(A) Highlights
(B) Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Russian Federation
(C) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Djibouti, (4) Eritrea, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Somalia, (8) Sudan, (9) Tanzania, (10) Uganda
(D) West Africa: (1) Chad, (2) Liberia, (3) Mauritania, (4) Sahel region
(E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Namibia, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe
(F) Asia: (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) Indonesia
(G) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia, (3) Guatemala, (4) Haiti, (5) Nicaragua, (6) Peru
From David Kaatrud, Director of the Analysis, Assessment and Preparedness Service (ODA). Available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page (www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from Carlo.Scaramella@wfp.org, Chief of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (ODAP). 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) Highlights:
- Humanitarian activities in DRC are restricted due to the wave of violence spreading in North Kivu province.
- WFP and FAO released the results of joint crop and food assessment missions to Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
- Because of access limitations, operations in DPR Korea's Chagang Province will be suspended from through February 2005. This impacts 7 counties, where WFP previously had access.
- UNHCR and WFP plan to verify reports of new arrivals of Sudanese refugees in Chad's Tissi area, bordering the Central African Republic.
- In Somalia, accessibility and movement of humanitarian assistance have been greatly hindered due to reoccurring insecurity, natural disasters and poor infrastructure.
B) Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Russian Federation
1) Afghanistan
(a) The security situation remained relatively calm throughout most of the country. However, UN missions were suspended to some districts in Nangarhar in the east, and in Paktya in the southeast, due to continued threats of improvised explosive devices, rockets, landmines and ambushes targeting the Government, coalition forces and the humanitarian community.
(b) From 16 to 22 December, some 662,315 beneficiaries received over 3,570 tons of food.
(c) On 16 December, WFP and the Departments of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (DRRD) of Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces discussed,in order to enhance collaboration in the assessment and monitoring of projects in the region. DRRD and WFP are carrying out joint monitoring of the projects to improve the implementation process. Cooperating partners were asked to provide project proposals for the recovery component, in line with the goal of the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) 10233, Food Assistance to Afghanistan to Re-establish Livelihoods and Household Food Security.
(d) In Hirat, DRRD helped WFP in monitoring several food-for-work projects in Farsi and Ghoryan districts. Some 450 tons of food were distributed among over 3,700 workers who participated in the rehabilitation of 29 springs in the area.
2) Russian Federation
(a) The security situation in the region remained unpredictable and tense.
(b) According to Danish Refugee Council (DRC), as of 13 December, in Ingushetia there were about 37,410 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Chechnya; out of them 23,630 persons reside in private accommodation, and about 13,780 in spontaneous settlements.
(c) During the period of 1 to 15 December, WFP Cooperating Partners (CP) commenced the 12th relief distribution cycle in Chechnya and Ingushetia. Over 400 tons of food commodities were distributed to some 70,630 members of food-insecure poor households in Chechnya, and 141 tons - to 13,140 IDPs registered in Ingushetia.
(d) The delivery of 200 tons of food for school feeding in Chechnya for December by CPs was finalized in November. In December, WFP's school feeding programme supports about 78,955 pre- and primary school children in 382 institutions in Chechnya, including some 3,850 children in 56 school institutions in Nozha-Yurt, where WFP expanded to in the beginning of December.
(e) The Food for Work (FFW) programme continues in the city of Grozny and districts of Achkhoi-Martan, Gudermes, Shali and Kurchaloy by WFP CPs People in Need (PIN), Center for Prevention of Humanitarian Catastrophes (CPHC) and Open Continent. Some 150 FFW groups are involved in the programme in December, with a total number of about 2,000 participants (representing 10,000 beneficiaries). The distribution of food rations for the previous month is currently underway.
(f) In December WFP started Food-for-Training (FFT) activities with the International Medical Corps in Grozny and in Ingushetia. Within the framework of this activity, 80 students from vulnerable families will study at driving, sewing and hairdresser's courses.
(g) Some 7 tons of WFP food commodities for the Tuberculosis (TB) Programme are to be distributed to some 365 in- and out-patients in TB hospitals of both republics in December. Distributions are carried out by WHO, WFP partner in the TB programme in Ingushetia, and MSF Holland in Chechnya.
(h) Caritas Internationalis continues to provide hot meals for the most vulnerable population (1,600 beneficiaries) in Grozny city. In December WFP released some 13 tons of food commodities to support this project.
C) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) DR Congo, (3) Djibouti, (4) Eritrea, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Somalia, (8) Sudan, (9) Tanzania, (10) Uganda
1) Burundi
(a) During the week, military confrontations in Bujumbura Rural, an ambush on a civilian vehicle in Rumonge (Bururi province) and increased armed banditry in Bujumbura town were reported.
(b) Following acute food insecurity in Kirundo province and reported vulnerability of the poorest populations, WFP met with different partners, including local organizations, in the province based in Bujumbura, to discuss methods of improving targeting. They agreed to involve local parishes, religious communities and grassroots social institutions in the process. Henceforth, a new strategy involving all these parties to back up the local administration authorities and distribution committees in the targeting and lists verification was established. WFP will facilitate their movements in the field.
(c) Between 13 and 19 December, WFP distributed some 1,650 tons of food aid to over 220,700 beneficiaries through different programme activities.
(d) Last week, WFP publicly validated beneficiary lists in three communes of Ngozi province. The same activity was carried out by WFP's partner CARE in Gihanga commune of Bubanza province. WFP monitors also monitored all targeted distributions and reported that rain hindered some distributions in Cankuzo and Bururi provinces. At some distribution sites in Cibitoke province, beneficiaries requested the updates to include other vulnerable persons, who were not previously targeted. Monitors also visited local markets in Kirundo, Kayanza and Muyinga provinces to view food availability and accessibility. They reported that food commodities were in short supply and expensive.
