(B) West Africa: (1) Chad (2) Cote d'Ivoire (3) Liberia (4) Mauritania

(C) Southern Africa: (1) Regional (2) Angola (3) Lesotho (4) Madagascar (5) Malawi (6) Mozambique (7) Swaziland (8) Zambia (9) Zimbabwe

(D) Asia: (1) Bangladesh (2) Indonesia (3) Korea (DPR) (4) Maldives (5) Myanmar (6) Sri Lanka

(E) Latin America and Caribbean: (1) Bolivia (2) Colombia (3) Cuba (4) Guatemala (5) Haiti (6) Nicaragua

(A) East & Central Africa:

(1) Burundi

(a) A mortar-shell attack on some central residential areas of the capital occurred on 15 March. Reportedly, the Front for National Liberation (FNL) was behind this attack. Killings of civilians and armed robberies continue to be reported in several areas of the country. After receiving threats from members of neighbouring communities, over 1,000 Burundians have fled the northern provinces and sought refuge in Rwanda during the past couple of weeks.

(b) The country has been receiving normal to above-normal rainfall. This has encouraged farmers who were hoping for a normal harvest. Nonetheless, the lack of agricultural inputs constitutes a serious threat to the success of the season.

(c) WFP distributed close to 2,000 tons of food aid to over 255,400 beneficiaries through different activities.

(d) The distribution of the Seeds Protection Rations continues. Some 1,500 tons were distributed to over 39,000 families in Kirundo, Muyinga, Gitega and Ruyigi provinces. Fourteen new Food-For-Work (FFW) projects, amounting to over 5,100 tons of food aid, have been approved in Kirundo, Muyinga and Gitega provinces. They aim at relieving acute short-term food insecurity.

(e) The National Secretariat in charge of demobilisation reported that 5,600 former combatants from armed groups and the national defence forces have been demobilized so far. WFP provides food to all demobilisation centres.

(f) Unless additional donor contributions are received, food shortages might occur, starting in May for some commodities and in June and July for others. Given the current projections, the food security situation might deteriorate further from May onwards if crop yields for the next harvest are below normal levels. Close monitoring of the pipeline and food deliveries is thus warranted. (

2) Congo, DR

(a) In Bunia on Sunday, 13 March, the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) gave an ultimatum to all the militia groups, mainly in Ituri district, to disarm before 31 March. The militiamen were to disarm and return to civil life or join the national army. After the Sunday ultimatum, peacekeepers could use force to restore peace in DRC, following the instructions of the United Nations. Steps have been taken to reinforce the United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) with the deployment of African forces in the near future.

(b) The judges of the new International Criminal Court (ICC) had their first hearing on the DRC cases last week in the Hague. It focused on the inquiry into war crimes allegedly committed in the DRC. The ICC is the world's first permanent tribunal for trying cases involving genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. To keep the court impartial, the procedural hearing will be held in a closed session with no members of the press or public allowed to attend.

(c) Increasing numbers of Congolese refugees continue to cross from Tanzania into Uvira and Fizi in South Kivu each day. The security situation in both towns is reported to be calm and this may explain the decision of the refugees to return home.

(d) The reunification exercise of the Congolese army continued in North Kivu. As a result, 150 demobilized child soldiers are already sheltered in two rehabilitation centres in Rutshuru. Meanwhile, Caritas and World Vision, WFP's implementing partners, dispatched food to assist war-affected people in Buramba (Rutshuru territories), Nyabiondo and Masisi.

(e) On 10 March, WFP and a local NGO conducted a monitoring mission in Baraka and Kazimia, north of Fizi, to monitor the rehabilitation of feeder roads and income generating projects involving women victims of sexual violence.

(3) Djibouti

(a) The fifth convoy this year of the voluntary repatriation of refugees originating from Somaliland was organized on 15 March. A total of 123 families or 617 persons from Holl-Holl camp in Djibouti were safely repatriated to Borama and Garbo-Dadar in the province of Awdal. The caseload of refugees now stands at 11,373 refugees in the two camps of Ali Addeh (5,542) and Holl-Holl (5,831).

(4) Eritrea

(a) On Friday, the Government of Eritrea strongly denied allegations that it has massed troops along its border with Sudan. The denial followed reports in Sudanese media quoting the governor of Sudan's eastern state of Kassala, who stated that Eritrea was boosting its forces along the border for purposes of spying. Relations between Eritrea and Sudan are tense with the two governments frequently accusing each other of supporting opposition movements on the other's soil.

(b) In the western region of the country, intensive land preparation is expected to start between April and June, depending on the geographical location and rainfall pattern. In all sub-regions, residents report tight food availability, especially after the food rations had to be reduced due to limited relief food aid stocks in the country.

(c) The livestock in these sub-regions is beginning to show signs of the effects of drought, and many herdsmen are moving towards riverbanks in search of food and water for their animals. Animal deaths have not yet been reported. The central region experienced a few rain showers including hail - which are exceptional for this time of the year.

(d) While monitoring food distributions in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the southwestern part of the country, WFP field monitors observed that all water pumps except one, did not function. The camp's administration was trucking the water to the residents.

(5) Ethiopia

(a) There are concerns about deteriorating humanitarian conditions in pocket areas of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Oromia and Somali regions. Humanitarian partners and WFP field monitors report signs of increasing food insecurity, and the situation is being closely monitored. Rains have been received in Jijiga zone in Somali region in recent days. This could potentially ease water shortages currently experienced in the area, but continued monitoring is required on the onset of the "gu" rains, which normally start at the end of March and continue until end of April. In Afar, rains were received in zones 3, 4 and 5 but as these are not the most affected areas of the region in terms of food insecurity, and close monitoring of the northern parts of the region is needed.

(b) The Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), which aims at assisting up to 5 million chronically food insecure people through cash or food transfers in 2005, officially started in mid-February. External financing resources have been transferred from federal to regional authorities. Community works of the PSNP are underway in many areas, but most areas have not made food or cash transfers to beneficiaries so far. If substantial transfers can be effected from the end of March, food security conditions should improve considerably in the chronically food insecure areas under the PSNP. For relief food distributions, in February, new emergency food allocations were made for Afar, Tigray, Oromia and Gambella regions, with total allocations amounting to 35,500 tons. In Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), carry-over stocks at regional level from 2004 were utilized. Similarly, Amhara relief distributions are expected to start in April, using 2004 carryovers. Food allocated last month is still being dispatched, with food having reached most localities in Afar and transport ongoing in Tigray and Gambella regions. In Gambella region, transportation is being hampered by recent security incidents.

(c) Relief food requirements for March are 55,000 tons for 3 million people. In the absence of confirmed contributions from donors, WFP has had to resort to its special loan facility which allows borrowings to be made against forecast contributions, rather than actual contributions. While this will ensure that relief distributions can continue for March and part of April, WFP urges donors to confirm contributions currently under negotiation and to make additional resources available for Ethiopia. Confirmed contributions of emergency food aid stand at only 25 percent of the requirements set out in the 2005 Humanitarian Appeal.

(6) Rwanda

(a) Rainfall outlook for the next 3 months is above average; the critical issue will be its distribution.

(b) In addition to 849 Burundian refugees registered by UNHCR coming from the provinces of Karuzi, Kirundo and Muyinga to Rwanda, 250 more were registered on 14 March. Among them, people from the Abatwa ethnic group (pygmies) have crossed for the first time into Rwanda, which means that the situation in Burundi is getting serious since this group does not move easily. The number of unaccompanied minors among these refugees is alarmingly high.

(c) During the past week, another 295 new arrivals were received in Nyamure and Gikonko camps and a two-week food ration was distributed to them. A total of about 290 tons of mixed food commodities was distributed to some 18,000 Congolese refugees in Kiziba camp in Kibuye. The total number of Congolese and Burundian refugees currently in Rwanda is 44,469 and 4,702, respectively, making a total of 49,171.

(d) A total of 233 Rwandan returnees from Congo and Uganda were received at Gisenyi and Byumba. They all received a 3-month ration.

(e) The food situation is serious with accumulated arrears for already executed works under the Food-For-Work (FFW) programme. Further ration cuts are contemplated and no new FFW activities will be approved before the pipeline situation improves. School Feeding is being affected by the food loans to the PRRO; a budget revision is being prepared to accommodate increased needs.

(7) Somalia

(a) The general insecurity and lawlessness that inhibits the provision of humanitarian assistance in many parts of Somalia have increased - notably in parts of Sool and Sanag in the North, Lower Juba Valley, Gedo and Benadir (including Mogadishu) in the South and Galgadud/South Mudug in central Somalia.

(b) Relief distributions under the PRRO, Food Aid for Relief and Recovery, were completed with 1,350 tons reaching 135,000 beneficiaries from communities in the North which have been affected by the year long drought, mudslides and flashfloods. However, regular programmes in the social support sector, such as the support given to mother and child health clinics, orphanages and FFW activities which are aimed at rehabilitation have been on-going in WFP operating areas such as Bay and Bakol regions.

