WFP Chad: Situation Report - 02 - 08 June 2005

Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad: EMOP 10327.0

Highlights

Situation back to normal in the camps, with the completion of distributions in Touloum.

WFP General Food Distributions for the month of June have commenced in southern camps. To start in northern camps as of June 16th.

Efforts underway to complete food pre-positioning in central and northern camps prior to the arrival of rainfall.

Donor support is urgently required to allow WFP to meet refugees and host communities' needs beyond October 2005.

Security

Overall security situation is relatively calm in and around the refugee camps.

In Touloum, calm has resumed and distributions were completed during the reporting week.

In Kounoungou, some tension was reported between refugees and local residents allegedly over the theft of horses and arms. Mediation and conciliation efforts by local authorities brought the situation back to calm.

Situation in N'Djamena and Abéché remains fairly calm in light of the referendum for the amendment of the constitution, which took place on 6 June.

Target Population – Sudanese refugees

Target caseload figure as agreed by WFP and UNHCR remains at 193,300 refugees. Meanwhile, verification and registration processes are continuous with food distributions in the camps.

In Mille camp, UNHCR with the participation of WFP, CARE and CNAR, took on a regularisation and family reunification exercise between 2 and 4 June. Findings indicate that many refugees had been absent during last February's registration exercise. Figures to be communicated by UNHCR shortly.

A similar exercise is expected to take place in Kounoungou subsequently.

The 600 new arrivals in Goz Beida are set to be transferred to Gaga camp as of 8 June. A special food distribution will be conducted on 9-10 June to meet the needs of this new group. The ongoing transfer of refugees from Bredjing and Treguine to Gaga will proceed thereafter.

Distributions

During the reporting week, WFP completed general food distributions in Touloum camp, providing some 340 Mt of food to a total of 19,825 beneficiaries.

June distributions have commenced in southern and central camps with the provision of 30-day rations. Northern camps are expected to be assisted as of 16 June.

Under the Blanket Supplementary Feeding programme, WFP provided some 16 Mt of food to 3,697 beneficiaries in Djabal camp. Next BSF distributions are expected to take place in Oure Cassoni during the current week.

WFP Assistance to the local population

WFP is increasing its assistance to the local population through various targeted interventions as well as blanket supplementary feeding to particularly vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant/nursing mothers.

The status of ongoing and planned WFP-supported food-for-work projects is shown in the table below.

During the reporting week, AFDI submitted its report on the progression of its activities in the four villages of Iriba, which was evaluated by WFP FFW monitor. Findings indicate that the activities are progressing well and many targets have already been met. Food distributions will ensue during the current week.

ADESK is preparing to launch its planned project of constructing 15 classrooms in five community schools in Iriba. WFP and ADESK expect to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the targeted zones between 6 and 11 June before the initiation of the activity.

Logistics/Pipeline

A convoy of 38 trucks carrying a consignment of 890 Mt of assorted commodities, mainly Wheat, has departed from Al-Kuffra (Libya) and is expected in Abéché around mid-June.

WFP food pre-positioning for the rainy season is continuous in central and northern camps. Some 11,000 Mt have so far been pre-stocked against a total 16,900 requirement (See attached table). It is expected that pre-positioning will be finished by June.

All twelve refugee camps are currently accessible.

Resource & Pipeline Update

The new phase of the EMOP 10327.1, covering the period July 2005 - December 2006, has so far received very little funding, equivalent to US$11.7 million against a total US$87 million requirement.

WFP's Humanitarian Air Service operation (SO 10338.1), which should run parallel with the EMOP, has so far received 0% funding against a total requirement of about US$7.2 million. An advance of US$1.2 million from the internal resource funds has recently been granted to permit 3-months air transport services until August 2005. If additional contributions are not received shortly, WFP will be obliged to revise the current operation.

WFP also requires critical funding for its special logistics operation (SO 10390) to allow WFP to reinforce its presence in the field warehouses, provide necessary operational and technical support, and enhance supply corridors. The SO, which will run through December 2005, is dramatically under-resourced at 35.9 %, representing a shortfall of about $US 4.1 million.

Although pipeline is sufficient to meet needs until October, additional contributions are urgently needed before July to allow WFP to maintain adequate food supply after the rainy season. As of October-November 2005, WFP anticipates serious shortages in most commodities if additional contributions are not confirmed urgently.

Health and Nutrition

Overall malnutrition rates are relatively stable in most camps, except in Oure Cassoni where malnutrition rates were reported among the new arrivals from the Carriari area, as indicated last week. All malnourished children are currently seeking treatment in Supplementary and Therapeutic Feeding Centres in Iriba run by MSF Luxembourg, and their situation has already seen some improvement.

Health: Recent reports by IMC and MSF/L indicate rising cases of diarrhoea and dehydration in the camps of Am Nabak, Iridimi and Touloum.

Assessment/Missions

A de-briefing took place following the Dutch Government evaluation mission for UNHCR, WFP and IFRC, which was undertaken during the reporting period. The mission expressed satisfaction with WFP's ongoing programmes and acknowledged the necessity of food assistance to the local populations. A draft report of the mission's findings is expected to be released around September 2005.

A WFP-led Vulnerability Analysis (VAM) national survey for the whole country is set to start in eastern Chad as of next week. Exact schedule is yet to be confirmed.

WFP Humanitarian Air Operations

Below is a graph indicating the increase in demand and utilisation of WFP Humanitarian Air Service from January 2005 to date. Main users include: International NGOs (61.4%), UN Agencies (32.4%), Diplomatic Corps (4.7%), Government Counterparts (0.4%), and Others (1.1%).