(e) Some 1,115 returnees from Tanzania, arriving through transit points in Muyinga, Ruyigi and Makamba provinces, benefited from returnee packages. WFP provided the returnees with a three-month return package, totaling close to 60 tons of food aid. Some 132 returnees who were not transferred to their communes benefited from wet rations at Nyabitare transit centre.
2) D.R. Congo
(a) A wave of violence has been spreading in North Kivu province. Various humanitarian sources confirmed the renewal of fierce fighting between regular government troops and soldiers from the RCD-Goma movement. Affected areas are Kanyabaonga, Nyabondo and Walikale. Several villages are reported to be completely abandoned. Local population are reported to have taken refuge in the nearest forests or in the safer areas in South Kivu.
(b) A joint MONUC, OCHA and WFP team fielded a humanitarian assessment mission to Kanyabayonga on 21 December. The mission will return on 24 December. Meanwhile, in the South Kivu province, humanitarian sources reported that the health situation of hundreds of people has been deteriorating in Minova. Located at 40 km south of Goma, Minova has been sheltering over 6,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled from Goma to safer areas in South Kivu. The humanitarian community has expressed concern over the increasing cases of cholera among hosting families in Minova.
(c) In South Kivu province, WFP provided over 730 tons to some 71,000 people. Most of the food was targeted to WFP supported school feeding programmes and safety net programmes in reinforcement to therapeutic and supplementary feeding activities. Due to the prevailing insecurity situation in North Kivu province, humanitarian activities were restricted. WFP released 156 tons of food commodities to feed approximately 7,200 beneficiaries in Goma and surrounding areas. In the Equateur, where WFP fosters the resettlement of returnees and agricultural production, 16 tons of food were provided to some 2,400 beneficiaries.
(d) In Ituri district, WFP delivered 171 tons of food for some 9,500 people, mainly malnourished children and their families. However, WFP's cooperating partner, German Agro Action (GAA) reported a suspension of food distributions to over 99,600 resettled IDPs, due to the resumed insecurity on the Bunia-Djugu axis.
(e) WFP's two year operation (2004-2005) has been resourced at 30 percent. Out of the total USD 157 million required initially, only USD 47.5 million has been resourced.
3) Djibouti
(a) After solving bureaucracy bottlenecks from the Government, WFP is now starting food distributions to assist drought victims in the districts of the northeast pastoral zone and the southeast border, namely: Tadjoura, Obock, Dikhil and Ali Sabieh.
(b) Presently, a three-month ration totaling 500 tons is being distributed to 2,270 families (11,350 people). Food distributions in Arta district were postponed until 27 December, due to the official visit of the President of Djibouti.
4) Eritrea
(a) UNICEF reported the level of malnutrition among children in Eritrea, currently standing at 16 percent, as being the highest in Africa. Some two million children under the age of 14 representing the country's population of four million, according to government statistics, are affected.
(b) The fourth convoy of 55 Eritrean returnees arrived in Tessenai on 13 December, increasing the total number of returnees, who returned to Eritrea in four conveys, to 177 individuals.
(c) The resourcing situation for EMOP 10261.01, Emergency Food Assistance to Victims of Crop Failure and Drought in Eritrea, remained unchanged. The commitment coverage stands about 80 percent of the total resource requirements. The PRRO commitment coverage increased, so that currently slightly more than 50 percent of the food requirements are covered.
5) Ethiopia
(a) The 2005 Humanitarian Appeal for Ethiopia was launched by the head of the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) on 23 December. The Appeal is the result of joint efforts by the Government of Ethiopia, UN agencies, (including WFP), international and national NGOs and donors and is based on comprehensive countrywide assessments of food, agriculture, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation conditions.
(b) For the first time, there is a difference in approach in addressing the needs of chronically food-insecure people and acutely food-insecure people. The Humanitarian Appeal requests support for 2.2 million acutely food-insecure people who will need emergency food assistance in Ethiopia in 2005. This is in addition to the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), which commences in January and is expected to eventually reach 5 million chronically food-insecure people in 2005, with cash and food transfers. However, Safety Net transfers for the pastoralist populations in Afar and Somali Regions are scheduled to start later in 2005 and the people assessed to be in need of assistance in these two regions will be covered through emergency food for the first half of 2005. Thus in addition to 765,000 people in Afar and Somali Regions who are part of the 2.2 million total number needing emergency food in 2005, the food requirements of a further 933,100 people in the two regions for the period January-June 2005 are covered by this Appeal. Conditions for these populations, especially northern zones of Afar Region and parts of eastern Somali Region, are of special concern, as rains were not sufficient to regenerate the pasture and water supplies on which these livestock-dependent communities depend.
(c) The total emergency food requirements under the Appeal are 476,000 tons (387,000 tons for general ration distributions and 89,000 tons for targeted supplementary feeding) valued at around USD 212 million (USD 159 million for general rations and USD 53 million for targeted supplementary feeding). Total requirements under the Appeal, including health, nutrition, water, sanitation and agriculture as well as food aid needs, are USD 272 million.
(d) Due to good harvests in the west and central parts of the country, the availability of cereals for local purchase in 2005 is expected to be substantial and will be assessed by the forthcoming "Cereal Availability Study".
(e) The 2005 Humanitarian Appeal has been developed as the Government of Ethiopia embarks on the PSNP, shifting from a system dominated by emergency humanitarian aid to longer-term food security initiatives. While the total number of people targeted for assistance has not drastically changed from that of last year, the number of people that now fall under the Humanitarian Appeal is significantly reduced. Emergency food needs are currently defined as the needs or people affected by acute, unpredictable disasters, which are mainly drought induced.
(f) The main features of the PSNP are multi-annual funding, transition towards cash-based programming, scaled-up public/community works, linkages with broader food-security programmes and harmonized budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. "Direct transfers", as food or cash transfers, will be provided to those households that are unable to participate in community-based activities.
