(A) Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan
(B) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Eritrea, (4) Ethiopia, (5) Rwanda, (6) Somalia, (7) Sudan
(C) West Africa: (1) Chad, (2) Cote d'Ivoire, (3) Guinea. (4) Liberia
(D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Angola, (3) Lesotho, (4) Madagascar, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Namibia, (8) Swaziland, (9) Zambia, (10) Zimbabwe
(E) Asia: (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) India, (4) Nepal
(F) Latin America and the Caribbean: : (1) Colombia, (2) Guatemala (3) Haiti, (4) Nicaragua
From David Morton, Director of the Transport Preparedness and Response Division (OTP); available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page (http://www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from Carlo.Scaramella@wfp.org, Chief of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (OEP). For information on resources, donors are requested to contact Valerie.Sequeira@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone +39 06 6513 2009. Media queries should be directed to Brenda.Barton@wfp.org, telephone +39 06 6513 2602. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.
A) Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan
1) Afghanistan
(a) The security situation remained volatile throughout most of the country. The attacks against electoral workers were of concern, threatening the success of the voter registration process. In the south, in Kandahar, a vehicle of coalition forces hit a landmine on 23 July, resulting in the injury of two soldiers. A voter registration site came under small arms fire attack in Arghandab district of Kandahar, on 24 July.
(b) During the reporting period, over 489,760 beneficiaries received about 2,695 tons of food.
(c) On 26 July, WFP and its partners including the government and UN agencies discussed the extension of immediate assistance to the flood-affected people in Behsood district of Nangarhar, as well as sustainable solutions to protect the area from floods. It was agreed to construct a 300-meter protection wall, and WFP will provide emergency food assistance to 49 affected families.
(d) On 26 and 27 July, WFP trained staff of tuberculosis and supplementary feeding centers, women-bakery supervisors and food aid monitors in Kandahar on health, nutrition and uses of blended food. The training will enhance hygiene practices and nutritional awareness of food aid beneficiaries.
(e) The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MAAH), FAO and WFP conducted a joint crop and food supply assessment in the western provinces of Badghis, Ghor and Hirat. The primary findings of the assessment show poor agricultural production and low water table due to poor rainfalls compared to the previous year, which would impact food security in the region. The preliminary findings of the mission will be presented at MAAH on 7 August.
B) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Eritrea, (4) Ethiopia, (5) Rwanda, (6) Somalia, (7) Sudan
1) Burundi
(a) Reports indicated renewed clashes between the Burundian Army and the Conseil National pour la Defense de la Democratie - Force pour la Defense de la Democratie (CNDD-FDD) against Front for National Liberation (FNL) rebels in Bujumbura Rural province, south of the capital. A WFP vehicle was hijacked at gunpoint in Bujumbura town in the early evening of 22 July. Fortunately, the staff member using the car was not hurt. Several other UN and NGO cars have been hijacked under similar circumstances in Bujumbura during the preceding weeks.
(b) From 19 to 25 July, WFP distributed over 1,700 tons of food commodities to an estimated 125,000 beneficiaries.
(c) Local authorities met in Muramvya and Gitega provinces to discuss the targeting of beneficiaries for the next seeds protection ration distributions. Local distribution committees are also being established in Kabezi commune, however, setting up the distribution committees in Muhuta commune has not been possible due to insecurity.
(d) Additional contributions are needed to ensure a healthy pipeline as of November.
2) D.R. Congo
(a) The security situation remained precarious in eastern DRC. North and South Kivu provinces are the most affected. Illegal house intrusions and murders have reportedly increased in Goma and Bukavu towns. Sporadic shootings were repeatedly heard in Goma town during the night. These incidences are blamed on uncontrolled men in uniform who continue to disturb the life of civilians. The prevailing volatile security situation in North and South Kivu and Kindu continues to affect WFP food distributions.
(b) After violent fighting between dissident soldiers and the regular army, a joint UN mission carried out in Kalehe in south Kivu province, revealed that more than 30,000 people are displaced, mostly women and children. The mission reported 221 cases of women and children being sexually abused by military combatants, of whom two died and 114 were transferred to Panzi hospital in Bukavu. In another incident more than 25 people were drowned while fleeing from attacks by dissident soldiers. Currently, due to the security situation, inhabitants of Kalehe have limited access to their farms, and in the local markets food commodities are scare.
(c) In North Kivu province, an alert was issued on the drought and the possible effects of the recent eruption of the Nyamulagira Volcano, which may have a severe impact on future food production. Clashes between various armed factions continued to occur in the rural areas of Banza and Tongo. In some areas of Walikale territory, people have fled their homes in fear of new clashes.
