Attachments
In Numbers
6,030 mt of food assistance distributed
US$1.4 m cash based transfers made
US$113.5 m six months (Oct 2018 to Mar 2019) net funding requirements, representing 39% of total
951,344 people assisted in September 2018
Operational Updates
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD):
• On 01 August, the Ministry of Health declared an Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, the tenth such outbreak in DRC. The virus subsequently spread to Ituri. As of 30 September, 159 cases had been identified including 104 deaths. Vaccinations continue, having reached more than 13,000 people by end-September.
• Since the beginning of the outbreak until end-September, WFP provided food assistance to 21,000 Ebola affected people and supported the overall response with critical logistics, aviation and information and communications technology. In anticipation of a possible cross-border spread of the virus, a regional preparedness plan was developed.
WFP interventions in the Kasais:
• Kasai Central province: 60,000 people intended to receive in-kind food were reached during the month of September. Meanwhile, limited financial resources and a shortage of nutrition commodities meant that cash transfers and nutrition support were severely restricted. Out of 105,000 people planned to receive cash assistance, 14,248 were reached. Out of the 88,620 children aged 6-23 months and pregnant and nursing mothers targeted to receive assistance to prevent moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), only 5,532 were reached while 4,165 children 6-59 months were treated for MAM out of a target of 27,835.
• Kasai province: Out of 180,000 people intended to receive in-kind food, 132,416 were reached. A total of 22,500 people received cash assistance. Some areas are hard to reach and commercial transporters often decline to move food to these destinations.
Tanganyika:
• WFP reached 133,386 people with food assistance out of the targeted 150,000. A shortage of nutrition commodities hindered full coverage for nutrition activities. The goal of 61,250 people receiving assistance to prevent MAM was not met, only reaching 13,262 during the month, and treatment of MAM also fell short with 8,244 out of 20,300 people reached.
• The provincial government has decided to close all camps in Kalemie accommodating internally displaced people (IDPs) before the December 2018 elections. Three out of 15 IDP camps have been demolished, rendering over 25,000 people homeless. WFP has been providing food, cash and nutrition assistance in IDP camps and plans to include expelled IDPs in food distributions wherever possible.
Eastern provinces
• Ituri: Out of 130,000 people intended to receive food assistance, 120,100 were reached in September. Due to the late arrival of food commodities, 2,580 children under the age of 5 and pregnant and nursing mothers were treated for MAM out of a planned number of 6,960. Security related challenges meant that some distributions to refugees were delayed and a total of 11,290 people out of an intended number of 12,520 refugees received food on time.
• North Kivu: Due to the Ebola outbreak and the related humanitarian needs, WFP expanded its operations to assist those affected by the epidemic. Apart from the implementation of WFP’s scale-up plan that was already in place, WFP was called to respond to the Ebola outbreak with food and nutrition, as well as logistics, aviation and information and communications technology. WFP reached 121,000 peole in September, higher than the target of 106,000 due to the additional Ebola related demands. A total of 12,173 children (aged 6-59 months) and 7,956 pregnant and nursing mothers were treated for MAM.
• South Kivu: WFP food assistance targeted 180,000 people in September but only reached 80,000 due to security related constraints. Cash was distributed to refugees in Lusenda camp, reaching the intended 34,460. Due to insecurity in South Fizi and Kabambare territories, treatment of MAM reached 9,687 children under the age of 5 and pregnant and nursing mothers. WFP has started to identify people that will receive assistance to prevent MAM in October.