This report includes:
A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Afghanistan, (3) Pakistan
B) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) Democratic Republic of Congo, (3) Djibouti, (4) Eritrea, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Sudan, (8) Uganda (9) Tanzania
C) West Africa: (1) Liberia, (2) Guinea, (3) Sierra Leone, (4) Côte d'Ivoire, (5) Mauritania
D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Angola, (3) Lesotho, (4) Madagascar, (5) Malawi, (6) Mozambique, (7) Namibia, (8) Swaziland, (9) Tanzania, (10) Zambia, (11) Zimbabwe
E) Asia: (1) DPRK
F) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Colombia, (2) Dominican Republic, (3) El Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Haiti, (6) Honduras, (7) Nicaragua
From David Morton, Director of the Transport, Preparedness and Response Division (OTP); available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page (www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from Carlo.Scaramella@wfp.org , Chief of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (OEP).
For information on resources, donors are requested to contact Valerie.Sequeira@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone +39 06 6513 2009. Media queries should be directed to Brenda.Barton@wfp.org or Francis.Mwanza@wfp.org, telephone +39 06 6513 2602. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.
A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Afghanistan, (3) Pakistan
1) Iraq:
(a) On 22 September, a car bomb exploded outside the United Nations Headquarters at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, killing two people and wounding 19 others.
(b) The Public Distribution System (PDS) for the month of September is continuing. Distribution in Kerbala, Tameem and the four lower southern governorates of Basrah, Missan, Thi-Qar and Muthana has completed while in the remaining governorates is nearing completion.
(c) In Missan, according to the Ministry of Trade (MoT), since the resumption of the PDS in the month of June, 6,617 Iraqi returnees from Iran have been registered in the Registration Ration Centres (RRCs), and are now receiving monthly food rations through the PDS.
(d) In the three northern governorates of Erbil, Dahuk and Sulaymaniyah WFP is running a school-feeding programme targeting students of primary schools. The distribution commenced last week and so far some 656 metric tons of high-energy biscuits (HEBs), have been distributed to 172,083 students.
(e) In Najaf, WFP had a meeting with the General Director of the Education Department to discuss a future implementation of a school-feeding programme in the governorates. WFP has started to collect baseline data on kinder gardens and primary schools in the Hilla Area, for future utilization in case school-feeding activities are to be implemented.
(f) As at 18 September, the Rome-based dedicated team for the re-negotiation of the oil-for-food contracts, pursuant SCR 1483, has successfully re-negotiated 212 contracts involving 1,093 million metric tons at a value of nearly 524 million euros. On 20 September, a meeting took place in Amman between WFP and representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the MoT and the UN Oil-for-food programme. The aim of the meeting was to focus on the progress made on the re-negotiation of food contracts. The meeting successfully discussed ways and procedures to streamline the whole progress of re-negotiation.
(g) WFP logistic operation is proceeding smoothly, since the beginning of the operation in the month of April to date, the quantity dispatched totals 1.924 million metric tons. As at 22 September, WFP has dispatched a total of 74,313 metric tons of mixed food aid commodities into Iraq for the month of September. The Jordanian corridor continues to be the most active corridor counting alone for 54% of total September dispatches.
2) Afghanistan:
(a) In the western part of the country, UN missions to Farah province continued with added security co-ordination due to an increase in armed robberies occurring on roads. In the south, missions to Uruzgan and Zabul provinces as well as to some districts in Kandahar, Hilmand and Nimroz provinces were suspended or authorized only with military escorts. UN agencies were reminded of exercising caution, when traveling in high-risk areas in eastern provinces, such as Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan. In central provinces of Logar and Kapisa, missions were suspended in some areas. Missions to Ghazni province require armed escorts between Sayed Abad and Ghazni.
(b) 3,636 MT of food were dispatched from external logistics hubs to extended delivery points inside Afghanistan, including: 44 MT of wheat soya blend (WSB), 600 MT of wheat from Peshawar to Fayz Abad; 60 MT of wheat soya blend (WSB) from Peshawar to Kunduz; 180 MT of wheat from Peshawar to Jalal Abad; 240 MT of wheat flour from Quetta to Kandahar; 168 MT of biscuits from Termez to Mazari Sharif; 408 MT of rice from Kurgan Tyube in Tajikistan to Kunduz; and 1,936 MT of wheat from Turkmenabad to Turghundi.
(c) In a meeting on the returnee/refugees stabilization at the WFP sub-office in Qalay-I-Naw, some 3,550 families were identified to have been benefited from the first distribution of food as part of the winter package. A committee, consisting of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation and NGOs and chaired by WFP, was formed to finalize distribution lists and prioritize the beneficiaries in the province. The first distribution will take place between 20 September and 15 October.