(c) WFP Somalia continues with the third round of distributions to assist the Tsunamiaffected communities along the northeast coastline of Somalia. Some 50 tons of food commodities have been dispatched, reaching 3,300 beneficiaries of the 30,000 affected population.

(d) The Tsunami Inter-Agency Assessment Mission of the Northeast Somali Coastline between Hafun and Gara'ad published its final mission report on 11 March. The main recommendations included: 1) The need to promote livelihood recovery and support the fishing livelihood, especially through new fishing gear and resource transfer until the next fishing season; 2) the rehabilitation and /or new construction of more sustainable and reliable new water sources; 3) road rehabilitation and improvement to ensure a quick response as well as market access for inputs and export of the area's main source of income, the fishing industry; and 4) immediate reconstruction of houses destroyed by the Tsunami in particular in Hafun, Baner Beyla, Dharinragas and Kulub.

(e) WFP together with AFREC, a local NGO, distributed over 820 tons of assorted food commodities that were pre-positioned in Kismayo for Marere and satellite villages in the Lower Juba Valley as targeted relief distribution.

(8) Sudan

(a) DARFUR: The security situation in Darfur remains fragile with increased incidents over the week. Fighting was reported south of Western Jebel Marrah. Unconfirmed reports state that the fighting is between the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Government of Sudan (GoS). In addition, cattle raiding and looting of commercial vehicles continue in South Darfur. Restrictions of movements within the Darfurs, due to insecurity, are severely hampering food distributions. Fighting between the National Movement for Reform and Development (NMRD) and the GoS in West Darfur was also reported.

(b) Humanitarian operations have been affected by the suspension of WFP-HAS helicopter flights in North Darfur, due to a break in communication between the SLA and the UN in North Darfur. Planned field assessments in North Darfur, particularly to areas with gaps in humanitarian assistance, have been put on hold due to the suspension of the helicopters. In West Darfur, movements of UN vehicles outside of Geneina were suspended following three days of attacks on vehicles belonging to international NGOs by armed bandits.

(c) WFP dispatched close to 13,000 tons to an estimated 726,334 beneficiaries (based on dispatches) from 1-14 March. A total of 1,700 tons of food was airlifted or airdropped into the Darfurs during that period. As of 14 March, some 20,300 tons of food have been dispatched by road and air from Khartoum and El Obeid to the Darfur state capitals, representing 55 percent of the monthly distribution plan of 36,800 tons and 47 percent of the overall monthly dispatch plan of 43,000 tons. It should be noted that the monthly dispatch plan includes 6,300 tons for dispatch to West Darfur for pre-positioning purposes. WFP will continue to pre-position commodities in West Darfur before the onset of the rainy season to prevent the disruption of food supplies to the population.

(d) WFP will continue to advocate for blanket supplementary feeding across the Darfurs, considering that the present encouraging nutritional situation can be attributed to regular food distributions and good health, water and sanitation facilities in this period of the dry season.

(e) Together with International Organization of Migration (IOM) and Cooperating Partners, WFP is currently undertaking a massive registration exercise across the three Darfur states. All parties have been heavily engaged in the preparation of this exercise over the last six months. The registration exercise has been relatively smooth to date.

(f) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland and Action Contre la Faim (ACF) presented the results of nutrition surveys carried out in February 2005 in Kalma camp and Nyala town respectively. In both areas Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) dropped compared with September 2004. Meanwhile, preliminary reports from medical and nutrition agencies working in Kalma camp indicated a sharp increase in the mortality rate of children under five this past week. In South Darfur, an increase in IDP movements into areas that currently receive WFP food rations and other humanitarian assistance was observed. Over 25,000 new arrivals were registered (10,767 new arrivals in Firdos and Abu Matariq in Ed Daien locality; 1,967 in Adilla; 12,649 new arrivals in Um Dukhum, Mukjar locality). An additional 161 Dinka IDPs voluntarily returned to south Sudan in a convoy of six trucks. Khor Omer has served as the transit point for these IDPs originating from various areas.

(g) A USD 30 million budget revision is currently undergoing approval to increase the cereal ration from 13.5 kilograms to 15 kilograms per beneficiary per month from April to December 2005. This increase will compensate for Kcal losses due to milling and will contribute to mitigating cereal supply scarcity in markets due to insecurity and drought.

(h) To cover the requirements of a monthly average of 2.3 million beneficiaries, WFP has estimated a total requirement of some 453,200 tons (USD 438.2 million). So far, WFP has received USD 258.4 million, representing a 41 percent shortfall. A significant amount of contributions received was provided as in-kind cereals (USD 220 million).

(i) The cereal pipeline will most likely remain healthy through October. However, the status of the non-cereals pipeline remains a serious concern. Despite loans of USD 20 million and borrowings of 31,000 tons of commodities to overcome non-cereal shortfalls, food distributions in some locations in Darfur are already lacking sugar, causing some distress among beneficiaries. Further pipeline breaks are expected for salt and CSB in July and pulses and oil in August. Contributions are urgently required for non-cereals so that WFP can 1) guarantee a complete food basket to beneficiaries and 2) successfully pre-position commodities in key locations before the onset of the rainy season. The non-cereal requirements for the months, June-August, are estimated at a total of 18,000 tons. As it takes at least six months for a contribution to translate into food at household levels, contributions need to be pledged immediately to arrive on time.

(j) The Special Operation for logistics support in Darfur faces a shortfall of USD 26.7 million. One hundred long-haul trucks must be procured urgently to augment logistics capacity.

(k) The WFP-Humanitarian Air Services, which provides services to the entire humanitarian community in Sudan, faces a shortfall of USD 17 million. Of this, USD 5 million is urgently required to continue contracting and deploying the passenger aircraft required in the coming months in support of the movement of passengers and humanitarian cargo in Sudan. With monthly operating costs of 2 million, funding will not be sufficient to continue with the current fleet after the end of March, affecting regular flight schedules or air transport of non-food items.

(l) OPERATION LIFELINE SUDAN (Southern Sudan). In an effort to stabilize sorghum prices, the Strategic Reserve Authority (SRA) has allocated 30,000 sacks of sorghum for the Red Sea State markets. Market surveys undertaken this week in Port Sudan indicated no change in the average price of sorghum. The SRA has also injected huge supplies of cereals in White Nile State which resulted in a remarkable decrease in cereal prices.

(m) An interagency mission comprising FAO, WFP, WHO, UNICEF,NCA and Care International undertook a rapid assessment mission in Aweil and Gogrial, Bahr El Ghazal during the first week of March. The objective of the mission was to assess the trend of returnees reported by local authorities. Both Aweil and Gogrial are considered as potential return areas. Food shortages resulting from a poor harvest and crop failure were observed in both areas and Gogrial was reported as the hardest hit. The majority of food commodities originates from areas controlled by the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA). Some malnutrition cases were reported by Aweil hospital. The team also noted the scarcity of clean drinking water inside the towns and on their peripheries. WFP plans to carry out a registration/verification exercise in the coming weeks.

(n) WFP and GOAL held a meeting following a GOAL nutrition survey which reported Global Acute Malnutrition at 24.8% and severe Acute Malnutrition at 3%. WFP recommended that ongoing assistance being provided through GOAL to Mother and Child Health (MCH) feeding centres in Malakal should be expanded to areas where the levels of malnutrition were highest. In addition, WFP and GOAL agreed to work with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on standardizing nutrition based programmes in Malakal and to also consider supporting community-based initiatives and health and nutrition training activities.

(o) The WFP registration/verification exercise that started last week in the Nuba Mountains is ongoing. During the week, the Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) registered 53 new returnees (50 percent female) from Khartoum, who will proceed to their original villages. WFP and SRC are finalizing an agreement to cover general food distribution and rations for an estimated 10,000 returnees.

(p) A USD 3 million contribution was confirmed during the week. This contribution comes in addition to the recent donations totaling USD 19.2 million. Confirmation of contributions is urgently required to allow commodities to be pre-positioned before the onset of the rainy season. Some 9,600 tons from the 2005 contributions are expected to arrive in country between March and May. However, stocks will start to become depleted in early May if the average monthly distribution of 26,300 tons, which includes an allocation for the returnees caseload, is achieved. The total shortfall from March to August is estimated at 50,800 tons of mixed commodities. So far, the total contributions received against the OLS EMOP amount to over USD 42 million, representing an 86 percent shortfall of the total requirements.

(q) On 11 March, a Budget Revision was approved for EMOP 10048.3 increasing the original budget by USD 425,052. The purpose of the budget increase is to allow the pre-positioning of an emergency transit ration of 15-days high energy biscuits to be distributed to returning IDPs. This transit ration will provide necessary food inputs to a targeted 43,500 returning IDP beneficiaries en route to their home locations.

(r) During the week, a USD 1 million was confirmed against the Special Operation 10368 in support of the EMOP 10048.3. The SO faces a 70 percent shortfall against its total requirements. The total operational value is estimated at USD 89 million.

(9) Tanzania

(a) A total of about 3,400 Burundian refugees returned to Burundi in February.

