Highlights
WFP operations during the reporting
period continued to be hampered primarily by the closure of the road north
of Kaya on the Ugandan-Sudanese border into Western Equatoria and by insecurity
linked to train movements along the rail corridor from Wau to Aweil towns
in Bahr el Ghazal. Denial of flight clearance in various locations of Upper
Nile, Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria also continued to impede access to
food insecure populations in those areas.
WFP distributed 1,515 MT of food aid in the northern sector locations to 104,663 beneficiaries and 776 MT of food aid to southern sector locations to 107,172 to beneficiaries.
Distribution
1.1 Northern Sector
Bahr el Ghazal
In Wau town and surrounding IDP camps, WFP provided 21,920 IDPs
with 367 MT of food. The beneficiaries were made up of 12,056 women and
9,864 men. During the week, WFP staff paid monitoring visits to 3 primary
schools, which are beneficiaries of WFP school feeding scheme. The monitoring
report noted that the schools did not have adequate supplies of firewood
to cook the mid-morning meal for the pupils. WFP is providing food aid
to 1,118 girls and 785 boys in the three schools. WFP is considering a
proposal to commence school feeding for 1,258 primary school pupils in
Aweil town. The scheme aims to provide one meal a day for each pupil in
order to encourage school attendance among IDP children. About 65% of the
IDP children in Aweil are of school age. The scheme will be implemented
by NGOs and the Ministry of Education.
Equatoria
WFP staff distributed 347 MT of food to 15,772 beneficiaries in
Juba town during the week. The beneficiaries included IDPs as well as 426
refugees. The food was distributed in collaboration with seven NGOs. In
Torit town, 13,209 war-affected persons were provided with 97 MT of food
during the reporting period. In Terekeka, 550 vulnerable persons received
3 MT of food.
Unity/Upper Nile/Jonglei
Unity: WFP completed food distribution to 7,729 beneficiaries
in Bentiu town during the reporting period. The beneficiaries received
a total 66 MT of food. Following NGO reports of an influx of IDPs into
Rubkona, WFP staff conducted a verification exercise during the week and
confirmed the presence of 911 newly arrived IDPs. The new arrivals were
reportedly displaced by insecurity from six villages near Rubkona.
Upper Nile: Following the resumption of food deliveries by river barge, WFP distributed 119 MT of food to 8,932 IDP beneficiaries in the Canals and Obel area in Upper Nile State. The food distributions were carried out by a joint WFP team from the northern and southern sectors. The joint team is also conducting a food needs assessment and post-distribution monitoring along the Sobat river basin.
Transitional Zone
South Kordofan: In Dilling, 8,663 IDPs received 165 MT of WFP relief
food during the week. The food was distributed in conjunction with SCF-US.
Khartoum
WFP and ADRA resumed distributions to IDPs following last week's
postponement due to insecurity. Mixed food commodities amounting to 212
MT were distributed to 17,640 beneficiaries during the week.
Kassala
A total of 8,345 IDPs living in two camps in Kassala were provided
with 139 MT of relief food during the week.
2.2 Southern Sector
Bahr el Ghazal
In Aweil East County, a total of 298 MT of food aid was distributed
to 32,412 beneficiaries in Madhol. In Twic County, a total of 238 MT of
food aid was distributed to 27,756 beneficiaries in Akoc and 182 MT of
relief food to 19,248 beneficiaries in Mayen Abun.
Poor weather conditions continued to hamper WFP operations in the Bahr el Ghazal region. For instance, a distribution was disrupted by heavy rains in Madhol (Aweil East County) and a population assessment in Marial Bai (Aweil West County) and food aid distributions in Wuncum (Aweil East County) and Midel (Wau County) were put on hold for the same reason. In Akon and Alek (Gogrial County), air deliveries were temporarily cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Unlandable airstrips caused by heavy rains hampered deliveries of oil in particular, since this commodity cannot be airdropped.