(d) The first nine trainees - from a wide array of fields, such as vocational training, literacy, education, construction, health and agriculture - graduated from a one-month programme officer training for Afghan NGOs managed by women in Kabul. As part of WFP's efforts in government capacity building, one staff member of the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Rural Development (MRRD) also participated in the training. By the end of the training, trainees were successfully able to develop projects for WFP activities and, subsequently, co-operate in WFP's activities. In Fayz Abad, the Department of Women Affairs (DWA) and WFP met to plan the establishment of a training center and income generating activities for women. DWA agreed to be closely involved in monitoring women-focused projects implemented by NGOs.
3) Pakistan
(a) A self-evaluation mission has completed its fieldwork and a mission report is in progress. The mission visited all the refugees camps in NWFP and Balochistan and found that food assistance provided by WFP is the only source of survival for the refugees. Any breakdown in the pipeline will therefore create serious repercussions on the targeted population. Other food and non-food contributions have dried up.
(b) Preparations for the Joint Food Assessment Mission, which is expected to commence on 29 September 2003, are underway.
(c) A high level delegation from Pakistan is participating in the 54th session of the Executive Committee of UNHCR where it has outlined the policies of the Government of Pakistan regarding the future of Afghan refugees in new and old camps as well as its role in their repatriation.
(d) EMOP 10228 has no confirmed contribution to meet its requirement from December 2003 to April 2004 wherefore funding is urgently required.
B) East and Central Africa: (1) Burundi, (2) Democratic Republic of Congo, (3) Djibouti, (4) Eritrea, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Kenya, (7) Sudan, (8) Uganda, (9) Tanzania
1) Burundi
(a) During this reporting period, the Head of State departed for New York to participate in the UN General Assembly. He is expected to meet with the UN Security Council to discuss the Burundi peace talks and to urge the Council to exert pressure on the Front for National Liberation (FNL) movement to join the peace process.
(b) WFP started distributions of the Seeds Protection Rations (SPR) throughout the country on 22 October. Over 8,300 tons of food is planned for the distribution to assist over 151,400 households identified in food insecure provinces. However, as the fighting continued to cause displacements of population, some SPR distributions planned for 23 and 24 September in Bujumbura Rural province were postponed. Insecurity is the major constraint to the effective operation of the SPR operation.
(c) Last week, many areas of the country remained unsafe and the closing of the national highway from the capital to the interior, affected WFP distributions planned in Mwaro province. The fighting between the Force pour la Défense de la Démocratie (FDD) and the Front for National Liberation (FNL) factions continued in Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza and Muramvya provinces causing the displacement of several civilians. Ambushes and armed robberies continue to be reported. A local administrator of Gitega province was killed at his residence. Following the deterioration of security, the Minister of Interior decided to restrict movements of the population living in five suburbs around the capital, Bujumbura through the implementation of a curfew starting from 19:00 to 5:00 hours. In the remaining areas of Bujumbura town, the curfew remains from 23:00 to 05:00 hours.
(d) During the reporting period, the Household Food Economy Assessment (HFEA) teams conducted food security assessment in Kirundo province and a rapid assessment in areas bordering the capital, Bujumbura. The teams reported that the attacks on the capital carried out last July have negatively impacted on neighboring people in Kanyosha commune. Some 2,700 were displaced while the attackers were retreating to the hills, and subsequently found their homes ransacked and farms destroyed. The teams also indicated that security was re established and if it prevails, these people were prepared to exploit the agricultural season 2004A without problems.
(e) Between 15 and 21 September 2003, WFP distributed 1,028 tons of food to 113,150 beneficiaries through its different programmes and activities. However, two distributions in Muramvya and Bujumbura Rural were cancelled due to insecurity.
2) D.R. Congo
(a) The security situation remains precarious in both eastern and western DRC. While efforts, both inside and outside the country are deemed to obtain durable peace in DRC, reports on the recruitment of child soldiers in South Kivu continue to be received.
(b) Insufficient food quantities impeded WFP's plan to provide a full food basket to the targeted beneficiaries. Food consignments under the emergency operation launched in June 2003 for the East have not yet arrived, while the number of returnees requiring food assistance, continues to increase. WFP received 1,600 tons of maize-meal through one portion of the Japanese contribution of US$ 5,000,000 and it will be distributed to targeted food insecure people in Kinshasa, Bas-Congo, Bandundu, Equateur and Oriental Province. Against the Japanese contribution, an additional quantity of 4,100 tons of maize-meal is expected for distribution in North and South Kivu, district of Ituri, Maniema and North Katanga.
(c) During the reporting period, WFP distributed over 570 tons of food commodities to over 87,000 beneficiaries, including IDPs and malnourished children. Other activities carried out were the assistance to children in difficult circumstances, food-for-work and food-for-training in order to build up the capacities of the targeted population to gain and/or maintain their food self sufficiency.
(d) The logistics operation consisting of airlifting 1,330 tons of food from Entebbe, Uganda to Bunia, Eastern DRC is underway. Some 410 tons of food commodities have been delivered so far. During the week under review, WFP opened a field office in Bunia.