(b) Some 402,600 beneficiaries received over 1,100 tons of food through general distribution, supplementary feeding and therapeutic feeding in refugee camps in western Tanzania. Over 10,000 Tanzanians in the host communities surrounding the camps were supported with WFP host community activities.

(c) Preliminary feedback on the ration changes from beneficiaries in Ngara indicated that the increase in pulses was appreciated. However, many refugees expressed concerns over the reductions in all other commodities and the complete lack of any corn-soya blend (CSB) in particular. This coupled with the continued market closures is placing added stress on beneficiary coping mechanisms.

(d) Evaluations of School Feeding for formerly out of school HIV/AIDS orphans and Food-For-Training at Kayanga Vocational Training Institute were completed. The two projects were carried out successfully and consequently WFP will continue both activities throughout 2005. The evaluation of the Food-For-Work project in Kibondo, involving the construction of secondary schools, was also completed during the month, and an extension of the project for a third phase was recommended.

(e) In Kigoma, WFP signed an agreement with a local NGO, Movement for Improvement and Boosting Organization (MIBO's), through which WFP will provide Food-For-Training related to environmental protection and tree planting. The training will be conducted for 230 facilitators and subsequently to 920 community members in Kigoma rural villages.

(f) In preparation for 2006, the WFP Great Lakes Evaluation Mission visited the Tanzania Refugee Operation in Kigoma and Kagera regions. The evaluation team focused on whether or not the current PRRO met its stated objectives and to formulate the next phase PRRO document.

(g) An in-kind contribution of USD 411,149 was received. A new ration modification took effect on 14 March, increasing the ration provided to refugees from 1,323 Kcals to 1,617 Kcals per day (i.e. 87 percent of the normal ration level). While the rations of maize were augmented, the PRRO still faces serious shortfalls of CSB, vegetable oil and salt for the coming months.

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Sectors: Agriculture, Coordination and Support Services, Education, Food, Health, Infrastructure and Rehabilitation, Protection / Human Rights / Rule of Law, Refugees and IDPs, Security, Shelter and Non-food Items, Water & Sanitation

(A) Highlights

(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan (2) Georgia (3) Kyrghizstan (4) Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (5) Pakistan (6) Russian Federation (Caucasus) (7) Uzbekistan

(C) East & Central Africa: (1) Burundi (2) Congo (3) Congo, DR (4) Ethiopia (5) Rwanda (6) Somalia (7) Sudan (8) Tanzania (9) Uganda

(D) West Africa: (1) Regional (2) Benin (3) Burkina Faso (4) Cote d'Ivoire (5) Ghana (6) Guinea (7) Liberia (8) Mali (9) Mauritania (10) Niger (11) Togo

(E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional (2) Angola (3) Lesotho (4) Malawi (5) Mozambique (6) Namibia (7) Swaziland (8) Zambia (9) Zimbabwe

(F) Asia: (1) Indonesia (2) Korea (DPR) (3) Maldives (4) Myanmar (5) Sri Lanka

(G) Latin America and Caribbean: (1) Central America (2) Bolivia (3) Colombia (4) Cuba (5) El Salvador (6) Guatemala (7) Nicaragua

(A) Highlights

(a) WFP in Central America is closely monitoring the need for any support that might be required in view of potential indirect consequences of Hurricane Adrian.

(b) Violent riots in Afghanistan have led to the relocation of international WFP and other UN staff from Jalal Abad to Kabul.

(c) In response to the displacements of people fleeing from Togo to Benin and Ghana, WFP launched Immediate Response Emergency Operations both in Benin and Ghana during the first week of May. Distributions started the same week from stocks available in-country.

(d) Assessments by WFP, Action Contre la Faim and others indicate an alarming global acute malnutrition rate in Sania Afandy, South Darfur, and a sharply deteriorating food security situation in central and government-controlled areas in southern Sudan.

(e) Increased incidents of ambushes along the Ed Daein and Nyala road, South Darfur, resulted in transporters being reluctant to transport food without African Union/military escorts.

(f) WFP is distributing emergency food to people in Georgia that were affected by floods in the month of April.

(g) WFP provided food assistance is supporting families affected by EBOLA in Republic of Congo.

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LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: The recent start of the rainy season, notwithstanding, Cuba and Haiti have been seriously affected by a prolonged dry period and production of main staple food crops is expected to decline. In Central America, food assistance continues to be provided to vulnerable communities in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua mainly due to past disasters. In Brazil, the maize crop has been affected by drought, especially in the main producing southern states. In Ecuador, heavy rains at the end of April affected the 2005 winter paddy crop that was about to be harvested.

EUROPE: A reduction in cereal production is forecast in the EU in 2005 after the bumper crop last year, reflecting an area reduction and lower yields than last year's high levels. However, while yields and outputs remain somewhat above average in most member countries, the outlook is poor in Spain and Portugal because of persisting drought. Some reduction in output is also in prospect in the Balkan countries, despite generally favourable conditions, because also in these parts, yields are not expected to match last year's exceptionally good levels. In the European CIS, spring cereal planting was delayed owing to unfavourable weather while winterkill was low given above average snowfall providing protective cover.

NORTH AMERICA: Prospects remain generally favourable for the wheat crops at different stages of growth throughout the region. In the United States, wheat output is forecast to decrease marginally, and production of coarse grains is also expected to decline reflecting a return to normal yields after last year's records. In Canada, the bulk of the 2005 cereal crops have just been planted and an above-average output is expected, although not as good as that in 2004.

OCEANIA: A below-average cereal output is expected in Australia in 2005 because of persisting drought in eastern parts of the country during what should have been the main planting period.

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This report includes:

(A) Highlights

(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan (2) Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (3) Occupied Palestinian Territories (4) Pakistan (5) Tajikistan

(C) East & Central Africa: (1) Burundi (2) Congo, DR (3) Djibouti (4) Eritrea (5) Kenya (6) Rwanda (7) Somalia (8) Sudan (9) Tanzania (10) Uganda

(D) West Africa: (1) Cote d'Ivoire (2) Guinea (3) Liberia (4) Mali (5) Mauritania (6) Niger

(E) Southern Africa: (1) Angola (2) Lesotho (3) Malawi (4) Mozambique (5) Swaziland (6) Zambia (7) Zimbabwe

(F) Asia: (1) Bangladesh (2) Indonesia (3) Korea (DPR) (4) Maldives (5) Sri Lanka

(G) Latin America and Caribbean: (1) Regional (2) Bolivia (3) Colombia (4) Ecuador (5) El Salvador (6) Guatemala (7) Haiti (8) Nicaragua (9) Peru

(A) Highlights

(a) On the frontline of one of Niger's worst hunger crises, WFP plans to have provided food assistance to 273,400 beneficiaries by the end of this week.

(b) Fuel shortage in El Obeid, Sudan slowed down food deliveries to Bahr El Ghazal, where WFP is seriously concerned about acute food shortages.

(c) Emergency food distribution to flood affected population in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) started this week.

(d) Findings of a WFP assessment in Mozambique's western Tete Province indicate a devastating combination of chronic poverty and a lack of food resources due to the failure of early rains in 2005.

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The "Humanitarian Appeal 2006" comprises individual Consolidated Appeals for Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, occupied Palestinian territory, Republic of Congo, Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the Great Lakes region and the West African region. Funding requirements for major ongoing emergencies such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan are also included.

"Unfortunately, many of these disasters have been largely forgotten by the international community," said Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "We can no longer afford to neglect the majority of crises -- to play a humanitarian lottery in which only one or two crises capture the world's attention each year, and therefore its support," he added, stressing that "the funding of humanitarian assistance must be more predictable and more equitable."

"We need to see an expansion of the humanitarian donor community," said Mr. Egeland. "For too long we have relied upon the same donors to fund the vast majority of our humanitarian assistance efforts. In 2005, nineteen new donors made contributions to the United Nations appeals; at least nineteen additional new donors should contribute in 2006."

The United Nations launches the Humanitarian Appeal for the forthcoming calendar year each November. The Humanitarian Appeal is composed of all the Consolidated Appeals developed in individual countries or regions through a consultative process that includes the United Nations operational agencies and participating non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

To find out more and have your say, visit www.humanitarianappeal.net.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOREWORD TO THE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL 2006
The past year has been a wretched one for millions of disaster victims. It dawned with the Indian Ocean tsunami, saw a hurricane season unrivalled in living memory strike the Americas, and included South Asia’s devastating earthquake. Through it all, other tragic crises persisted in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Like never before, the year stretched and tested the capabilities of aid agencies, and the will of survivors.

This Humanitarian Appeal seeks $ 4.7 billion in urgent support for 31 million people worldwide. The Appeal covers 26 countries and comes to roughly $ 150 per person, a relatively small amount where lives hang in the balance.

The Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) is the international community’s most important tool for raising resources for humanitarian action. By bringing together relief agencies, the CAP avoids competing appeals, and provides a unified framework for a strategic and inclusive response. It is designed not only to alleviate immediate suffering, but also to identify and address longer-term needs. This year, for the first time, every Consolidated Appeal includes projects to be undertaken by non-governmental organizations as well as UN agency initiatives.

