(A) Highlights
(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan (2) Iran
(C) East & Central Africa: (1) Regional (2) Burundi (3) Congo, DR (4) Eritrea (5) Ethiopia (6) Rwanda (7) Somalia (8) Sudan (9) Tanzania
(D) West Africa: (1) Chad (2) Liberia (3) Mauritania
(E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional (2) Angola (3) Malawi (4) Zimbabwe
(F) Asia: (1) Regional; Asia Tsunami (2) Bangladesh (3) India (4) Indonesia (5) Korea (DPR) (6) Maldives (7) Myanmar (8) Sri Lanka (9) Thailand
(G) Latin America and Caribbean: (1) Bolivia (2) Colombia (3) Guatemala (4) Haiti (5) Nicaragua (6) Peru
(A) Highlights
(a) WFP appeals for USD 256 million to provide assistance for six months to help 2 million people from Asia to Africa that were affected by the tsunami.
(b) In Indonesia, in addition to the 120,000 tsunami affected beneficiaries already targeted for WFP food relief, 140,000 more IDPs have been registered and will receive food assistance over the weekend.
(c) WFP on 6 January had dispatched 400 truckloads of food (3,605 tons) to Sri Lanka that will feed over 490,000 tsunami affected people for a 15-day period.
(d) WFP has already distributed 218 tons of food aid to 12,000 Somalis affected by the Tsunami.
(e) The Government of the Maldives has requested that the provision of food and medical supplies in support of tsunami affected people be halted until assessments can be completed.
(f) Trucks with WFP food commodities began moving in the Darfurs again, after insecurity had lead to a temporary suspension ever since 22 December.
(g) WFP supported food activities in the recent embattled areas of North Kivu, DRC, have resumed.
(B) Middle East,Central Asia and Eastern Europe: (1) Afghanistan (2) Iran
(1) Afghanistan
(a) The security situation remained relatively calm throughout most of the country. However, there are continued threats of improvised explosive devices, rocket attacks, landmines and ambushes targeting the Government, coalition forces and aid workers.
(b) From 30 December to 5 January, some 564,255 beneficiaries received 2,850 tons of food.
(c) A joint United Nations assessment mission reviewed the food needs for 515 internally displaced families in Shindand district of Hirat, who have recently returned to their place of origin. WFP will provide food assistance once the assessment is finalized. The Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development will assist in the distribution of food to the vulnerable people.
(d) In Kandahar, 24 staff of cooperating partners (CPs) were trained in food security, vulnerability analysis and monitoring and evaluation.
(2) Iran
(a) UNHCR and the Bureau of Aliens’ and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs of the Ministry of Interior (BAFIA) reached an agreement to close 12 Iraqi camps. Some of them have already been evacuated by the refugees. The decision to close the 12 Iraqi camps is the result of the repatriation of the camp refugees and the consolidation of the refugees in the remaining 6 camps. A mission is planned for January to review the implementation process of the camp closures and the consolidation of the remaining camps/refugees.
(b) Between 15 December 2004 and 5 January 2005, almost 330 Iraqi refugees were repatriated with UNHCR assistance. From the repatriated refugees, about 220 were from WFP assisted camps. There was no spontaneous repatriation during the period.
(c) The total number of Afghan returnees since 9 April 2002 amounts to 1,099,910, of which 779,140 were UNHCR assisted and 320,770 spontaneous. Between 15 December 2004 and 5 January 2005, UNHCR assisted some 1,075 returnees while 235 repatriated spontaneously. No camp refugees repatriated during that period.
(d) WFP currently is providing food assistance to 7,900 Iraqi and 31,500 Afghan refugees in 23 camps. In the future, WFP and UNHCR may only assist vulnerable Afghan refugees in the camps with food aid. Some 1,075 Afghan returnees received WFP bread rations at border exit stations.
(e) In addition, 5,000 vulnerable orphans receive a monthly food ration from WFP through the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Furthermore, as incentive for school enrolment and attendance, 4 kg of oil is distributed to about 3,520 girls on a monthly basis.
(C) East & Central Africa: (1) Regional (2) Burundi (3) Congo, DR (4) Eritrea (5) Ethiopia (6) Rwanda (7) Somalia (8) Sudan (9) Tanzania
(1) Regional
(a) The Tsunami left a trail of devastation that also affected the East African coast. Reports indicated that one person died in Kenya, 11 in Tanzania and that 30,000 lives have been devastated in Somalia.
