Report No. 44 of 1999 Date: 5 November 1999
This report includes: A) Sudan B) Angola C) Sierra Leone D) FR Yugoslavia - Kosovo, Serbia and Region E) Afghanistan F) Angola Appendix - Breakdown of November distribution plan.
>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 Deborah Hicks and Natasha Nadazdin.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)
A. SUDAN
1. Update - information as of 3 November a) Two unilateral cease-fire declarations, covering different areas of the southern sector of OLS, announced in October by the Government and SPLA. b) Juba barge convoy to return to Kosti from Malakal; insecurity in Unity State has prevented it from proceeding upstream. No barges have reached Juba since May. Limited quantities of food airlifted to cover needs of the most vulnerable groups. c) Nuba Mountains UN/NGO assessment completed; findings to be released shortly. d) Annual Needs Assessments completed for northern and southern sectors and report is being finalized by the joint UN/NGO/Government of Sudan team. e) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission completes southern sector field work and begins assessment in northern sector.
B. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 4 November a) WFP November distributions to target 1,186,420 people (up from 1,120,050 in October); food tonnage to increased to 15,282 tons from October figure of 14,171 tons. Largest individual programmes are for Huambo (3,097 tons) followed by Malange (2,647 tons), Bie (2,173 tons) and Huila (1,289 tons). b) Tension in Huila province in late October caused major population displacements; WFP is currently assisting 73,070 registered IDPs, of whom 36,785 are in Matala. c) Another WFP-contracted truck hits anti-tank mine close to city of Malange; no loss of lives. Increased incidence of mine accidents reported in Luena and its periphery in Moxico province. d) Contributions towards WFP protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 6159) confirmed by the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland; WFP increases the allocation of USAID pledge resources to the operation.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 4 November a) Further fighting between RUF and AFRC; lack of a secure environment for relief operations discussed at meeting between the humanitarian community, RUF and AFRC leaders on 29 October. b) Multi-donor mission to Sierra Leone expected on 8 November. WFP to participate in the mission and provide logistics support. c) WFP-led inter-agency mission conducts rapid assessment of needs of IDPs in the Kandu Leppiama and Sambura Chiefdoms in the Kenema district. d) On-going regional WFP operation, PRRO 4604.07, has received approximately USD 35 million, or 36 percent of its total requirement of USD 95 million. e) UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Sierra Leone for January-December 2000 was released by OCHA on 4 November; available at <http://www.reliefweb.int>.
D. FR YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO, SERBIA AND REGION
1. Update - information as of 5 November a) Kosovo: Number of food aid recipients in Kosovo decreased to 1.15 million in September; expected to be around 900,000 in October. Winter food rations are being delivered to 129 villages which will become inaccessible. b) Serbia (excluding Kosovo): Distribution to a caseload of 312,500 vulnerable persons (social cases) began in September. Food distribution to 337,500 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is on-going. UN very concerned by situation faced by the most vulnerable in Serbia, expected to worsen during winter.
E. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - information as of 3 November a) First round of emergency food distribution to displaced people in the Panjshir Valley completed, to 8,500 families, approximately 50,000 people. b) WFP international staff are coordinating international assistance in the valley. c) Price of wheat flour in Kabul and Kandahar increases dramatically over the past month, as border between Pakistan and Afghanistan more effectively policed and fewer permits for cross-border traffic are issued. WFP is monitoring prices.
F. ANGOLA - APPENDIX TO SECTION B ABOVE
1. November distribution plan - breakdown per province a) A list showing total number of projected beneficiaries, tonnage for distribution and main implementing partners, per province, is given below.
PART II - DETAILS
A. SUDAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 3 November
1.1 On 12 October, the Government of Sudan extended its comprehensive cease-fire declaration covering "all...areas of operations" in the south of Sudan for a further three months from 15 October. The SPLM/A announced the extension of its humanitarian cease-fire declaration covering Bahr-el-Ghazal, Western Upper Nile (defined as including Bentiu and Panaru/Pariang areas) and Central Upper Nile (defined as including Bor, Fangak, Waat, Akobo and Pibor areas) for a three month period from 15 October. These represent two unilateral cease-fire declarations, covering different areas of the southern sector of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS).