(e) With the massive return of population to Masisi, WFP's implementing partner started the distribution of seeds protection packages to 13,150 families who arrived from Nyabiondo and Bukombo. WFP provided 100 tons of seeds protection packages to support the reinstallation of 3,000 families who had returned to Mpeti, Kalembe and Mweso provinces.
(f) An in-house school feeding training was carried out in preparation of the school feeding survey to be held shortly in Kinshasa and other DRC provinces where WFP has planned to support 200,000 school children in 2004 and 2005.
3) Djibouti
(a) The situation in the Aour Aoussa transit center did not improve during the past week. Food is still being distributed to the field kitchens and this will continue until only the genuine asylum seekers remain in the center. Reportedly some 1,195 people have left the transit center. There has been no movement of people reported for three days.
(b) No date had been confirmed for the registration at the refugee camps. WFP is still providing food to approximately 22,000 people. This month, the cereal ration was cut by 50% to ensure that sufficient stocks are available until the end of December. WFP in consultation with HCR intends to keep this reduced cereal ration until the registration is completed.
(c) First quarter distributions to the schools started during the week. However, as a result of the delays at the port, the kitchen utensils did not arrive in time and will only be distributed next week.
4) Eritrea
(a) Scanty rainfall has been reported in the different regions of the country during September 2003. The precipitation of the forthcoming weeks will be crucial for the success of the current cropping season. The Northern and Southern Red Sea regions depend on winter rains (October - January) and flooding (June - September) for crop cultivation. Under the latter farming system, 7,000 hectares (ha) have been tilled. Crop cultivation in the winter-rain dependent farming systems has just commenced and 120 out of 6,500 ha ploughed land has been cultivated.
(b) In the Northern Red Sea region, conditions of pasture have improved due to the rainfall received. As a result more fodder is available as compared to last year and livestock have recuperated. Water supply for both human and animal consumption has reached satisfactory levels. Nevertheless, drought-related animal diseases are still common among all types of livestock in the entire region.
(c) An agreement has been reached between WFP and its counterpart, the Ministry of Education, to conduct a school feeding baseline survey. Altogether 123 randomly selected schools will participate in this survey.
(d) The resourcing situation for EMOP 10261 is improving, with 82,055 tons out of a total appeal of 129,957 tons now pledged (63%). PRRO 10192 is urgently in need of substantial contributions as only 39,931 tons (38%) have been committed out of the 104,531 tons. The operation might face a pipeline break for pulses, CSB, salt and sugar as most of the commodities are not expected to arrive before the end of 2003. The CSB pipeline break will particularly affect school children, as classes will resume in September 2003.
5) Ethiopia
(a) The total population provided with food assistance in 2003 is 13.2 million. The target populations per month are currently: September 11.4 million; October 4.8 million; November 2.7 million; and December 2.3 million. The food needs until the end of the year are now largely covered and the shortfall between September and December is now 21,000 tons (pulses and oil). However, an additional 200,000 tons of cereals have been requested, as a contingency for any additional needs for 2003 that may be identified by the current mid-season assessment (being undertaken between September 20 - October 10), and to preposition cereals for anticipated needs in early 2004.
(b) The beginning and the middle of the meher (long rains) season were normal. Even though some areas were adversely affected by inadequate or excess rainfall, crop producers generally received adequate rainfall and at the right time.
(c) Total relief food arrivals in Djibouti during September are expected to exceed 170,000 tons. Three vessels with 81,000 tons wheat and wheat flour are currently being discharged. Repairs to the Djibouti container terminal caused by the storm damage are underway and expected to be completed soon. From January to August 2003, 1.13 million tons of food has been handled, with an average arrival of 141,000 tons per month. A further 520,000 tons are expected before the end of the year.
6) Kenya
(a) The recent flooding in western parts of Kenya has caused displacement of 21,000 people in Budalang'i division. The flood situation could worsen with the expected rainfall during the short rainy season in October and November. The Government of Kenya (GoK) is assisting the displaced with food aid. WFP is monitoring the situation.
(b) The security situation in and around Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps has been calm during the last three weeks. During the reporting period, WFP distributed some 3,050 tons of food to over 220,000 mainly Sudanese and Somali refugees located in Kakuma and Dadaab camps respectively.
(c) WFP is actively involved in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the refugee camps in Kenya. Currently WFP supports Reproductive Health Motivators who conduct home visits for those who are affected and infected by HIV/AIDS in the camps and refer them to the International Rescue Committee's Voluntary Counseling and Testing centres.
(d) The first visit by a representative of the Japanese government to Dadaab coincided with the arrival of a recent Japanese donation. In addition, a USAID mission visited Dadaab camps including the Extended Delivery Points and selective feeding programme sites.
