- HIGHLIGHTS
During the reporting period, a total of 231,431 targeted beneficiaries received WFP food in 22 locations across the Southern Sector of OLS.
OLS WFP staff attended a meeting of the Technical Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (TCHA) from 14-15 December, followed by a meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) on OLS on 17 December in Geneva. The TCHA meeting saw the signing of a beneficiary protocol between the Government of Sudan, the SPLM and OLS which includes provisions for war-affected civilian populations to have the right to receive humanitarian aid, to retain all humanitarian assistance for which they are targeted, to receive protection as well as the right to protection from forcible relocation from their legal or recognised place of residence.
2. FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Northern Sector
Bahr el Ghazal
During the reporting period, WFP in conjunction with DAWA CARE and the Ministry of Education released 445 MT of WFP food to 28,839 beneficiaries.
General food distribution for registered IDPs in Wau and Eastern Bank is ongoing and expected to conclude next week. IDP beneficiaries totaling 26,616 comprising 15,970 women and 10,646 men received 430 MT of mixed food commodities. A total of 15 MT of food was distributed at emergency school feeding and selective feeding programmes, which reached 969 girls and 496 boys , as well as 455 nursing women and 303 vulnerable men.
Equatoria
During the reporting period, 77 MT of food was released to 7,161 beneficiaries in Juba town. Distributions were implemented by WFP partner NGOs ACF, GLRA, Sudan Aid, OXFAM, NCA, IARA, GHF/MDI and El Bir. The beneficiaries were made up of 324 refugees, 350 vulnerables in therapeutic feeding centres, 1,417 TB inpatients, 1,036 disabled persons and 4,038 IDPs.
An assessment in Kapoeta revealed that as the harvest has commenced, no acute food shortages were visible. An airdrop scheduled to deliver food to Kapoeta was therefore cancelled.
Kassala
General distributions for IDPs at seven camps in Kassala were revised to accommodate other urgent activities before the close of the year. A distribution was carried out during the week at Fatu camp, which is the closest camp to Kassala town.
Southern Sector
Bahr el Ghazal
In Aweil East County, a total of 38 MT of food was distributed to 4,500 beneficiaries in Mangar Angui. In Aweil West County, a total of 38 MT of food was distributed to 4,500 beneficiaries in Marial Bai and 94 MT of food was distributed to 11,300 beneficiaries in Nyamlell. In Gogrial County, 71 MT of food was distributed to 10,000 beneficiaries in Mangok. In Rumbek County, 145 MT of food was distributed to 20,000 beneficiaries in Abirui, 236 MT was distributed to 28,100 beneficiaries in Alongdior, 247 MT was distributed to 32,330 beneficiaries in Duony and 42 MT was distributed to 10,890 beneficiaries in Malek.
During distributions in Rumbek County, WFP field staff explained to counterparts, chiefs, goal leaders and the local, civil authorities WFP plans to move away from free food distributions in 2000 towards more targeted interventions through, for instance, food-for-work.
Unity/Upper Nile/Jonglei
In Bor County, Jonglei a total of 151 MT of food was distributed to 18,700 beneficiaries in Mabior and 273 MT of food was distributed to 25,716 beneficiaries in Lual.
During a recent food distribution in Mawuit (Latjor State), Upper Nile, WFP field staff reported that around 1,000 IDPs from Benjiel and Longochok in the same state were included in the food distributions in the area to meet the needs of food insecure households that fled fighting and arrived in the area in early December.
Equatoria
In Kapoeta County, 33 MT of food was distributed to 2,250 beneficiaries in Lolim, 22 MT of food was distributed to 1,500 beneficiaries in Loyakali, 164 MT was distributed to 12,000 beneficiaries in Napotpot, 27 MT was distributed to 1,875 beneficiaries in Kaalok, 15 MT was distributed to 1,125 beneficiaries in Kaludo, 15 MT was distributed to 1,125 beneficiaries in Nalial, 26 MT was distributed to 1,875 beneficiaries in Kachalakeny, 80 MT was distributed to 8,000 beneficiaries in Kalacha, 38 MT was distributed to 2,625 beneficiaries in Nakodo and 33 MT of food was distributed to 2,250 beneficiaries in Narus.
3. ASSESSMENTS
Bahr el Ghazal
Wau: The outflow of people from Wau for purposes of family reunion during the festive season continued this week, although the rate of movement has dropped to lower than figures reported last week.
