WFP Emergency Report No. 13 of 1999
EmailFrom 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 2837). 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 and Deborah Hicks.
PART I - HIGHLIGHTS
(Details below in Part II)
A. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1. Update - information as of 31 March
a) Massive number of people flee conflict in Kosovo; UNHCR estimates more than 160,000 people have left Kosovo since 24 March. Some 100,000 refugees arrive in Albania and 31,500 in Macedonia. Recently displaced from Kosovo to Montenegro number 30,000.
b) Situation in the region is fluid and figures are changing on an hourly basis. WFP food is being provided to the refugees and displaced.
c) In Albania, food aid sent for refugees entering the district of Kukes, and to other areas as refugees move further into Albania.
d) In FYR of Macedonia, WFP food is being moved from Albania to Skopje to cover needs of refugee influx.
e) In Montenegro, WFP food aid distributed to new IDPs by national Red Cross. WFP has 830 tons of mixed food commodities in Podgorica.
f) Estimated food requirements for the on-going WFP Emergency Operation are being increased and will be presented to donors in up-coming UN appeal.
B. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 31 March
a) IDPs now total 715,000, concentrated in provinces of Malange, Bie, Huambo, Kwanza Norte and Kwanza Sul. Influx from rural areas into towns continues.
b) Access problems seriously hampering assessment of humanitarian needs.
c) Donor support needed to cover cost of expanded air transport operations; additional USD 8.8 million required.
d) Kuito airport briefly reopens but closes same day due to a deteriorating security situation; transport of food from Luanda by road to Malange continues; serious shortages of food in Huambo and Caala; new landmines around Uige.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 31 March
a) Security situation in Freetown continues to improve.
b) Total of 2,300 tons of food received through port of Freetown between 20 March and 1 April.
c) Due to uncertain fuel resupply in Conakry for UN/WFP humanitarian helicopter operations to Freetown, WFP reduces presence to three international staff in Freetown and one in Lungi logistics base.
d) Kenema food supply situation worsens.
e) Over 5,000 people reported to have recently crossed to Guinea from Kambia. WFP is feeding newly-registered refugees in Forecariah.
D. GUINEA BISSAU
1. Update - information as of 31 March
a) OCHA Mission visits Bissau from 15 to 17 March.
b) Withdrawal of all Senegalese and Guinean troops completed.
c) General WFP food distributions continue to beneficiaries in Oio and Cacheu. In Bissau, WFP works closely with the Commission of Humanitarian Aid and more than ten NGOs, churches and humanitarian institutions.
E. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: D.R. CONGO AND TANZANIA
1. D.R. Congo
a) Donor support urgently sought for WFP emergency operation to provide assistance to Angolan refugees in D.R. Congo (EMOP 6035).
b) Continuing insecurity in eastern D.R. Congo is affecting northern axis of Bunangana-Rutshuru-Goma. Some 30,000 displaced persons in Goma identified by NGOs; 19,000 of this total to receive WFP food assistance.
c) Insecurity in Rutshuru results in cancellation of registration exercise and planned assistance to over 35,000 displaced persons.
2. Tanzania
a) Drought-affected areas of Singida region require an additional 3,200 tons of food commodities for distribution in April; Dodoma requires 5,000 tons to assist 327 targeted villages for an extra month. Appeals for assistance also received from Iringa, Arusha and Tanga regions.
PART II - DETAILS
A. FR YUGOSLAVIA AND REGION - KOSOVO CRISIS
1. UPDATE - information as of 1 April
1.1 The humanitarian crisis in Kosovo deepens and spreads. Since 24 March tens of thousands of people have fled from Kosovo into Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia and the need for relief food is growing. Working closely with UNHCR and the various relief agencies who are responding to the crisis in the region, WFP is distributing emergency food rations to the new influx of refugees in Albania and Montenegro. According to UNHCR estimates on 1 April, the exodus from Kosovo had risen sharply on 31 March, bringing the number of those who have fled as a result of the Kosovo conflict since 24 March to more than 160,000. Some 100,000 refugees are reported to have arrived since that date in Albania and 31,500 in Macedonia (although there are contradictory reports on the numbers of recent arrivals in Macedonia). Recently displaced from Kosovo within FR Yugoslavia number 30,000 in Montenegro. The situation in the region is fluid and figures are changing on an hourly basis. No confirmed information on the condition of previous WFP beneficiaries within Kosovo is available at this time.