(d) In Kindu area, malnutrition rates are increasing among IDPs. A couple of months ago, food delivery to this location had been temporarily suspended due to insecurity caused by dissident forces. The Kindu sub-office is being set up and food shipment to the area is underway. Some 12 supplementary feeding centers will be receiving WFP food under the supervision of the Italian NGO COOPI and the UK based charity Merlin.
(e) During last week, over 400 tons of food were distributed to some 43,000 beneficiaries including IDPs and vulnerable persons.
3) Eritrea
(a) Rainfall in most parts of Eritrea remains erratic in terms of frequency and distribution. While it is early to project drought, it should be noted that if the current pattern continues, another drought might occur. In Tesseney sub-zone and parts of Anseba insufficient rains were reported. Despite erratic rains, an increase in water levels in different water harvest schemes (dams and micro dams) in Debub region has been observed.
(b) In Gash Barka, one of the main cereal producing areas, a shortage of tractors for ploughing has been reported. Although the Ministry of Agriculture is providing some seeds to farmers, it is not sufficient. Moreover, in Anseba the planted area is limited by the lack of ploughing animals and the exorbitant prices for renting tractors. While ploughing and sowing are still ongoing in certain areas, crops at their germination stage are seen in certain parts of the country.
(c) Livestock, an important source livelihood of people in specific regions of the country, is gradually recuperating from the long months of insufficient fodder and water. The rain has improved the pasture, however, it is still insufficient for cattle that need to gain more weight. Camels and goats that consume young green leaves are recuperating faster. In Anseba, there is still an overall shortage of fodder as rains have been insufficient.
(d) The availability of specific commodities like sugar and wheat flour and also bread remains limited in most of the country.
4) Ethiopia
(a) A special early warning system alert was issued by the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) on 26 July, entitled "Impact of the Belg/Gu Season on the Food Security Situation of the Belg Producing and Pastoral Areas". The alert highlights findings of the recent multi-agency assessment teams, which confirmed that the performance of the Belg/Gu season of 2004 in most Belg (short rains) producing and pastoral areas was very poor. Significant irregularities were observed in many areas. These included the late start of the rains, prolonged dry spells, especially in the whole of February, most of March, all of May, and parts of June, depending on location; erratic and poorly distributed precipitation; and very early cessation resulting in poor Belg crop production in many parts of the cropping areas.
(b) Belg-dependent areas of special concern are many zones in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), especially Konso, Wolayita and Gamo Gofa zones; East and West Hararghe and Bale zones in Oromiya Region; North and South Wollo zones in Amhara Region; and Southern Tigray zone in Tigray Region.
(c) The performance and production prospects of long cycle crops (maize and sorghum) in the northern, eastern and southern parts of the country, including areas along the Rift Valley, are very poor. Extensive areas have been affected, and where current Meher (long season) rains are not conducive for replanted short cycle crops, increasing food insecurity is expected later in the year.
(d) In pastoral areas, the early cessation of the rains around the end of April, and the missing rains in May, when much of the precipitation for adequate water and pasture replenishment and crop development are normally expected, have had a negative effect. Very poor to poor rains in many places of the pastoral areas in general and in Somali Region, Borena zone in Oromiya Region and South Omo zone in SNNPR in particular were reported. Water condition remains poor, particularly in chronic water deficit areas of Somali Region.
(e) The emergency food needs of those beneficiaries who were expected to graduate from the emergency program as of June/July 2004 are extended. Consequently, a significant amount of additional emergency food for the period August to December 2004 is expected to be identified in an updated appeal to be released by DPPC in early August.
5) Rwanda
(a) The security situation in Cyangugu remained calm and the UN security phase in effect remains unchanged. Following the decision to suspend assistance to refugees staying outside the camp in Cyangugu, over 190 people have decided to join the camp and were registered during the week. This has brought the total number of refugees in Cyangugu camp to 1,632. Refugees living outside the camp are estimated at 750 and most probably will move to the camp in the near future.
(b) During the week, a Disaster Management Task Force meeting was held and discussions included the relocation of refugees from Cyangugu to another location. Participants were informed that the Repatriation Commission is working hand in hand with UNHCR to prepare the site in Kiziba camp in Kibuye. However, the space may be inadequate. If proved adequate, the Gihembe camp in Byumba will be considered for some or all refugees from Cyangugu.
