Issued weekly by the United Nations World Food ProgrammeReport No. 26 of 1999 Date: 2 July 1999
This report includes: A) FR Yugoslavia - Kosovo crisis B) Bangladesh C) Afghanistan D) Somalia E) East Africa: Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda F) Sierra Leone G) Sahel: Mauritania, the Gambia and Chad.
>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 2 July a) Spontaneous return to Kosovo continues; on 27 June, UNHCR/IOM started assisting voluntary returns; to date, some 523,900 Kosovo Albanians returned; outflow of Serbs from Kosovo continues. b) WFP helicopter operations in Kosovo feeding over 50,000 beneficiaries in remote areas. c) Details on the WFP relief operations in FR Yugoslavia and region available in WFP Kosovo Brief at <http://www.wfp.org>, click on Kosovo Alert, click on Latest Updates.
B. BANGLADESH
1. Update - information as of 1 July a) An expansion of WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6043.01) recently approved to help the flood victims in Bangladesh; the operation started on 1 June, to cover 2.9 million beneficiaries (631,000 direct participants) over one year; food commitment - 125,040 tons; total project cost - USD 27 million.
C. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - information as of 1 July a) Afghan refugees steadily returning from Iran to western parts through Herat; returnees assisted under a joint UNHCR/WFP/IOM programme. b) WFP supporting a WHO supplementary feeding programme and health education campaign in Gulran district, Herat province, with 176 tons of relief food. c) CSB, highly nutritious blended food, introduced into WFP emergency and institutional feeding programmes in Kabul and districts of Waras and Panjao.
D. SOMALIA
1. Update - information as of 2 July a) WFP deliveries resume in Lower Shabelle, Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions. b) FSAU estimates one million persons experiencing food insecurity. c) Inter-agency emergency appeal launched for supplementary funding from July to December; total appeal amounts to USD 18 million; of that amount, WFP needs USD 7 million for additional 8,000 tons of food; donor contributions requested.
E. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI, TANZANIA AND UGANDA
1. Burundi a) On 30 June, a WFP staff member injured while travelling in a WFP vehicle near Bujumbura; a number of security incidents reported on the roads leading to the capital; missions out of Bujumbura suspended, situation reviewed by UN Security Cell.
2. Tanzania
a) Congolese refugees continue to arrive in Kigoma district due to insecurity in eastern D.R. Congo; last week a total of 8,824 Congolese refugees received at Kibirizi reception centre; WFP provides food assistance to refugees. b) The Government announces a deficit in cereal production of 589,000 as a result of reduced short rains and their uneven distribution.
F. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 29 June a) Peace agreement between the Government and RUF reached in Togo; signing expected on 3 July. b) Humanitarian Access Implementation Committee formed; missions planned to Makeni, Kambia, Kabala, Magburaka and Masingbi (northern province) and Kono, Daru and Segbwema (eastern province). c) Following ceasefire, significant donor pledges made for demobilization.
G. SAHEL: MAURITANIA, THE GAMBIA AND CHAD
1. UPDATE - information as of 1 July a) After joint inter-agency food security assessment missions to Aftout and Affole in Mauritania, Fonis, Kiangs, Wuli, Sami, Saloum, Jokadu and Niumi in The Gambia, and Tandjile, Logone Oriental and Occidental, Moyen Chari and Mayo Kebbi in Chad, WFP decides to start an emergency food intervention for food-insecure populations.
PART II - DETAILS
A. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1. UPDATE - information as of 2 July
1.1 The spontaneous return of Kosovars from neighbouring countries and from other parts of FR Yugoslavia to Kosovo continues at significant numbers. In addition, UNHCR has commenced organized return of refugees from Albania and FYR of Macedonia. As of 2 July, some 523,900 have returned to Kosovo. About 233,100 refugees/internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain outside the province. At the same time some 70,000 Kosovo Serbs have left for central Serbia and Montenegro, adding to the 60,000 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina already in central Serbia.
1.2 WFP continues helicopter operations in Kosovo to target beneficiaries in remote areas. Through the helicopter operation, WFP has been feeding over 50,000 beneficiaries with 10 tons of wheat and 18,000 humanitarian daily rations (HDRs). To date, WFP has delivered in Pristina 112 tons of mixed commodities to the NGO FOCUS for further distribution and 1,258 tons of mixed commodities - including 1,175 tons of basic commodities and 79 tons of humanitarian daily rations to other implementing partners. The latest WFP food distribution was carried out to following locations: Glogovc, Orllan, Gjilan, Obiliq, Llnicar, Dobrev, Ajvali, Podujevo, Sedllar, Ferizaj, Mitrovica, Besi, Mramor, Orloviq, Labra.
1.3 While UN reports improved security in other parts of FR Yugoslavia, Kosovo remains a highly insecure area.
1.4 For more details on the WFP relief operations in FR Yugoslavia and the region, see WFP Kosovo Brief at <http://www.wfp.org>, click on Kosovo Alert, click on Latest Updates.