(g) WFP contributes to both the emergency food needs and the safety net programme under the new WFP PRRO 10362.0, Enabling Livelihood Protection and Promotion, for 2005-07.
6) Kenya
(a) Short rains in Kenya have been well distributed in the eastern marginal agricultural areas and most of the pastoral north of the country. Most marginal agricultural areas report favorable crop growing conditions, and pasture and browse are also available in the northern and northeastern districts. Still, however, populations in pastoral districts, especially those who lost livestock assets during the drought, are expected to require additional food aid resources through part of 2005. In particular, areas of southern Kajiado and parts of Mandera have received little rainfall. Kajiado has been unseasonably dry, and pastoralists are moving their livestock north towards Nairobi in search of water and pasture. The situation is not expected to improve until the long-rains in April 2005.
(b) During the past week, WFP continued to distribute food to over 2 million people in all the 26 drought-affected districts.
(c) In order to assess the efficiency of the food-aid targeting, the impact of food-aid thus far, as well as the current food security status, WFP Kenya is currently conducting a Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) exercise in three districts - Malindi, Makueni and Kajiado. The joint WFP-partner survey teams are interviewing a random sampling of households, using a standard questionnaire developed by WFP. Data collected will help in assessing the impact of the drought emergency operation. It will also contribute towards the analysis of the short-rains assessment scheduled for January.
7) Somalia
(a) Heavy fighting resumed in Gelinsor between various sub-clans, spreading southwards to Galgaduud and Dusamereb districts in central Somalia, with further reinforcement of battlewagons from Mogadishu. Some 27 people have died, and there is an unknown number of displacements. Fresh fighting with an unknown number of casualties has also erupted in Mogadishu, due to attempts made by some prominent Mogadishu leaders to re-open the port with the arrival of the first vessel in nine years. As the humanitarian access is shrinking due to the insecurity, thousand of Somalia families remained without assistance.
(b) In the south, poor road conditions and insecurity continue to be the major obstacles, resulting in intermittent accessibility or no accessibility at all, in some areas. Meanwhile floods and the after-effects of the recent cyclone and mudslides have slowed down accessibility and movement of humanitarian assistance to the remote locations such as La Qoray and other settlements in East Sanag region in the north.
(c) Various humanitarian crisis indicators in Somalia still remain critical, with malnutrition rates ranging from 19 to 37 percent in Juba valley in the south and in Sool and Sanag regions in the north, while access to health services, sanitation, and drinking water is extremely low. This situation is further exacerbated by four years of consecutive drought that were recently followed by heavy but localized 'deyr' rains that resulted in massive livestock losses among the pastoralists in the north and localized floods in the high potential crop growing regions between the two main rivers of Juba and Shabelle.
(d) Large areas of Juba Valley in south Somalia still remain inaccessible due to the after-effects of mudslides. Most affected districts such as Jammame, Buale and Marreray, where most of the farms were flooded, remain inaccessible. The present crisis in Juba Valley remains a cause of concern and is being closely monitored. WFP has pre-positioned some 825 tons of food for general relief distribution in the port city of Kismayu, while transport to the lower Juba Valley is delayed due to flooding and insecurity.
(e) WFP Somalia has so far distributed about 205 tons of assorted food commodities, reaching 21,500 beneficiaries, targeting recent flood victims and pastoralists affected by the prolonged drought of the past four years.
8) Sudan
Darfur:
(a) Save the Children (SC)-UK announced on 21 December that they were withdrawing humanitarian operations in Darfur due to the deaths of four staff members in two separate incidents over the past two months as well as additional security incidents. WFP is in the process of identifying new partners to assist beneficiaries originally covered by Cooperating Partner (CP) SC-UK in North and South Darfur.
(b) The African Union's (AU) Chief Ceasefire Monitor reported that the Government of Sudan (GoS) is preparing a 'huge offensive' in Darfur. A serious escalation of violence is expected with the build up of troops, arms and ammunition in certain areas. Major roads to and from Nyala, South Darfur remain NO GO for the UN due to high levels of insecurity. Some 210,000 people are estimated to be cut off from assistance. Security incidents along roads to El Fasher, North Darfur and El Geneina, West Darfur have also been reported, hampering WFP food deliveries in these states.
(c) An AU helicopter was shot at on 20 December on its way to Labado. No injuries were reported though gunshot holes were seen on the body of the helicopter. It was not clear who fired at the helicopter. The AU team was on its way to investigate whether fighting was ongoing in Labado following an agreement by the GoS and Sudan's Liberation Army (SLA) to end hostilities in the area on 18 December.
(d) A new rebel group, the National Movement for the Eradication of Marginalisation, claimed responsibility for attacks on an oil field in South Darfur.
(e) The National Movement for Reform and Development (NMRD) signed an eight-point peace pact with the GoS on 17 December during talks in Abuja, Nigeria. The agreement calls for a cessation of hostilities, the freeing of political prisoners and prisoners of war, the voluntary return of displaced persons, disarmament of militias and help for NMRD rebels in returning to civilian life.
(f) On his visit to West Darfur, the Humanitarian Coordinator informed agencies and NGOs that humanitarian assistance to the state had improved over the months. The prevailing insecurity, however, remains a deterrent to voluntary IDP return. During the meeting, the Governor of West Darfur said that stable security in a number of villages allows for voluntary return. He said that he is working on a '75-village plan' that is currently undergoing translation from Arabic to English for the humanitarian community. The Humanitarian Coordinator also emphasized the growing need to assist victims of drought. WFP is already in discussions with CPs to assist residents and IDP's affected by drought.