(c) In addition, the predicament of the 315 former Bukavu dissident soldiers was discussed. The government representative, who chaired the meeting, reiterated a request for participating organizations to assist these former rebels who are presently being accommodated at Ntendezi non-military camp in Cyangugu after being disarmed. Subsequently, UNHCR, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Government decided to initially establish their legal status prior to requesting humanitarian organizations for assistance. American Refugee Committee (ARC) is assisting the government with the preparation. Meanwhile, a site is being prepared at Coko in Nyaruguru district of Gikongoro province to receive those former rebels and ARC is providing assistance to the government.
(d) WFP has distributed a total of 65 tons of assorted food commodities since the outset of the conflict in Bukavu on 27 May.
6) Somalia
(a) Security improved in Bay, Bakol Regions, and South Somalia. Different militias in Bay and Bakol regions in south Somalia have reached an agreement over unification in Baidoa town after two years of fighting. In July 2002, two groups of RRA (Rahanwein Resistance Army) started to fight over the control of the regional capital, Baidoa, limiting access to humanitarian aid agencies and WFP sub-office was relocated to nearby Wajid town. Traditional elders participated in this peace process, which hopefully will result in improved security in other parts of the southwest and accessibility of humanitarian assistance.
(b) Reports received indicated continued drought and rains in some parts of Somalia. Unusually good rains fell over most of southern, and parts of central Somalia, improving vegetation. Water reservoirs were replenished by rain showers offering relief to both human and livestock in parts of the Lower Shabelle region (coastal areas only), Gedo, Bay and Bakol. The rains did, however, not benefit crops, especially maize, which had already passed the critical grain-setting stage. In Juba valley crops are wilting except in the irrigated areas. In the northeast and northwest drought entered its fourth year and pastoral communities have lost more than half of their livestock. The Somalia Aid Coordination Body (SACB) issued a press release raising alarm about the deepening humanitarian crisis developing in Somalia triggered by the cumulative result of successive poor rains and civil conflict in some areas, especially Northwest ('Somaliland'), Northeast ('Puntland'), and Gedo and Lower Juba Valley in the South. As far as the central regions of Galgadud and South Mudug are concerned, the situation is not as severe as in the North. But assistance is still needed to prevent the livelihood crisis from becoming a full-blown emergency situation.
(c) Roadblocks have more than doubled this month, further reducing access to Beletwein town (Hiran region) of central Somalia. Transporters are pulling out of the main route due to an increased taxation by militias. Prices of commodities are rising as a result of the artificial shortage caused by the transporters' refusal to use the tarmac road that serves as the only direct link to the Mogadishu natural port. Furthermore, the prices of locally produced cereals doubled in one week in the affected area, reflecting serious cereal shortfall because of the drought and the effects of increased restrictions on business activities in interregional trade.
7) Sudan
(a) On 26 July, representatives of the UN, Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Diplomatic Corps began a three-day joint mission to Darfur region, to assess the degree of security, the current state of the mainly Arab militias and the status of the IDPs who have been driven away from their homes. The Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM), a body set up by the UN and GoS during the visit of the Secretary-General to monitor the progress made on the implementation of a joint UN-GoS communiqué, organized the mission. The mission will report its findings to a JIM meeting to be held on 2 August.
(b) Airdrops into Darfur are now imminent with the arrival last week of one MI-8 helicopter. Some 3,000 tons of food will be airdropped over a two-week period to eight locations. WFP needs an additional 5 helicopters to meet interagency needs for multi-disciplinary teams to assess health and sanitation concerns expected to deteriorate during the rainy season. The helicopters will also be used to transport high-value food commodities that cannot be air dropped, such as sugar and oil, as well as medical supplies.
(c) Some 647,000 beneficiaries received over 10,000 tons of food in July; 4,000 tons of food assistance was distributed to 251,000 beneficiaries in South Darfur, 3,000 tons of food was distributed to 198,000 beneficiaries in West Darfur and some 198,000 beneficiaries received 3,000 tons of food aid in North Darfur.
(d) As nutritional surveys over the past few months continue to show dangerously high levels of malnutrition and mortality, WFP is preparing to begin a three to four month blanket supplementary feeding programme for 240,000 children under 5 years in the three Darfur states. Children will receive corn-soya blend (CSB), oil and sugar as part of their take-home ration. WFP is also finalizing plans to start an emergency school feeding programme in Darfur. Institutional feeding in one hospital in Kass has started, with WFP delivering a one-month stock of assorted commodities for 600 beneficiaries.
(e) Confirmed contributions received to date for the Darfur EMOP 10339.0 amount to approximately USD 69 million, representing about 35 percent of the total operational requirements.