(e) The overall food pipeline is healthy until January 2004, however, there will be a shortfall of salt in December 2003. WFP has the donor commitments necessary to provide a full food basket until end January 2004. In order to ensure a continual supply of basic food items to the refugees in the Kakuma and Dadaab camps between January and June 2004, the programme requires some 23,000 tons of food commodities at an approx. value of US$12 million.
7) Sudan
(a) The security situation in Darfur States in the western parts of Sudan remains tense. The ongoing tribal fighting in the region resulted in another 4,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) arriving in Kuttum, North Darfur State. WFP dispatched over 500 tons of food aid commodities to 31,000 persons in Kuttum area.
(b) The cumulative total of the WFP food distributed under the Sobat barge operation to date amounts to 491 tons of assorted food commodities to approx. 34,000 beneficiaries along the Sobat corridor.
8) Uganda
(a) As a result of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) activities and insurgencies, the number of Internally Displaced Person's (IDPs) in Uganda has increased to 1.2 million people. WFP faces a pipeline break of 35,079 tons of food commodities (25,435 tons cereals and 9,644 tons pulses) from September 2003 through March 2004. WFP is in urgent need of resources for PRRO 10121.0 to meet the increased resource requirements to prevent hunger and serious malnutrition among IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable groups. During the last pipeline break in December 2002 to February 2003, malnutrition rates among children in IDP camps surged to alarming levels in northern Uganda. Donors are urgently requested to pledge resources against PRRO 10121.0 to provide assistance to IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable groups.
(b) In eastern Uganda, Karimojong warriors attacked an (IDP) camp in Katakwi district during a cattle raid on 20 September 2003. 30 people were killed and five seriously injured. The attack occurred amidst continued regular attacks on the civilian population in Teso region, where an estimated 300,000 people are displaced since June 2003. WFP has dispatched over 2,260 tons of relief food to assist the displaced population in the four districts of Teso region for one month.
(c) WFP continues to provide relief food assistance to IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable people under PRRO 10121.0. From September 15-20, 1,703 tons of WFP food was distributed to 131,093 people, including IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable persons. However, WFP is able to access the displaced population only with armed military escort. Last week's relief food distribution in Gulu and Kitgum districts were hindered due to delay in food convoys caused by poor roads.
(d) WFP has concluded an Emergency Food Needs Assessment in 7 out of 10 IDP camps in Gulu. WFP, in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Committee and NGOs, conducted a rapid assessment of the humanitarian situation among IDPs in three IDP camps in Chua County, Kitgum district. The assessment recommends a one-off food distribution to the displaced population.
(e) WFP, together with the District Department of Health Services (DDHS) and International Medical Corps, is conducting nutrition surveys in seven old and 10 newly established IDP camps in Kitgum district.
9) Tanzania
On Tanzania, please refer to the section on Southern Africa.
C) West Africa: (1) Liberia, (2) Guinea, (3) Sierra Leone, (4) Côte d'Ivoire, (5) Mauritania
1) Liberia
(a) The humanitarian situation in Liberia remains dire. There are repeated reports of human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, rape and sexual violence, abuse of children and use of child soldiers, by rebel forces and government militias.
(b) As WFP activities expand farther up-country, having to operate in areas that remain under security phase 5, imposes growing logistical and operational constraints on the organisation. When traveling to distribution sites, food aid monitors and trucks are required to return to Monrovia on the very same day. This issue is currently under review by the Heads of UN agencies and the Field Security Coordinator.
(c) The overall security situation remained relatively calm both in Monrovia and up country. There were no reports of resurgent fighting or clashes occurring during the reporting period. However, a mission conducted by OCHA in Totota noted new influxes of IDPs arriving in the city.
(d) During the period 18 - 24 September, WFP launched an extensive distribution programme targeting at least 240,000 people in areas outside of Monrovia. Beneficiaries are being provided with a 1-month ration of assorted commodities. From all accounts, distributions are being carried out smoothly with no security incidents to report.
2) Guinea
(a) Fleeing continued fighting in Northern Liberia, a new wave of Liberians entered southwestern Guinea, via Baala, Bignamou, Fassankoni, Yezou and other entry points. The refugee influx appears to be continuing, comprising mostly children, women and the elderly who are reported to be in need of food and health care. Since Sept. 12, WFP, via the Red Cross GAPU Project, is providing high-energy biscuits to these vulnerable people at the borders. As road conditions are very poor, GTZ is working on basic repairs to the most critical areas.
(b) N'Zérékoré reported 2,904 Liberians, 6 Guineans and 1 Ivorian as crossing into Guinea from Liberia, from 26 August to 16 September. From 2 to 20 September, 1,600 and 917 Liberian refugees were transferred to the Lainé and Kouankan camps, respectively, and 173 Ivorians were transferred to the Nonah camp.