(g) As of 20 December, approximately 19,300 tons of food have been dispatched by road, rail and air from hubs in Khartoum and El Obeid to the Darfur state capitals. On the other hand, some 16,490 tons of food were dispatched to an estimated 942,190 beneficiaries (based of dispatches) from AOs (Area Offices) in the three state capitals to CPs.
(h) The number of children enrolled in therapeutic and supplementary feeding centres run by Medecins Sans Frontières Holland (MSF-H) has declined over the past three months. Therapeutic feeding centres in Deliej, Bendisi, Mukjar and Um Kheir have less than 20 children each on average, as compared to over 35 each in September. Medecins Sans Frontières France (MSF-F) reports a similar trend in Zalingie camp and attributes improvements in the nutritional status of the affected population to improved food access through general food distributions and improved water and sanitation conditions.
(i) The loss of productive assets, poor levels of cultivation, expectations of a poor harvest and high food crop prices will seriously affect the livelihoods of IDPs and a portion of the resident population in the Darfurs in 2005. The emergency operation therefore urgently needs resources to meet the needs of the affected population. In particular, the cereals pipeline is in need of additional resources to immediately repay outstanding loans and to avoid a break in February 2005. Confirmed contributions received to date against the current EMOP amount to USD 181,201,841, 89 percent of the total requirement (the project ends on 31 Dec 2004. The majority of Special Operations (SOs) are fairly well-funded (92 percent resourced). However, SO 10364.0 (inter-agency security telecommunications network) is now on hold until more funds are secured.
Southern Sudan:
(j) A comprehensive peace agreement between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to end two decades of conflict in the south could be signed within days, according to officials involved in peace talks in Kenya this week.
(k) The security situation amongst the new and settled IDPs at Jebel Kujur remains calm. However, an attack by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the surrounding area of Rejaf East during the week led to causalities and displacement. Those displaced persons from Rejaf East will be requested by the Government to return to their areas of origin after registration.
(l) In the Red Sea State, vulnerable rural communities in Port Sudan are reducing their daily food intake as a coping mechanism in view of price increases of sorghum. Prices have increased by 53 percent compared to the same time this year. Slight price increases in cereals were observed in White Nile State.
(m) In the Nuba Mountains, harvest of long maturing sorghum crop continues. Although the food security situation outlook is strong for the current quarter due to the harvest, pockets of food insecurity have been reported in parts of the state. This is due to inequitable access to productive land as well as recent returnees who were not able to cultivate.
(n) The next phase of EMOP 10048.03, Food Assistance to Population Affected by War and Drought, is undergoing the approval process this week. The new phase of the EMOP is broken down by geographical clusters: South, East (Kassala and Red Sea state) and the Transitional Zones (Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile). The beneficiary categories are vulnerable residents, internally displaced (IDPs) and Refugee and IDP returnees. Upon finalisation of the EMOP, WFP plans to assist an estimated 3.2 million people (from January-December 2005) with a gross requirement of some 267,900 tons of assorted food commodities, at a total cost of USD 307,806,424.
(o) As of 15 December, WFP has dispatched almost 3,000 tons of commodities for the Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) in the Northern Sector. Quantities dispatched include commodities airdropped to the Southern Sector locations as well. WFP has started weekly flights to Bentiu using the Rubkona airstrip.
(p) Sudan's EMOP 10048.02 requires a total of 345,325 tons of food equivalent to USD 367,973,225. Confirmed contributions received to date against this EMOP amount to USD 239,392,795 with a remaining shortfall of about 34.9 percent of the total operational requirements. In terms of tonnage, a total of 258,815 tons is confirmed, representing a shortfall of approximately 25 percent of the total requirement.
9) Tanzania
(a) Upon instructions from the Area Security Management Team, UN staff and implementing partners only travel between Kasulu and Kibondo in two-car convoys or with police escorts.
(b) The DRC Truth and Reconciliation Commission visited Nyarugusu refugee camp in western Tanzania, where it called on refugees to return to DRC, and assured them of DRC Government support. The Governor of the eastern DRC province of Katanga also visited the camp and made similar appeals to the refugees. The refugees are, however, concerned about insecurity, landmines, unemployment and other issues in their home country and expressed reluctance to return without the support of a facilitated repatriation programme.
10) Uganda
(a) The ceasefire declared by the Government of Uganda (GoU) in mid-November remains in place and has been extended to 31 December 2004, although the designated safe zone for the Lord's Resistance Army has been reduced to 100 sq km. The GoU has announced that the ceasefire zone has been extended to southern Sudan to allow rebel leader Joseph Kony to meet with his deputy. It is anticipated that a former Minister for northern Uganda, who is mediating between the GoU and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), may meet the LRA leader soon.
(b) During the week, the security situation in the Acholi and Lango sub-regions (Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira districts) remained unpredictable, with frequent clashes between the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) and the LRA, who continue to attack civilians and loot property outside of the ceasefire area.
(c) WFP food distributions continue to reach some 1.4 million displaced persons, 154,000 refugees and other vulnerable persons. During the period from 11 to 18 December, close to 4,730 tons of WFP relief food assistance were distributed to over 345,300 persons, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in camps in Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira districts in the northern Acholi sub-region; refugees, school children and other vulnerable persons.
D) West Africa Region: (1)Chad, (2) Liberia, (3) Mauritania, (4) Sahel region
1) Chad
(a) The security situation is affecting humanitarian operations in Chad. Growing Chadian military movement was reported along the border near Tine, where WFP convoys from Libya pass through. In Amnabak, a worker of CARE was reportedly wounded by a bullet shot by members of the Brigade in Guereda. Premiere Urgence reported that an unknown group attacked their truck at Badine, (some 55 km from Abeche), injuring one person. Some tension exists in the light of upcoming elections. This may have an effect on WFP's operations in the area.
