Looming WFP-Angola food shortage threatens
refugee repatriation
Plans by the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Governments of Angola and Zambia to recommence
the repatriation of Angola refugees in June 2004 may be jeopardised by
lack of food for the returnees. A report of an 8th April Zambia-Angola-UNHCR
Tripartite Commission indicates that the food pipeline of Angola's United
Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is precarious, forcing the Agency to
halve rations for refugees, including returnees. . The report cites lack
of resources and delayed shipments as factors leading to the potential
pipeline break. It goes on to say that a recent decision by the Angolan
Government to ban the importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
has aggravated the situation as the bulk of WFP food in stock originated
from the United States of America, a country that commonly incorporates
GMOs into agriculture production. Current food stocks in Angola are expected
to run out by August 2004, a time at which the repatriation of Angolan
refugees from Zambia should be in full gear. The programme has 40,000 Angolan
refugees to be assisted by UNHCR to repatriate in the course of this year.
Some 18,000 Angolan refugees will be repatriated from Meheba, 12,000 from
Mayukwayukwa, 8,000 Nangweshi and 2,000 from Ukwimi refugee camp. The voluntary
repatriation will be conducted both by road and airlifting from various
locations in Zambia. The method of movement will represent about 50 percent
by road and 50 percent by air.
Flood Situation Worsening
The flood situation in Western Zambia is reported to be worsening. A recent report of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) indicates that 2 lives have been lost and 13 persons hospitalised IFRC-Zambia: Floods-Information Bulletin No.1/2004. The report indicates that over 20,000 persons have been displaced, some of whom are currently being accommodated in local government schools and churches. The IFRC, apart from providing blankets, tents and jerry cans, has issued a water and sanitation oriented appeal for assistance. An earlier assessment by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) indicated that the floods had affected at least 21,000 households. The major sectors affected by the floods include water and sanitation, health and shelter. The impact on food is currently limited but expected to rise in the coming months.
The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies are currently consulting with the government regarding a response to the situation.
VAC Consultative process begins
The Zambia Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) has begun a consultative process examining the long-term sustainability of the VAC and its institutionalisation. This is part of a regional initiative to strengthen linkages and partnerships with other institutions collecting data. The process also aims to improve coordination with existing Governments' monitoring systems and other relevant initiatives developed by humanitarian agencies. A three-step process is envisaged involving consultations and national and regional level. The national level process will be led by an independent consultant and will take approximately 15 days. It will culminate in a national workshop at which stakeholders will examine recommendations of the consultant. A Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee (RVAC) retreat will then take place following the national consultations to determine the terms of reference for the RVAC and its relationships with national VACs (NVACS) and discuss future proposals for VAC activities. This retreat will also focus on discussing the relationships of the RVAC with regional stakeholders using the information generated by the VAC assessments. The third and final step will be a regional consultation on vulnerability assessment and monitoring activities, which will include relevant stakeholders. Based on outcomes of the national consultations and the RVAC retreat, this final consultation will look more specifically at how the RVAC can provide guidance to ensure that assessment and monitoring activities produce credible results that are comparable within the region.
The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) established the Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) system in 1999 to keep abreast and encourage co-ordinated development in the field of vulnerability and livelihood assessment in the southern African region. The system includes the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee (RVAC), a multi-agency committee established under the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate (FANR). The FANR has the mandate to strengthen capacity of member states to undertake and utilise vulnerability assessments for the purposes of food security planning in both emergency and non-emergency situations. National Vulnerability Assessment Committees (NVACs) were created under the leadership of national governments to strengthen vulnerability assessment capacity at the country level. These committees, of which only a certain number of the NVACs have been formally established, include government departments, UN Agencies and NGOs.
Other Developments
- The International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the United Nations organised a 5-day workshop on crisis preparedness and response to natural disaster.
Up-coming Coordination meetings
- 5th May 2004: Meeting of the Emergencies and Recovery strategic Group
- 18th May 2004: Meeting of WFP/FAO and Implementing Partners
- 20th May 2004: UNHCR and Implementing Partners meeting
For Details Please Contact
Robert Tabana
National Officer
Humanitarian Coordination Unit
Office of the UN Resident Coordinator
Lusaka, Zambia.
Tel: 260-1-250800
Fax: 260-1-253805
E-mail: robert.tabana@undp.org