B. BANGLADESH
1. UPDATE - information as of 1 July
1.1 An expansion of the emergency operation (EMOP 6043.01) to help the flood victims in Bangladesh was approved jointly by WFP and FAO on 11 June. The new phase aims at the rehabilitation of household food resource base and damaged infrastructure. The project covers 2.9 million beneficiaries (631,000 direct participants) in flood-affected districts over a period of one year. The operation started on 1 June, and its food commitment is 125,040 tons at a total project cost of USD 27 million.
1.2 The project is designed within the framework of a multi-donor rehabilitation effort under the Bangladesh Integrated Food-Assisted Rehabilitation (BIFAR) initiative. Within this framework, WFP, together with bilateral donors, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, provides support to assist flood-affected, food-insecure people for their recovery.
1.3 The floods between July and October 1998 have caused serious hardship to some 30 million persons in Bangladesh. The needs of the flood-stricken were only partly addressed by the emergency feeding operation launched by the Government, with assistance from WFP and bilateral donors, covering about 20 million beneficiaries. The seven-month operation which ended on 30 April had provided 95 percent of the total food commitment of some 333,170 tons. However, many of the poorest still suffer from the effects of the flood due to reduced harvests, increased food cost, lost assets. WFP urges the donors to help rebuild the country's infrastructure and provide food for the flood-affected populations.
1.4 Under the new operation, WFP will also bolster household food security in Bangladesh by providing food aid to destitute women as well as food-for-work employment opportunities to people in areas severely affected by flood.
C. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 1 July
1.1 Continuing fighting and heavy artillery fire is reported north of Kabul between the Taliban forces and the northern-based opposition alliance.
1.2 The western part of the country is quiet and Afghan refugees are steadily returning from Iran through the city of Herat. A total of 980 refugees arrived in two convoys on 26 and 28 June. The refugees are being assisted under a joint UNHCR/WFP/IOM programme.
1.3 WFP is supporting a WHO supplementary feeding programme and health education campaign for the prevention of liver cirrhosis in Gulran district of Herat province. More than 50 people are reported to have died from the disease since early 1999. In total, WFP is contributing 176 tons of food commodities to the project including 32 tons provided as a dry ration to improve the nutritional status of 200 patients and 50 tons of wheat used as wages for 40 health educators.
1.4 In order to improve the nutritional status of the people in Afghanistan, WFP is introducing corn-soy-blend (CSB) into selected programme activities such as emergency and institutional feeding, and assistance to IDPs. CSB is a highly nutritious blended food which is fortified with vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids. Acceptability testing of CSB in WFP's Kabul bakery project in June suggests that CSB is well accepted by Afghan beneficiaries. In order to ensure correct usage and understanding of the commodity, WFP's implementing partners are conducting information campaigns which highlight CSB's nutritional value and show the various ways in which it can be used in meal preparation. The 150 g daily ration of CSB is currently planned to be distributed to 56,000 in and outpatients throughout Afghanistan. Some 756 tons, for a three month period will be required. In addition, 130 tons of CSB will be distributed to over 9,000 families in the context of the Central Highlands emergency food distribution to the districts of Waras and Panjao.
D. SOMALIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 2 July
1.1 Clan rivalries had disrupted planned food deliveries to southern Somalia and the humanitarian activities came to a virtual standstill in certain regions over the month of June. With a recent lull in the fighting, WFP is resuming activities in the areas to which it had previously suspended deliveries.
1.2 Deliveries are resuming in Lower Shabelle, Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions. WFP will transfer 400 tons to Lower Shabelle to support food-for-work projects, 400 tons to Bardera and 1,050 tons into Bay region (of which 67 tons are designated for Baidoa town itself) from the port town of Merca.
1.3 The Gu season has continued with a similar pattern as it started - below normal and scattered rain. The Haga season brings light scattered rains that are generally unhelpful to the crops. Reports indicate that the development of crops is poor and cereal crop production is likely to be reduced in the rainfed areas. Livestock is in below normal condition for this time of the year. The lifting of the livestock ban, although encouraging export of animals, has not resulted in a significant increase in the prices of animals. On the other hand, the importation of currency is causing depreciation and an increase in prices. In the south, trade routes have been disrupted by renewed fighting, inflating prices in local markets. Population movements have occurred throughout the southern regions. FSAU estimates that about a million people are experiencing a precarious food security (not including an approximate 300,000 IDPs in Mogadishu).
1.4 As a result of the early warning given by the Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) on the precarious food security in the country, an inter-agency emergency appeal has been launched in order to supplement the funding for the period from July to December. The multi-sectoral appeal totals USD 18 million, while WFP requires an additional 8,000 tons of food (7,000 tons of cereals and 1,000 tons of pulses) at a cost of USD 7 million. WFP requests donor contributions.
E. EAST AFRICA: BURUNDI, TANZANIA AND UGANDA
1. BURUNDI
1.1 On 30 June, a WFP staff member was shot and injured when the WFP vehicle he was travelling in was sprayed with bullets about 15 km from Bujumbura town. The vehicle was carrying three assessment team members and a driver. Several ambushes took place the same day on main roads leading to Bujumbura, due to rising tensions in the run up to the Independence day on 1 July and the resumption of peace talks on 5 July. All missions out of Bujumbura have been suspended until beginning of July when the situation will be reviewed by the UN Security Cell.
