This report includes:
(A) Global Hunger Alert
(B) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional Overview, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Angola, (9) Namibia, (10) Tanzania
(C) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Burundi, (2) Eritrea, (3) Uganda
(D) West Africa Region: (1) Cote D'Ivoire
(E) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
(F) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan
(G) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
From Francesco Strippoli, Director of the Office of Humanitarian Affairs; available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page (www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from Zlatan.Milisic@wfp.org.
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 Trevor.Rowe@wfp.org, telephone 39 06 6513 2602. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.
A) Global Hunger Alert
(a) As millions of people around the world celebrate the holiday season, WFP issued a press release reiterating its profound concern about the millions of people who do not have enough to eat. The unprecedented scale of starvation threatening 38 million people on the African continent is just one of several crises facing the World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies. The gulf between the huge needs and the ability to respond to those needs is growing by the day, overwhelming a system which can no longer cope without large new contributions.
(b) The shift in weather patterns is chiefly responsible for the rising number of disasters, including drought and floods, which have wreaked havoc on populations already burdened by conflict, poverty, misgovernance and economic policy failure.
(c) In Africa, the meager baseline of everyday life cannot withstand climatic shocks. On a continent where millions of people are already unable to cope, another poor harvest narrows the gap between life and death. Furthermore, the onslaught of HIV/AIDS is making the crisis even worse, as well as prolonging it for the next generation.
(d) The hunger crisis in Africa has grown particularly acute in the wake of two major, simultaneous emergencies in the past year. In southern Africa, almost 15 million people are threatened in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, an additional 12 to 16 million are at risk; millions more people also face starvation in Sudan, Angola, the Great Lakes region and West Africa.
B) Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional Overview, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Angola, (9) Namibia, (10) Tanzania
1) Regional Overview
(a) The WFP emergency operation is currently 61 percent funded, with a shortfall of USD 200 million.
2) Lesotho
(a) During the week, 795 tons of maize meal, 80 tons of pulses, and 32 tons of vegetable oil were distributed to 70,868 beneficiaries. WFP completed food distributions for the month in seven districts.
(b) Lesotho has experienced heavy rainfall and two heavy hailstorms over the previous week. WFP awaits feedback on the damage to crops due to the frost and hail. The prices of foodstuffs are reported to be increasing in general.
3) Malawi
(a) WFP dispatched 9,186 tons of food during the week. Milling of yellow maize began in country in preparation for January distributions, with the Government covering milling costs.
4) Mozambique
(a) In Tete Province, a seminar for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Women and Children was attended by 39 employees from WFP, NGOs, and Government institutions.
(b) German Agro Action has taken over from CARE International as the WFP implementing partner in Mabote District, Inhambane Province.
(c) WFP staff report that there has been a considerable increase in the price of maize in southern Mozambique.
5) Swaziland
(a) In December to date, WFP has released 3,586 tons of commodities to implementing partners. WFP plans to distribute another 1,071 tons before the end of the month.
(b) Food aid monitors are conducting awareness-raising campaigns on the importance of forming community relief committees. So far eight committees have been formed, and committees are expected to be established by mid-January in all areas where WFP food is being distributed.
6) Zambia
(a) As of 24 December, WFP had dispatched 17,500 tons of food out of the total 33,000 tons planned for the month. Of this amount, 9,600 tons is Government of Zambia food that is being distributed through WFP.
(b) Seven new food aid monitors have been trained and will begin duty during December, bringing the total number of food aid monitors in Zambia to 13.
(c) It was announced in the local press that a Government contract with two South African suppliers to import 300,000 tons of maize to Zambia has been cancelled and the Government is reported to be looking for other sources. Meanwhile, the Government has allowed millers to import maize duty-free.
7) Zimbabwe
(a) As of 27 December, WFP distributed 14,309 tons of food during the month.
8) Angola
(a) Landmine incidents continue to threaten the humanitarian operations. New incidents were reported in Malange and Mavinga during the week. WFP resumed regular deliveries to Mavinga following the completion of airstrip repairs last week. Eight deliveries per day have been conducted using three Hercules and one Jet aircraft.