(b) UNHCR reports as of 13 December estimate a presence of a total of some 202,255 refugees in camps. Another 2,800 refugees are to be relocated from border sites. There are unconfirmed reports of refugees returning to the Sudan following meetings between Sudanese leaders and refugees, urging them to return. The leaders reportedly informed the refugees that there is reduction of assistance and therefore they must go back home. Refugee arrivals were reported in the region of Tissi bordering the Central African Republic. UNHCR is planning to conduct a verification assessment together with WFP.
(c) UNHCR and local authorities are currently discussing plans to relocate Sudanese refugees from Oure Cassoni and Amnabak to new sites in the Biltine area (some 90 km north of Abeche). Environment protection and cooking fuel remain the most contentious issues among refugees and the local population. The authorities reportedly said that wood collection must be completely ruled out and that UNHCR must find an alternative solution before agreeing to building new sites in the Biltine area. Support to the local population is stated a precondition for the project. Furthermore, camp managers are urging UNHCR to intervene in order to support the increasing number of Chadian spontaneous arrivals camping around the camps.
(d) A nutritional survey from Action Contre la Faim (ACF), with WFP participation, is currently underway in Treguine camp and it's neighbouring local communities. Preliminary reports indicate that nutritional levels, though not alarming, raise some concerns. Results will be released shortly. MSF Holland also plans to conduct a nutritional survey in and around Bredging refugee camp in the coming weeks.
(e) WFP has completed the first 15-day distribution cycle for December, providing 1,473 tons to some 197,430 beneficiaries. The second cycle on 22 December targeted over 202,255 beneficiaries with about 1,655 tons, subject to the arrival of the convoy from the Libyan corridor. Convoys from Libya are facing delays due to customs problems at the border as well as continuous requests for paying fees from various authorities. WFP is following up on the performance of this corridor.
(f) The Blanket Supplementary Feeding programme, undertaken by World Vision International, is ongoing in Touloum, Amnabak and Farchana camps. In the other camps, distributions will start when oil becomes available.
(g) Total in-country stocks are sufficient to meet the refugees' requirements till mid January 2005 with a full ration of 2,100 kcal per person. Additional commodities are expected to arrive early 2005, allowing a quite healthy pipeline until June 2005. However, assistance to local populations will be kept at minimum to avert a break in the pipeline for refugee feeding.
2) Liberia
(a) The major security concerns during the period were centered on the large-scale students' demonstrations over school closures and on the payment of second allowances to the disarmed ex-combatants. The payment of these allowances by UN MIssion in Liberia (UNMIL) to ex-combatants proceeded relatively smoothly into the official end payment date of 18 December, despite of some minor and isolated incidents. Nevertheless, with over 3000 ex-combatants still yet to be paid, possibilities of unrest created by dissatisfied ex-combatants in the coming week still exist. Furthermore, the increasing prices of rice, especially during the Christmas season, is expected to contribute to some criminal activities in the country, since the price of rice will affect large numbers of the general Liberian population.
(b) A meeting among UNMIL's Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR and WFP, the main stakeholders in the IDP Repatriation and Resettlement exercise was prompted from the dissatisfaction expressed by different organizations regarding the slow pace of the exercise. It was originally planned that some 100,000 IDPs would be resettled by end of the year, but as of 19 December the number was only 6,533 IDPs resettled. The main constraints to the resettlement exercise have been the lack of transportation for IDP convoys, lack of resources and the ongoing rainy season. As a way forward, the meeting appointed LRRRC, the government body in charge of Refugees, Repatriation and Resettlement to take lead of the exercise supported by some NGOs.
(c) The national task force that was constituted to implement the government policy against sale of relief items in Liberia started holding sensitization visits to various security agencies in different Counties. During the week, WFP together with the task members comprising of Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Justice and LRRRC visited security agencies in Margibi, Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties. The security agencies were requested to arrest and prosecute those who will be caught trading in donated items including WFP food commodities. Copies of the Government statement will be widely circulated to IDP camps, schools, markets and other public places.
(d) The total of WFP provided food distributions during the past week amounted to 1,805 tons of food. The distributions benefited IDP's, facilitated returnees (IDP's and refugees), school children. In addition WFP provided wet feeding to Children Associated with Fighting Forces (CAFF) in the Interim Care Centers (ICC) under the ongoing demobilization process. The HIV/AIDS orphanage feeding program in and around Monrovia is also ongoing.
(e) WFP participated in the UN HIV/AIDS theme Group workshop on the development of a national Voluntary Counseling and Testing guidelines. The formulation of the guidelines is important in monitoring, controlling and evaluating the Voluntary Counseling and Testing component in the prevention, care and support of HIV/AIDS in Liberia
(f) WFP requires additional pledges and resources estimated at USD 15.8 Million to avert a shortfall of some 20,835 tons of various commodities through May 2005.
3) Mauritania
(a) According to the latest WFP/CILSS/FAO joint crop assessment, locusts have caused crop losses of up to 44 percent in the country, with some regions suffering higher losses (see also below, under 'Sahel region'). The last distribution of EMOP 10249 commodities is underway to reach 110,000 people affected by the locust infestation and drought.
(b) WFP and the Government have signed a Letter of Understanding for the PRRO 10359.0, that will assist the country's drought affected people. The 400,000 beneficiaries of the PRRO will gain from both asset creation activities and access to village food security stocks. WFP has decided to use USD 2.7 million dollars from its immediate response account (IRA) to purchase 5,000 tons of commodities to kick start the PRRO.
(c) Country Program distributions to schools started on 20 December. Some 2740 tons of food have to be distributed to 1300 delivery points
(d) WFP held a four day work shop from 13 to 16 December, for the Enhanced Commitment to Women-Gender Policy Training and Learning Initiative. Participants of the workshop included Government and NGO partners, as well as WFP staff.