1.2 Preparations started for the return of the Juba barge convoy to Kosti as insecurity prevents it from proceeding upstream. The Juba barge convoy was to commence deliveries to over 300,000 beneficiaries living within the Nile river basin but it stopped in Malakal due to insufficient security conditions in Unity State. One river tug and four loaded barges therefore left Makalal heading back to Kosti on 23 October, with two other tugs and four other barges expected to follow. WFP is pre-positioning food in Malakal to cater to the needs of vulnerable persons in the town and surrounding areas. The barge convoy, which was on its way to Juba, had arrived in Malakal from Kosti on 21 September but had been unable to proceed. The barge was carrying 2,806 tons of food for delivery to needy beneficiaries living within the Nile river basin. Due to insecurity, no barges have reached Juba since May. Limited quantities of food are being airlifted to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups.
1.3 A month-long needs assessment of the Nuba Mountains areas took place in October. Assessments were carried out by a team of experts from UN Agencies and NGOs. Recommendations and findings of the mission have been finalized and will be released shortly.
1.4 Annual assessments: The Annual Needs Assessments have been completed for both the northern and southern sectors. The ANA report is being finalized by a joint UN/NGO/Government of Sudan team. The annual FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission has completed its field work in the southern sector and is currently carrying out assessments in the northern sector. The Mission noted that food production in many areas is better than average but less than last year, and found that insecurity was a major limiting factor to food production in 1999. Preparations for the launching of the UN Consolidated Appeal for the Sudan are under way. The Appeal for Year 2000 will include projects proposed by International NGOs.
B. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 4 November
1.1 The total number of beneficiaries targeted by WFP in Angola has risen from 1,120,050 in October to 1,186,420 in November and the tonnage of food commodities has increased from 14,171 tons to a target of 15,282 tons. The largest individual programme is planned in Huambo (3,097 tons) followed by Malange (2,647 tons), Bie (2,173 tons) and Huila (1,289 tons). A total of 863,016 internally displaced persons (IDPs) will receive 10,471 tons of food, 269,679 vulnerable persons 3,257 tons, 25,923 returnees and resettled persons 313 tons, and 27,805 workers on rehabilitation projects 1,241 tons. A list giving the breakdown of the November distribution plan per province, with main implementing partners, is given at the end of this Report.
1.2 Over the last months, WFP has been trying to reduce malnutrition by targeting the neediest amongst IDP and resident populations. Results in Malange have been encouraging, according to the conclusions of a nutritional survey carried out in Malange in September by the Ministry of Health (MINSA), which found that compared to figures in June, malnutrition rates were reduced by about one-third. However, new areas of concern have appeared, such as Matala in Huila province, which recently received a new IDP influx and where, according to MSF/Spain survey, global malnutrition has now reached 30.8 percent and severe malnutrition 12.9 percent.
1.3 Huila: Tension in the province of Huila in late October caused major population displacements towards more secure areas, especially cities. WFP is currently assisting 73,070 registered IDPs, of whom 36,785 are in Matala, coming from Chicomba and Kuvango, and 10,441 in Caconda, coming from Chicuma, Catata, Chicomba and Huambo. New IDPs are being registered by WFP for food distributions. With the current relatively stable security situation in Huila, it is expected that the IDPs will gradually return to their areas of origin, spontaneously or with the help of the Government.
1.4 Malange: On 2 November, a truck contracted by WFP for the transport of food products hit an anti-tank mine close to the city of Malange, which caused material damage, but no loss of lives.
1.5 Moxico: Increased incidence of mine accidents reported in Luena and its periphery. A total of 24 incidents were registered in the last two months within a perimeter of 60 km around Luena.
1.6 Uige: In Negage, six collective kitchens have been opened by the Italian NGO CUAMM for the supplementary feeding of 2,030 IDP children, and are supplied with food from WFP and therapeutic milk from UNICEF. New IDPs continue to arrive in Uige and Negage.
1.7 The Netherlands have confirmed two new contributions towards the WFP protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 6159): USD 1.3 million for food aid operations and USD 163,000 for iodized salt. The cash contribution will be used for local purchases. On 25 October, WFP received confirmation of two other contributions towards PRRO 6159, of USD 2.2 million from Belgium for the purchase of some 3,300 tons of maize and USD 270,000 untied cash contribution from Ireland. WFP has also increased the allocation of USAID pledge resources to this operation by an additional 8,100 tons of commodities for an overall US donation to date of USD18.7 million.