(b) In Malange province, the official closing ceremony of Damba Gathering Area (GA), which shelters around 6,700 family members and 1,430 ex-soldiers, took place. Some ex-soldiers and their families are expected to return shortly to Luanda, Bengo and Kuanza Norte and transportation of these people has begun. In Bengo, the dismantling process of Mimbota GA is still on going. MINARS BENGO confirmed that 110 ex-UNITA soldiers and their family members have been transported from Mimbota GA to Luanda, for resettlement mostly in Huambo province.
(c) In Kuanza Sul, significant movements of people both in and out of the GA have been reported. Around 1,800 new arrivals presented themselves at Catofe GA for assistance with a verification process underway. Meanwhile, an unspecified number of former GA beneficiaries from Catofe and Ambuiva are reported to have arrived in Pampangala and will be registered and assisted by WFP and Movimondo shortly, with already around 17,600 newly returned/resettled IDPs having been registered in that area during the last week.
(d) According to MINARS in Luanda, the resettlement has begun of more than 3,000 IDPs living at Km30, in Musseque Baia, Viana, to Kuanza Norte and Malange provinces. The return process of IDPs headed for Uige, Kuanza Sul and Bengo is planned for January 2003.
9) Namibia
(a) 19,430 refugees in Osire camp were provided with standard WFP food rations during the general food distribution on 18-19 December. A total of 406 refugees in Kassava transit centre were also provided with their monthly rations during the week.
(b) UNHCR reported a total of 171 new refugee arrivals to Namibia between 1-24 December. They were provided with WFP food rations as they arrived in the camp. The majority of the new arrivals are from Angola (151 persons), 7 Burundians and 13 from DRC. The Angolans have reported hunger and family re-unification as the main reasons for their arrival.
10) Tanzania
(a) Following visits from the governments of Rwanda and Tanzania and efforts of various UN agencies, a dramatic increase in returnees to Rwanda was noted. Between 2-15 December, in Ngara, a total of 5,327 Rwandans voluntarily repatriated. A total of 14,509 Rwandans have been assisted to return home between 1 January and 15 December 2002, while a total of 27,236 Burundian refugees have been assisted to repatriate between 28 March and 30 December.
(b) An Italian mission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited refugee camps and refugee affected areas in Kibondo District and held meetings with refugee leaders. The objective of the visit was to explore how the refugees could be assisted to return and assess the needs of the refugees in the camps.
(c) Sixteen days of activism against sexual and gender-based violence took place in Kibondo camps. The activities started on 25 November with different activities in all camps, including songs, drama, role-playing and speeches. The activism included awareness raising at community level, block meetings and advocacy of the rights of women and children.
(d) A two-week general food distribution exercise was conducted in all camps at 100 percent rations for all items, except cereals which were distributed at 72 percent. A total of 3243 tons of food were distributed between 2-15 December, this total includes 70 tons in selective feeding and 3173 tons in food distribution.
C) Eastern and Central Africa Region: (1) Burundi, (2) Eritrea, (3) Uganda
1) Burundi
(a) Between 16-22 December, a total 1,128 tons of food was distributed through all WFP programmes in Burundi. The construction of 21 school kitchens was completed during this week, in preparation for the opening of the school-feeding programme in Karusi province.
(b) A Drought Intervention Monitoring Task Force (DIMTF) chaired by WFP and comprising OCHA, UNICEF, FAO, CARE, World Vision and ADRA was initiated. The DIMTF will meet on Fridays and WFP will release a situation report on weekly achievements and plan for the following week on Mondays in order to facilitate monitoring.
(c) The security situation was dominated by repeated attacks of rebels on civilian targets and robbery acts in rural households. Distributions in Kayanza and Ruyigi provinces were affected by the poor conditions of roads. One truck overturned three times, injuring the driver's escort due to slippery road and another broke a bridge on its way back from distribution in Kabarore commune, Kayanza province. In Ruyigi province, part of the planned quantities for distribution in Kinyinya commune could not be completed due to slippery roads.
2) Eritrea
(a) On 23 December, the Ministry of Health convened the first meeting of the Health and Nutrition Task Force, of which WFP is a member. The Task Force was created last week during an emergency meeting of key stakeholders concerned about the increasingly negative impact of the drought on the health and nutrition levels of vulnerable populations. The Task Force will act as a forum for sharing information related to health, nutrition and food aid, as well as for coordinating urgent responses among UN Agencies, the Government and NGOs. Members split into sub groups to address specific tasks. On 24 December the Nutrition Surveillance/Monitoring Sub Group convened its first session, where it was agreed that key nutrition data as well as related data on primary risk factors would be consolidated and then mapped with the assistance of the WFP VAM Unit. The visual presentation of the emerging situation will assist the Task Force in determining appropriate interventions in the most affected parts of the country.