C) West Africa Region: (1) Chad, (2) Cote d'Ivoire, (3) Guinea. (4) Liberia
1) Chad
(a) On 24 July WFP, UNHCR, MSF Holland and CARE participated in a joint mission to Farchana and Bredjing, to follow up on the security situation. After the refugee uprising and violent clashes with Chadian army, the security situation has calmed in the eastern Chad refugee camps in the last few days. WFP food aid monitors and partner agencies have resumed food distribution in Farchana and Bredjing camp.
(b) The estimated caseload for the refugee population by UNHCR is about 180,030 comprised of the camp population, spontaneous arrivals and those registered for transfer at the border. Current refugee caseload inhabiting 9 camps in eastern Chad totals over 151,175. The transfer of refugees from the border continues. UNHCR is making preliminary plans for refugee relocation using advanced geological information of ground-water resources. Emphasis will be to disperse the heavily populated camps of Bredjing and Farchana and refugees that have settled in the Amnabak area.
(c) To date in the month of July, under EMOP 10327, Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad, a total of about 2,110 tons was distributed to 133,838 refugees. An additional 250 tons were delivered to Iriba for distribution in Bahai.
(d) WFP has been rushing to get the much needed CSB to the refugee camps. It is estimated that transport to Abéché via the northern desert route, will take between 6 and 10 days. Logistic arrangements for the transport of the food once it has arrived in the centre zone, is currently under review. August is considered to be one of the worst months of the rainy season and transport will be extremely difficult and challenging, particularly for the camps located in the central zone. WFP is expecting increases in the transport rates, as all transport usually comes to a halt in Chad during the months of August and early September. Air drops will only be considered when all transport options have been exhausted. A budget revision will allow WFP's humanitarian air service to respond to growing demands of the humanitarian community to increase flights and routing within Chad and in the region.
(e) A joint UNHCR/WFP nutrition mission started 29 July, in response to the results of the nutritional survey that was carried out by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) which reveals alarming malnutrition rates and a worrisome health situation in the camps, and calls for a multi-sector intervention. The findings indicate the level of Global Acute Malnutrition will require a blanket supplementary feeding and therapeutic feeding programmes. The mission will review survey findings, beneficiary caseload, food and health needs in the camps, and implementation modalities.
2) Cote d'Ivoire
(a) Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo and armed and non-armed opposition parties are in Accra, Ghana for talks trying to restore Cote d'Ivoire's peace process. Ghanaian President John Kufuor, the current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and UN Secertary-General Kofi Annan are co-chairing this event, which is also being attended by several African leaders including Gabonese President Omar Bongo and South African President Thabo Mbeki. Concerns remain regarding the possibility of public demonstrations before or right after the conclusion of talks in Accra.
(b) On 28 July, members of an unofficial militia loyal to the President attacked an ONUCI vehicle with rocks at an intersection in Abidjan. The UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire is investigating reports of human rights abuses in Korhogo, following the recent alleged failed attempt to assassinate New Forces leader Soro Guillame. So far, four mass graves have been found with 150 corpses. The investigation continues.
(c) From 21 to 27 July, 875 metric tons of various food commodities were distributed to some 95,850 beneficiaries including 3,695 refugees in camps.
(d) Thus far, the acceptability of textured vegetable protein (TVP), a soy-based product being piloted in the school feeding programme, has been positive. This pilot is being undertaken in partnership with the national school canteens directorate [DNC]. The TVP is a contribution from the Archer Daniels Midland corporation with the training budget provided for by the world Initiative for Soy in Human Health.
3) Guinea
(a) The situation in Guinea is generally calm. The government continues to distribute rice in Conakry under police escort in order to deter further looting from residents. Rice imports are being subsidized but citizens still have to queue up for hours to purchase it at the subsidized price.
(b) UNHCR and WFP have decided to stop providing general food assistance to the 1,600 Sierra Leoneans who decided to stay in Guinea once the repatriation exercise was completed. Two convoys on 15 and 21 July transported 660 refugees, bringing the total number of repatriated Sierra Leoneans to almost 12,170. Preliminary results of the refugee verification exercise indicate that there are a total of 75,800 refugees, excluding the 1,600 Sierra Leonean refugees who are no longer entitled to assistance.
(c) From 12 to 25 July, a total of some 5,695 tons were distributed to about 28,055 beneficiaries.
(d) WFP is reviewing a school feeding project for the 2004-2005 academic year for the Nzerekore region, submitted by GTZ, that would assist some 63,000 children. Meanwhile, Premiere Urgence (PU) has completed its 2003-2004 school feeding activities for some 7,000 children in Kissidougou. WFP is searching for new implementing partners as PU will close its office at this location in August.
(e) Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has submitted its post distribution monitoring report to WFP and is holding focus groups with beneficiaries at Boreah and Telikoro camps. Preliminary findings indicate that children play a significant role in assisting families through agriculture and trading activities.