Insecurity linked to train movements along the rail corridor from Wau to Aweil towns resulted in the temporary suspension of food aid distributions in Wuncum (Aweil East County), Baau (Aweil East County), Bararud (Wau County) and Acumcum (Wau County). Other locations affected include Nyamlell (Aweil West County), Marial Bai (Aweil West County), Gok Machar (Aweil West County) and Malualbai (Aweil East County).
The distribution in Banya (Twic County) was delayed on 20 August due to the absence of local counterparts in the location, though the intervention later resumed.
Unity/Upper Nile/Jonglei
In Bor County, Jonglei a total of 58 MT of relief food was distributed
to 27,756 beneficiaries in Padak.
Poor weather conditions in Jonglei also continued to hamper WFP operations in the area. For instance, air deliveries in Brong (Bor County), Jonglei had to be cancelled due to heavy rains. Food aid distributions in Bor County, in Longo, Rialbek and Pakam were suspended since movements to and from distribution sites was not possible due to poor weather conditions. Similarly, Latjor State (Upper Nile) was inaccessible throughout the reporting period, since airstrips were wet and unlandable.
3. Assessment and Monitoring
3.1 Northern Sector
During the week, UN Agencies, NGOs and GoS continued to work on the modalities of implementing the OLS Annual Needs Assessments (ANA) in the northern sector. The ANA will begin during the first week of October. However, the assessments may begin in late September in some areas. Fieldwork for the ANA is expected to be complete during the third week of October. It is expected that the OLS ANA report will provide input to the annual FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Mission which will take place during November.
Equatoria
Torit: Post-distribution monitoring carried out in Torit
indicates that 99% of beneficiaries received food directly from WFP, while
1% received it indirectly through relatives. Out of the total beneficiary
households in Juba, 64% are female-headed, 29% are male headed while 7%
are headed by children. The beneficiaries who were interviewed reported
that 80% of WFP food was consumed within the household, while 20% was exchanged
for milk, meat and other food items.
Crop harvested recently is reported to be below the average yield, the failure being attributed to a dry spell during May and June. The main harvest is expected to give higher yields of between 2-5 bags of grain per household.
Terekeka: Post distribution monitoring among 276 beneficiaries showed that 100% of the WFP food rations were consumed within the household. In 69% of households, the food lasted for 20 days, and for 7 days in 31% of households. These households covered their food gap through purchase using income earned from selling fish, firewood and brewed tea.
Juba: During the week, WFP and OXFAM conducted a review of the supplementary feeding programme in Juba town. The report is being finalised. However, preliminary findings recommend a review of beneficiary targeting procedures among implementing NGOs.
Non-OLS Areas
River Nile State: A joint WFP/UNICEF/IFRC/SRC needs assessment
of flood affected areas in Shendi revealed that 3,400 persons left homeless
by recent floods are in urgent need of shelter material, clean water and
medicine. However, the flood victims are covering their food needs through
purchase utilising income from wages earned in on-farm employment. The
assessment team found a variety of food items on sale in local markets.
The mission reported that food prices have remained stable over the past
few months, indicating that the floods did not significantly affect food
security in the area. The assessment covered 25 villages in north and south
Shendi province. The assessment team found that 90% of houses in the flood-affected
area had collapsed and that incidence of diarrhoea had increased due to
pollution of water yards and shallow wells. UNICEF, IFRC and SRC are providing
the requisite non-food assistance to the flood victims.
3.2 Southern Sector
Bahr el Ghazal
A recent food aid distribution report from Akak (Twic County),
Bahr el Ghazal reported the recent arrival of IDPs in the area. A total
of 158 households were from Aweil East and a further 126 households from
Gogrial County. These households were displaced by insecurity linked to
train movements along the Wau to Aweil town rail corridor, and arrived
in the Akak area around early July 1999. The recently-arrived IDPs were
identified as food insecure and included in the last food aid distribution
in the area.
Unity/Upper Nile/Jonglei
Reports from the NGO ADRA working in Kiech Kuon (Latjor State),
Upper Nile talk of 6,000 IDPs who have been living in swampy areas in a
location five days walk north-east of Kiech Kuon, since March 1999. The
IDPs are allegedly in need of food and non-food relief items. A WFP team
arrived in the Kiech Kuon area on 20 August and is currently collecting
information on the food security situation of the IDPs. Security and weather
conditions permitting, a food aid distribution will be carried out in Kiech
Kuon which will include food insecure IDPs in the area.