(c) In the Albadariah camps, 24,815 refugees received 414 MT of food, expected to last until 8 October. In the Kouankan and Lainé camps, 54,167 refugees received 899 MT of food, expected to last until 5 October. In the camps and transit centers located throughout the N'Zérékoré region, 4 MT of food was used to provide 2,420 refugees with hot meals.
3) Sierra Leone
(a) The security situation in the country remained calm during the reporting period.
(b) Countrywide, WFP supported a total of 109,345 beneficiaries (58% female), with 2,122 MT of food. Vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programmes (refugees, resettlement, returnees and institutions) supported 64,734 beneficiaries (55% female), with 953 MT of food. The Therapeutic Feeding Centers/ Supplementary Feeding/ and Mother and Child Health Programmes (TFC/SFP/MCH), provided 65.5 MT of food to 11,626 beneficiaries comprising children under five (5), pregnant women, lactating mothers and TFC Caretakers. Safety nets (Institutional Feeding) provided 3,271 (44% female) beneficiaries with 50 MT of food aid.
(c) Movement of refugees from the Zimmi, Blama and Kailahun way stations to the refugee camps was slower than anticipated. WFP is working together with UNHCR to address the issue. The repatriation of the 15,000 Sierra Leoneans remaining in Monrovia could begin to via road along the Pujehun access in Small Bo as early as November 2003, pending security clearance. The repatriation of Liberian refugees in the eight camps in the country could also begin as early as November 2004 depending on the elections and the peace process in Monrovia, UNHCR will be prepared to shift some approximately 10,000 refugees from the camps by end of 2004.
4) Côte d'Ivoire
(a) The food security situation in Toulepleu in the western part of the country is a concern. People are returning to their villages to find them completely empty as they were pillaged during the war. The WFP/FAO agriculture project is well designed for these returning populations as it encourages the people to return to their villages, by providing them with seeds and tools. The seed protection ration will help the populations feed themselves until they receive their rice harvest in December.
(b) The construction of the new site for the IDPs in Guiglo continues. As the new camp will hold only 2,400 people, IDPs who do not currently have a shelter in the current site will be prioritized for transfer. The Comité de Crise in Guiglo has requested food aid for 20,000 IDPs living with host families. WFP will conduct an assessment next week. The numbers in the Nicla refugee camp, near Guiglo are up to 5,831 this week. This influx includes 465 new refugees from Liberia and 747 refugees who have been living in Côte d'Ivoire outside the camp.
(c) Many villages in the west especially around Man, Danane and Mahapleu are appealing for food assistance as the lean period is at its peak. WFP intends to continue assessing these villages and provide targeted food assistance as required in rural Man, Danane, Zouan Hounien and Bin Houye until the next harvest.
(d) The humanitarian situation in the ''New Forces''-held Bouna in the East has not improved. The economy is still constrained by closed banks and markets. Public services such as water and electricity are non-functioning, health services are poor. As a result, an increasing number of people suffer from malnutrition and poor health. WFP conducted last week a mission to the villages of Kououba and Sanguinary, which have not received any humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the crisis. In Bouna town, 80% of the population collect water from polluted sources and about 15% of the patients in the Bouna hospital suffer from water borne ailments. An interagency mission led by WFP and UNICEF is being planned to assess the humanitarian situation in Bouna including water, sanitation, health and food security.
(e) In the north, the situation continues to be very difficult for the cotton farmers that have not been paid for the last two seasons. However a WFP mission to the area found that the Cooperative of Cotton Producers has given farmers rice on credit, to be paid back without interest when the harvests have been paid. This complements the WFP support, which is only targeting the most vulnerable, including the malnourished children. The lack of health and sanitation structures in rural areas raises concerns.
(f) Although the general security and access has improved, crime has been on the increase country-wide. Also, security remains poor outside the main towns and away from the main roads in the western part of the country. WFP expects to distribute more and more food to returnees in these rural western areas. Efficient coordination with local authorities is fundamental for the successful implementation of the WFP operation.
5) Mauritania
(a) Rainy conditions have continued in parts of the South. The Senegal River breached the dike protecting the southern city of Kaedi, flooding eastern parts of the town, including houses and crops. Parts of Gorgol and Guidimakha are completely cut off by flooding. Rain in Brakna and the two Hodhs has caused significant operational difficulties for transportation from regional warehouses to NGO hand over points, resulting in the suspension of distribution as pistes dried. WFP's pickup fleet is presently operating in these areas.
(b) WFP's VAM unit released results from its July/August survey. They indicate that severe malnutrition was 18.8 percent in surveyed villages of the Aftout, suggesting that the nutritional situation significantly deteriorated in the region since the last survey in February. Malnutrition rates remain well above the 10% alarm level for Africa. Results show that the higher the amount of food aid received in a village, the lower its malnutrition rate.