(b) On 20 December, WFP visited the TSZ of Debub region, mainly the Hazemo sub- zone. The adverse impact of the drought on the population was again confirmed in discussion with farmers and local officials. No feed for animals and a rapidly decreasing supply of drinking water for humans and animals was reported. About 5,000 hectares of field planted with chickpeas was visited. No production is expected. In the coming months, the survival for both people and their livestock will become critical if no relief assistance is received urgently.
3) Uganda
(a) WFP is facing a shortfall of 44,064 tons of commodities between December 2002 and June 2003 to meet the increasing needs of IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable groups in northern Uganda. Due to extreme insecurity, all WFP food deliveries in northern Uganda continue to be accompanied by military escorts at all times. WFP is the only agency operating in rural areas of northern Uganda.
(b) WFP continues to distribute food aid to the displaced population in the Acholi sub-region amidst the deteriorating security situation in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts caused by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. LRA rebel attacks during November have resulted in the displacement of an estimated 47,333 persons within Lira Municipality, and up to 270,000 newly displaced within Pader District. WFP delivered emergency food aid to Kalongo Hospital in Pader district by air. The district remains inaccessible to UN staff and other aid agencies by road due to the prevailing insecurity. 3 tons of food was delivered for the therapeutic and supplementary feeding centre, serving women and children, many of who are malnourished. WFP distributed food aid to 47,000 IDPs in camps in Lira town.
(c) The deteriorating security situation in Kotido and Moroto districts in the Karamoja region, northeastern Uganda remains a concern. Cattle raids and road ambushes by armed Karimojong warriors were reported in the two districts. WFP-escort vehicles of the UPDF were ambushed twice during the reporting period, though no injuries were reported. There are reports of increasing raids and clashes between Jie and Dodoth clan warriors in Kotido district.
(d) The number of Rwandese asylum seekers temporarily accommodated at Kibati Reception Centre outside Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Mbarara District, southwestern Uganda now exceeds 3,000 individuals. This caseload started arriving in Uganda in March 2002, the majority coming from Tanzania and a small minority directly from Rwanda. The caseload reported fear of being repatriated from Tanzania to Rwanda as the motivation for their move to the Nakivale/Kibati Reception Centre.
D) West Africa Region: (1) Cote D'Ivoire
1) Cote D'Ivoire
(a) The security situation in the western region including Guiglo and Duekoué remains highly volatile, despite the presence of French and loyalist troops. At present, the movement of people is very limited, and there is no electricity, water or telephone connection, and hospitals, banks and schools are closed. In Yamoussoukro, several civilians have been killed for not respecting curfew hours. Numerous military and civil checkpoints have been set up all along major roads to and from Yamoussoukro with increasing reports of harassment and bribery of civilians.
(b) UNHCR reported that as per 20 December, at least 48,000 people (16,000 Ivorians) have fled from western Cote d'Ivoire to neighbouring Liberia. The number crossing the border has reduced to between 200-300 a day after reaching a peak of up to 3,000 daily at the beginning of December. As these numbers are only from the official border crossing, real figures are probably even higher. Since the crisis started three months ago, it is estimated that close to 140,000 people have fled Cote d'Ivoire: 30,000 to Burkina Faso, 30,000 to Ghana, 25,000 to Guinea, and 2,500 to Mali and about 50,000 to Liberia.
(c) A mission to Guiglo on 17-21 December, evaluated the humanitarian situation in the region and undertook food distribution to Liberian refugees in the Nicla camp. After four days of distribution, a total of 5,373, refugees received a total of 88 tons of food, to cover one-month ration. The mission also visited the Catholic Mission in Duekoué. An estimated 1000 Burkinabés and 500 displaced Ivorians live in the surrounding areas and get food from the mission.