(2) Burundi
(a) In Bujumbura Rural province, skirmishes between the Front for National Liberation (FNL) fighters and the military/Force pour la defense de la democratie (FDD) have been reported, leading to a few casualties. In addition, in Kanyosha commune, reportedly there were other confrontations between the army and FNL, and an estimated 13,000 civilians were temporarily displaced.
(b) The joint UN inter-agency/NGO/Donor assessment mission conducted last week in Kirundo recommended: 1) Direct assistance to the entire population in most affected zones (i.e. Gisenyi, Kigina,Gatare, Kigoma, Ceru and Kiyanza during two months; 2) Targeted assistance to the most vulnerable, associated with the Food-for-Work (FFW) initiatives for other categories at high risk of food insecurity in reference to the vulnerability assessment conducted by WFP in September 2004; 3) An increase in the frequency of distributions (15 day rations) in affected zones; 4) A review of the targeting of beneficiaries in the entire province in consultation with the local authorities, beneficiaries and the civil/religious organizations; 5) Screening severe and global malnutrition cases; and 6) Reinforcement of the monitoring mechanisms of food distributions.
(c) Between 27 December 2004 and 2 January 2005, WFP distributed over 900 tons of food aid to some 167,000 beneficiaries through different programme activities.
(d) WFP carried out a public validation of the beneficiary lists in Nyamurenza commune of Ngozi province and Bugabira commune of Kirundo province. In Bujumbura Rural province, WFP carried out rapid assessments in Isale and Kanyosha communes to prepare the forthcoming distributions. Food distribution monitoring was conducted in Ngozi, Bujumbura Rural and Makamba provinces.
(e) The returnee influx in Burundi significantly reduced during the end of 2004. Some 70 returnees from Tanzania, arriving through transit points in Muyinga, Ruyigi and Makamba provinces, benefited from WFP provided returnee packages, covering three-month requirements.
(f) Stocks in the country remained low as compared to increasing requirements. Quick deliveries from the regional stocks and purchases need to continue, to prevent more serious pipeline breaks and to respond to the emergency needs in Kirundo and other provinces affected by food deficit.
(g) A Joint Crops and Food Supply Assessment mission to determine the quantity of people in need of assistance, which will allow for an update of food requirement figures, will start on 10 January. FAO, UNICEF, WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture will participate in the mission
(3) Congo, DR
(a) With the lull prevailing in North Kivu province, humanitarian assistance to over 150,000 war displaced people started. Many of the beneficiaries are reported as hiding in the DRC deep forests. Under the overall coordination of OCHA, thousands of people received medical assistance, biscuits and other relief items.
(b) The recent crisis in North Kivu province entailed significant losses for WFP. A total of 143 tons of food, enough to cater for over 12,000 people for at least one month, was looted by soldiers.
(c) WFP supported food activities in the recent embattled North Kivu areas are resuming. In Kayna, the therapeutic feeding centre managed by WFP cooperating partner Médecins sans Frontières-France has been operational, as well as one of the six supplementary feeding centres.
(d) In the Oriental Province, WFP released 180 tons of food to address the food insecurity of targeted populations through therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes and Food for Work (FFW) activities. The quantity of food released will cover the needs of approximately 15,300 beneficiaries for one month.
(e) In Bandundu province, although the situation is calm, WFP’s office in Kikwit received several reports on a large caseload of people seriously affected by malnutrition. According to various sources, the affected population is located at Bokoro, some 500 km from Kikwit, the capital city of Bandundu province. WFP will advocate for a nutritional survey to be carried out as soon as possible.
(f) To date, WFP's two year project (2004-2005) has been resourced at only 30 percent (USD 47.5 million out of the USD 157 million required).
(4) Eritrea
(a) On 20 and 23 December 2004 two more convoys containing 99 repatriating families Emergency Report 2005-2 consisting of 172 individuals reached Eritrea from Sudan. Another convoy (the 151st) has been announced with tentatively 592 individuals returning to Eritrea. This convoy will be the last organized repatriation from Sudan.
(b) Severe frost damaged vegetables in the areas surrounding Asmara between 20 and 31 December 2004. The Ministry of Agriculture has distributed seeds to facilitate the replanting of vegetables.