United Nations Member States must necessarily take the lead in responding to the Appeal. But the private sector, and every concerned citizen, should contribute. The many high-profile disasters of the past year mobilized great numbers of individuals across the world. Their support brought food to the hungry, medical assistance to the sick and shelter to displaced populations. I hope that all such individuals remain engaged in humanitarian efforts and continue donating generously.

I call on the international community to support this year’s Appeal, and to do so with a sense of urgency. Historically, only one-tenth of Consolidated Appeals have been funded in the first quarter of each year. Yet early funding enables aid agencies to start programs on schedule, ensuring timely and dependable assistance. As untended humanitarian crises inevitably worsen, delayed giving costs more in lives and in resources.

To encourage early giving, UN Member States are being invited to Geneva on 10 January 2006. The gathering will be an opportunity for donors to lay out their priorities and funding goals for the year. It will also allow aid agencies to elaborate on pressing needs, and to seek immediately needed commitments.

We must ensure that all people in crisis – regardless of nationality, gender or belief – receive adequate aid or support. Together, we can save lives and make a difference. It is in this spirit that I ask you to generously support Humanitarian Appeal 2006.

Koffi A. Annan

INTRODUCTION

This year has been a year like no other for humanitarian action, bracketed by devastating disasters – the Indian Ocean tsunami in the final days of 2004 and the South Asia earthquake of October 2005, on top of the worst hurricane season in living memory – and stretching all humanitarian agencies to their maximum capacity and beyond. Funding, led by private donations for the tsunami, reached unprecedented worldwide totals – but because the majority of funds were earmarked for the tsunami, most agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) still lacked sufficient funding to assist millions of people struck by other crises. Victims of conflict saw improvements in some regions, while other conflicts intensified, worsening the human cost. Angola, emerging from a war that stretched back to the 1970s, had its first year since 1993 without a consolidated appeal. Formerly warring parties in Sudan signed a peace accord and entered a period of reconciliation, return and reintegration of refugees and displaced people, and recovery – while a separate conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region deteriorated again and continues to be one of the world’s most serious crises. Effects of the insurgency in Nepal worsened, leading to that country’s first consolidated appeal. In the midst of this year, a broad-ranging review of humanitarian action laid down blueprints for improved coordination and response. Humanitarian action continues to become more effective, professional, and efficient. The rationale for consolidated appeals remains straightforward and relevant: to avoid competing and overlapping appeals, and to provide a framework for strategic, coordinated, and inclusive programming. All Consolidated Appeals comprise strategic action plans and specific project proposals by both NGOs and UN agencies.

For 2006, 18 programmes require a total of $ 4.7 billion to ensure that 31 million people in 26 countries get the best available protection and assistance, on time. In addition to new requirements for 2006, some $ 766 million is still required for five flash appeals issued in 2005 and which extend into the coming year.

This may seem like a lot of money – but in fact, it’s the same as asking each person in the world’s wealthy countries to donate the cost of two cups of coffee.

EXAMPLES OF KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2005

What are consolidated appeals, and what is done with the funding that agencies in them receive? In essence appeals are a snapshot of the aid community’s efforts to work together on context analysis, needs assessment, prioritisation, planning and coordinated programme implementation. The examples highlighted below illustrate the variety of specialised actions that comprise the Consolidated Appeals Process’ strategic

Burundi (48% funded)

Food aid (78% funded): Distribution of 45,800 metric tonnes (MT) of food throughout the country, reaching 1.3 million people (12,500 MTs to vulnerable households through targeted distributions, 3,000 MTs allocated to the 220 nutritional centres in Burundi, 6,000 MTs to people living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable groups in social centres, 1,000 MTs to refugee families, and 2,000 MTs to Burundian returning refugees from Tanzania and Rwanda); more than 21,300 MTs also distributed through recovery activities, such as the seed-protection ration programme, food-for-work/training activities, Disarmament-Demobilisation-Reintegration (DDR), and school feeding.

Agriculture (57% funded): Distribution of seeds and agricultural tools to 625,000 households; expanded recovery activities targeting specific vulnerabilities of approximately 40,000 households with reduced land access, Batwa minority communities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the chronically ill; distribution of 26,800,000 sweet potato cuttings and plants for improved crop and seed multiplication in regions affected by drought and crop pest; support to IDP and refugee reinsertion including distribution of 210,000 fruit plants and recovery of 400 hectares of swamps, benefiting 42,000 households.

Health (12% funded): Distribution of 378 essential drug kits, covering an estimated 567,000 consultations; 150 health emergency kits, covering an estimated 1,500,000 patients; 1,250 trauma kits and 2,500 replenishment kits; 900 basic surgery kits; 40 midwife drugs and equipment kits and 10 obstetrical surgery kits. Training and supervision: refresher training for 395 nurses and 77 health centre managers; availability of staff management and supervision tools at 178 centres, drug stock management at 185 centres and health centre audit at 107 centres. Number of HIV/AIDS test and treatment centres expanded from 89 in 2002 to 115 in 2004; rise in the number of tested people from 30,412 in 2002 to 71,730 in 2004.

Multi-sector (21% funded): Over 60,000 refugees repatriated to Burundi from Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); number of IDPs living in sites for the displaced has decreased from 145,000 in 170 sites in 2004 to 117,000 in 160 sites countrywide in 2005.

Central African Republic (31% funded)

Health & nutrition (22% funded): Halt of transmission of wild polio virus; national immunisation campaigns against measles carried out to protect children 6 months to 14 years of age.

HIV/AIDS (39% funded): Services for Prevention of Parent-Child Transmission and the Counsel for Voluntary Testing made operational in Bangui and in the former conflict zones, with the opening of five new testing centres.

Water and sanitation (33% funded): Rehabilitation of 324 pumps in Nana Grébizi and Ouham, with re-activation of community water point committees; provision of hygiene materials to schools; training of teachers and student-parent associations.

Education (1% funded): Distribution of 5,000 new school desks as partial replacement for the 55,000 destroyed in the conflict in 2002–2003 (bringing the total replaced to 10,300); distribution of pedagogic material in the form of school kits for about 154,000 students and 2,500 teachers in the former conflict zones; rehabilitation of 11 school buildings, giving educational access to more than 2,500 students in these zones.

Protection (0% funded): 800 victims of rape and sexual violence received psycho-social support and aid for income-generating activities.

Food aid & food security (31% funded): 469 tonnes of food provided under the World Food Programme’s (WFP) food-for-work and food-for-training programmes for 2,359 households; 56 training sessions performed on themes of hygiene and prevention of HIV for 80,000 beneficiaries; 102,000 displaced or returning persons received food to facilitate their return to zone of origin; 27,737 vulnerable people (including 5,548 people with AIDS and their family members) received food aid; 5,494 orphans and seniors received food aid.

Flood assistance: Provision of 75,000 litres of water per day for 60 days; distribution of 10,000 jerry cans; sanitary education; pre-positioning of medical supplies to ensure urgent care for 10,000 people for three months, with distribution of anti-malarials for 1,000 people; provision of food (therapeutic biscuits "BP5") and kerosene lamps.

Demobilisation and reintegration: 5,447 ex-combatants registered, with 894 disarmed and demobilised (including 282 women); 692 ex-combatants reintegrated into communities.

Multi-sectoral assistance to refugees (100% funded): Repatriation of 1,374 Chadian refugees and 3,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo refugees.

Chad (54% funded)

Coordination and support services (18% funded): Sector working groups in place in Abéché and specific groups discussing assistance to Chadian host communities; working groups set up in N’Djaména.

Education (28% funded): School classrooms built in 10 of the 12 camps, and tents and other structures put in place in the remaining camps; teachers in all camps received training; schoolbooks and materials provided to all schools; 40 pre-school teachers trained in each camp; enrolment of over 46,000 students at primary level alone; summer school activities organised in each camp.

Environment: System of organised collection of firewood put in place in several camps in the east; Introduction of fuel-efficient stoves.

Food (52% funded): Provision of food to 193,300 refugees in eastern Chad; food-for-work activities supporting local populations (4,800 households and a seed protection programme supporting another 4,000 families).

Health (31% funded): Set-up of an early warning system for 193,300 refugees and 700,000 Chadians; set-up of a nutritional surveillance system for 193,300 refugees; meningitis mass immunisation campaigns for both refugees and local population – 58,139 people vaccinated; better health coordination in place.

Multi-sector (79% funded): Protection and assistance to some 200,000 refugees in the east; Implementation of small-scale Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) for host communities in the east.

Water and Sanitation (9% funded): Assistance to some 200,000 refugees in eastern Chad with the provision of safe water (12.6 litres/person/day) and sanitation (average: 33 persons/latrine); assisted some 55,000 members of host communities through emergency hepatitis-E response.

Côte d'Ivoire (41% funded)

Food (100% funded): Food and nutritional assistance provided to 700,675 recipients including vulnerable farmers during the lean season, IDPs in reception camps, returnees, refugees, women, and children in nutrition centres and HIV patients; nearly 540,000 primary school children received food rations under the emergency school feeding programme (helping to keep children in schools, especially in areas under the control of the Forces Nouvelles).