(d) Two assessment missions have been carried out during the week to Didiévi in the northeast and Bédiala/Zuénoula in the northwest of Yamoussoukro. Out of the total 23,000 registered IDPs transiting through the Didiévi area, only some 8,000 have settled with host families in over 100 surrounding villages. The others have left for southern regions. In Bédiala, several thousands IDPs have passed through without being registered by authorities. Only some 400 have settled with host families. WFP is waiting for the local authorities to update registers and forward reliable figures for eventual emergency food assistance.
E) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
1) Palestinian Territories
(a) Between 1-15 December, a total of 34,268 families representing 171,340 individual beneficiaries received a total of 2,569 tons of WFP food commodities. Additionally ICRC distributed, during November, 167 tons of WFP food commodities to its rural programme beneficiaries.
(b) Distribution to WFP beneficiaries in Tubas governorate in the West Bank has been constantly postponed due to repeated Israeli Defence Force (IDF) incursions in the area. Strict military closures on Jenin governorate have prevented distribution of WFP commodities in Yaabad and Arrabeh area.
(c) Food for work activities were monitored to assess the impact of the project and WFP food. The beneficiaries are working on land owned or rented by their husbands. The farmers previously employed helpers to maintain their land, but are now unable to afford to pay for their salaries. The food ration provides an incentive for family members to work as replacement to waged workers and offers food security during the seasonal cultivation period. Farmers otherwise would have been required to abandon their land and find casual construction work to meet basic expenses. The beneficiaries are now harvesting their crops, mostly vegetables, and expect to gain an income of 50-1000 NSI from the sales of the produces on the local market in the coming month.
(d) A total number of 76 beneficiaries were interviewed during monitoring of WFP interventions in Gaza Strip. Those consulted were farmers living in rural areas in the middle and northern part of the strip. 10 percent of those interviewed survive on WFP food assistance while, for 63 percent, the handout enables them to use the savings for other necessities particularly to purchase tools to cultivate their land or pay rent. The food aid meets the basic needs of the remaining 27 percent interviewed.
F) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan
1) Afghanistan
(a) Between 18-24 December, nearly 515,000 beneficiaries received 3,350 tons of food commodities through various WFP activities. During this reporting period, 137,520 beneficiaries received 2,250 tons of food through food for work/food for asset creation activities, 81,000 beneficiaries received 424 tons of food through relief and resettlement of IDPs and refugees activities, 175,200 beneficiaries received 330 tons of food through urban vulnerable bakery projects and 23,300 beneficiaries received 64 tons of food through supplementary feeding programmes.
(b) Through food-for-education activities, in Fayz Abad, 3,800 students received 94 tons of wheat and 16 tons of oil. In Kabul, a deworming campaign started at five schools, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and WHO. 880 beneficiaries, 88 percent of whom are female, in Jalal Abad received some 9 tons of food under non-formal education projects, while learning skills in embroidery, carpet weaving, hand sewing, tailoring, health education and literacy. Some 55,000 students in Jalal Abad received 330,400 loaves of bread and 31 tons of oil. In Mazari Sharif, nearly 10,400 students received 62,200 loaves of vitamin-enriched bread. In Kandahar, 31,100 students received 186,500 loaves of bread. In Hirat, 332 beneficiaries in Farah city received 4 tons of wheat under the non-formal education programme.
(c) The security situation was calm throughout the country, except in Jalal Abad where three bombs exploded, causing no casualties or injuries. All UN staff members in Jalal Abad were warned to be cautious against further terrorist attacks.
G) Asia Region: (1) DPR of Korea
1) DPR of Korea
(a) Additional contributions are urgently needed in order to reach nearly 2.9 million vulnerable people with cereal distributions from early in the new year. These vulnerable people include: 1.98 million children in nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools; 130,000 pregnant/nursing women; 550,000 elderly persons and 225,000 caregivers in child institutions and hospitals.
(b) Threshing of maize and paddy, preparation of land and mature for spring crops are reported to be major farming activities in most provinces. This process has been delayed by unfavorable weather and compounded by erratic power supply. Most counties reported decreases in production for rice by 7-20 percent and maize by 5-18 percent. None of the counties reported any increase.
(c) Low voltage of electric power has affected production at four local food production factories. Munchon biscuit factory will be the first one to stop production due to lack of powdered milk. Sinuiju and Chongjin biscuit factories will follow suit soon for the same reason.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons.
(End WFP Emergency Report No 52).