(e) Mauritania's PRRO faces a pipeline break in March 2005 as existing donations only cover 25 percent of needs.
4) Sahel region - locusts
(a) In the wake of recent threats from desert locusts, WFP and FAO released the results of joint crop and food assessment missions to Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
(b) In Mali, in the zones infested by desert locusts (some 78 communes), the millet and cowpea crops have been practically destroyed. Whereas on the national level, the risk of a cereal shortage is very low, the price of cereals will clearly rise in these areas and the local populations will have few resources to pay for them. Their food situation will therefore be precarious. Some form of assistance should be planned urgently to address a food crisis in these regions.
(c) In Mauritania, devastating infestations of desert locusts caused an almost complete destruction of millet and legumes (cowpeas and groundnut). Insufficient rainfall for good crop and pasture development caused further crop losses, and the 2004/2005 uncovered cereal deficit is estimated at some 64 300 tons. The price of food is rising throughout the country and it is very likely that it will continue to rise in the months to come. The risk of the country suffering a food crisis as in 2002/03 is currently very high.
(d) In Niger, locusts and insufficient rainfall caused a large fall in levels of crop yields for millet and sorghum in several regions. The provisional cereal deficit for 2004/05 having taken into account foreseen commercial imports, is estimated at about nine percent of national needs
(e) Lack of rainfall, the invasions of locust and other pests were the main natural factors that have most influenced production (to different degrees and with regional and departmental variations) in Senegal. Of Senegal's 11 regions, seven have been affected to varying degrees by the locust invasion, which caused widespread damage to crops and pastures, but spared irrigated crops in the valley of the River Senegal and large cereal production areas.
(f) The production of groundnut, maize and cassava expended remarkably, and the provisional net cereal deficit for 2004/2005 could be made good by commercial imports and aid. However, the mission observed that the anticipated shortage of millet on some markets has been pushing up millet prices since September 2004. It is feared that the food situation of vulnerable households will be further endangered if this trend continues.
(g) The complete reports on the four countries are posted on WFP's website: http://www.wfp.org/operations/emergency_needs/assessment.asp
E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Namibia, (5) Zambia, (6) Zimbabwe
1) Regional
(a) WFP continues to approach donors to secure additional contributions for the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation PRRO 10310, Assistance to Populations in Southern Africa Vulnerable to Food Insecurity and the Impact of AIDS, to ensure adequate food stocks in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia for distribution during the 'hunger season' from January to March 2005.
(b) The regional PRRO has only received USD 10.7 million against the USD171 million required for its first year operations.
2) Lesotho
(a) From 15 to 21 December, WFP and its partners distributed 1,500 tons of food to 127,000 vulnerable people, including households affected by HIV/AIDS. WFP plans to assist 510,000 drought affected people between January and April 2005.
3) Malawi
(a) Malawi is entering the peak hunger season, which normally occurs between January and March. The number of households that have exhausted their food stocks is significantly higher compared to the same time last season. The most seriously food insecure households are in southern areas where poor rainfall last season resulted in failed harvests. Most households are relying on purchases from the local markets where prices continue to increase.
(b) According to the FEWS-Net, Machinga and Phalombe Districts, in the Lake Chilwa and Phalombe Plain of southern Malawi, face the highest household food deficits, ranging from 35 to 60 percent of annual food requirements.
4) Namibia
(a) Preliminary results of the Ministry of Health and Social Services' HIV/AIDS Sentinel Sero Surveillance indicate a slight decrease in HIV infection in Namibia from 22 percent in 2002 to 20 percent this year. However, the HIV prevalence rate in the Caprivi region remains at an alarming 43 percent, the highest in southern Africa.
(b) The other three regions under the WFP emergency operation EMOP 10334.0, Targeted Food Assistance to Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by Food Insecurity and the Impact of HIV/AIDS, reported a small decline in prevalence -- Oshikoto (from 25 to 16 percent), Ohangwena (from 24 to 22 percent), and Okavango (from 22 to 21 percent). Despite the reduction in HIV prevalence rates in women, there is a continuing increase in the number cases of sick and dying adults, and bereaved orphans, in need of WFP assistance.
5) Zambia
(a) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees last week appealed for donor contributions to assist refugees in Zambia. The agency red-flagged the deteriorating situation, which they said is likely to impact on the health of the refugees.
(b) WFP's PRRO 10071.1, Food Assistance for Refugees from Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo, urgently requires USD 5.4 million to provide 8,000 tons of food to about 86,000 refugees resident in the six refugee camps through June 2005. Due to pipeline constraints, the rations for pulses and cereals were cut by half in October and November respectively, and these reductions have had to be maintained in December.
6) Zimbabwe
(a) Many rural households have run out of food stocks and, like most urban households, have become dependent on the market to cover their food requirements. Increased poverty in both rural and urban areas, manifested by low income levels and limited income generating opportunities, continues to constrain the majority of urban and rural households from purchasing sufficient staple cereals. WFP monitoring has recorded an increase in the urban market price of maize in the case of Masvingo of up to 250 percent, since the mid year post harvest low point. Cereals are not readily available in all markets in the grain deficit areas.
F) Asia: (1) Bangladesh, (2) DPR Korea, (3) Indonesia
1) Bangladesh
(a) Harvesting of Aman rice crop continues and basic food prices remain high throughout the country.
(b) This week, a seminar was organised in the northern part of the country, where the Monga phenomenon is most prevalent. The Monga phenomenon in Bangladesh refers to the period in October and November when food stocks run out and job opportunities dry up, just before the main rice harvest in December. The seminar explored counter measures to Monga and focused on potential interventions including: 1) short term interventions such as rehabilitation of rural infrastructure and provision of micro credit/income generating schemes, and 2) long term interventions, including efforts to change prevailing cultivation patterns, the promotion of value-added crops and vegetables, and the encouragement of alternative employment opportunities, through the establishment of manufacturing industries in rural settings.
