This report includes: A) Democratic
People's Republic of Korea B) Afghanistan C) Balkans - new
WFP documents on the Web D) Ethiopia E) Angola F) Sierra
Leone.
From Jean-Jacques Graisse, Assistant
Executive Director. 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. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Pipeline update - information as of 7 January
a) Further cereal contributions sought from donors for WFP operations in DPR Korea; unless new pledges received in January, break in pipeline anticipated in May could interrupt WFP operations.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. Update - information as of 5 January
a) Southern Afghanistan: negative effects of dry weather on upcoming cereal harvest compounded by decreased 1999 wheat production and current increases in wheat flour prices.
b) After Emergency assessment of Kandahar and Helmand provinces, WFP Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping unit proposes food intervention in ten districts and Kandahar city in Kandahar province and one district in Zabul province; by end of intervention WFP to distribute 250 kg of wheat per household, a total of 7,200 tons to 200,000 people.
c) Seasonal bakery to open in Jalalabad after house-to-house survey completed on 26 December; WFP to target some 100,000 bakery beneficiaries from February to May 2000.
C. BALKANS
1. New WFP documents on the Web
a) WFP Food Economy Assessment of Kosovo Province at <http://www.wfp.org>, go to field operations, click on Balkans; or <http://www.reliefweb.int>, go to Complex Emergencies, go to Balkans.
b) WFP's Balkans Progress Report No.1 at <http://www.wfp.org/balkprogrep1>.
D. ETHIOPIA
1. Update - information as of 6 January
a) Many drought-affected in Ethiopia in need of food aid; WFP and Government's DPPC finalizing numbers of beneficiaries; drought forces inhabitants of Gode, Denane, Adedele and Imi Woreda to leave their areas. b) Port of Berbera, Somalia, to be used for humanitarian shipments for south-east and south of Ethiopia.
c) To date, WFP operation for crop failure-affected populations received 30,000 tons of cereals or 52 percent of requirement; a pledge of some 1,200 tons of blended food for vulnerable groups recently confirmed.
E. ANGOLA
1. Update - information as of 5 January
a) Fighting reported north of Kuito, Bie, and east of Malange; MINARS reports thousands of IDPs moving to Lunda Sul.
b) Preliminary results of nutrition surveys by MSF/B, ICRC and MINSA in Kuito: malnutrition 5.5 percent among residents and 10.9 percent among IDPs; severe malnutrition 0.5 percent for residents and 0.6 percent for IDPs; situation improved since previous October 1999 survey.
c) Malange: On 29-30 December, some 560 new IDPs from Caculama received one-month WFP emergency food rations.
d) Moxico: Food aid distributions in Sinai Velho IDP camp temporarily suspended due to insecurity; WFP distributes food in Camuzanguissa with Government escort to some 10,000 IDPs.
F. SIERRA LEONE
1. Update - information as of 6 January
a) UNAMSIL troops deployed in Lungi, Port Loko, Pepel, Tasso, Makeni and Daru; road traffic from Kenema to Daru reported normal.
b) Additional 600 ex-combatants registered with DDR programme since 20 December 1999.
c) WFP requested NCDDR and DFID to provide necessary preconditions for implementation of emergency operation to assist demobilised soldiers. d) WFP began construction of helipad facility on Lumley Beach; upon termination of WFP helicopter operations, helipad to be handed over to Government.
PART II - DETAILS
A. DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1. Pipeline - information as of 7 January
1.1 Donor alert:
a) Cereal contributions for WFP emergency operations in DPR Korea (EMOP 5959.01) are anticipated to run out in mid-May. If additional donor pledges are not received in the course of January, the break in food supply will have serious consequences for North Koreans during the lean season, and may signal the end of the WFP programme in DPRK. The supply of edible oil will run out at the end of July, and the pulses will last until mid-September. WFP urges immediate donor contributions.
b) According to the October FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission report, there is little doubt that widespread starvation has only been averted by concerted national efforts and the unprecedented volume of humanitarian food assistance. The mission estimated an unmet cereals shortfall of 623,000 metric tons, after taking into account food assistance in the pipeline and likely commercial imports; the situation has not changed since the mission took place.
1.2 Current WFP emergency operation (EMOP 5959.01) from 1 July 1999 until 30 June 2000 addresses the emergency needs of 8 million beneficiaries including children in nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, hospital patients, pregnant and nursing women and orphans. A WFP protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO 6157.00), approved by the WFP Executive Board in October 1999 for the period 1 January 2000 - 31 December 2001, proposes recovery assistance for some 1.6 million vulnerable persons through provision of approximately 92,000 metric tons over a two-year timeframe.
B. AFGHANISTAN
1. UPDATE - information as of 5 January
1.1 Much of southern Afghanistan is reportedly experiencing an unseasonably dry winter, at the outset of the region's four month rainy season, according to anecdotal evidence collected by WFP in Kandahar and Jalalabad.