1.2 Albania
a) Among the 100,000 refugees from Kosovo who have reportedly crossed the border with Albania, most have entered through border crossings north of the town of Kukes. On 28 March, WFP dispatched to Kukes district some 10 tons of high protein biscuits which represent 90,000 adult rations, and 65 tons of wheat flour, enough for 55,000 loaves of bread to be prepared by local bakeries. Since then, an additional 30 tons of oil, sugar and beans, and a further 17.6 tons of high protein biscuits were sent to the town of Kukes for distribution by UNHCR and local authorities. The main influx area received 117 tons of various WFP commodities in the first three days of crisis.
b) As refugees moved to other areas, WFP food followed to Burel, Bulquize, Berat, Fier, Vlora, Korca, Shkodra, Fushe Kruje, Kruje and nine distribution points in the districts of Kavaje and Durres. Some 210 tons of wheat flour, oil, beans and sugar have been dispatched from the WFP warehouse in Durres Port to these locations. The WFP food aid made available to date is in excess of 328 tons. WFP has still in stock more than 780 tons of wheat flour, oil, beans and sugar and will release the food for distribution as required. This food represents a total of 46,000 monthly rations on hand.
1.3 Montenegro: The 30,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kosovo who have arrived in Montenegro since 24 March are in addition to the previous figure of 25,000 IDPs who arrived since the beginning of the crisis in March 1998. The Montenegro Red Cross is assisting the new IDPs with WFP food aid. WFP has 830 tons of mixed food commodities in Podgorica. Before the most recent stage of the crisis began, WFP was collaborating with other agencies in Montenegro in the distribution of food aid.
1.4 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRoM): A total of 90 tons of WFP food (wheat flour, oil, pulses and sugar) arrived in FYRoM on 30 March to meet the immediate food needs of an estimated 16,000 new refugees in Skopje and surrounding areas for 10 days. Plans are underway to immediately transfer an initial 225 tons of mixed commodities from Albania to Skopje. A WFP office is being set up in Skopje. WFP will be adjusting its delivery plans in accordance with the increasing number of refugees.
1.5 In view of the latest refugee crisis, estimated food requirements for the on-going WFP Emergency Operation (EMOP 6040) are being increased. Figures for additional needs will be compiled in the up-coming UN appeal, but are tentatively put at 12,400 tons (equal to an additional 9,900 tons of wheat flour, 750 tons of oil, 750 tons of pulses, 500 tons of sugar and 500 tons of fish). This would be enough to cater for an additional 250,000 beneficiaries for three months. Donors will be notified of changing needs as assessments on the ground are made by WFP.
1.6 More information on WFP Kosovo crisis operations is available on the new Kosovo Alert section of the WFP home page on the Web at http://www.wfp.org and click on Kosovo.
B. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 31 March
1.1 The influx of IDPs from rural areas into the provincial capitals is continuing as security further deteriorates throughout the country. The number of IDPs is estimated at 715,000, with the highest concentrations in the provinces of Malange, Bie, Huambo, Kwanza Norte and Kwanza Sul.
1.2 Shelling continues in the cities of Kuito and Malange. In Malange, the office of the UN Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) was partially destroyed on 21 March and shells landed close to the office of WFP.
1.3 Since the conflict resumed in December 1998, the displacement of populations has seriously obstructed agricultural production. The Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Early Warning Unit indicated that the tentative forecast suggests a 25 percent decline in maize production this year, compared to last year's output of 505,000 tons.
1.4 Humanitarian agencies are facing a serious problem of access to great tracts of the country, making it difficult to assess humanitarian needs. Relief efforts of the Government and the humanitarian agencies are only covering a part of the needs of the Angolan population.