(c) A cumulative total of 51% of projected EMOP commodities will have been distributed by the end of September. A total of 420,000 beneficiaries (of which 120,000 live in the Aftout and 300,000 outside the Aftout) are targeted by the current set of distributions. Intended beneficiaries are the same persons targeted for the previous tranche. They will receive two month-ration coverage.
(d) No new donations occurred during the reporting period. Pipeline breaks are expected for vegetable oil in November and for all other commodities in December 2003. New commitments need to be made by September 2003 to avoid a pipeline break.
D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Angola, (3) Lesotho, (4) Madagascar, (5) Malawi, (6)Mozambique, (7) Namibia, (8) Swaziland, (9) Tanzania, (10) Zambia, (11) Zimbabwe
1) Regional
(a) Emergency Operation 10290 'Targeted relief to vulnerable households in Southern Africa' urgently seeks new donations. For more than a month, funding has remained at a shortfall of USD 235 million. As anticipated, should donations not be made immediately, critical pipeline breaks will commence before the end of the year.
2) Angola
(a) The pipeline situation remains unchanged with the Angola PRRO 'Food Assistance to War Affected People' at a 74 percent funding level. However, due to significant delays in international food shipments, a serious cereal shortfall is expected in October in the Lobito logistics corridor.
(b) Due to drought more than 3,000 people in Bela-Vista Commune, Municipality of Ambriz (Bengo Province) is reportedly in a precarious food situation. The road from Ambriz to Bela-Vista is still closed to UN personnel due to the security concerns and poor road conditions. Nambuangongo Municipality, an area of return and suspected food insecurity, remains inaccessible to humanitarian agencies due to dangerous road conditions.
(c) Results of a Rapid Food Needs Assessment carried out by a team of WFP AFRICARE and MSF/B staff in Caieie Commune of Nharea Municipality in Bie Province found the food shortage among residents to be critical.
(d) The total number of refugees officially repatriated into Angola from Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia now stands at 25,193 people.
3) Lesotho
(a) Due to crop failure, three constituencies in Mohale's Hoek District have been earmarked as 'most affected'.
(b) From 17 - 22 September, WFP distributed 611 tons of food to 57,269 beneficiaries. Of this, 6,230 orphans received food aid through schools as take home rations, thereby reaching a total of 30,259 beneficiaries.
4) Madagascar
(a) WFP's Sub-Office Fort Dauphin reports that increasingly rural households are being forced to sell domestic livestock for additional income to buy basic food commodities. The situation is expected to deteriorate toward November, as basic food prices are likely to increase. The southern region faces chronic problems of food insecurity due to extreme poverty of the rural households, problems that are exacerbated by drought.
(b) The planting season is expected to start end October/early November with the arrival of the first rains. The lack of rain during the last few months has caused severe water shortages in some of the most remote rural communities, and people (especially women) have to walk long distances to collect water for domestic use. Due to the water shortage, two schools supported by WFP in the Fort Dauphin area were unable to prepare meals for the students.
5) Malawi
(a) From 18 - 24 September, WFP and Implementing Partners distributed 564 tons of food.
6) Mozambique
(a) As the WFP regional EMOP is only 24 percent funded, allocations to WFP Mozambique only cover food pipeline needs through November. Unless additional donations are immediately confirmed, WFP Mozambique will have to keep emergency activities at current levels to ensure there is enough food in the pipeline through December. This comes at a time when the programme should be increasing its coverage as the lean season approaches. WFP Mozambique currently requires 26,400 tons of food to ensure the operation is funded through to January 2004.
(b) From 16 - 22 September, WFP and Implementing Partners distributed 2,162 tons of food. Following reports of a precarious food situation in Memo locality in Manjacaze District (Gaza Province), WFP Implementing Partner Igreja Presbiteriana de Mocambique (IPM) started providing food to 208 families.
7) Namibia
(a) From 11 - 24 September, WFP and Implementing Partners distributed 281 tons of food to refugees at the Osire and Kassava camps.
8) Swaziland
(a) Large numbers of beneficiary households at Magele in the dry Middleveld have lost their livestock due to inadequate grazing caused by water shortages.
(b) From 16 - 22 September, WFP and Implementing Partners distributed 437 tons of food to 27,224 beneficiaries.
9) Tanzania
(a) Food commodities for PRRO 10062.01 remained at reduced levels for pulses and Corn Soya Blend (CSB), which will be returning to 100 percent by 1 October. In order to cover potential pipeline shortfalls in early to mid 2004, new contributions are sought for commitment by October.
10) Zambia
(a) The repatriation of Angolan refugees is continuing as scheduled with a convoy leaving each Tuesday. WFP supplies food at departure, transit and reception centres, along with a 2-month re-integration package.
(b) Under WFP urban intervention, implementing partner Project Concern International (PCI) has enrolled over 140 community schools and drop-in centres for the WFP feeding programming providing HEPS for over 55,000 children, and take-home rations reaching 21,000 families. As part of the programme, 30 street children have completed a two-week drama training in HIV/AIDS messaging and have already began performances for their communities.