1.2 The potential negative effects of a sustained dry period for this year's cereal harvest are compounded by two factors: already decreased wheat production in 1999 and the current increases in wheat flour prices throughout Afghanistan. The FAO/WFP Crop Assessment Mission to Afghanistan in 1999 found that south-west Afghanistan, including Kandahar, experienced a 60 percent decrease in the production of rainfed wheat as compared to the previous year. Irrigated wheat was found to have increased by eight percent but further improvement was hampered by severely damaged irrigation infrastructure following flooding in 1998 and a general lack of maintenance.
1.3 The price of wheat flour began to increase in Kandahar and other urban centers in Afghanistan in October 1999 due to increased border restrictions between Afghanistan and Pakistan caused by the military takeover in Pakistan. The price of wheat flour increased by 92 percent between the first week of October and the third week of November in Kandahar. Prices decreased slightly during the last week of November and the first week of December but were followed by a sharp increase in the second week of December probably due to the dry conditions. The increase continued during the rest of December and by the end of the month the prevailing price of wheat flour was 99 percent higher than in early October.
1.4 An emergency assessment of Kandahar and Helmand provinces by the WFP Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping unit was conducted in October 1999, in view of the year's decreased wheat harvest production. The data collected indicate the necessity of an emergency intervention due to irrigated wheat production decrease of up to 60 percent and reduced income from livestock due to the distress sale of livestock, particularly in the Kandahar region. The situation has more recently been exacerbated by the price increases and the lack of rainfall. Emergency interventions have to date been proposed by VAM for 10 districts and Kandahar city in Kandahar province and one district in Zabul province. It is expected that WFP will distribute 250 kg of wheat per household, a total of 7,164 tons, to an estimated 200,000 people.
1.5 Unseasonal dry conditions are also being reported by farmers in the eastern part of the country. WFP will be closely monitoring the situation in this region given last year's rainfed wheat production failure and the 62 percent increase in the cost of wheat flour between the first week of October and the last week of December. A house-to-house survey in Jalalabad city, in preparation for the opening of a seasonal WFP bakery project, was completed on 26 December. WFP plans to target 100,000 bakery beneficiaries in an operation which is expected to run from February to May 2000.
1.6 In contrast to the worrying situation in southern Afghanistan, more normal rainfall conditions are reported from northern Afghanistan including Mazar-I-Sharif.
C. BALKANS
1. NEW WFP DOCUMENTS ON THE WEB
1.1 The WFP Food Economy Assessment of Kosovo Province is now posted on the Web <http://www.wfp.org>, go to field operations, click on Balkans; the same document is also available on <http://www.reliefweb.int>, go to Complex Emergencies, go to Balkans.
1.2 WFP's Balkans Progress Report No.1 is also posted on the WFP home page at <http://www.wfp.org/balkprogrep1>.
D. ETHIOPIA
1. UPDATE - information as of 6 January
1.1 The current drought has struck many in Ethiopia and food aid needs projections are very high. WFP and DPPC are currently analyzing the data provided by 20 assessment teams which carried out the joint UN/Government/NGO/donor Meher harvest assessment in all regions throughout the country. Final beneficiary numbers will be released in the government appeal to be launched on 21 January 2000 for victims of crop failure and pastoralists.
1.2 Based on its contingency planning projections, WFP is looking into appealing for well over 200,000 tons for year 2000 to assist victims of the crop failure. According to DPPC reports, drought has forced inhabitants of Gode, Denane, Adedele and Imi Woreda (zone) to flee their place of abode.
1.3 The Ethiopian Government has been granted formal permission to use the port of Berbera, Somalia, in order to receive food aid for south-eastern Ethiopia. WFP plans to use the port for drought needs in the southeast and south and refugee food relief for the Somali refugees in the East this year.
1.4 WFP Operations for Populations Affected by Crop Failure
a) To date, WFP has received donors' pledges of some 30,000 tons of cereals (52 percent of the required 58,200 tons) for the recent budget revision of its emergency operation (EMOP 6143). The contributions for the operation to assist populations affected by crop failure have been received from EU, Finland, Norway, Japan and US. The budget revision for EMOP 6143 was signed off on 23 November. WFP appealed for a total of 58,216 tons of cereals until the end of March 2000; 21,308 tons for unmet requirements for the last two months of 1999 and 36,908 tons for the first quarter of 2000. In addition, some 2,200 tons of blended food is to be resourced to meet the needs of the vulnerable, estimated at 35 percent of the total beneficiaries receiving WFP assistance. Approximately 1,200 tons of blended foods have been pledged by US.
b) WFP has distributed or is still distributing some 121,170 tons (96 percent of the total tonnage to be resourced by WFP) of assorted food commodities to more than 5 million people affected by crop failure.
1.5 The WFP emergency operation (EMOP 6080) for populations affected by the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea is now almost fully resourced with the recently confirmed pledges from the Netherlands, Norway and Japan, which contributed approximately 6,100 tons, 3,160 tons and 5,450 tons respectively. This leaves a cereal shortfall of only 1,480 tons (4 percent of the total required 36,720 tons to be resourced by WFP). A budget revision has been approved to extend the duration of this EMOP until the end of March 2000.