Agriculture (56% funded): 150,000 people in the north, centre and west received seeds, fertilisers, and hand tools.

Water and sanitation (5% funded): Supplying chemical treatment products to the water supply company so that more than 1.5 million people have access to safe water.

Refugee care (72% funded): By the end of 2005, an estimated 16,000 of the 36,000 refugees will have voluntarily returned to Liberia; 6,500 Liberian refugees were resettled in the United States.

Health (6% funded): Essential drugs and materials were delivered to most functional health facilities (497 out of the existing 578); 158 of these health facilities have been rehabilitated and are waiting for qualified personnel to improve the population's access to basic care; organisation of national immunisation days throughout the country, with 99.9% of children between 0–5 years old vaccinated against poliomyelitis and 87.7% (i.e. 7.8 million children) between 9 months and 14 years old vaccinated against measles; response to meningitis epidemic in Bouna (19% mortality rate) where 55,214 out of 209,500 were vaccinated.

Education (13% funded): Shortfall of accredited teachers (a total of 3,262) was partially made up by 2,891 voluntary teachers; supply of school and teaching materials to a few schools.

Protection & rule of law (3% funded): Effective proximity communication and promotion of peace (ONUCI FM radio programmes, consultations with local humanitarian agencies, elected officers and community leaders).

Great Lakes Region (77% funded)

Coordination and liaison (71% funded): Inter-agency working groups; inter-agency collaboration; internal coordination; joint assessments and planning.

Advocacy: Advocating for life saving assistance; advocacy on behalf of refugees, returnees, IDPs and host communities. Thematic advocacy issues: HIV/AIDS, sexual and gender based violence, violations of children's rights.

Emergency response capacity and direct assistance: Direct assistance – WFP's regional PRRO continued to provide assistance to refugees and other vulnerable populations in the region with beneficiary numbers in the last quarter of 2005 in the region of 1.8 million people. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) regional HIV/AIDS mitigation project is ongoing with activities in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. UNHCR also continued to provide assistance for refugees and returnees throughout the region. The agency provided non-food items, education opportunities, and, where possible, facilitated resettlement of refugees from particularly insecure environments. Other assistance: Surge capacity and backstopping; technical support; resource mobilisation; training (support to the development of response plans).

Emergency preparedness, monitoring, and evaluation: Emergency preparedness; early warning;

Guinea (51% funded)

Protection (37% funded): 60 separated refugee children reunited with their families in Sierra Leone; voluntary repatriation of 18,000 Liberian refugees; remaining caseload of 2,060 Sierra Leonean refugees in Boreah camp continued to receive relief assistance and protection in preparation for their local integration.

Health (18% funded): Yellow fever control and poliomyelitis immunisation carried out as the second round of the polio vaccination campaign launched in April 2005, reaching a global coverage of 111%; efforts made to lower malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality rates through targeted programmes in water and sanitation, nutrition, and mother and child health care; eight-month supply of essential drugs provided to 36 health centres in Beyla, Lola, N'Zerekore, and Yomou prefectures in the last quarter of 2005; support for disease surveillance among the refugees and host communities.

Water and sanitation (0% funded): Macenta and N'Zerekore prefectures benefited from the establishment of 500 latrines; 1,255 water pumps were made operational during 2005, benefiting approximately 610,000 persons; 20 water points constructed in Guinea Forestière.

Food aid and agriculture (64% funded): Food aid continued to be provided to moderately and severely malnourished children, their mothers, and HIV/AIDS victims; provision of agricultural inputs and technical assistance in Guinea Forestière to improve coping mechanisms and food security among 10,000 returnee households from Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leonean refugees, and host communities; school vegetable gardens received seeds and tools to increase self-reliance of school feeding programmes; income-generating projects helped a total of 20,000 IDPs, returnees, and host communities to increase their food security and coping mechanisms. (In spite of carefully planned emergency agriculture response, food security has not improved.)

Education (0% funded): Host families constructed additional classrooms using local material to reduce the average class size down from 124 pupils.

occupied Palestinian territory (59% funded)

Response to specific acute crisis areas and vulnerabilities has been achieved in particular in health with the coverage of basic needs (immunisation, control of communicable diseases) and delivery of services. In psychosocial support, only two objectives were fulfilled: setting up an emergency preparedness and response system and setting up child friendly spaces in emergency situations. In education, services to the 16–18 year old target group have been neglected due to lack of attention and funding. Regular food assistance has contributed to supporting the most food insecure sector of the non-refugee population, reducing further impoverishment and the tendency to resort to negative coping mechanisms. The effect of pursuing the CAP goals and priorities has been, as expected, the reduction of poverty, the possibility given to the beneficiaries to restart their activities, improved availability and access to fresh produce, and an improvement of their diet.

Mitigation of negative effects of fragmentation in health through mobile clinics and in psychosocial support through twelve mobile teams providing support to 25,000 children and 15,000 care givers. In addition, 29 "safe play" areas have now been set up reaching 90,000 children and adolescents. Programmes including support to employment and cash assistance have contributed to maintaining economic and infrastructure activities. Some programmes, when completed, will have generated a total of approximately 25,000 workdays and others contributed to the creation of over one million workdays through direct and indirect hire. Cash assistance was particularly appropriate for those families (around 11,000 vulnerable families, i.e. 82,000 people) unable to sustain participation in even short-term employment programmes.

Awareness and advocacy on protection issues particularly proactive in health, especially mental health. In psychosocial support, a need is felt to advocate for most vulnerable groups, such as examining the impact of closures, conflict and the barrier on women's physical and mental health, and the difficulties women face in accessing health, agricultural land, education, and workplace; to improve targeting the emergency needs of acute crisis areas. Coordination efforts led to disseminating further information of facts on the ground and serving various planning and decision-making processes.

To improve sector coordination, indicators, monitoring, and surveillance systems in health and to build on targeting psycho-social support to children to reach other vulnerable groups.

Building partnerships: Gender is being mainstreamed with local partners and sex-disaggregated data are routinely collected.

Republic of Congo (50% funded)

Health (1% funded): Support for surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis for polio eradication; support for sero-surveillance of HIV; support to Kinkala HIV monitoring post and laboratory for reference hospital; launch of project for community distribution of Ivermectin (anti-parasitic); launch of programme against Buruli ulcer.

Water and sanitation (87% funded): Provision for all targeted school, health centres and markets of wells with handpumps and san-plat latrines; installation of mini-rain-catchment systems in several target localities; promotion of improved water points and establishment of community water point management committees; training of water point maintenance workers.

Food security (64% funded): Support for rehabilitation of socio-economic infrastructures (schools, health centres, agricultural roads) and re-launch of agricultural activities through food-for-work; school canteens in primary and preschools; nutritional treatment for HIV/AIDS patients; medical follow-up through ambulatory treatment centres; support to DDR through income-generating activities.

Agriculture: No funding.

Protection (100% funded): Psychosocial treatment of affected people; consultation and treatment of post-conflict trauma for 200 children and women in Mindouli; promotion of birth registration; 4,111 children retroactively registered; dissemination of principles on protection of displaced people and refugees for civil society, governmental and non-governmental partners; reintegration of child soldiers (limited by insecurity in the Pool region); promotion for social reintegration of young mothers; registration of 58,000 foreign refugees in the Congo.

Education (13% funded): Order of school kits, crayons and school bags for 15,000 pupils; training of teachers; rehabilitation of school buildings.

Economic recovery: No funding.

Shelter & NFI: No funding.

Somalia (46% funded)

Multi-sector refugee care (76% funded): In 2005, 6,866 Somali refugees returned to Somalia with UNHCR assistance, bringing the total number of returnees since the early 1990s to some 1.2 million (majority returned spontaneously; nearly 500,000 assisted by UNHCR).

HIV/AIDS: Somaliland AIDS Commission launched; HIV test kits for Voluntary Confidential Counselling Testing services distributed in hospitals; health workers trained on voluntary counselling and testing; peer education initiatives begun in primary and secondary schools in Somaliland; 50 patients commenced antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Somaliland and capacity building to scale up is underway.

Food security and livelihoods (56% funded): Assistance in rebuilding the fisheries sector in tsunami-affected communities, and to drought-stricken pastoralist communities in Sool and Sanag plateau; support to riverine communities affected by floods in Juba Valley; nearly 1.2 million people benefited from food aid distributions in 2005 targeting schools attended by children from returnees, IDPs, and other vulnerable communities, allowing 9,050 underprivileged children to go to school.

Health (25% funded): 15,000 children vaccinated through the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) accelerated multi-antigen campaign; provided mobile clinic services that benefited 14,000 people in drought-affected Sool/Sanaag (Bari, Nugal, and Togdeer regions); supported nine supplementary feeding programmes and established four therapeutic feeding centres to treat 11,000 malnourished children in south and central zones; outbreak preparedness and response plans put in place including pre-positioning of supplies in all three zones; epidemiological weekly surveillance system refined and improved; 22 participants in all three zones trained on three-month course on community-based mental health services.