1.8 Due to delays in the arrival of maize shipments, arrangements have been made by WFP to purchase and ship immediately to Angola some 9,680 tons of maize, to prevent a break in the pipeline in December. This tonnage should reach Luanda by the end of November/early December.
1.9 WFP road and air deliveries: During the week of 25-30 October no deliveries by road were registered due to the low relief food stocks in Luanda. Operations were expected to resume the next week. During the same week WFP delivered a total of 1,200 tons of food and 405 tons of non-food items by air. In-country food stock situation as of 1 November was 17,322 tons.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 4 November
1.1 Security in most of the provinces remain a concern as continuous fighting is reported between RUF and AFRC. A meeting between the humanitarian community, RUF and AFRC leaders was held on 29 October to discuss the lack of a secure working environment for humanitarian agencies. Both the RUF and AFRC leaders agreed to provide security guarantees for humanitarian workers and humanitarian stocks. It was also agreed that a streamlined notification procedure for missions into RUF/AFRC controlled areas will be provided.
1.2 A multi-donor mission to Sierra Leone is expected to arrive in Freetown on 8 November. The overall aim of the mission is to further demonstrate the commitment of the international community to support Sierra Leone's recovery from eight years of civil war by focusing on critical needs in all sectors, including relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The multi-donor mission plans to meet with government bodies, members of the diplomatic community, humanitarian agencies, UNAMSIL, civil society organizations and human rights organizations. WFP will participate in the mission and provide logistics support with the WFP helicopter and vehicles.
1.3 A WFP-led inter-agency mission comprising of WFP, MCSL, and APEGS undertook a one day rapid assessment of the humanitarian needs of IDPs and food security status in the Kandu Leppiama and Sambura Chiefdoms in the Kenema district. Findings show that the food security situation in the two chiefdoms is good due to the commencement of the harvesting of rice crops. The team noted that 38 percent of IDPs have voluntarily returned to their place of origin. Over 12,000 affected persons, mainly from Kono, were registered in this area by WFP and partners and are receiving assistance.
1.4 The on-going regional WFP protracted relief and recovery operation to assist refugees, IDPs and returning refugees (PRRO 4604.07) has received approximately USD 35 million, or 36 percent of its total requirement of USD 95 million. This one-year operation started in July 1999 and will assist a total of 1.7 million beneficiaries.
1.5 The UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Sierra Leone for January-December 2000 was released by OCHA on 4 November. The full report is available on the Web on ReliefWeb at <http://www.reliefweb.int>.
D. FR YUGOSLAVIA - KOSOVO, SERBIA AND REGION
1. UPDATE - information as of 5 November
1.1 Kosovo - The overall number of food aid beneficiaries in Kosovo has decreased from more than 1.4 million in August to approximately 1.15 million in September, as a result of the gradual application of targeting criteria. Lower beneficiary figures (in the order of 900,000) are expected for October. WFP is organizing a media campaign to reinforce the message that those who have means to provide for their own food should de-register from food aid beneficiary lists. WFP and UNHCR are reviewing the situation of minorities in order to precisely assess the food aid needs of different groups, based on their access to markets, sources of income and, where relevant, their agricultural production. WFP has identified 129 villages as inaccessible during the winter. Winter food rations to cover November through to March are being delivered to 40,000 persons in these villages.
1.2 Serbia (excluding Kosovo) - Distribution to a caseload of 312,500 vulnerable persons (social cases), including pensioners with low incomes, residents of public charitable institutions and handicapped persons began in September. Food distribution to 337,500 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is on-going. The onset of winter will further exacerbate the economic difficulties faced by the most vulnerable in Serbia. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs has stated that an alarming humanitarian situation may be emerging.
1.3 Montenegro - Regular distribution to IDPs, refugees and social cases is on-going as planned, reaching 55,000 persons. The UNHCR re-registration of refugees and IDPs is expected to be completed in December.
1.4 Albania - UNHCR is now providing for all food aid needs of the small caseload of Kosovo refugees. WFP has launched a number pilot activities in support of Albanian vulnerable groups, in cooperation with international NGOs (MCI, CARE, ADRA and Action Against Hunger).