E. ANGOLA
1. UPDATE - information as of 5 January
1.1 Security:
a) Bie: Continuous fighting is reported in the municipalities of Catabola, Camacupa and Cuemba, north of Kuito.
b) Lunda Sul: MINARS claims that over 70,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have moved into the province during the reporting period, in addition to the more than 111,000 IDPs who have arrived in the province during the last three months. However, these figures could not be verified so far.
c) Malange: Car/truck ambushes continue to be reported on the road to Lombe. The security situation is reported very tense in Caculama Municipality, east of the city of Malange.
1.2 The preliminary outcome of the surveys by MSF/B, ICRC and MINSA (Ministry of Health) in Kuito shows malnutrition of 5.5 percent among the resident population and 10.9 percent among IDPs. Severe malnutrition rates are 0.5 percent for residents and 0.6 percent for IDPs, which compares very favorably with the survey carried out by MSF/B in October 1999, when 2.4 percent of severe malnutrition was recorded among IDPs. Final results will be shared with WFP and UNICEF and comprehensive interventions will then be decided. In the meantime, WFP continues to provide dried fish to a total of 32,500 beneficiaries and investigating other means of prevention and treatment of pellagra.
1.3 A joint MINARS/WFP/UCAH/UNICEF mission visited the Sergeant School in Lubango, where 72 men (32 minors and 40 adults) coming from UNITA controlled areas have been accommodated since the beginning of December 1999. These people wish to return to their areas of origin, in Huambo Province. MINARS' objective is to support them with food aid until their return can be organized in collaboration with MINARS/Huambo.
1.4 On 31 December, WFP distributed food for five days to 125 beneficiaries (minors and women) released from the military quarter to Humpata transit camp where they will be accommodated until they return to their areas of origin. Food is distributed through a community kitchen.
1.5 Malange: On 29-30 December, 563 new IDPs arrived in the city of Malange from Caculama Municipality due to recent fighting. The figures were confirmed by WFP, who provided them with one-month emergency food rations. The Provincial Government is relocating them from the city centre, where they are currently quartered, to Cambondo, about 20 km from the city.
1.6 Moxico: Food aid distributions in the Sinai Velho IDP camp have been suspended after two SCF/US workers were injured in an incident. WFP, SCF/US and UTCAH representatives are asking the Government authorities to give assurances that security would be guaranteed. A distribution of WFP food has taken place in Camuzanguissa for some 10,000 IDPs in the presence of the Government authorities and no incidents have been reported. The Vice-Governor for Military Affairs has advised the Humanitarian community in Luena not to travel outside the town due to insecurity.
1.7 On 29 December, Norway confirmed a cash contribution of approximately USD 700,000 towards PRRO 6159.00 under the UN Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola.
F. SIERRA LEONE
1. UPDATE - information as of 6 January
1.1 UNAMSIL troops have deployed in Lungi, Port Loko, Pepel, Tasso, Makeni and Daru over the past few days. Road traffic from Kenema to Daru is reported to be normal.
1.2 Following the deployment of UNAMSIL in Kabala, an additional 600 ex-combatants have registered at a DDR site since 20 December 1999. The ex-combatants are not encamped but report for roll-call daily. Catholic Extension Service (CES) and Canadian Foodgrain Bank (CFGB) recently transported assorted food aid commodities for IDPs in Kabala and reported a flow of commercial goods and food over the past week. The arrival of food is expected to decrease the crime rate and the harassment of civilians and aid workers in the town.
1.3 According to the WFP monitoring team, reports of ex-combatants stealing food from IDPs on 21 December 1999, following the distribution to vulnerable groups in Maforki Camp, Port Loko, were unfounded.
1.4 Before commencing the EMOP aimed at assisting demobilised soldiers, scheduled for mid-January, WFP has requested that: 1) the National Committee for Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (NCDDR) present a strategy for the reintegration of ex-combatants; 2) the dependants of the demobilized ex-combatants, currently residing in the Port Loko DDR camp, be relocated elsewhere; 3) security in the camps be restored to protect camp workers and 4) Department for International Development UK (DFID)/Emergency ResponseTeam, the implementing partner of WFP, submit a list of the beneficiaries by camp.
1.5 Following the recommendation of an inter-agency assessment mission, WFP will carry out a one-off distribution of a two-week ration to 4,084 vulnerable displaced persons residing in Bo town. The IDPs will be simultaneously screened, and the most vulnerable will qualify for further assistance from WFP in the IDP camp.
1.6 WFP carried out an assessment of the 52-km road connecting Blama and Gendema ferry crossing, and has identified nine working groups willing to participate in a food-for-work project to rehabilitate the road. This road is vital humanitarian corridor for a population of 10,000 IDPs in need of food aid and water/sanitation facilities. WFP will position two trucks to shuttle supplies from Gendema Ferry crossing to Konta.
1.7 WFP has begun the construction of a permanent Helipad facility on Lumley Beach on 27 December 1999. The facility will be handed over to the Government of Sierra Leone upon the termination of the WFP helicopter operations in Sierra Leone.
Note: all tonnage figures in report above refer to metric tons
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 1 of 2000 - January 6, 2000)