1.5 The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations (New York) and the Director of Transport and Logistics Division of WFP (Rome) visited the country from 15 to 18 March to discuss with Angolan authorities, UN Agencies and NGOs various issues related to the provision of humanitarian assistance in Angola under current constraints.
1.6 Given the deterioration of the security situation which is forcing WFP to airlift 80 percent of its food, it is estimated that WFP will need an extra USD 8.8 million to cover the difference in cost from road transport to air transport and the additional distribution costs of WFP implementing partners. WFP requests urgent donor support as the shortage of funds is threatening to cause delays in deliveries of emergency assistance to IDPs and affected communities even when goods are available in country.
2. DETAILS BY REGION
2.1 Bie: The security situation has been deteriorating further. The towns of Cunhinga and Chipeta have been retaken by UNITA. The cargo landing strip of the Kuito airport was reopened and WFP was able to airlift approximately 17 tons of food on 23 March but due to the deteriorating security situation the airport was closed on the same day, leaving the city cut off.
2.2 Malange: Transport of food from Luanda by road to Malange is continuing. In the period from 2 to 26 March, 1,783 tons of WFP food were received in Malange.
2.3 Huambo: Serious shortages of food, especially of corn-soya blend (CSB) in the city of Huambo and Caala are the cause of grave concern. Children in the day care centres are only receiving one meal a day instead of two due to the lack of CSB in most parts of the country. Thanks to WFP food which is provided to the pediatric ward of Huambo Hospital, the day care centres and the orphanages, malnutrition among children does not seem to be increasing. In Caala, WFP provided food assistance for a pediatric centre for malnutrition recently established by MSF.
2.4 Uige: New landmines are being laid around the town constantly causing new casualties. After the reopening of the airport of Negage on 22 March, WFP was able to airlift 51 tons of food. On 26 March, WFP completed its monthly distribution for March.
C. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 31 March
1.1 Freetown
a) The security situation in the city continues to improve. ECOMOG checkpoints in the city have been reinforced to prevent rebel infiltrations. UNSECOORD has raised the number of international UN staff permitted to be in Freetown at any one time to 25 based on the availability of the WFP helicopter for any emergency evacuation or relocation.
b) Between 20 March and 1 April, WFP received a total of 2,300 tons of food through the port of Freetown. The commodities include CSB, rice, cereals, vegetable oil. The nutritional situation of IDPs in Freetown, including those living in the IDP settlements, is stable. WFP in collaboration with other food aid agencies assisted over 230,000 people, mainly IDPs, in Freetown between January and March. An additional 7,000 IDPs who were verified last week are to receive distribution this week. WFP also continues to support over 12,300 vulnerable persons in hospitals, clinics and orphanages, along with amputees and other disabled in the city.
c) The UN/WFP humanitarian helicopter operations may be hindered in near future by lack of aviation fuel in Conakry, despite the support given by the Government of Guinea. So far there is no information on the arrival of the vessel carrying new supply of fuel. Due to uncertain fuel resupply, WFP has reduced its presence to three international staff in Freetown, and one in charge of the Lungi logistics base.
1.2 Kenema: Need for WFP food distributions has become pressing, since basic commodity prices have increased significantly, due to the restricted flow of commercial goods from Freetown and food-producing rural areas up-country. WFP will distribute two-week rations to all registered IDPs in Kenema town and Blama, beginning on 31 March, and provide one-month food supplies for all medical NGOs and the hospital. Due to recent threats of looting by civilian mobs, ECOMOG has been guarding WFP to warehouses. WFP is accelerating the process to distribute all remaining food to the registered IDPs in camps to avoid losses through forceful seizure by the resident population. The current WFP stock is 480 tons of assorted food.
1.3 Bo: As of 30 March some 10,000 persons including Liberian refugees are receiving WFP food assistance in Bo. Over the past week, nearly 1,800 new arrivals were registered in Bo. WFP activities are limited to the area in and around Bo town and along Bo-Kenema highway due to the continued fuel shortage.