(c) Agricultural inputs provided by FAO in a joint programme with WFP to reach 20,000 families are starting to be dispatched to implementing partners. At the same time, WFP has begun releasing food for FFA programmes.
(d) From 16 - 22 September, WFP and Implementing Partners distributed 459 tons of food under all programmes.
11) Zimbabwe
(a) The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing WFP operations during EMOP 10290 was signed on 25 September by the Minister for Social Welfare and the WFP Representative. The MoU is the basic document that sets out the framework by which food aid sourced through WFP is distributed in Zimbabwe. The agreement defines the target beneficiaries, the beneficiary selection criteria, and the roles of partner agencies and relevant government officials in both the registration and distribution processes. As has been the practice since WFP commenced the relief food programme 18 months ago, the MoU reaffirms that WFP food aid will be 'distributed exclusively on the base of need alone and without prejudice to racial, tribal, political affiliation or religion'. It is hoped that the signing of the MoU will encourage donors to make what are now urgently needed new contributions to the WFP programme.
(b) As the food security situation in Zimbabwe continues to decline rapidly, serious pipeline ruptures are foreseen by the end of the year. Urgent donor contributions are now required to feed over 4 million people in the critical pre-harvest season in January-April 2004. Up until 22 September, WFP had distributed 7,400 tons of food to 592,000 vulnerable persons. WFP is currently providing supplementary feeding for malnourished children at 37 clinics in Harare and Bulawayo cities. Over 10,000 children received assistance during the reporting period.
(c) NGOs attending the regular Food Aid Coordination Meeting held during the reporting period confirmed that field operations were going on as normal. There have been no significant incidents in relation to the recent government policy on the operations of NGOs involved in humanitarian assistance.
(d) The government has trebled the fees charged for the hire of ploughing equipment. In addition, the governmental agency responsible for providing ploughing services has scant fuel to run farm machinery that is in disrepair from lack of spare parts. These factors, coupled with a critical shortage of seed, fertilizer and other inputs, are expected to negatively impact next season's crop.
E) Asia: (1) DPRK
1) DPRK
(a) Lack of sugar stocks continued to affect operations under EMOP 10141.1. WFP has requested the government for a loan of 70 MT of sugar to cover some needs and proposes to temporarily exclude the sugar component from the CMB (cereal milk blend), recipe and replace it with wheat flour. The total 288 MT sugar loan from the government will be repaid in mid-October on receipt of the expected sugar contributions.
(b) Pipeline shortfalls of about 105,500 MT are projected for the next six months (September through February 2004), including 85,000 MT of cereals. Delays in the arrival of confirmed shipments will lead to halting of local food production of enriched blended foods, biscuits and noodles meant for the youngest children and pregnant and nursing women in October. Approximately 19,000 MT of wheat were purchased in China with cash contributions from Italy (EUR 3 mn), Sweden (USD 1 mn) and Canada (USD 165,000). This shipment is expected to arrive by mid-October.
(c) During discussions with county officials in Nampo province on the sources of food available for different household categories, it was revealed that the average elderly family relied heavily on WFP food aid, about 20%, compared to worker and farmer households for whom WFP food contributed about 5% to their monthly food intake.
(d) Harvest of the maize crops continues in most provinces. Ryanggang province reported that all available workers were involved with completing the potato harvest before the first snowfall. The cropping cycle is much shorter in this heavily industrialized northeastern province as winter arrives earlier and lasts longer.
F) Latin America and the Caribbean: (1) Colombia, (2) Dominican Republic, (3) El Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Haiti, (6) Honduras, (7) Nicaragua
1) Colombia:
(a) New displacements have been reported across the country, especially in the Departments of Chocó and Antioquia, where new flows of displaced people, fleeing fighting between different armed groups is expected. In the Department of Norte Santander, people had to flee by night to avoid retaliation from illegal armed groups that had forbidden them to leave their homes. Most of these people are arriving in Cucuta, the capital.
(b) The Red Cross has carried out a nutritional study in part of the Department of Chocó in collaboration with ECHO. Results show that in some areas malnutrition and lack of sufficient food affect 63 percent of children.
(c) New reports of killings of young people in Soacha (near Bogotá) continue. In the Department of Santander, the body of a former community leader, who disappeared more than a year ago, was found. WFP supports pre-school and community kitchen projects in Soacha.
(d) In the Municipality of Peque (Department of Santander), Antioquia has been suffering food blockades by armed groups, especially of basic commodities such as rice, salt, sugar, and vegetable oil. If the situation continues, the village could face a food emergency. In the same Department, in the Medellin Barrio La Honda, safety conditions are still not guaranteed for suppliers to enter with food supplies. Delivery of WFP commodities was postponed after WFP sub-office consultation with local authorities.