4. Logistics
4.1 Air Operations: During the week, 983 MT of food were delivered by air from the northern sector, an increase of 27% over the previous week. Food was delivered to Akoc (153 MT), Akon (144 MT), Alek (126 MT), Banya (36 MT), Mading (54 MT), Mayen Abun (27 MT), Nyal (36 MT), Udyer (18 MT) and Wau (389 MT) during the reporting period. Meanwhile, WFP commenced the airlift of food aid to Wau town from El Obeid using a WFP-leased aircraft. A total of 138 MT of food were airlifted during the reporting period. The WFP-leased Antonov is supplementing the existing airfreight of food aid to Wau by commercial aircraft flying the El-Obeid-Wau route. Meanwhile, the airlift of relief food to Juba was delayed during the week due to mechanical problems on the commercial aircraft. To date, 32 MT out of a planned 342 Mt of food aid have been delivered to Juba since the airlift commenced on 14 August.
During the reporting period, four C-130 Hercules and three Buffalo aircraft continued to make food aid deliveries out of Lokichoggio and two C-130 Hercules and one Ilyushin-76 operated out of Khartoum/El Obeid. The Ilyushin-76 started making air deliveries on 19 August, after several weeks of being grounded for maintenance.
During the reporting period, WFP launched a format and procedures for reporting airfield weather conditions in OLS locations in the Southern Sector of OLS. At a meeting of the "Aviation Safety Committee" in Lokichoggio on 6 August 1999, it was decided to hold this larger forum meeting, which is currently open to all, on a quarterly basis and hold a smaller quorum once a month which will be referred to as the "Lokichoggio Safety Committee." This smaller meeting will be formed of one representative per company based in Lokichoggio, totalling around eight to twelve people including the WFP airfield officer and the Department of Civil Aviation/Kenya Airports Authority staff members. The aim of this monthly committee will be to discuss various issues pertaining to safety at the Lokichoggio airport such as safety incidents and airport improvements, and agree on common courses of action.
4.2 Barge Operations: The Sobat barge convoy delivered a total of 119 MT of food for 8,932 IDP beneficiaries in Upper Nile State. The food was distributed to IDPs in four locations within the Canals and Obel area, in the Sobat river basin. The barge convoy will deliver a total of 1,603 MT of food for 63,871 people living in 30 locations along the Sobat river basin in Upper Nile State.
4.3 Road Operations: During the week, WFP delivered 877 MT of relief food to northern sector locations. Some 471 MT were delivered to Khartoum for distribution to IDPs in squatter areas, while 198 MT were dispatched to South Kordofan for distribution to IDPs in Abu Gubeiha and Sidra camps. Kosti IDP camps received 77 MT while 62 MT of food were dispatched for distribution to IDPs in ED Daein, South Darfur. Food dispatched to Kassala amounted to 47 MT, while 22 MT were dispatched to Port Sudan province for in-patients feeding.
The road from Kaya on the Ugandan-Sudanese border northwards into Western Equatoria remained closed to OLS agencies throughout the reporting period. The closure of this road over the past weeks has hampered food aid deliveries into Rumbek County and Aluakluak payam of Yirol County in Bahr el Ghazal.
5. Other Issues
Gender:
An evaluation of gender workshops conducted in the last two months was completed during the reporting period. The Country Office evaluation team also analysed the gender balance of WFP northern sector staff, while noting the recent formation of a WFP Staff Women's Group.
Visits:
A delegation from ECHO visited WFP Khartoum during the week, where they received an extensive brief on WFP activities in 1998 and 1999. WFP staff provided a short briefing on WFP operations in the Southern Sector of OLS to a USAID delegation on 19 August in Nairobi and on 21 August in Lokichoggio. The USAID mission was composed of Nairobi and Washington-based USAID staff working on Sudan including Mr Jim Anderson, Director of the Office for East Africa Affairs at USAID.
