 May, WFP daily bread production in FYR of Macedonia reached 60,300 loaves. Between 19 and 26 May, WFP distributed some 1,250 tons of basic food commodities and 66 tons of ready to eat foods to refugees living in camps and refugees living with host families. To date, more than 3,930 tons of basic food commodities and 1,170 tons of ready-to-eat foods have been distributed.
1.6 The non-governmental organization (NGO) FOCUS organized a fifth convoy which departed from Blace, FYR of Macedonia, on 28 May for Pristina, Kosovo, with 40 tons of wheat flour. This will be the third FOCUS convoy to Kosovo since 14 May with WFP commodities. To date, food commodities from FOCUS convoys have been distributed to the Yugoslav Red Cross in Pristina. In order to ensure equitable coverage of all groups affected by food shortages in areas where they are delivering food inside Kosovo, FOCUS has decided that at least a half of food commodities will be distributed to the Catholic Church group. The remainder of the commodities will continue to be distributed through the Yugoslav Red Cross.
B. IRAQ
1. UPDATE - information as of 27 May
1.1 On 21 May, the UN Security Council extended the existing oil-for-food programme for another six-month period until 20 November. The Government of Iraq subsequently agreed to the renewal of the programme on 25 May, just as the previous phase expired. The Council's resolution allows Iraq to sell USD 5.26 billion worth of oil over the six-month period and pledges to consider raising the cap if oil prices rise enough for Iraq to meet the ceiling before the end of the current stage of the programme on 20 November. Despite the recent rise in oil prices, the final revenue figure for the recently completed fifth phase will be USD 3.8 billion - still USD 1.4 billion below the ceiling.
1.2 UN representatives, including WFP, are currently discussing the distribution plan for the sixth phase of the oil-for-food programme in Iraq. In order to earn as much revenue as possible under the current phase of the agreement, the Government of Iraq has announced that it will not link the approval of the distribution plan to oil exports which are going ahead with several contracts already submitted to the UN for approval.
1.3 Despite the implementation of five phases of the oil-for-food programme, there continue to be outstanding health and nutritional problems in Iraq. Polluted water, poor sanitation and deteriorated health services are the principal causes of malnutrition in Iraq. In order to meet the immediate needs of malnourished children, their families, patients in hospitals and residents in social institutions, WFP is implementing a parallel humanitarian assistance programme in Iraq (PRRO 6085). Donor contributions of 25,000 metric tons of food worth some 18 million dollars are urgently required to meet vulnerable group needs in Iraq through 31 January 2000.
C. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 26 May
1.1 Impassable roads and persistent insecurity in southern Somalia reduced the distribution of emergency food aid to 880 tons during the month of May. This brings the total distributed since January to 9,380 tons.
1.2 A vessel carrying 5,000 tons of maize (EU donation) is expected to arrive in Merca on 31 May, security and weather conditions permitting. This will be the first direct shipment of humanitarian aid from Europe to Somalia since 1995. The beach port of Merca is expected to be closed from early June to mid August, with the onset of the monsoon.
1.3 An outbreak of the African army worm affected many agricultural and pastoral areas of East Africa during May. In Somalia, a high incidence of the army worm infestation on emerging maize and sorghum crops has been reported in Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle, Bakool and Hiran regions. The African army worm is one of the most dangerous insect pest species which could destroy entire fields of the Gu season crops in southern Somalia. As crops are now at their seedling stage, even a light attack in the absence of spraying capacity can prove devastating.
1.4 The Gu crop establishment assessment carried out by the Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) and FAO from 15-22 May in north-west Somalia reported 5,000 hectares of maize and sorghum crops planted compared to 7,000 hectares planted last year. An assessment for southern Somalia is currently underway.
1.5 Rainfall during the month of May was scattered and below the normal average; water levels of the Shabelle river are also reported at below normal for this time of the year, indicating below average precipitation in its Ethiopian watershed. In the irrigated cropping areas of the Middle and Lower Shabelle in Somalia, water usage fees have increased, with some irrigation schemes in Lower Shabelle no longer able to draw sufficient irrigation water.
1.6 Lift on livestock import ban: The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 25 May, formally lifted the ban on livestock imports from Somalia imposed early last year after an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever. The ban severely reduced the numbers of livestock exported to Near East countries. Local markets in the north-west and north-east responded to the lifting of the ban immediately with an increase in livestock prices, and large livestock movements towards the sea ports are reported. It is expected that livestock trade will regain earlier levels after the monsoon period.