1.5 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRoM) - WFP is covering the residual caseload of refugees in FYRoM. There are currently 4,400 refugees living in camps and collective centres and 9,700 living with host families.
E. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 3 November
1.1 Internally displaced - Panjshir Valley
a) The first round of the WFP Afghanistan emergency food distribution to displaced people in the Panjshir Valley has been completed. Family rations of 100 kg of wheat have been provided to 8,500 families, or approximately 50,000 people. This ration supplies 75 percent of a diet based on the required 2,100 calories per day per person and is expected to last the family for up to two months. The total amount of food distributed as of 2 November is 1,097 tons of wheat and 108 tons of wheat flour. The remaining WFP wheat stock in the valley is 94 tons. A second round of food distribution will begin following an updating of the original survey lists as there has been some movement in and out of the valley towards northern Shomali with the increasingly cold weather.
b) WFP Afghanistan is currently preparing to move an additional 500 tons of wheat from Ishkashim in north-eastern Afghanistan. The wheat began moving earlier this week by local transporters through Taluqan and will take at least a week to reach the UN base camp in Bazarak.
c) WFP international staff continue coordinating all international assistance activities in the valley.
1.2 The price of wheat flour in the urban centres of Kabul and Kandahar has increased dramatically over the past month. The flow of wheat into these areas from Pakistan has slowed and over the month the market price has increased by 66 percent in Kandahar and 46 percent in Kabul. Reports indicate that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is being more effectively policed and fewer permits for cross-border traffic are being issued. WFP vulnerability analysis and mapping unit (VAM) is monitoring wheat movement and wheat flour prices as a comparable situation in 1997 effectively increased wheat flour prices in urban areas over 100 percent.
F. ANGOLA - APPENDIX TO SECTION B ABOVE
1. NOVEMBER DISTRIBUTION PLAN - BREAKDOWN PER PROVINCE
List is by province with total number of projected beneficiaries (see note below), tonnage for distribution in metric tons, and main implementing partners:
Bengo - 31,285 beneficiaries - 464 mt. Implementing partners: German Agro Action (GAA), MINARS, Ajuda de desenvolvimento de povo para povo (ADPP), INTERSOS, COSV, Missao catolica
Benguela - 28,606 beneficiaries - 455 mt. Humana People to People (ADPP), German Agro Action (GAA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), CARITAS, ADRAA
Bie - 152,992 beneficiaries - 2,173 mt. CARE, MSF
Cunene - 10,677 beneficiaries - 197 mt. MINARS
Huambo - 256,158 beneficiaries - 3,097 mt. MINARS, Save the Children/UK, CONCERN, MOLISV, Medecins sans frontieres-F
Huila - 89,605 beneficiaries - 1,289 mt. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Kuando Kubango - 41,213 beneficiaries - 627 mt. MINARS, Action contre la faim (ACF), CARITAS
Kwanza Norte - 52,894 beneficiaries - 802 mt. World Vision
Kwanza Sul - 22,212 beneficiaries - 600 mt. Save the Children/US, Accao Angolana de Desenvolvimento (AAD)
Luanda - 15,880 beneficiaries - 209 mt. ADRA International, HANDICAP, CARITAS, MINARS
Lunda Norte - 1,024 beneficiaries - 14 mt. Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
Lunda Sul - 49,716 beneficiaries - 708 mt. CARITAS, Lutheran World Federation (LWF), MINARS
Malange - 303,692 beneficiaries - 2,647 mt. World Vision, CARITAS, MSF-Holland, OIKOS, Gruppo Volontario Civile (GVC), CONCERN, ADRAA
Moxico - 68,626 beneficiaries - 1,085 mt. Save the Children/US
Namibe - 16,363 beneficiaries - 237 mt. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Uige - 34,931 beneficiaries - 540 mt. Danish Refugee Council (DRC), CARITAS
Zaire - 10,549 beneficiaries - 137 mt. NRC, CARITAS
TOTAL - 1,186,423 beneficiaries - 15,282 mt.
Note: The total number of projected beneficiaries includes several categories of recipients, from multiple family units to individual beneficiaries; the composition of the rations varies according to the category of beneficiaries.
Note: all tonnage figures in report above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 44 of 1999 - November 5, 1999)
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