OLC Emergency Situation Report SITREP #8
EMOP 10022
Total Tonnage: 19,940 MT
Cost of food: $5,069,700
Total cost to WFP: $9,940,857
Beneficiaries: 200,000 persons
Duration: 6 months
Highlights
Two major earthquakes have hit El Salvador: on 13 January 2001, affecting most of the southern part of the country and a second one on 13 February, severely affecting most of the central part of El Salvador. The persistence of earthquakes has increased the original figures of affected people to over 1,400,000. Last figures available are 1,142 dead and 7,972 injured, 133,000 houses destroyed and 145,000 severely damaged, in addition to 461 destroyed schools and 141 health units.
WFP food aid immediate response
WFP-ELS has reached nearly 100,000 families with emergency family food rations: 1,900 MT of food have been distributed to over 100 municipalities between 13 January and 28 February 2001. WFP ELS has completed the immediate response phase and is now planning the implementation of EMOP 10022 to begin in mid-March.
Targeting
EMOP 10022 will benefit 200,000 of the most affected earthquake victims (40,000 families). Hence, a top priority for WFP ELS during this post-immediate response phase is to create the best targeting mechanisms to allow WFP's food to reach the most food insecure.
WFP-ELS is in the process of determining the precise geographical areas where the 40,000 families in most need are located. Thirty to forty municipalities are under consideration to be selected as the most appropriate areas for EMOP intervention in accordance to food insecurity and reconstruction requirements. 3-4 WFP monitoring teams that are constantly in the field have validated the selected indicators and information sources.
EMOP implementation
With the coordination of the SNF, the most affected municipalities will be assigned to 3 NGO's (CARE, CRS, WLF) that have experience with WFP's food aid modalities and have solid working relations with the CO. These NGO's will carry out food aid activities (assistance to vulnerable groups, refuges, and FFW activities) and serve as logistical umbrellas to work with other NGO's. All activities will be defined in consultation with municipal authorities.
The 6-month EMOP work plan that will come out of this process will be presented to the other UN agencies that will be invited to participate with complementary technical activities and resources.
Resourcing Situation
WFP ELS has locally purchased 3155.7 MT of food in order to execute the first round EMOP 10022 distributions and to partially repay parts of the loans incurred with other WFP/ELS operations during the immediate response phase. An additional further 1750 MT have been confirmed by the US. It is expected that the arrival of those commodities will coincide with the second round of distributions (though it will only cover part of the needs up to the next three weeks).
WFP-ELS has been very active in attracting donor attention by organising field trips and by keeping donors informed on its activities. Canada has pledged $164,000, Germany $957,440, the United States $900,000 and Spain $500,000, worth of food aid.
Other international response
The USA has recently pledged US$110 million for El Salvador Earthquake victims. Other major donors include, Spain, the Nordic countries, the EU, Canada, Japan, Germany amounting to approximately US$46 million. An IDB sponsored El Salvador donor conference takes place on 7 March in Madrid, in which it is hoped that further resources will be made available.