(c) Due to shortages of fuel, irrigation farms could not pump enough water, thus, many vegetables and fruits are drying in many areas of southeastern Eritrea. Water in the dams is expected to last up to end January 2005, thereafter, acute water shortage is expected in Areza, Mai Mine, Tsorona, and Adi Keyih (southeastern Eritrea). According to information received from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture representative, pastoralists from this area are on the verge of migrating with their livestock towards the Northern Red Sea zone in search of water/grazing land for their animals.
(d) The shortage of fuel has led to a sharp increase of milling charges. The cost of milling increased from 22 –25 ERN/50 kg bag of wheat to 56 - 60 ERN (1 USD = 15.00 ERN).
(e) WFP in central Eritrea reported a shortage of household food supply in November because relief food was not distributed during that month. December relief distributions in the sub zone started on 28 December and thus, food availability has improved.
(f) The resourcing situation for the Emergency Operation (EMOP) in Eritrea has remained unchanged. Commitment coverage stands at USD 29.45 million or approximately 85,000 tons of food commodities. This amount covers about 80 percent of the operation’s total resource requirements. The Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) commitment coverage increased to approximately USD 27 million. Slightly more than 50 percent of its food requirements are now covered.
(5) Ethiopia
(a) Concerns over deteriorating food security conditions in Afar region of north eastern Ethiopia are rising amongst the humanitarian community in the country. Afar region, which is mainly a pastoral area, has received very poor karma rains (June-September main season rains) in all zones with the exception of Zone 3, where the situation is reportedly more positive than in the rest of the region. In mid-December, NGO and UN assessments revealed that the rain deficit had already led to pasture degeneration, resulting in abnormal migration of herders with their livestock into neighbouring highland areas. The health condition of sheep/goats and cattle is also affected, with increased mortality rates reported. Despite no epidemic reported at this time, there are warnings of a high probability of increased animal mortality in the coming months, due to the weak status of the livestock. This will have a serious impact on livelihoods of the pastoralists. Recent WFP field reports confirm severe water shortages, unusual migration and decreasing livestock prices, while prices for cereals and milk are increasing.
(b) So far, Dadaa rains, which normally fall for a short period in November/December, have not started. Despite its short duration, Dadaa rains are important for replenishment of water and pasture, and should the rains fail altogether, this will further aggravate the situation in the region, leading to an increased urgency for emergency food, water and livestock interventions. The food security situation is now being monitored closely in order to follow up with adequate operational measures should livestock and human conditions worsen. In that regard, a crisis management committee has been reactivated at the regional level, under the chair of the Regional Pastoral and Rural Development Bureau and with the participation of the agencies working on the ground, including WFP, several international and national NGOs, and the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC). Currently the target number of food aid Emergency Report 2005-2 beneficiaries in the region is 460,000 beneficiaries per month, out of a total population of 1.2 million, with food requirements of 43,460 tons per month. Food distributions are scheduled for January.
(c) The total emergency food requirements for Ethiopia in 2005 are some 476,410 tons to cover the needs of 2.2 million acutely food-insecure people; for the first half of the year an additional 930,000 beneficiaries in Afar and Somali Regions, who will later be under the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), are supported under the emergency programme. The PSNP will eventually cover the needs of some 5 million chronically food-insecure beneficiaries in 2005 through food and cash transfers. WFP supports both programmes through its Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation, PRRO 10362.
(6) Rwanda
(a) The security situation in all camps remained calm during the past week, but the influx of refugees continued. The total number of Congolese and Burundian refugees now stands at 46,430 including 380 new arrivals. Congolese refugees continue to cross the border of Rwanda via Goma. On Tuesday 4 January, UNHCR reported almost 1,665 asylum seekers currently in Rwanda. Following UNHCR's request, WFP dispatched food for some 1,600 among those asylum seekers. Rations were calculated based on 30 days requirements. However, the actual ration distributed to the refugees covered only 15 days, in order to keep a buffer stock for new comers.
(b) In addition, during the past week, a total of 400 tons of food commodities was distributed to over 23,000 refugees hosted at Nyamure, Nkamira and Gihembe refugee camps.
(7) Somalia
(a) The tsunami of 26 December originated in Asia also affected Somalia. Over the next six months, WFP plans to provide up to 30,000 people, whose livelihoods have been devastated, with USD 2.8 million worth of food aid.
(b) WFP has already distributed 218 tons of food aid to 12,000 Somalis affected by the tsunami. Out of the spotlight, but in need of help, up to 30,000 people require food assistance. Most of them are fishermen, whose boats, fishing equipment and households were swallowed up by the ocean on 26 December. Others had their homes destroyed by tsunami waves that swept through towns on the Indian Ocean coastline of Somalia.