1.7 A food aid impact assessment in the three regions of Bay, Bakool and Gedo is underway, in collaboration with a number of partners. The assessment examines targeting and distribution processes during the recent (still ongoing) drought intervention, its impact on local markets and local economies. Results are expected end June.
D. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 25 May
1.1 Due to lack of security and road access, in April and May WFP operations have been confined to Freetown, Lungi, Kenema, and to Bo and its surroundings in the southern province. Currently, assessments are undertaken in newly accessible areas of Port Loko district and along the Freetown-Bo highway, and are planned for eastern Kenema district. The quick restoration of safe supply routes to southern cities of Kenema and Bo is a major concern due to the large number of IDPs, and the potential for the number of IDPs or vulnerable families to increase.
1.2 As a consequence of the lack of access, it is estimated that a half of the total population of Sierra Leone has not been able to receive any humanitarian assistance since January. In April, WFP food stocks in Kenema were depleted, and 51,000 IDPs in the town and nearby Blama only received a two-week ration of food aid. In Bo, food stocks are expected to last only until end May.
1.3 The ceasefire between the rebels and the Government forces officially came into force on 24 May. However, unconfirmed reports of ceasefire violations in the suburbs of Kenema in the south-east of the country. Both sides are accusing each other of building up military strength and moving troops.
E. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 26 May
1.1 WFP remains concerned at the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Angola.
1.2 Kuito: Security in Kuito remains tense, with fighting continuing in the area, particularly near Bugalho. The recent verification confirmed 61,000 IDPs in the area. WFP is in the process of prioritizing their needs but distributions will resume when security improves. WFP partners recorded a dramatic increase in attendance at therapeutic feeding centres for severely malnourished children. Malnutrition on the whole appears to be on the rise, since the previous survey in March, the results of which were less alarming.
1.3 Kuando Kubango: An inter-agency mission, including representatives from AICF, Molisv, UNICEF, European Community, MINARS and WFP, travelled to Kuito Kuanavale on 21 May to investigate reports of a large influx of IDPs to the area and confirmed the presence of at least 10,000 new IDPs, whose nutritional status is very poor. WFP, working closely with other agencies, is currently organizing a response to the situation.
1.4 Uige: Heavy fighting around the Uige area has led to the disruption of WFP activities. The security situation deteriorated significantly last week when UNITA attacked the road between Uige and Negage. WFP cargo flights have been suspended, and a convoy of trucks, the first attempt at transporting food by road since October 1998, has been stopped. Due to scarce commercial food supply and lack of access to cultivated land around the city resulting from insecurity, WFP staff observe a worsening nutritional situation of the population in the city.
F. GENERAL - FOOD AID REQUIREMENTS AND SHORTFALLS
1. UPDATE - WFP ON THE WEB
1.1 An updated May 1999 version of the document "1999 Estimated Food Needs and Shortfalls for WFP-assisted Operations and Projects" highlights current estimated food aid requirements and shortfalls for 1999 on the WFP Web home page at <http://www.wfp.org/res/yellowpage/index.html> or at <http://www.wfp.org> click on Resources and Appeals.
1.2 Frequently updated reports on various WFP operations are available on the WFP home page under Field Operations. All requirements are based on calendar year needs, taking into account projected additional requirements and any previously unmet needs.
2. SELECTED RELIEF OPERATIONS CURRENTLY FACING RESOURCING SHORTFALLS
Great Lakes Regional EMOP 5624.03. Assistance to victims of conflict. Current shortfall: 17,492 metric tons - USD 12.5 million - 31 percent of 1999 needs. A protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO) for the region (excluding D.R. Congo) will commence in September, and will require 85,000 metric tons - USD 54.3 million for 2-year period.
Kosovo Crisis EMOP 6040. Assistance to refugees and IDPs. Current shortfall: 15,326 metric tons (approx. USD 19 million) - 29 percent of revised needs through September. Another EMOP is under preparation.
DPR Korea EMOP 5959.01 (new extension, to start in July). Current shortfall: 192,260 metric tons (approx. USD 86 million); 66 percent of 1999 needs.
Congo Brazzaville EMOP 6109. Assistance to war-affected. New EMOP, approved on 6 May. Current shortfall: 10,242 metric tons (USD 5.8 million) 100 percent of 1999 needs.
Sudan EMOP 5826.02. Food assistance to war and drought victims. Current shortfall: 45,117 metric tons - USD 51.5 million - 38 percent of 1999 needs.
Uganda EMOP 5816.02. Assistance to IDPs in northern Uganda. Current shortfall: 28,876 metric tons - USD 16.7 million - 58 percent of 1999 needs.
Note: all tonnage figures in report above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 21 of 1999 - May 28, 1999)
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