Unity State/Upper Nile
Bor: A rapid-assessment mission to Bor was carried out last week to assess the current food security situation in Bor town and the surrounding areas. Findings suggest that the majority of people are meeting the required calorific requirement through consumption of grains, wild fruits, fish and meat. The improved food security situation has been attributed to the relaxation in restrictions imposed by Security, enabling movement of goods and people.
However, the situation is expected to change next month due to the depletion of grain stocks in villages, leaving people with no option but to purchase food at expensive market prices. Recommendations therefore include close monitoring of both the food and security situations in Bor and food intervention at 50 % ration for the month of January 2000. Cooperation with LRC and the beneficiary community in identifying the most vulnerable persons is also advocated.
Equatoria
WFP participated in a nutritional survey conducted in Juba area. The survey was organized by ACF. Results are expected in the near future.
Kassala
Headcount registration in five villages north of Kassala in Hamash Koreib province resulted in the registration of 1,767 beneficiaries in Bashmeet, Kangor, Tahanger, Tawayeet and Jamam. Food economy assessment analysis indicates a food deficit of 30 % amongst IDPs. The average food security situation, however, is not considered critical.
A post distribution monitoring exercise was carried out in Fedayeeb IDP camp, using SRC volunteers, most of whom were women. Women volunteers working as trainers in the Women Knocking on Women's Door project completed an exercise in training evaluation techniques. A training evaluation procedure was to take place during the reporting period, but has been rescheduled to next week due to the state of emergency.
Bahr el Ghazal
A nutritional survey completed in November 1999 by MDM in Akuem (Aweil East County) found a global malnutrition rate of 14.3% (using weight/height) amongst under fives in the area. The organisation claims that the high malnutrition rate in the area is not clearly linked to health problems. WFP is currently monitoring the food security situation in the area closely, to determine whether a change of programme intervention is required, and has recently sent in a WFP post-distribution monitoring team.
Unity/Upper Nile/Jonglei
WFP is monitoring the situation closely around Longochok (Latjor State), Upper Nile since continued fighting in the area is causing on-going displacement. This is in turn increasing the number of food insecure persons arriving in neighbouring areas.
4. SECURITY
Due to the countrywide state of emergency, WFP activities were scaled down during the reporting period.
Upper Nile/Bor
A rapid assessment exercise in Bor found that the security situation in the area had deteriorated and was highly unstable in comparison to the period of the OLS assessment mission. Many persons were displaced to Malakal or Khartoum due to insecurity. Visitors to Bor town are mostly women travelling in large gatherings to sell their produce.
Bahr el Ghazal
Following insecurity in the previous reporting period, WFP field staff returned to Mangar Angui (Aweil East County) on 16 December and found that the WFP food stocks left on the ground were intact. WFP field staff completed a distribution in Gok Machar (Aweil West County,) which was on security level "tense" during the previous reporting period, and were pulled out of the location on 13 December. Gok Machar aside, all WFP locations in Aweil East and West counties were at security level "normal" from 14 December.
Upper Nile/Jonglei
During the reporting period, all locations north of Leer town in Leech State, Upper Nile remained closed to OLS agencies, except for short-term humanitarian interventions.
Equatoria
On 17 December, a WFP convoy monitor was threatened by an armed soldier when accompanying a WFP food truck to an IDP camp in Natinga ahead of an upcoming food distribution. OLS and local counterparts are addressing the incident, and WFP food deliveries to Natinga have been suspended until further notice. Natinga is a "no-go" area since the incident. The road between Natinga, New Cush and Chukudum remained closed due to insecurity throughout the reporting period ending 18 December.
5. LOGISTICS
Air Operations
During the reporting period, four C-130 Hercules and two Buffalo aircraft continued to deliver food from Lokichoggio, and one C-130 aircraft operated out of Khartoum/El Obeid.
A total of 180 MT of food were delivered by air from north sector to various locations in Sudan, a decrease of 71%. The decrease was due to a combination of the absence of the Illushyn aircraft - undergoing maintenance - and the halt of all commercial flights and WFP airlifts during the week due to the State of Emergency. Food was delivered by airdrop to Ajak Kuac (36 MT), Kiriel (18 MT), Nyamlell (36 MT), Peth (36 MT) and Wuncum (54 MT).
Barge Operations
Barge operations are to resume during the month with the Juba 14 convoy. Clearances have been obtained from the various authorities and a security assessment of the locations will commence during the next reporting period. Operations shall begin once security assessments are concluded.