1.4 Kambia: Recent reports from the border indicate that over 5,000 people have crossed to Guinea from Kambia. More remain at the border in Gbalamuya and surrounding villages. WFP Guinea in Forecariah is feeding newly-registered refugees and their health is described as satisfactory. WFP and other humanitarian agencies are increasingly concerned with the situation of those IDPs still at the border. Several attempts to visit the border have failed because authorities are not able to provide security guarantees and necessary clearances to humanitarian agencies wishing to assess the situation. WFP has food in Forecariah in Guinea available for any intervention.
D. GUINEA BISSAU
1. UPDATE - information as of 31 March
1.1 A UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Mission from New York and Geneva visited Bissau from 15 to 17 March. The mission looked at humanitarian coordination arrangements, assessed the UN response to the crisis, and reviewed the constraints the humanitarian community is facing. The recommendations by the mission will be the basis for the programming of further humanitarian assistance.
1.2 UN international staff no longer need UN security clearance to stay in Bissau.
1.3 As a result of a recent UN Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA) mission to Guinea Bissau a UN Peace Building Support Office will be established in the country, whose main task will be to help with the electoral process. The date of the general elections is yet to be confirmed.
1.4 The pull-out of 800 Senegalese soldiers on 16 March completed the withdrawal of all Senegalese troops from the country. The presence of foreign troops, estimated at 2,500 from Senegal and 500 from Guinea at the height of the conflict last year, was a major obstacle to the peace talks between the President and the Junta representatives. Guinea completed the withdrawal of its troops on 23 March.
1.5 General WFP food distribution is carried out in the countryside, in the regions of Oio and Cacheu, where more than 100,000 beneficiaries have been reached to date. WFP is also preparing emergency distribution of food in the area of Quinhamel and to the Bijagos Islands for a total of 22,000 beneficiaries. Preparations for the food aid distribution for the first fortnight of April has started in Bissau, Cumura and Prabis, to target between 350,000 and 400,000 beneficiaries. In Bissau, WFP is cooperating closely with the Commission of Humanitarian Aid and more than ten NGOs, churches and humanitarian institutions.
1.6 In collaboration with its partners in Quinara and Tombali regions, WFP has started food-for-work activities of construction and reconstruction of dams which will permit the rehabilitation of 1,615 hectares of fertile lands affected by salt water floods. In total more than one thousand workers, of whom more than a half are women, will receive a daily ration during a period of three months.
1.7 WFP aid to school canteens is due to start in April for the last three months of 1998/99 school year in the regions of Oio, Biombo, Quinara and Tombali for a total of about 30,000 pupils.
E. CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA: D.R. CONGO AND TANZANIA
1. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
1.1 The resourcing situation for the WFP emergency operation which is to provide assistance to Angolan refugees in south-western D.R. Congo (EMOP 6035) is critical: so far approximately USD 212,500 have been contributed, or 6 percent of the requirements. WFP has advanced USD 1.49 million immediate response account (IRA) funds to purchase maizemeal, CSB, pulses and oil until donations are received. WFP asks donors for an urgent response.
1.2 In eastern D.R. Congo, the northern axis of Bunangana-Rutshuru-Goma continues to be hazardous. In Goma, NGOs have conducted a census and identified 30,000 displaced persons of whom 19,000 will receive WFP food assistance. Due to insecurity in Rutshuru, aid agencies had to cancel the registration exercise and planned assistance to over 35,000 displaced persons.
2. TANZANIA
2.1 A food security assessment being carried out by NGOs in drought-affected areas revealed that Singida region requires an additional 3,200 tons of food commodities for distribution in April, while Dodoma requires 5,000 tons to assist 327 targeted villages for an extra month. Urgent appeals for assistance have also been received from other drought-affected areas of Iringa, Arusha and Tanga regions.
2.2 WFP's capacity for an immediate response to the seriously affected drought victims, is hampered by pressure on the refugee food pipeline which is severely limiting borrowings against existing pledges, forcing WFP and the Government to prioritize the regions.
Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 13 of 1999 - April 1, 1999)