4) Liberia
(a) The security situation in the country in general is calm. Notes of concern are isolated cases of intimidation and harassment by MODEL ex-fighters in Grand Kru county, violent house break-ins in Monrovia, and unconfirmed reports of Liberians being recruited and trained to fight in Guinea.
(b) From 21 to 27 July, a total of about 1,350 tons of food was distributed to 134,420 beneficiaries including some 106,830 IDPs and 7,301 ex-combatants and dependents. Since December last year, some 60,080 ex-combatants have been disarmed and processed for demobilization.
(c) A total of 145 tons was used to feed some 19,750 children in 79 schools from 21 to 27 July. Also during this period, the Emergency School Feeding baseline survey was completed in Bong and Margibi counties. Further, WFP and implementing partners ADRA & Germain Agro Action (GAA), as well as officials from the Ministry of Education, visited 13 schools in Montserrado county as part of its school monitoring programme. ADRA is assisting 358 schools with about 136,275 beneficiaries, while GAA assist 126 schools with some 57,340 children.
(d) WFP food aid was provided to 7,114 beneficiaries at feeding centres in seven counties as part of the nutrition programme, while assistance was given to some 1,078 beneficiaries as part of the interventions in support of HIV/AIDS affected persons in Montserrrado and Margibi counties. A six-day training for Ministry of Health (MoH) staff involved the supplementary feeding programme in Montserrrado county, which was conducted by WFP in collaboration with the MoH and UNICEF, was completed on 24 July.
(e) A WFP assessment team has completed an evaluation of the Food Support to Local Initiatives (FSLI) projects in Lofa,Grand Gedeh and Nimba counties. The mission noted that while most of the communities occupied by returnees are still food insecure, WFP FSLI projects (agriculture and infrastructure) constituted a major pull factor for those returning on their own. The mission recommended that FSLI activities target production groups engaged in rice cultivation and tree crops rehabilitation, and that priority be given to newly accessible locations in Lofa, Grand Gedeh and Nimba. Continuing FSLI activities would enable WFP to continue enhancing the environment for the reintegration of returning populations.
(f) Newly received contributions reduce the food pipeline break by 24 percent to 15,258 tons. Most of these commodities are expected to arrive in October and November. Meanwhile, the food pipeline will face a break of 622 tons of pulses for the August food distribution. A critical pipeline break is expected in September for all commodities except sugar, except when the arrival of the US-FFP shipment of 8,480 tons can be accelerated. Unless additional resources are mobilized there will be another critical shortfall of 11,241 tons of cereals, 1750 tons of pulses, 766 tons of oil, 1405 tons of CSB and 3 tons of sugar from July to December.
D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Angola, (3) Lesotho, (4) Madagascar, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Namibia, (8) Swaziland, (9) Zambia, (10) Zimbabwe
1) Regional
(a) FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAMs) reports for Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe are now available on the WFP website http://www.wfp.org, under operations/emergency needs/online library.
(b) The reports provide information on the national level food supply situation in the region for the forthcoming marketing year and give estimates on food deficits and the assistance required to meet them. The findings and estimates have been incorporated into the Year One Implementation Plans for the five countries, included in the Regional PRRO to start in January 2005.
2) Angola
(a) The PRRO 10054.2, Support to Return and Resettlement, continues to be severely under-funded. Only 24 percent of the operation is resourced. Unless new contributions are soon confirmed, WFP will be unable to distribute cereals during the "lean season", beginning in September. This will seriously hamper the resettlement process, reducing the incentive for populations to return to their areas of origin and placing further hardship on those trying to rebuild their lives. WFP is actively approaching donors in order to raise additional contributions.
(b) Reduction in donor support may also disrupt WFP Special Operation 10146.1, Passenger Air Transport Service. The Service currently flies to nine of Angola's 18 provinces, carrying about 3,000 NGOs and UN humanitarian workers per month, who entirely depend on it. Funding for this operation is only available through the end of September.
3) Lesotho
(a) Between 21 and 27 July, WFP and its implementing partners distributed some 1,300 tons of food to 109,000 beneficiaries. The supplementary feeding programme assisted 19,000 children under five years of age, 7,200 pregnant and nursing mothers, 10,800 HIV/AIDS and TB patients in health care centers, 18,300 orphans and vulnerable children, 52,600 elderly and unemployed recipients under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme and 900 beneficiaries under FFW activities.
(b) According to the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) and the CFSAM projections, some 948,310 people will experience income and food deficits requiring an estimated 43,000 tons of food aid through March 2005.