Road Operations
A total of 143 MT of mixed commodities were delivered by road by WFP during the week. These deliveries included 71 MT of food was delivered to Rubkona from El Obeid for prepositioning. The first consignment has arrived in Rubkona through Bentiu. Food was also delivered to Kassala from Port Sudan amounting to 72 MT.
On 15 December, WFP distributed voluntary guidelines to NGOs, counterparts and commercial contractors using road transportation in the Southern Sector of OLS providing practical advice on axle load restrictions and driving behaviour so as to minimise road damage.
6. OTHER ISSUES
Upper Nile:
Unicef: - A meeting of the Nutrition and Health committee chaired by Unicef and of which WFP is a member, was held during the week to review work in progress. The committee agreed to give the nutritional and health status in Upper Nile priority.
Due to the shortage in firewood and water in the Unicef feeding centres, dry rations are now being provided instead of customary wet feeding.
Goal: - Goal have been given the go-ahead to introduce a charge for medicines as a step towards a cost recovery programme for restorative drugs. The charges are to form the basis of a revolving fund that will be audited quarterly.
Food-for-work
During the reporting period, a food-for-work scheme was started to rehabilitate a 40 km stretch of road between Akuem and Mangar Angui in Aweil East County. This should facilitate road access for WFP and NGO relief convoys into the area.
Meetings
WFP attended a meeting of the Technical Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (TCHA) from 14-15 December, followed by a meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) on OLS on 17 December in Geneva. Topics covered by the TCHA include a review of the humanitarian situation, the humanitarian strategy for 2000, common access issues, an update on protocols signed in Rome and Oslo, the draft beneficiary protocol and the humanitarian cease-fire. The TCHA meeting saw the signing of a beneficiary protocol between the Government of Sudan, the SPLM and OLS which includes provisions for war-affected civilian populations to have the right to receive humanitarian aid, to retain all humanitarian assistance for which they are targeted, to receive protection as well as the right to protection from forcible relocation from their legal or recognised place of residence. Topics covered by the IAC include the humanitarian cease-fire, the draft beneficiary protocol and IDP situation, security and access issues, strategies for 2000 and multi-sectoral programming for the Nuba mountains area.
During the reporting period, a number of planning meetings were held between the WFP Regional Liaison Officer for Wau, Aweil East and West counties, NCA and the UNICEF/OLS Emergency Response Officer in preparation of a planned rapid assessment for Baau (Aweil East County). The assessment will, generally speaking, identify humanitarian needs in the location following insecurity and repeated militia raiding in the past months.
WFP field staff met with the Secretary for Gogrial County to discuss the continued security problem posed by livestock wandering onto the airstrip at Akon and Panliet in the county, when WFP planes are shortly expected to land. The counterparts gave assurances of improving security at the airstrip.
Other meetings were held during the reporting period between WFP, CRS, OLS security, UNICEF/OLS and local counterparts to discuss how best to implement humanitarian interventions the New Cush, Kiklai and Lotukei areas of Kapoeta County, Eastern Equatoria given the two factors of food needs and high levels of insecurity. At those meetings, it was confirmed that CRS will cover food needs in New Cush and WFP in Kiklai and Lotukai, though insecurity in the Natinga area is preventing any food dispatches to the area.
Training/Workshops
WFP staff from the Vulnerability Analysis Mapping (VAM) Unit in Nairobi trained 25 WFP field staff in Lokichoggio from 14-15 December in "Map Info" - a geographic information system or, more specifically, a geo-reference data base through which data can be presented and analysed in the form of maps. The staff that underwent training included the four WFP Regional Liaison Officers, Food Economy Assessment Officers and Logistics Staff.
WFP field staff attended a four-day workshop in Lokichoggio from 14-17 December to evaluate the 1999 Annual Needs Assessment exercise in the Southern Sector of OLS. Topics covered also included a review of WFP's post-distribution monitoring methodology, markets and food economy analysis, and gender and food economy analysis.
From 14-16 December, three WFP staff from the Southern Sector of OLS participated in an introductory workshop in Nairobi on the use of COMPAS, a commodity tracking system to be introduced into WFP operations in South Sudan as of January 2000.
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: email Ismat.Fahmi@WFP.org. telephone 39 06 6513 2338; or Ms. Leslie Elliott, Reports Officer, e-mail: Jouko.Ala-Outinen@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.