Report No. 37 of 1999 Date: 17 September 1999
This report includes: A) Indonesia - East Timor B) Afghanistan C) Angola D) Ethiopia E) Central Africa: Congo/Brazzaville and D.R. Congo.
>From Manuel Aranda da Silva, Chief, Technical Support Service. Available 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. INDONESIA - EAST TIMOR
1. Update - information as of 20 September a) WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6175) approved on 15 September to provide 4,488 tons of emergency food aid for 150,000 displaced at total WFP cost of USD 5.6 million over period of two months; operation to cover districts of Covalima, Bobonaro, Liquica, Ainaro, Ermera, Manufahi and Viqueque in central East Timor. b) Initially, food aid to be airlifted from Darwin and airdropped to most affected areas; later, WFP food aid will be sea-freighted to Dili, then transported overland for distribution by CARE, Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and local implementing partners. A further six-month WFP emergency operation will follow. c) A one-year special operation worth USD 7.9 million approved by WFP Executive Director to create WFP-led joint logistics cell for receipt and storage of all humanitarian assistance for East Timor. d) Two international WFP staff now working out of Dili; remaining WFP operation temporarily based in Darwin, Australia, to be moved to Dili security permitting. Expanding relief operations are also being carried out by ICRC staff who have returned to Dili. e) WFP airdrops started on 17 September, utilizing two Australian C130 aircraft. f) Indonesian Government clearance obtained for WFP "snow drop" air operation, to drop small packages of high protein biscuits, scheduled to start on 21 September. g) UN peacekeeping troops begin to arrive in East Timor on 20 September; limited number of UN humanitarian officials flew to Dili on the same date.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - most information as of 17 September a) Panjshir Valley: UN estimates 50,000 displaced and vulnerable host population in need of food aid; WFP delivered 500 tons of wheat from Badakshan, a second WFP convoy carrying wheat and oil scheduled for 20 September. b) Continued reports of homes, agricultural infrastructure, trees and fruit crops being destroyed in the Shamali Plains. c) Kabul: At least 12,000 out of reported total of 55,000 recent IDPs stay in ex-Soviet Embassy compound; WFP providing twice-daily distribution of CSB, oil and sugar. d) UN mission, including WFP, makes first visit to Kunduz in two years, to review IDP situation.
C. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 16 September a) In Menongue, WFP to extend operation for additional 10,500 IDPs in Kuito Kuanavale, Kuando Kubango province. b) In Huambo city WFP to provide take-home dry rations to families with children in the nutritional centres, to preventing recurring admission of same children. c) A shipment of 4,650 tons of WFP maize arrives in port of Lobito. d) Current shortfall of the ongoing WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6138) stands at US 15.3 million, of total requirement of USD 40.1 million for September through December. e) GOAL nutritional survey in Saurimo shows global malnutrition rate of 12.5 percent among IDPs. f) Security: Fighting causes new population displacements from Cuchi area and in Huila province; in Bie province, fighting continues near Chitundo and Cuquema - further displacements expected; shells fall near Kuito airport on 15 September; reports on commercial trucks being ambushed on Luanda-N'dalatando road; insecurity also reported in northern part of Kwanza Norte province.
D. ETHIOPIA
1. Update - information as of 15 September a) WFP operations for war-affected: EMOP 6080 receives an additional pledge of 10,000 tons of maize - cereal commitment reaches 20,510 tons or 56 percent of requirement; current quantities only sufficient until end September, further donor contributions requested urgently. b) WFP operations for populations affected by crop failure: Under its current EMOP 6143, originally designed for some 1.2 million beneficiaries, WFP providing food aid to almost 3 million people; reports indicate higher number of people in need of food aid than currently served; donor pledges render possible assistance to about 5 million persons until the end of the year. c) Recent EU pledge of 30,000 tons wheat rendered possible timely WFP distributions using loan from Government's Emergency Food Security Reserve.
E. CENTRAL AFRICA: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE AND D.R. CONGO
1. Congo/Brazzaville a) Many return to Brazzaville - average daily influx of returnees from D.R. Congo and the Pool Region estimated between 1,000 - 2,000; MSF screening of returnees indicates malnutrition rate of 23.8 percent.
2. D.R. Congo a) WFP six-month emergency operation (EMOP 6110) for war-affected which started in July remains seriously under-funded; out of USD 30 million requirement for 350,000 beneficiaries to only USD 5.8 million confirmed to date.