2) Dominican Republic
(a) On 23 September an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, the strongest since 1946, shook the island. The epicenter was located in Puerto Plata on the east-north part of the island. Tremors continued all night and the following day. A small number of people were hospitalized as a result of secondary injuries.
(b) Puerto Plata reports two public buildings were severely damaged, one bank partly collapsed, and a university building suffered severe structural damages. In Santiago the public hospital was completely evacuated and patients temporarily located in open air due to structural failures. In Santo Domingo, the earthquake was felt clearly, causing panic but no major damages. The National Commission for Emergency Operations provided immediately accurate information in close coordination with the Seismological Research Center through national telephone company and local TV and radio stations.
3) El Salvador
(a) Heavy rains continue to fall throughout the country causing some localized flooding. The rains have raised hopes of a bountiful maize and bean harvest.
(b) A local WFP staff member was assaulted and subsequently abducted in San Salvador. The staff member was unharmed and reported the incident immediately to local police and UN security officials.
(c) The baseline study for the PRRO 10212 has begun this week. The PRRO team will use the ''Community Profile Survey Form'' in 17 communities and 16 municipalities to interview 800 different households in areas affected by the ongoing coffee crisis and other recurring disasters such as drought and floods.
(d) A local purchase of 80 MT of red beans for PRRO 10212 is being delivered to government counterpart warehouses. The contribution will be used to assist families affected by the ongoing coffee crisis.
4) Guatemala
(a) Heavy rains and strong winds have caused various incidents, traffic jams, and floods in Guatemala City and other areas of the country. The National Institute of Seismology, Meteorology and Hydrology has forecasted that stronger rainfalls will continue affecting the central part of the country during the coming weeks.
(b) Prior to the implementation of PRRO activities in Guatemala, baseline information is being collected on nearly 20 indicators on vulnerability to food insecurity, at household and community levels. Data collection will take place in 60 communities/600 households in 12 municipalities. Six teams, comprising WFP and implementing partner staff will continue the fieldwork scheduled to be completed by the first week of October.
(c) Guatemala is expecting the first contribution to the Country Programme in late September. The donation consists of 3,480 MT of maize, 450 MT of black beans, and 598 MT of vegetable oil.
5) Haiti
(a) The already volatile situation in Haiti has deteriorated over the past weeks. Inter-gang fighting and clashes between political opposition demonstrators have led to lose of lives, property and infrastructure.
(b) The severe flooding in the city of St. Mark and surrounding areas in late August, which resulted in 19 deaths, 70 persons wounded, and 19 persons missing have affected a total of some 2,400 families, according to assessment reports. 3,000 MT of food is required to feed the affected population for three months. USAID has provided 100 MT of food for the first month. WFP will provide 100 MT of food from PRRO stocks in the Far West to St. Mark to address the immediate food needs of the flood victims. The Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission (ECHO) has contributed 8,000 Euros to assist the affected population.
6) Honduras
(a) Heavy rains in the North and Western areas of the country have caused flooding and landslides, provoking infrastructure damage, crop losses and evacuations of affected people to Red Cross shelters.
(b) According to the reports of WFP field staff, NGOs, and municipal authorities, 8 municipalities have been affected by drought in the southern part of the country, resulting in an estimated 56% crop loss (mainly maize). The affected municipalities are all located in the drought corridor.
(c) Assistance to vulnerable groups under the regional PRRO continues through Vulnerable Group Feeding, community kitchens, attention to people affected by HIV/AIDS, and supplementary nutritional centers in the drought corridor.
(d) The installation of new VHF antennas in the northern, central and southern areas of the country has been completed, significantly improving communications. The HF radio also installed has likewise made a positive impact on operations, especially in remote parts of the country. Further expansion of the network will take place in the next two months.
7) Nicaragua
(a) A mountain leprosy outbreak is affecting thousands of persons in various parts of the country. According to press reports, the most affected areas include the municipality of San Jose de Bocay, Department of Jinotega and the mining triangle in the Northern Atlantic Region (WFP-assisted areas). The Ministry of Health is in the process of providing assistance to the affected population.
(b) From 18-20 September, Mr. Miguel Barreto, Vice-President of WFP's Executive Board, and Ms. Zoraida Mesa, WFP ODPC Regional Director, visited the country. Various interviews with government officials and donors were scheduled. A field mission was also organized to the coffee crisis affected area assisted through the regional PRRO.
(c) Bimonthly food distributions continue under the regional PRRO. Of the 150,000 targeted beneficiaries, only some 56,000 persons are currently being reached due to the scarcity of resources. However, approximately 4,590 MT of food are expected to arrive within the next few months. Beneficiaries include expectant and nursing mothers, children under two years of age, school children and vulnerable families through the FFW component. All food rations include maize, beans, CSB and vegetable oil.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons.
(End WFP Emergency Report No. 39)