4) Madagascar
(a) The UN thematic group on HIV/AIDS met the representative of the African Development Bank on his mission to Madagascar. The purpose of the meeting was to share information on the UN System activities related to the HIV/AIDS and to see the possibility of financing some of these projects.
(b) The fourth Life Skills Training course for 30 primary school teachers from one district in the south was held in collaboration with CISCO (District Education Authority) and Peace Corps Volunteers. The teachers learnt the facts about HIV/AIDS, and how to raise awareness of the disease amongst their students through a range of facilitation techniques.
5) Malawi
(a) The national Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) and FAO/WFP's Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) estimate that 1.3 million people, or about 11 percent of the population, will experience a food deficit between June this year and the next harvest in April/May 2005. If maize prices increase above the projected prices of MK 17 (USD 0.16) to MK 27 (USD 0.25) per kilogram, the size of total deficit and the number of people requiring food assistance will increase significantly. Up to 86 percent of those affected are located in the southern part of the country.
6) Mozambique
(a) Despite significant improvements in production this year, the CFSAM estimates that 49, 000 tons of cereal relief food aid will be required in 2004/05 for about 187,000 people recovering from a succession of floods and drought combined with the impact of HIV/AIDS.
7) Namibia
(a) Between 12 and 17 July, WFP and its implementing partners distributed food to about 13,080 refugees. Some 12,665 refugees reside in Osire Camp and the rest in Kassava Camp.
(b) The Namibia EMOPs 10145 for Angolan refugees in Namibia, and 10334.0 for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by food insecurity and impact of HIV/AIDS, remain under-funded.
8) Swaziland
(a) On 23 July, WFP held its strategic meeting on programming and implementation for year one of the regional PRRO. The meeting brought together different stakeholders to discuss how they can collaborate with WFP in implementing the long-term initiatives under the PRRO. Strengthened coordination among implementers, Government ministries and donors was
highlighted as critical to an effective relief and recovery response. Participants were encouraged to look beyond food in their interventions and incorporate a holistic service approach to the recovery response. Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs), for example, were said to need other inputs beyond just food; they require books, water, clothing, education and psychosocial support, among others.
(b) Scarcity of water continues to hamper the school feeding programme in some schools in the Lowveld. The Etjeni Primary School, located in Somntongo Inkundla, is one such school, where children are required daily to bring at least two liters of water from home for cooking at the school.
9) Zambia
(a) Although the food security situation is stable in most parts of the country, WFP is currently feeding some 22,700 schoolchildren in 61 schools in five districts in southern and eastern provinces under the pilot School Feeding programme.
(b) The programme provides a daily ration of micronutrient rich porridge (CSB) to primary school children attending classes in the participating schools. The programme is carried out in close collaboration with UNICEF, who provides the non-food items, such as cooking utensils, water and sanitation, de-worming and HIV/AIDS awareness training.
(c) WFP has provided hot meals at departure and transit centres for 2,700 repatriated refugees since June. Additionally, WFP is making available humanitarian daily rations to the refugees during repatriation. About 220 tons of food aid (cereal and pulses) have been transported to Cazombo, in the eastern Moxico Province of Angola as a two-month reintegration package for about 7,000 refugees expected to return to Cazombo, Luena and Luau regions of Angola. About 87 percent of approximately 131,000 refugees resident in the six designated sites in Zambia depend on food assistance from WFP.
10) Zimbabwe
(a) Independent press reports revealed that the provincial governors and resident ministers in Masvingo and Matebeleland provinces have approached the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare appealing for humanitarian assistance, including food aid. The provinces, in the southern and western parts of the country, are prone to perennial droughts and include areas currently facing food deficits. Former farm workers are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity given their loss of livelihood.
(b) The price of maize grain has further increased since June. In Bulawayo, the price of a 50kg bag of maize has risen from Zim$40,000 (USD 7.41) to Zim$57,000 (USD 10.56). Most children in the city are reported to rely on WFP's school feeding programme for their first meal of the day.
E) Asia: (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) India, (4) Nepal
1) Bangladesh
(a) This week, the DER (Local Consultative Group on Disaster and Emergency Response) has been working on the consolidation of the assessments from 29 districts affected by floods.
(b) As of 26 July, WFP had released some 24 tons of high energy biscuits and 3,000 tons of rice through its regular NGO partners for emergency response. WFP has also contributed over 100,000 polypropylene bags for use by the affected families through IFRC/Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and Islamic Relief.
(c) Minister for Food and Disaster Management, H.E. Mr. Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, said he appreciated the assistance provided thus far by the UN and international organizations and welcomed continued support to government efforts in response to the consequences of the flooding.