School Feeding:
WFP field staff met with local counterparts, community leaders and SCF-UK staff in Akon (Gogrial County), Bahr el Ghazal on 16 August to discuss possible plans to introduce a school-feeding project in the area.
A WFP team went into Alek (Gogrial County), Bahr el Ghazal around 21 August to assess the location's suitability for a possible school feeding initiative.
Meetings:
WFP met with LWF and WV Sudan staff in Lokichoggio on 17 August and later with only WV Sudan in Nairobi on 20 August, to agree on a common approach for the months to come in counties in Bahr el Ghazal where both WFP and these NGOs share responsibility for food aid provision. In Rumbek and Yirol counties in Bahr el Ghazal, food aid distributions are split between WFP and LWF and in Gogrial County, between WFP and WV Sudan. Discussions with WV Sudan also covered the issue of meeting the food needs of IDPs recently arrived in the northern part of Tonj County, in Makuac payam from Western Upper Nile, as well as food distributions in Liethnom (Gogrial County) where WV trucks cannot access food insecure populations because of impassable roads. Following the meeting with WV Sudan, a tentative plan was drawn up whereby delivery of food aid by air to Liethnom would start as soon as possible, and WFP would provide food aid for the IDPs in Makuac payam which WV staff would receive and distribute.
A meeting was held on 19 August between the WFP Regional Liaison Officer for Bahr el Ghazal (Lakes) and Equatoria with local counterparts in Kapoeta County to discuss recent food aid distribution problems in the area.
A meeting was held on 21 August between the WFP Regional Liaison Officer for Bahr el Ghazal (Lakes) and Equatoria with the local counterpart's County secretary for Rumbek County in Lokichoggio. The meeting discussed plans to scale-down food aid distributions throughout Rumbek County, in both areas covered by LWF and WFP, until the end of the year, and explored possibilities for moving away from free food aid distributions to more rehabilitation-oriented interventions through food-for-work and food-for-seed swaps. The planned reduction of the amounts of food aid to be distributed in Rumbek County until end of 1999 must also be understood in light of a recent food economy assessment in the area showing an improved food security situation, as well as nutritional survey data from June 1999.
A meeting was held between WFP field staff and the NGO ADRA on 20 August 1999 in Lokichoggio. The meeting explored ways in which WFP can support ADRA's proposed shift from emergency relief to rehabilitation-oriented activities. The NGO runs a feeding centre in Liil (Twic County), Bahr el Ghazal which currently feeds 71 children, though plans are underway to phase this out and introduce primary health care units and a primary health care centre instead. This initiative may require support from WFP in the form of food-for-work, food-for-training of community health care workers and possibly food-for-inpatients.
Planning meetings for the forthcoming WFP Annual Needs Assessment exercise that will project food aid needs for 2000, continued throughout the reporting period in both Lokichoggio and Nairobi.
6. Security Issues
One train is reportedly in Aweil town, whereas a further two are thought to be in Aluk heading northwards towards Aweil town. Acumcum (Wau County), Ajiep (Gogrial County), Alek (Gogrial County) and Baau (Aweil East County), Bahr el Ghazal remained at security level "tense" throughout the reporting period due to the threat of insecurity linked to train movements in the area. Baau later reached the highest security level on 16 August following a milita attack on the location. All WFP locations in Aweil East and West and Wau counties along the rail corridor are being monitored closely due to the threat of insecurity linked to train movements.
Insecurity and denial of flight clearance to a number of locations in Western Upper Nile continued to hamper WFP interventions to food insecure populations in the area.
The WFP Sudan Bulletin is available on the WFP Website at http://www.wfp.org. For further information on WFP operations in Sudan, please contact the WFP Africa Bureau - Mr. Ismat Fahmi, Programme Coordinator for Sudan: e-mail Ismat.Fahmi@wfp.org, telephone 39 06 6513 2338; or Ms. Leslie Elliott, Reports Officer, e-mail: Leslie.Elliott@wfp.org, telephone 39 06 6513 2871. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.
©: 1999, World Food Programme. All rights reserved.