Water and sanitation (53% funded): Improved access to safe drinking water provided to approximately 120,000 people throughout the country; 500 latrine slabs provided to marginalised communities in south and central zones; hygiene awareness campaigns launched in Bossaso IDP camps and capacity building of community water and sanitation committees through training of committee members in three targeted locations.

Education (34% funded): Increased primary school enrolment by 63,000 children; construction of four classroom blocks complete with water and sanitation facilities in Somaliland and Puntland; construction of seven school buildings in the tsunami-hit area of Hafun; provision of 186 tents to serve as temporary classrooms for 15,000 pupils; training of 1,500 primary school teachers and support for the increasing involvement of Somali women in local NGOs assisting with education programme delivery.

Protection (18% funded): IDP working groups in Somaliland and Puntland established that provided guidance on provision of accelerated humanitarian assistance and implementation of longer-term approaches to IDP resettlement; working groups developed strategic plans and are addressing the issue of resettlement with host communities in Garowe, Hargeisa, and Jowhar; Joint Strategic Framework on IDPs finalised and will become an "implementation tool" for other longer-term development initiatives.

Uganda (65% funded)

Agriculture (51% funded): Over 90% of IDP and resettling households with access to land (220,000 households) received agricultural inputs for at least one acre of land.

Education (34% funded): Establishment of 123 community-based Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in IDP camps in Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, and Pader districts, catering for approximately 20,730 children (1–8 years old); installation of water facilities (boreholes and water tanks) and 545 mobilets in 51 learning centres in Gulu, Katakwi and Pader, targeting about 25,000 children (51% girls), and the expansion of the Girls' Education Movement (GEM) to 61 schools in the learning centres of Apac, Kitgum, Lira, and Pader; 1,856 teachers and tutors in Gulu, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kitgum, and Lira trained in integrated psychosocial education.

Shelter and non-food items (95% funded): Approximately 90% of IDPs have received a standard general household item distribution within the last 18 months.

Food aid (66% funded): Planned Beneficiaries Actual Beneficiaries (January-June 2005)

Health and nutrition (30% funded): In Karamoja sub-region and Gulu, Kitgum, and Pader districts, Global Acute Malnutrition Rate (GAM) stands at 18.7% for Karamoja, between 6.2–10.2% for Gulu, 11.8–15% for Kitgum, and 5–10% for Pader; figures reflect general improvement in population's nutritional status, attributed to increased access to humanitarian assistance and farmland. Key studies and surveys were completed improving the understanding of the HIV/AIDS situation in the north. Rollout of ART started in many districts in the north, although coverage remains limited. Programmes that target food distribution and nutritional support to people starting ART have also begun.

Human rights, protection and rule of law (65% funded): Increased deployment of paralegals with consequently more systematic documentation of human rights violations in IDP camps in Gulu, Katakwi, Kitgum, Lira, Pader, and Soroti; 30 community protection committees in IDP camps in Lira and Teso promoted over 100 community campaigns against SGBV; over 100 UPDF officers trained in their responsibilities in relation to the protection of children and women; community-based child protection mechanisms were formed in 10 IDP camps in Apac, Gulu, Lira, and Soroti.

Mine action (16% funded): First group of 20 UPDF engineers out of 140 engineers planned until 2007 undergo UK-funded humanitarian de-mining training and equipment programme; coordination mechanism for mine action has been established by the OPM.

Multi-sector (75% funded): 230,262 registered refugees continued to receive assistance and protection in Adjumani, Arua, Moyo, and Yumbe districts.

Water and sanitation (38% funded): Change from manual single point water systems (springs and hand pumps) to motorised (diesel or solar) water supply systems has begun; by the end of 2005 more than 45 systems will be completed.

West Africa Region (65% funded)

Agriculture (20% funded): Emergency provision of agricultural inputs for food crop production in areas of the Sahel most severely affected by drought and locusts; community-level involvement in desert locust control.

Food (77% funded): Food aid provided to 4,942,600 recipients

Table of Contents

FOREWORD TO THE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL 2006

INTRODUCTION

EXAMPLES OF KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2005

SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND REMAINING CHALLENGES

- Humanitarian reform
- Linking relief and development: Millennium Development Goals
- Accountability and transparency
- Gains in programme coherence
- NGO participation in appeals: significant progress
- Flash appeals
- Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

HUMANITARIAN FUNDING IN 2005

- Expanding the governmental donor base
- Private funding: how to keep the momentum beyond the tsunami?
- Funding per sector
- Timing
- Humanitarian funding inside vs. outside consolidated and flash appeals

CONCLUSION

CONSOLIDATED APPEALS

BURUNDI
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CHAD
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
GREAT LAKES REGION
GUINEA
LIBERIA
NEPAL
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
SOMALIA
UGANDA
WEST AFRICA
ZIMBABWE

OTHER COUNTRY PLANS

COLOMBIA
CHECHNYA (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
SUDAN

FLASH APPEALS

GUATEMALA
INDIAN OCEAN EARTHQUAKE - TSUNAMI
MALAWI
SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA CHOLERA FLASH APPEAL

ANNEX

2005 CONSOLIDATED & FLASH APPEALS: SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
2006 APPEALS: SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

Note: The full text of this appeal is available on-line in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format and may also be downloaded in zipped MS Word format.

Full Original Review [pdf* format] [zipped MS Word format]

* Get the Adobe Acrobat Viewer (free)

For additional copies, please contact:

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Palais des Nations
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
CH - 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.: (41 22) 917.1972
Fax: (41 22) 917.0368
E-Mail: cap@reliefweb.int

Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP)
The CAP is much more than an appeal for money. It is an inclusive and coordinated programme cycle of:

(a) strategic planning leading to a Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP);

(b) resource mobilisation (leading to a Consolidated Appeal or a Flash Appeal);

(c) coordinated programme implementation;

(d) joint monitoring and evaluation;

(e) revision, if necessary; and

(f) reporting on results.

The CHAP is a strategic plan for humanitarian response in a given country or region and includes the following elements:

(a) a common analysis of the context in which humanitarian action takes place;

(b) an assessment of needs;

(c) best, worst, and most likely scenarios;

(d) stakeholder analysis, i.e. who does what and where;

(e) a clear statement of longer-term objectives and goals;

(f) prioritised response plans; and

(g) a framework for monitoring the strategy and revising it if necessary.

The CHAP is the foundation for developing a Consolidated Appeal or, when crises break or natural disasters strike, a Flash Appeal. Under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator, the CHAP is developed at the field level by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Country Team. This team mirrors the IASC structure at headquarters and includes UN agencies and standing invitees, i.e. the International Organization for Migration, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and NGOs that belong to ICVA, Interaction, or SCHR. Non-IASC members, such as national NGOs, can be included, and other key stakeholders in humanitarian action, in particular host governments and donors, should be consulted.

The Humanitarian Coordinator is responsible for the annual preparation of the consolidated appeal document. The document is launched globally each November to enhance advocacy and resource mobilisation. An update, known as the Mid-Year Review, is to be presented to donors in July 2006.

Donors provide resources to appealing agencies directly in response to project proposals. The Financial Tracking Service (FTS), managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is a database of donor contributions and can be found on www.reliefweb.int/fts

In sum, the CAP works to provide people in need the best available protection and assistance, on time.

INTRODUCTION

Seventeen consolidated appeals and two flash appeals in 2006 bring together key organisations on the ground – non-governmental organisations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the United Nations, and other international organisations – to present strategic action plans and detailed project proposals for the world’s largest and most acute humanitarian crises. Their aim is to provide people in need the best available protection and assistance, on time.

Much has been achieved in the face of these crises in the first half of 2006. Much more remains to be done. Funding for these appeals overall stands at 36% of requirements (US$1.7 billion funded against requirements of $4.8 billion ). In this Mid-year Review, teams in these crisis-affected countries offer updates of the contexts and causes of humanitarian need, amend their strategic response plans and specific projects as needed, and summarise achievements to date.

In the midst of a major new round of humanitarian reforms, the basic rationale of the consolidated appeal process – part of the humanitarian reforms of 14 years ago – remains relevant: to overcome the prolific structure of the humanitarian system’s implementation side by bringing organisations together into a common analysis, strategy and action plan; and to combine what would be overlapping, competing single-agency appeals into a comprehensive compendium of priority projects that avoids gaps and serves as a meaningful funding barometer for each crisis.

INTRODUCTION

EXAMPLES OF KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2006

HUMANITARIAN REFORM IN 2006

• How the cluster leadership approach fills gaps and strengthens sector coordination
• Strengthening the Humanitarian Coordinator System: individuals who can deliver effective leadership in humanitarian emergencies
• Faster and more equitable funding: the Central Emergency Response Fund

FLASH APPEALS: LESSONS LEARNED

NEEDS ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC MONITORING

NGOS AND THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT IN APPEALS

FUNDING AT MID-2006

• Funding in proportion to donor GDP
• Funding per beneficiary
• Funding per sector
• Funding ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the CAP

APPEAL FOR IMPROVING HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE CAPACITY: CLUSTER 2006

ANNEX I.

• ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

• 2006 CONSOLIDATED & FLASH APPEALS: SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS AND FUNDING PER SECTOR

• 2006 CONSOLIDATED & FLASH APPEALS: SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS AND FUNDING PER APPEAL

Note: The full text of this appeal is available on-line in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format and may also be downloaded in zipped MS Word format.

Full Original Mid-Term Review [pdf* format] [zipped MS Word format]

* Get the Adobe Acrobat Viewer (free)

For additional copies, please contact:

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Palais des Nations
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
CH - 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.: (41 22) 917.1972
Fax: (41 22) 917.0368
E-Mail: cap@reliefweb.int

- The FAO's latest assessment shows that 40 countries are facing food emergencies and require external assistance. Among them, the most pressing humanitarian problem remains the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. The already precarious food supply situation may worsen if deteriorating security disrupts the main harvest due to start in the coming few weeks.

- Prospects for the 2006 world cereal harvest have deteriorated further since July. Exceptionally hot and dry weather is adversely affecting the wheat crops in Australia, Argentina and Brazil, while drier-than-normal weather in parts of South Asia is also raising some concern for the second 2006 paddy crop.

- Latest information confirms a tighter world cereal balance in 2006/07. Compared to earlier expectations, global cereal output is seen to be smaller, and to meet the anticipated utilization in 2006/07, world closing stocks are forecast to be lower. As a result, international prices of most cereals have increased sharply so far this year.

- Low supplies call for a closer monitoring of world food situation. Despite good crops in many of the Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries, this year's anticipated sharp fall in global stocks may lead to a more precarious situation next season should weather problems prevent an increase in world cereal production in 2007.

- The early outlook for the northern hemisphere's main winter cereal crops for harvest in 2007 is generally favourable so far. Planting is reported to be proceeding well in Europe, and in the United States, where a large expansion in wheat area is expected.

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The global cereal supply and demand situation has further tightened, with a downward revision of the 2006 world cereal production forecast and a projected increase in cereal utilization in 2006/07. At current forecast levels, the utilization would exceed production by 3.3 percent in 2006/07. World cereal stocks are forecast to decline for the third consecutive year, with those of wheat falling to their lowest level since 1981.

Cereal export prices have increased sharply in recent months, mainly in response to tightening world supplies and by November 2006 were well above their levels of a year earlier. Because of higher prices, the cereal import bill of the Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs) is forecast to increase by 15 percent in 2006/07.

However, higher prices are also encouraging larger plantings of 2007 crops. Wheat planting has been completed in the main producing regions and early prospects are favourable, with increased areas reported and satisfactory weather conditions so far.

Severe floods in the Horn of Africa in the past weeks have adversely affected up to 1.8 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia and, in particular, Somalia. Hundreds of thousands of people are urgently in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite the flooding, overall prospects for the 2006 cereal crops, now being harvested, in Eastern Africa remain favourable.

In the developing countries, the 2006 cereal production has increased, or is projected to increase in almost all regions of the world, in particular Africa and Asia. As a result of the improved supplies in Africa, per caput cereal consumption is expected to rise in the 2006/07 marketing year.

Following bumper harvests and ample cereal supplies in countries of Western and Southern Africa, and in order to support domestic prices, donors are encouraged to undertake local purchases and triangular transactions for their on-going food aid distribution programmes.

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Favourable prospects for 2007 world cereal crops, mainly following expansion of plantings in Europe and North America, coupled with generally satisfactory weather conditions.

FAO's latest estimates put global cereal output in 2006 at just under 2 billion tonnes, 2.7 percent lower than in the previous year but still above average. In percentage terms production of wheat declined the most, then coarse grains, while the reduction for rice is seen to be marginal.

The bulk of the decline in the 2006 world cereal output was among the major producing and exporting countries.

The 2006 cereal production in the group of LIFDCs increased significantly, with record or good crops in most regions of the world. As a result, cereal import requirements, including food aid, have declined in 2006/07 in many of these countries, mostly in Africa.

Record or above-average 2006 cereal crops have been gathered in North, Western, Central, Eastern and most countries of Southern Africa, as well as in Far East Asia and the Asian CIS. Local purchases of cereals are recommended for food aid programmes in order to support prices.

Despite the overall favourable food supply outlook for 2007, food security problems persist in several countries due to localized crop losses and or civil conflict.

World cereal production in 2007 remains on course to reach a record level of 2 095 million tonnes, but with some major crops yet to be planted, the forecast is still tentative.

Based on the current 2007 production outlook, global cereal supplies are forecast to increase in the new 2007/08 marketing season. However, with carryover stocks at their lowest level since the early 80s, total supplies would still be barely adequate to meet the anticipated demand, which is forecast to increase strongly boosted by the fast-growing biofuels industry.

International prices for most cereals have risen signi?cantly in 2006/07 so far, and are likely to remain high in 2007/08. As a result, the cereal import bill of the LIFDCs is forecast to increase by about onequarter in the current season.

In the LIFDCs as a group, production prospects point to a 2007 cereal output similar to last year's good level. However, excluding China and India, the largest producers, the aggregate crop of the remaining countries is forecast to decline slightly.

In North Africa, a sharp decline is expected in 2007 aggregate cereal production, mainly re?ecting dry conditions in Morocco, which are anticipated to halve the country's wheat production this year.

In Southern Africa, an aggregate reduced cereal harvest is being gathered for the second year in succession. In drought-affected Zimbabwe, a huge rise in the price of the basic staple maize is anticipated. By contrast, in Malawi, an ample exportable surplus is available following a bumper harvest.

Despite improved food supply in many of the countries normally most at risk from food insecurity, following record or bumper 2006 cereal crops, food dif?culties persist in 33 countries worldwide.

Many high profile operations also face critical pipeline breaks in the next three months.

Afghanistan

PRRO 10427.0 - Post Conflict Relief and Rehabilitation

January 06 - December 08

Overview of the 2007 Programme of Work

As the end of 2007 nears, the number of people the World Food Programme is seeking to support has risen to 83 million. The amount of food assistance required to assist these people is valued at US$3.4 billion. Considering resources mobilized thus far in 2007, the current level of funding falls short by some US$653 million.

Additional resources amounting to approximately US$800 million are required before the end of 2007 to ensure uninterrupted food aid deliveries for ongoing activities. Therefore, the total current resourcing needs until the end of 2007 amount to US$1.5 billion. It is also equally critical at this time to mobilize resources to meet needs in early 2008. Needs for 2008 have been documented in detail in the "Projected 2008 Needs for WFP Projects and Operations" ("the Blue Book") which is available on WFP's website (www.wfp.org/Appeals).

Since the last printing of this document for the Annual Session of the Executive Board (June 2007), beneficiaries have increased by nearly 5 million. This is attributable primarily to increased caseloads in Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Nepal and Côte d'Ivoire.

The bulk of WFP's operations are focused in sub-Saharan Africa, which requires over 71 percent of total needs in 2007. Of this, Sudan with six different projects requires some 23 percent of the total needs, or US$769 million.

In relative terms, the regional bureau with the greatest shortfall is the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau (ODP) which stands at 35.1 percent of 2007 needs unmet. This is closely followed by the Asia Bureau (ODB) with a shortfall of 34.8 percent. The sub-Saharan bureaux are showing shortfalls averaging around 13 percent, while the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe Bureau (ODC) is relatively the best resourced bureau, with only 0.6 percent of 2007 needs still to be raised. However, given the time lag between contributions being confirmed and food arriving in beneficiaries' hands, resources are urgently required to enable WFP to assist the needy in all geographic regions.

In relative terms, EMOPs are the best resourced with 87 percent of needs met for 2007. The other programme categories are close behind with resourced levels of 85 and 82 percent for PRROs and Development respectively.

-John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Floods in Africa hit around 2 million people

Some two million people have been affected by recent flooding in 22 countries in Africa, 650,000 have lost their homes, and 200 have been killed. These figures could increase in the weeks to come as the seasonal rains are expected to continue until the end of October. These floods coincide with the most critical time of the year, the lean season when West African families mostly in the Sahel region face food insecurity. The destruction of crop and food stocks has aggravated the vulnerability of poor families and needs to be addressed promptly through emergency and recovery interventions.

West Africa

West Africa is experiencing some of its worst floods in 35 years with over 800,000 affected in 15 countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Sierra Leone, Benin and Ghana).

The situation is especially worrisome in the following countries: Ghana (over 330,000 affected), Togo (over 120,000 affected), Burkina Faso (over 92,900 affected) and Mali (over 42,000 affected). The United Nations has allocated $4.9 million emergency humanitarian assistance to Mali ($1 million), Ghana ($2.5 million) and Togo ($1.4 million) in response to floods that have inundated these three countries since August.

The CERF allocations are meant to immediately improve the living conditions of 155,000 people in these three countries - 75,000 in Ghana, 60,000 in Togo and 20,000 in Mali. The funding will support projects developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United DJERBA HOTEL ISIS ET SPA Fund (UNFPA), as well as their partners.