2) DPR Korea
(a) Heavy rains in the far North of the country caused landslides and river flooding which disrupted the road link to one of the five WFP Sub-Offices (Hyesan in Ryanggang Province). A team that was stranded there for a week was finally able to get back to Pyongyang by train.
(b) From 24 to 30 July, sixteen out of the eighteen Local Food Production factories were operational. Production for the fourth week of July was 1,500 tons, slightly above the planned requirement for EMOP 10141.02
(c) With the arrival of several wheat contributions, all but 900,000 beneficiaries will receive their cereal rations in August-September. However, unless additional contributions are confirmed immediately and shipments expedited, by October cereal distributions to all beneficiaries and FFW programmes for the fall season will have to be suspended. Remaining loans still need to be reimbursed from future contributions.
(d) The situation is similarly bleak for other commodities such as vegetable oil, pulses and sugar. Young children on the west coast received oil only for two months this year and no pulses at all. By October, this group of beneficiaries will be completely deprived of WFP food rations, except 100g of blended food (produced locally without sugar).New pledges of 195,000 tons are required for August this year to January next year.
3) India
Assam:
(a) The overall flood situation of the state is improving. Water logging in the low laying areas of the affected district is posing a threat. A total of 12.29 million of people in Assam have been affected by the floods. Out of them, 1.38 million people are still in 1,477 operational relief centers.
(b) There are reports of severe damages to agriculture crops, due to the flooding which has submerged 1.159 million hectares of crop area. The yield of major kharif crops Bao Ahu and Sali paddy (winter rice) have been affected in about 1.1 million hectares and crop damage is estimated to be of 50 percent and above as per damage assessment report.
(c) Landslides at several places are hindering the transportation of relief materials to remote areas, and due to inundations there are very few storage points for relief food stock. This may result in food insecurity in many areas. Also damages to the staple food crop cultivation and lack of availability of fodder for livestock may cause food insecurity among marginal and poor farmers.
Bihar:
(d) The current flood has affected more than 21 million people in the state. Around 532,614 families have been rendered homeless and a population of 1,249,147 has taken shelter in 949 relief centers. Some 1.38 million hectares of crop area have been damaged.
(e) Relief food has been distributed, among which 703 tons of ready made food by airdrops.
(f) WFP is closely monitoring the situation caused by severe flooding in Assam and Bihar states, and actively participates in UN Disaster Management Team meetings.
4) Nepal
(a) According to the last Statistical Disaster Situation Report from the Nepal Red Cross Society, floods and landslides in July have caused the deaths of at least 185 people and have affected a total of 129,683 families, of whom 37,602 have been displaced.
(b) From 2 to 4 August, WFP/UNJLC will field a rapid assessment review mission of the worst affected areas: Dhanusa, Mahottari, and Sarlahi Districts. The local Red Cross resources in those areas have been, or are about to be, stretched beyond their capacity. The mission will review the preliminary needs assessment that the Red Cross has conducted from a WFP perspective and will provide an understanding of how to support the Red Cross, if appropriate and feasible.
(c) Next week, the Ministry of Home Affairs is convening a meeting to discuss and determine the exact situation and the appropriateness of a formal request for UN assistance. The minister shared WFP's concern about the scale and timing of this year's flooding and welcomed the dispatch of next week's WFP/UNJLC technical assessment mission.
F) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Colombia, (2) Guatemala, (3) Haiti, (4) Nicaragua
1) Colombia
(a) The security environment remains uncertain and volatile. On 23 July, 13 soldiers were killed during an illegal armed group attack in the southwestern province of Putumayo. A Colombian bishop has been kidnapped by suspected rebels and according to local authorities and church officials, he will be released with a message for the Colombian Government.
(b) From 19 to 25 July, in the context of the PRRO 10158, Assistance to People Displaced by Violence, WFP distributed 278 metric tons of food in 10 provinces to some 31,910 beneficiaries.
(c) Local authorities and WFP will provide humanitarian assistance and food to at least 1,500 indigenous people who are returning to their homes, as well as to 20 displaced families in the province of Antioquia.
2) Guatemala
(a) The local government is assisting 25 evacuated families affected by the overflow of the Pinula River in the municipality of Santa Catarina Pinula. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural damage amounted to USD 275,000, affecting around 750 families. Floods were also reported in Santa Cruz del Quiché. In addition, strong winds caused damages in the province of Chiquimula.
(b) In the recently released Human Development Report 2004, Guatemala appears with the lowest Human Development Index in Central America despite the fact that its per capita income is higher than Honduras and Nicaragua. Also, in the first six months of the year, the Office of the Procurator for Human Rights has registered more than seven thousand complaints of human rights violations in the capital alone, which equals the number of complaints for the whole 2003.