PART II - DETAILS
A. INDONESIA - EAST TIMOR
1. UPDATE - information as of 20 September
1.1 WFP has launched a new emergency operation (EMOP 6175) approved on 15 September to provide 4,488 tons of emergency food aid to 150,000 displaced by the civil strife in East Timor. The total WFP cost of the operation is USD 5.6 million. The two-month operation will cover the districts of Covalima, Bobonaro, Liquica, Ainaro, Ermera, Manufahi and Viqueque in central East Timor. During the initial 20 days, cargo planes from Darwin will airdrop food rations to tens of thousands of needy people. Subsequently, food will be sea-freighted to Dili port from where it will be transported overland and distributed by implementing partners, including CARE, Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and, if practical, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or local administrative units.
1.2 WFP is preparing a further six-month emergency operation which will be phased in at the end of the initial emergency operation.
1.3 On 16 September the WFP's Executive Director approved a one-year special operation worth USD 7.9 million to finance the creation of a joint logistics cell headed by WFP that will organize the delivery and storage of all humanitarian assistance for East Timor. This operation will also support the management of the air and sea ports and their infrastructure, rebuild the basic logistics infrastructure and maintain a vehicle fleet.
1.4 Two international WFP staff are now based in Dili. The remaining WFP operation is base in Darwin, Australia, until security permits setting up a larger presence in East Timor. Additional international logistics and programme staff are expected to arrive during the week. Expanding relief operations are also being carried out by ICRC staff who have returned to Dili.
1.5 WFP's staff in Darwin and Jakarta coordinated on 17 September the first airdrop of 40 tons of rice and blankets to worst affected displaced persons in East Timor. Two Australian Airforce C130 planes from Darwin airdropped relief supplies in predetermined locations in the districts of Ermera, Malaputu and Malapa. Airdrops continued on 18 and 19 September.
1.6 The Government of Indonesia has granted clearances for a WFP "snow drop" air operation scheduled for 21 September. WFP aircraft with the snow drop equipment arrived on 19 September and will drop small plastic packages containing 200 grams of high protein biscuits each, equipped with two wings which help the packages float and circle as they fall through the air, ensuring a soft landing. Some 70 tons of WFP food aid are expected to be dropped over East Timor through snow drops.
1.7 The WFP emergency operation is a part of the UN response to the East Timor crisis which followed the independence vote on 30 August. The UN Security Council Resolution on 15 September authorized UN peacekeepers to assist with humanitarian relief efforts in East Timor.
1.8 The first UN peacekeeping troops landed in Dili on 20 September. A small party of UN humanitarian officials were deployed to Dili on the same date together with the UN peacekeeping troops to clear the way for the return of the full UN mission to East Timor. Most UN personnel were evacuated on 10 September due to the civil strife which followed the independence vote.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - most information as of 17 September
1.1 Panjshir Valley
a) The UN task force estimates that approximately 50,000 displaced and most vulnerable amongst the host population in the Panjshir Valley, who have been stretching their resources to help cover the needs of the displaced, are in need of food aid. In addition, up to 35,000 of the displaced currently in the valley urgently require shelter for the forthcoming winter.
b) In order to meet the food aid needs of such a large group of people, WFP will need to provide at least 6,000 tons of food over the next eight months, up to April 2000. Over the next three months, WFP is expected to move 3,000 tons of food into the valley before the roads become impassable due to snow. Currently, 500 tons of wheat are being moved approximately 500 km by road from the north-eastern province of Badakshan towards the north-western entrance of the valley, close to the front line. A second convoy carrying an additional 500 tons of wheat and 60 tons of oil is scheduled to leave 20 September. Utilization of the southern entrance to the valley would be easier for WFP food deliveries, but would only be possible if a humanitarian corridor across the southern front line can be negotiated with the Taliban.
1.2 The UN continues to receive reports of homes, agricultural infrastructure, fruit trees and fruit crops being destroyed in the Shamali Plains. The destruction of this year's cash crops suggests that families will experience a loss of income typically earned by selling fruit.
1.3 Kabul: Up to 55,000 displaced people are reported to have arrived in Kabul from the Shamali Plains between 8 August and 11 September. While many of these people have found shelter with relatives in Kabul, at least 12,000 people are currently living in the ex-Soviet Embassy compound. WFP continues to provide a twice-daily distribution of CSB, oil and sugar.
1.4 Kunduz: A UN mission which included WFP visited the northern province of Kunduz to review the situation of up to 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) reportedly in that area. This was the first visit to the province by international UN staff in two years. Some of the IDPs are in need of shelter and food.
C. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 16 September
1.1 WFP staff in Menongue, Kuando Kubango province, are making preparations to extend WFP assistance to an additional 10,500 IDPs in Kuito Kuanavale. The group of IDPs arrived several months ago from south-eastern Moxico and eastern Kuando Kubango, have been monitored carefully and are now in need of food assistance.
1.2 In Huambo city WFP has agreed with implementing partners that it will provide take-home dry rations to the families having children in the nutritional centres, as a means of preventing recurring admission of the same children due to nutritional deficiency.
1.3 A vessel carrying some 4,650 tons of WFP maize arrived in the port of Lobito on 11 September. This consignment will be used for distribution in Benguela, Huambo, Kuito, Moxico and Kuando Kubango provinces.
1.4 The current shortfall of the ongoing WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6138) from September through December for some 900,000 beneficiaries now stands at US 15.3 million out of the total requirement of USD 40.1 million.
1.5 According to the final results of a recent nutritional survey conducted by GOAL in Saurimo, while the overall rate is fairly low (1.7 percent), the global malnutrition rate among IDPs is high (12.5 percent).
1.6 Security:
a) Some 310 IDPs have arrived in Menongue, the provincial capital of Kuando Kubango, from Matias and Satchijamba villages over the past days. Recent fighting in the Cuchi area as well as in the province of Huila are the likely cause of this movement.
b) In Bie province, fighting has subsided in Cunhinga and Chipeta, but continues to the south-west near Chitundo and Cuquema. A displacement of several thousand persons from the Catabola and Chipeta areas is a result of the recent encroachment of UNITA forces. As many as 10-15,000 IDPs may have left, according to Government sources. No verification of these numbers has yet been carried out.
c) On 15 September six shells were fired at Kuito. Most of the shells landed at the far end of the airport but two fell close to the town near the regimental centre and airport circle. No casualties were reported.
d) Five commercial trucks were ambushed over the weekend on the Luanda-N'dalatando road, near Catete in Bengo Province, 40-50 km from Luanda.
e) There are reports of attacks (kidnappings and assassinations) in the northern part of Kwanza Norte province and further movements of people to Luanda and Malange are expected as a result.
D. ETHIOPIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 15 September
1.1 WFP operations for populations affected by border conflict
a) WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6080) has recently received an additional donor pledge of 10,000 tons of maize to assist populations displaced by the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The total cereal commitment to this project has now reached some 20,510 tons or 56 percent of the required 45,350 tons. With a shortfall of over 16,000 tons, current supplies will only cover requirements until the end of September and the need to secure additional resources remains critical.
1.2 WFP operations for populations affected by crop failure
a) While the WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6143) was originally designed to meet the needs of some 1.2 million people affected by crop failure, WFP food aid is being distributed to almost 3 million people for a shorter period of time than originally planned. This is primarily because WFP secured pledges of almost 60,000 tons from donors within sixty days of launching its appeal. In addition, over 20,000 tons of WFP's development resources were made available for distribution to those affected by drought. Subsequent pledges by other donors to WFP and the Government of Ethiopia have ensured that the needs of about 5 million people will be met until the close of the year. However, disturbing reports from the field indicate that the actual numbers of those requiring assistance exceed the current estimates of those in need and that additional resources need to be raised by donors in the short term.
b) EMOP 6143 is now almost fully resourced, with a recent pledge of 30,000 tons of wheat from the EU; the equivalent will be borrowed from the Government Emergency Food Security Reserve, which renders possible timely WFP food aid distributions.
c) WFP is working closely with FAO and Government agencies on the preparations for the forthcoming joint UN/Government/donor 'Meher' harvest assessment, with over 15 assessment teams scheduled to travel to Tigray and Amhara regions in November.
E. CENTRAL AFRICA: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE AND D.R. CONGO
1. CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE
1.1 The relative calm in recent weeks prompted many people to return to Brazzaville. An average daily influx of returnees from D.R. Congo and the Pool Region was estimated between 1,000 - 2,000. Results of recent screening by MSF put the malnutrition rate at 23.8 percent amongst returnees.
1.2 WFP monthly food aid requirements for the relief operation in the Republic of Congo are estimated at 2,650 tons of food. To meet the urgent food requirements for 80,000 most vulnerable out of the planned 200,000 beneficiaries, WFP needs some 883 tons of mixed food. Pending the arrival of food through the regular pipeline, a local purchase is being considered.
2. D.R. CONGO
2.1 WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6110) for war-affected populations in D.R. Congo remains seriously under-funded. Out of USD 30 million needed to assist 350,000 people over the period of six months, only USD 5.8 million has been confirmed to date.
Note: all tonnage figures in report above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 37 of 1999 - September 17, 1999)
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