(c) Distribution of blended food, under the Supplementary Feeding Programme of WFP's Emergency Operation (EMOP) 10380, Assistance to Flood Affected People in Bangladesh, is ongoing. Also, since September, WFP has been distributing High Energy Biscuits (HEB) to over 600,000 primary school students in flood-affected areas. The projected utilization of HEBs for the month of December 2004 is some 870 tons.
(d) Nearly 4 months after the start of the EMOP, resourcing levels of the operation remain largely inadequate, representing only 36.2 percent of the total needs.
2) DPR Korea
(a) Owing to the delayed shipment of dry skimmed milk (DSM), 4 blended food factories, including Pyongyang, Hamhung and Chongjin factories, have halted production. DSM is scheduled to arrive in January. As a result, almost 1.3 million young mothers and children in the nurseries and baby homes will not receive their daily ration of high quality food in January. Unless new contributions are pledged soon, DSM will run out in all 14 biscuits and blended food factories in March 2005.
(b) This month WFP is again able to feed all 6.5 million targeted beneficiaries with planned rations. Substantive new pledges will allow WFP to continue this support through May 2005, with the exception of oil that will run out as early as January for some beneficiary groups. Shipment of rice has been delayed till end-December, thus creating a gap in cereals distribution to all west coast beneficiaries for 7-10 days. Because of access limitations, operations in Chagang Province will be suspended from December 2004 through February 2005, impacts 7 counties where WFP is operating.
3) Indonesia
(a) The security situation in some parts of the country remained volatile. On 13 November, in Poso, a bomb exploded in a public transport vehicle, killing at least six people. The state of civil emergency in Aceh has been extended by six months.
(b) The Government of Indonesia's ban on rice imports is still in force. WFP has received exemptions from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for all of its shipments, constituting 19,675 tons. The Government has designated the Coordinating Ministry of People's Welfare as WFP's counterpart for the PRRO 10069.1, Assistance to Recovery and Nutritional Rehabilitation.
(c) In November, approximately 1.13 million beneficiaries, under the various PRRO and pilot activities, received WFP food assistance amounting to over 3,350 tons.
(d) Under emergency response activities, over 570 tons of food were provided to over 41,445 beneficiaries in Central Sulawesi, who participated in Food for Work (FFW), Food for Training and Food for Peace activities in the area. Food distributions to people in East Java, who participated in FFW projects by NGOs in Sampang, were undertaken almost two months behind schedule, after NGOs had been requested to re-verify the actual achievement. A quantity of over 151 tons of rice was distributed to 15,125 beneficiaries. CARE has started implementation of WFP projects in West Timor. The first food distribution took place in November, only to cover the nutritional programme. Some 23 tons of rice were distributed to 505 children and mothers.
(e) WFP's sub-Office in Maluku has been closed in view of a much improved local situation and very low needs for food assistance.
(f) WFP is currently advocating with local governments to continue assisting ex-OPSM (Subsidized Rice Programme) beneficiaries under Government's Safety Net Work, the RASKIN Programme, after WFP phases out its programme in January next year. The allocation of RASKIN 2005 for West Java has been increased by some 13,380 tons compared to 2004.
(g) The first advisory meeting regarding Nutrition Mapping and Analysis was conducted on 25 November. The meeting was organized jointly by BPS (Central Bureau of Statistics) and WFP. The advisory team consists of experts from WFP, World Bank, UNICEF, WHO, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Agricuture, Ministry of Health, BAPPENAS (National Planning Board).
(h) A mission from the Republic of Korea visited Nutrition Rehabilitation Project sites including Primary School and Mother & Child Health Programmes at Posyandu as well as OPSM and Community Development Projects (CDP). They were impressed, in particular with the OPSM subsidized rice Programme and the way the generated funds are used for the community infrastructure.
(i) Selection of NGOs for the expansion of the Nutrition Rehabilitation Programme has been completed for Greater Jakarta, Surabaya and Lombok. An NGO workshop on new implementation of the TB programme was conducted at the end of November.
G) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Bolivia, (2) Colombia, (3) Guatemala, (4) Haiti, (5) Nicaragua, (6) Peru
1) Bolivia
(a) WFP visited the country's drought-affected areas, with the presence of national and international press, concluding that drought affected families depend on food assistance to be able to eat. The full recovery of the most affected El Chaco region depends greatly on the rain until the next harvest (May 2005) and the availability of seeds. As many families do not have seeds for the sowing season, local leaders are demanding that the government provides the seeds.
(b) WFP food distribution for drought-affected families with the use of IR/EMOP resources was completed, benefiting approximately 8,600 families. Distributions of about 1,100 tons, with the use of EMOP resources, will start by the end of December. Lentils, currently with a very high price in the local market, will be substituted most probably by beans. Meanwhile, the first distributions under the EMOP, will consist only of maize and vegetable oil.
(c) Water reservoirs, drinking water systems, protection fences and community roads are being built through food-for-work activities. Beneficiaries - mainly women- are also receiving food-for-training to improve their nutrition and health.
2) Colombia
(a) UNHCR reported that Colombia is the third country in the world with the highest number of internally displaced population after Sudan and Congo. The report indicates that despite the Colombian Government efforts, there is still a lot of work to do to reduce the number of displacements in the country. It is estimated that the cumulative number of displaced people in Colombia is around 2 to 3 million people.
(b) According to the UNHCR report, about 5,000 inhabitants in the nearby areas of the municipality of Bojaya, province of Choco, are at direct risk of displacement due to the growing number of armed groups in the region. In response, WFP provided food rations to 1,500 indigenous people to contribute to the building of community centers and an aqueduct. The area has already experienced significant displacements this year. Some 1,200 members of an indigenous community fled their homes in March and returned around July. Another 1,000 Afro-Colombians fled in May. WFP develops 8 implementation projects in the context of PRRO 10158 in the nearby areas of the Municipality of Bojaya.