(c) A new Minister of Interior was appointed after the former minister who had failed to control the rate of violent crimes resigned. More than 1,600 people were murdered during the first half of 2004.
(d) Hundreds of farmers from the Agrarian Platform, an umbrella group of farmers' organizations, gathered in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, Congress, and the Presidential House, to demand the observance of the Social Attention Plan for the Coffee Crisis, which includes budgetary allocations for land renting and agricultural inputs. The coffee crisis was one of the factors that led to the nutritional crisis of 2001-2002, which prompted WFP's response through an EMOP and a subsequent PRRO operation.
(e) A total of 71 tons of maize, beans, CSB and vegetable oil was distributed to 6,425 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Santa Bárbara, San Sebastián Huehuetenango, and San Gaspar Ixchil, province of Huehuetenango, under the recovery component of regional PRRO 10212.
3) Haiti
(a) Although there was a slight improvement in the number of incidents confirmed this week, the security environment remains volatile and particularly sensitive in the Gonaives area. Joint MINUSTAH and Haitian National Police operations seem to have provided some stability.
(b) The fieldwork for the verification process of the lists of beneficiaries in the flooded areas (done in partnership with IFRC, Haitian Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, Caritas and WFP) was completed. Preliminary results show a sharp decrease of households in the region from the previous lists.
(c) Over USD one billion was pledged, about a third as loans, at a donor conference co-hosted by the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank, the UN and the World Bank, in which representatives from 30 countries and 32 international organizations participated. The Conference sought USD 924 million to support the Haitian Government's Interim Co-operation Framework (ICF), outlining Haiti's priority needs and programs over the next two years. The ICF had identified this amount as the two-year funding gap in an overall needs assessment, totaling USD 1.37 billion. .
(d) A strike at the Customs offices in Port au Prince is delaying the clearance of wheat (408 tons) and lentils (100 tons) already in the port and will jeopardize the arrival of rice (1,747 tons), salt (86 tons), and pulses (244 tons).
(e) Field visits confirm that about 40 percent of health centers and orphanages in the West, North and North East supported by WFP EMOP, currently face a pipeline break. The lack of cereals, fortified blended foods, and sugar in the country has halted food distributions to partners. In an attempt to avoid a total EMOP pipeline break of resourced commodities, WFP intends to resume deliveries (once incoming cargo is available) using a reduced ration under this operation.
(f) From 19 to 25 July, WFP continued to support the distribution of UNICEF health kits in health centers in the North and North East as part of its monitoring activities. With the end of the school year, monitors are collecting school reports in preparation of the monitoring reports.
(g) The major challenge faced by WFP is to secure sufficient support from donors to carry out current and future programmes. The current EMOP 10347 shortfall stands at 56 percent of the USD 7.9 million required for the emergency operation. Up to now, food distributions under the EMOP have been made using PRRO/CP resources. The first shipment of EMOP-food is only expected until August, due to a strike in the Freeport of Bahamas. As for the Country Programme, the current shortfall stands at 76 percent. The lack of funding implies a total pipeline break in September.
4) Nicaragua
(a) On 23 July, WFP distributed food to 2,500 beneficiaries in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture (MAGFOR), the Municipal Committee for Prevention of Disasters and the Coordinators of the 17 shelters in the area affected by the disastrous heavy rains. On 26 July, WFP, MAGFOR and the Committee of the Municipal Civil Defence began a one-month food distribution for the shelters of Wanawas, La Isla and Urbano. On 27 July, WFP distributed 32.64 tons of corn, rice, beans, vegetable oil, cereal and powdered milk in the shelters of Manceras Central, Manceras Abajo, Manceras Arriba y Cano Negro. It is anticipated that the total distribution in the shelters in more accessible communities would be completed in two or three days, with the collaboration of the Army.
(b) An IRA/EMOP with a budget of USD 162,101 was approved for the purchase of 296 metric tons of food. About 1,500 affected families in Rio Blanco, Matiguás and Prinzapolka will benefit from daily family rations in the initial phase of 30 days and 1000 families of Rio Blanco and Matiguas will be benefited for an additional 60 days.
(c) WFP, UNICEF, and the shelters coordinators will organize sessions to promote nursing practices among mothers with newborns and infants of up to 2 years of age, which will include complementary food for infants of 6 months to 2 years of age. In addition, WFP and MINSA (MoH) will coordinate an educational campaign in preventive health and food preparation hygiene for MINSA personnel, health brigades and shelter coordinators.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons (MT).