2. TANZANIA
2.1 Due to sporadic skirmishes in eastern D.R. Congo and the bombing of Goma and Uvira in June, Congolese refugees continue to arrive in Kigoma district. Some refugees across from the northern and southern shores of Lake Tanganyika are transported to Kibirizi by UNHCR-chartered boats, while others use commercial boats. During the week ending 27 June a total of 8,824 Congolese refugees were received at Kibirizi reception centre. Since January this year over 62,500 Congolese refugees have been registered at the centre.
2.2 Lugufu refugee camp hosting Congolese refugees, reached its maximum capacity of 55,000 persons and a the Government of Tanzania has been requested to provide a new site. Meanwhile, UNHCR transports Congolese refugees to Nyragusu camp in Kasulu district which has the capacity to absorb an additional 10,000 refugees. WFP is providing food assistance to the refugees.
2.3 The Government has announced a deficit in the cereal production of 589,000 tons, which indicates an overall 14 percent against annual production. Reduced short rains and their uneven distribution have been cited as the main cause. However, the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to re-stock the strategic grain reserve with 150,000 tons of maize grain in anticipation of the shortages that are expected to hit the central regions. A WFP emergency operation (EMOP 5889) has been providing relief for drought-affected populations in Tanzania.
3. UGANDA
3.1 WFP has signed with the Government of Uganda a USD 30 million country programme to run parallel with its current relief and recovery operations in the country. The WFP programme will target the poor while concentrating resources on the most impoverished areas of northern and western Uganda. The duration of the new country programme is five years. WFP will place priority on food security, education and training.
3.2 In Uganda since 1971, WFP has completed 62 development projects and relief operations at a total of cost of USD 262 million.
F. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 29 June
1.1 A peace agreement has been reached between the Government of President Tejan Kabbah and the RUF in Togo and is expected to be signed on 3 July. According to the agreement, the RUF will get four ministerial and four deputy posts in the Cabinet. An RUF delegation has left Togo to brief battle front commanders and fighters on the peace accord and its implementation. Despite generally improved security, on 28 June there were reports of ceasefire violations in the diamond mining town of Tongo Fields.
1.2 The ceasefire agreement is a prerequisite to obtain humanitarian access to many areas under RUF control that have not been covered by humanitarian interventions. To that end, a Humanitarian Access Implementation Committee has been formed. Humanitarian assessment missions are planned to Makeni, Kambia, Kabala, Magburaka and Masingbi in the northern province and Kono, Daru and Segbwema in the eastern province.
1.3 Significant aid pledges have been made for Sierra Leone following the ceasefire agreement. UK has pledged USD 10 million and the World Bank USD 9 million for the demobilization and rehabilitation of 40,000 civil war combatants. Further pledges from donors are expected.
1.4 A simultaneous verification of IDPs in nine Western Area camps started on 29 June. This inter-agency exercise was undertaken at night time, aimed at reducing incidence of duplication and achieving updated figures of IDP population in the camps.
G. SAHEL: MAURITANIA, THE GAMBIA AND CHAD
1. UPDATE - information as of 1 July
1.1 WFP, together with the Government, FEWS and NGOs, has undertaken a number of food security assessment missions to rural areas to identify the areas most at risk of food insecurity covered by the WFP Sahel regional operation (EMOP 6041). The missions were undertaken in the Aftout and Affole in Mauritania, Fonis, Kiangs, Wuli, Sami, Saloum, Jokadu and Niumi in The Gambia, and Tandjile, Logone Oriental and Occidental, Moyen Chari and Mayo Kebbi in Chad. On the basis of its findings, WFP has decided to start an emergency food intervention.
1.2 In Mauritania, the intervention will initially take place in the areas of Aftout and Affole for some 161,690 vulnerable persons who will receive some 6,900 tons of WFP food aid.
1.3 In Gambia, 14 percent of the rural population in the districts of Upper Niumis, Fonis, West Wuli, Kiang West and Central and North Bank Upper Plains have been identified to be highly food insecure and will receive about 1,000 tons of relief food from WFP.
1.4 In Chad, the mission has found grave food insecurity especially in the areas of Tandjile, Logone Occidental and Oriental. WFP assistance will be initially provided to some 53,690 persons identified to be extremely vulnerable. The Office National de Cereale (ONC) has signed an agreement with WFP under which it will lend 1,200 tons of cereals (500 tons of sorghum and 700 tons of maize) to WFP for this intervention. Also, 43 tons of cereals and 93 tons of cowpeas will be borrowed from the WFP vulnerable group feeding project. A total of 1,336 tons of food aid will be distributed to cover two months of food needs. The commodities will be transferred to Southern Chad from N'Djamena in the beginning of July and pre-positioned in Kelo, Moundou, Bere and Lai. The NGO World Vision, who participated in the identification of the populations most at risk, will handle the distribution.
1.5 Both Government subsidized sales of food commodities and free humanitarian distributions will be carried out in order to assist poor families in the areas identified by the WFP mission. Note: all tonnage figures in report above refer to metric tons (End WFP Emergency Report No. 26 of 1999 - July 2, 1999)
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