(c) A total of 553 paramilitaries of the United Self-Defense Forces laid down their arms on 18 December as part of an ongoing peace process with the government and will now enter programmes for reintegration into civilian life. The paramilitaries, members of Block Calima, were based around the city of Cali, province of Valle del Cauca. WFP plans to open a new sub office in this city as part of the new PRRO which will start in April 2005.
(d) WFP distributed a total of over 110 tons of food in the context of the PRRO 10158, Assistance to People Displaced by Violence. The food was distributed in 13 provinces, reaching almost 108,910 people. These commodities were distributed in Food for Work, Food for Training and Community Kitchens activities. Additionally, WFP continued to deliver preschool and school feeding rations to fulfill necessities of children during the school holiday season.
3) Guatemala
(a) Although frequent rains between September and November increased soil humidity, the drought persists in certain areas of the country. The accumulated impact of crop losses in the first and second harvest may have a significant impact on the access to food, particularly for the most vulnerable population. The situation may become of serious concern by March next year, when the food reserves of the families affected by the drought are expected to run out. WFP is participating in the Risk Management Group led by the "Anti-Hunger Front" initiative which is in the process of designing a response to crop failure in the affected areas.
(b) The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology continued to report volcanic activity at Fuego volcano. Explosions of the Santiaguito volcano caused slight ash-filled rains that fell on the San José Patzulín and La Quina estates, as well as on the community of Santa María de Jesús.
(c) The Government of Guatemala announced that it has reached an agreement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a delegation in the country, subject to approval by Congress. UNHCHR will follow-up the work of the UN mission in Guatemala which closed its offices last November, after ten years of monitoring human rights violations in the country.
(d) Several hundred members of the Agrarian Platform, an umbrella organization of farmer unions and cooperatives, protested in front of the Presidential House to demand the payments committed by the government for land rental. Although protesters blocked the roads, the rally ended peacefully without any major incidents.
(e) During last week, WFP dispatched over 175 tons of maize, beans, vegetable oil, and CSB to community distribution and therapeutic feeding centers, run by the Ministry of Health to contribute to the nutritional recovery of children, pregnant and lactating women, and their families suffering from recurring shocks. The food aid will benefit some 2,080 families (10,400 beneficiaries) over a two-month period.
4) Haiti
(a) The entire country continues in UN security phase III. Common crime and/or political violence are reported in several areas of Port-au-Prince and in other parts of the country. MINUSTAH continues to support the Haitian National Policy in stabilizing the security environment in Cité Soleil. During the past week, the security operation launched in this area helped to open a safe corridor for humanitarian activities to resume. UNSECOORD and MINUSTAH continue to trace the two WFP vehicles that were hijacked in the past week.
(b) WFP continued to move the food containers that arrived recently at the seaport of Port-au-Prince. Arrival of this cargo had been delayed by strikes at the port of transit and its reception took additional days due to the strike of custom officers at Port-au-Prince. The process of moving the food commodities from the port to the WFP warehouse continues to be affected by the state of insecurity around the port area. From 10 December, only 49 containers have been moved and a total of 337 containers are still at the port
(c) The security situation in and around Gonaïves continues to be relatively calm and no incidents involving humanitarian agencies were reported during the past week. Under WFP's Emergency Operation (EMOP), a total of over 205 tons of WFP food commodities were distributed by the implementing partner CARE to some 5,325 beneficiaries in localities that had been heavily affected by the floods in Gonaïves. Distributions were held at a rate of 1 to 2 distribution sites per day.
(d) In addition, from 12 to 18 December, a total of about 125 tons of food were delivered to health centres (under the EMOP and the Country Programme) in the West, North and North-East departments and through the various PRRO activities in the North-West. Furthermore, WFP delivered a total of some 110 tons of food to the implementing partner, Food for the Poor, to be distributed to vulnerable children and their families in Cité Soleil.
(e) WFP and implementing partner World Vision conducted the last field survey on WFP's Enhanced Commitments to Women, in Cap Haitien. This field survey focused on food-for-work and health activities.
5) Nicaragua
(a) The political crisis in the country continues as the executive power appealed for legal protection at the Supreme Court, accusing the Parliament of destabilizing the powers of the state. The President's invitation for a national dialogue was postponed by the opposition parties, PLC and FLSN. The governance of the country is seriously affected by the crisis.
(b) Food distributions under the Nicaragua component of the regional PRRO 10212.0 have ended for this year and will resume in January 2005. A total of about 10,655 pregnant and lactating women, about 11,490 children under 2 years old, and 78,960 school children were assisted in 2004. Furthermore, a total of 2,000 poor rural families in the northern and central region of the country were assisted.
(c) WFP in Nicaragua faces a shortfall of rice, beans, vegetable oil and maize for its PRRO 10212.0 through May 2005. WFP will face serious pipeline breaks during the second quarter of year 2005 if no commodities are announced in the coming months or if commodities arrive late.
6) Peru:
(a) According to WFP field monitors, the bad weather situation poses a threat to food security. In Puno, peasants suffering from lack of food are trying to survive with activities other than harvest and animal breeding, while waiting for the harvest season which begins in March. In Apurimac, heavy rains and snow are foreseen from January to March which is expected to isolate the communities in the highlands, if the rivers overflow.
(b) WFP is planning to start implementation of EMOP 10393, Assistance to Vulnerable Families due to Extreme Cold Weather Damage in Highland Areas of Southern Peru, in Puno and Apurimac, by mid-January. The signature of the letter of understanding between the Government and WFP is still pending.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons (MT).