On 4 October, United Nations and partner organizations launched a $10million Flash Appeal for Ghana, and on 26 October a $6 million for Burkina Faso.

In 2007, natural and man-made disasters continued to take a toll on the lives of people. Flooding, cyclones, landslides and tropical storms have threatened lives and livelihoods on every continent. And in many parts of the world, from Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Iraq, Zimbabwe and Sudan, children and women continue to bear the brunt of conflict, displacement and deteriorating living conditions.

An important lesson learned from major emergencies is that timely and flexible funding enables humanitarian actors to respond rapidly and most effectively to priorities established with national counterparts. To ensure timely availability of funds, UNICEF has increased its Emergency Programme Fund (EPF) to US$ 75 million per biennium.

Throughout the year, UNICEF and its partners have worked to meet the needs and rights of affected children and women. Partnerships are key to making a lasting difference for them and UNICEF has focused on further expanding its partnerships with communities, governments, NGOs, UN agencies and the private sector. Experience has taught us that children and communities must be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to better prepare and cope with disasters.

Coordination is crucial for effective delivery of humanitarian aid. A strong supporter of humanitarian reform, UNICEF continues to work with its partners to improve the coordination of humanitarian response in all sectors. UNICEF is the global cluster lead for nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and common data services. In education, UNICEF and the Save the Children Alliance are leading the cluster. The successful response to the floods in Mozambique is a good example of how improved coordination allows humanitarian actors to respond better to the needs of affected populations.

UNICEF continues to strengthen its early warning system and country offices' preparedness to respond to disasters. Important measures are being taken to further enhance preparedness and response skills of UNICEF and its partners.

The 2008 Humanitarian Action Report outlines UNICEF's appeal for 39 emergencies around the world. We count on the continued support and generosity of our donors to help ensure the survival, protection and well-being of women and children in these emergency situations.

Ann M. Veneman
Executive Director

Funding Trends and Their Impact on Operations

Analysis of the 2008 Programme of Work

WFP's requirements dramatically increased, when a US$300 million budget revision for 2008 for Ethiopia was approved on 28 August. From January to June, Ethiopia's PRRO has seen its planned relief caseload quadrupling, from 1.2 million beneficiaries to 4.6 million because of the deadly effects of a severe drought. Now the operation needs an additional 380,000 mt of food to meet new requirements. The crisis is affecting the Horn of Africa, where the lives of 15.7 million vulnerable people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti are threatened. The situation is further exacerbated by high food prices (go to page 6 for an update on the crisis).

Total 2008 gross needs for the organization's beneficiaries have risen by 14 percent (from US$4.9 to US$5.5 billion) over the past month alone and are projected to reach nearly US$6 billion by year-end. With US$4.4 billion already mobilized (including carry-over and confirmed contributions) and considering the US$1 billion that WFP must mobilize in advance to ensure continued pipeline activity, the total shortfall in resources currently stands just below US$2.3 billion.

Compared to July 2008, the number of hungry poor receiving assistance has increased by over five million, to over 89 million. Besides the crisis in the Horn of Africa, the new EMOP in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is supporting 4.8 million people affected by floods and rising food and fuel prices.

Other budget revisions submitted for approval including Djibouti, Somalia, Chad, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will further raise WFP's gross needs in the coming months. These budget revisions are currently under review and their value, which may change, is not accounted for in the Programme of Work until final approval.

PRROs account for more than half of all of WFP's 2008 operations, while EMOPs are worth one-third, development less than 10 percent and special operations approximately 5 percent.

WFP's Programme of Work by project category

Executive Summary

Arab nations recognize the impacts of on-going environmental degradation, rapid unplanned urbanization, acute water scarcity, a changing demography and migration trends on achieving sustainable development goals for the region. Secondary risks associated with population displacement, disease outbreak, pandemic influenza, food insecurity, conflict and civil unrest pose multi-fold challenges to the region, on a larger scale than ever before. This recognition is coupled with the immediate responsibility to effectively manage and cope with frequent local and trans-boundary disasters that arise from changing geologies and increasing climate variations across the region.

It is clear that disasters have a direct impact on lives, infrastructure and livelihoods. It’s equally important to recognize their medium to long term impacts; seen in the movement of people and livestock to other host areas with limited resources, the development of unsafe informal settlements in urban centres, limited availability and access to transport, health, education and other basic public services in hazard prone areas.

In accordance with its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals1 and in line with the role identified for regional inter-governmental organizations in the Hyogo Framework for Action2, the League of Arab States has taken the lead in promoting the integration of disaster risk reduction measures in regional policies on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, environment and disaster management coordination mechanisms. Additionally, the need to articulate a strategic approach to protect Arab socio-economic development gains by enhancing the effectiveness of disaster risk management measures, the adoption of risk reduction strategies and climate change adaptation plans, has been prominently stated in recent regional forums.

With regard to the Great East Japan Earthquake, as of 12:00 on Thursday, June 23, 2011, Japan has received offers of assistance from the 160 countries and regions (increased from 159 in the previous press release) and 43 international organizations.

The following country made a new offer:

Islamic Republic of Mauritania

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

(END)

In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania made a donation of 138.5 million ouguiya (approximately 45.7 million yen) as relief money for Japan.

From Mauritania, letters and messages of sympathy were sent from H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. In addition, words of sympathy and support have been extended at various levels. On Thursday, June 6, H.E. Mr. Hamadi Ould Hamadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, extended words of sympathy to Mr. Hiroshi Azuma, Ambassador of Japan to Mauritania, and proposed assistance for Japan.

The Government of Japan deeply appreciates assistance extended by the Government of Mauritania and its people.

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

There are many parts of the world suffering from malnutrition and hunger that adversely affect mental and physical growth of the affected individuals. Many a times, these effects are irreversible. Apart from being an unacceptable phenomenon morally, hunger also acts as an obstruction to the economic and social growth of the poorest nations. Recent food crises and economic downturns have further deteriorated the situation especially in areas like the Horn of Africa and Sahel.

Economists attribute the growing food insecurities to factors such as decline in food stocks, population growth, volatile prices of energy and food, recent climate changes and link between current financial markets and the future of agriculture. These factors have both short and long term consequences that can push certain economies deeper into poverty.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development defines poverty as a state which “encompasses different aspects of deprivation that relate to human capabilities including consumption and food security, health, education, rights, voice, security, dignity and decent work”. But poverty can’t be seen merely as an effect of hunger. Both phenomena are part of a bigger vicious circle. Poverty is one of the primary causes of hunger. It can be caused by malnutrition that affects the physical and mental capacities of people, lowering their economic productivity and outcome. Malnutrition is one of the results of extreme hunger. Thus, there runs a cycle of cause and effect that impacts the human capital as a whole.

The development and growth of the most vulnerable of communities will seem an unachievable target until issues of hunger and malnutrition are not catered to. In this context, development essentially means combating food insecurities in order to fight poverty. Most of the international NGOs and charities work towards the common goal of alleviating poverty and responding to food security issues forms an integral part of their action plan. Providing food assistance to the poor and vulnerable can be undertaken both as a short term as well as a long term response.

The short term responses cater mainly to countries which are currently facing a crisis or are in a post crisis situation. Such scenarios require immediate and effective mobilisation of resources for improving the nutrition levels of affected people, restoring their livelihoods, at least at the basic level, and re-establishing a zone of food security. Various tools are employed by international humanitarian agencies for ensuring these goals, including monitoring of nutrition levels, screening, treatment, restoring access to resources and services for livestock rearing and agriculture and providing supplies and cash vouchers for food to the affected populations. Muslim Aid, for instance, distributed over 80,650 food packets to the Tsunami affected regions of Sri Lanka to help restore food security.

As a long term response, the international community has realised the importance of agriculture for tackling food insecurity and thereby, poverty. Thus, humanitarian projects to revive and promote agriculture are essential in the current global situation. Also, concentration should be more on food production for local needs rather than export in the developing countries. Social transfer also provides direct support for the vulnerable communities by allowing a better management of unprecedented shocks through provision of regular contributions or services by NGOs or the government to individuals and households. Unlike acute interventions during emergencies, these transfers, via food, voucher or money distribution, can be scheduled enabling households to keep their livelihoods intact during difficult situations like flood or drought. This will ultimately accelerate the rehabilitation process if a crisis or disaster strikes.

Malnutrition or under-nutrition also needs to be addressed in order to break the vicious circle. Specific attention needs to be paid to women and young children who usually fall victims to malnutrition first. It is also vital for international NGOs, like Muslim Aid, to address the other aspects that cause malnutrition, such as access to drinking water, healthcare, hygiene, access to education and better livelihood opportunities etc. Therefore, the impetus falls on the international humanitarian institutions to devise plans and projects that cater to the problem of food insecurity and malnutrition for breaking the cycle that is affecting various international communities and taking a heavy toll on the individuals and the economy at large.

The copyright of this article is held by the Information and Public Affairs Department of Muslim Aid, UK. Use of its contents is allowed subject to acknowledgement. The opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent the point of view of Muslim Aid.

By: Marya Jabeen, Information & Public Affairs Assistant, Muslim Aid