(c) So far, WFP has dispatched 277 tons of food to provide assistance to 17,000 people. However, additional supplies are expected to arrive from Mombasa on Friday, 7 January. A vessel carrying 1,300 tons of rice, maize, vegetable oil and corn-soya blend for relief activities in Puntland, North-east Somalia will reach the port town of Bossaso a week later.
(d) WFP currently has four teams in some of the most inaccessible areas, assessing the magnitude of the damage and providing aid. WFP teams on the ground have described the destruction caused by the wave, and the obstacles that relief efforts will face in delivering aid to these villages. Kulub village, near Gara’ad, is still partly under water. Most of the 1,200 members of this fishing community live in makeshift huts of canvas and wood, all of which were swept away by the water. One of the few stone huts collapsed, killing an elderly woman. In Hurdiye, a village of some 1,000 people mainly fishermen and salt producers, all their 100 small fishing boats and other fishing materials were washed away. The salt production area is still under water and they cannot produce anything until the water recedes.
(e) As this is the fishing season in Somalia, many families had set up temporary fishing settlements along the shoreline. They were caught completely unaware by the tsunami, and lost all of their personal belongings and precious fishing equipment that enables them to make a meager living. Fishermen in Somalia will be paralyzed by the tsunami for the foreseeable future. Sheep keepers and other pastoralists have also been affected, as the waves damaged grazing land.
(f) Meanwhile, WFP will continue to assist another 120,000 people in Puntland, victims of recurrent droughts and subsequent floods who were already receiving emergency food aid assistance before the tsunami hit the coast of Puntland.
(8) Sudan
(a) Trucks began moving to the Darfurs again following WFP’s temporary suspension of food convoys in En Nahud, Kordofan on 22 December. The trucks had been suspended as a result of heavy fighting between rebel forces and Government of Sudan (GoS) in Ghubaysh, West Kordofan. Transport companies are now using an alternative route, adding two days to their turn-around time, since the route via Ghubaysh remains insecure.
(b) Some 273,000 beneficiaries in South Darfur and parts of West Darfur remain cut off from assistance due to insecurity. All WFP missions from Nyala, South Darfur to the field are now done by helicopter, except for the localities of Edd Al Fursan and Mukjar localities.
(c) During the first three days of the year, despatches from the three state capitals to WFP’s cooperating partners (CPs) totaled approximately 350 tons of food for an estimated 20,000 beneficiaries (based on dispatches).
(d) In December, some 24,000 tons of food had been despatched from the three States to reach an estimated 1.3 million people. The deteriorating security had a serious impact on WFP operations in December, especially towards the end of the month. Reports of detained commercial trucks leased to WFP and continuing insecurity have made transporters extremely nervous about risking their assets to deliver food to the Darfurs.
(e) Programming priorities for the new EMOP are to significantly increase nutritional supplementary feeding programmes and to phase in blanket supplementary feeding. The September assessment had found that only 18 percent of children who were eligible for supplementary feeding based on their weight-for-height measurements were enrolled in supplementary feeding programmes. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF-H) in Kalma camp attributed improvements in the nutritional situation of IDPs to better coverage of WFP’s food distributions as well as WFP-supported blanket feeding programme and supplementary/ therapeutic feeding programmes.
(f) The International Organisation of Migration (IOM), in collaboration with WFP, started a three-day registration training workshop in each of the three state capitals for CPs on 5 January. In an effort to standardize and streamline the registration process, a common registration process and format for the distribution of food and non-food items will be implemented. The revised methodology will provide more comprehensive and reliable data on displaced population numbers, household and individual profiles. A centralized database of internally displaced persons (IDPs) information for common information needs for the humanitarian community will be established and managed by IOM.
(g) During the past week, WFP distributed a two-week ration to some 3,370 new arrivals in Kalma camp. More than 9,000 new arrivals have entered the camp in the last two weeks, fleeing hostilities in Shaeria locality and areas northeast of Nyala. All new arrivals received a three-day ration of high-energy biscuits before receiving their general food distribution ration (GFD).
(h) Confirmed contributions received to date against the the EMOP 10339.1 Food Assistance to Population Affected by War in Greater Darfur, West Sudan, amount to USD 232,671,321, representing 53 percent of the total requirement.
(9) Tanzania
(a) The 26 December tsunami claimed the lives of 11 people in Tanzania. An unknown number of people were also treated for minor injuries. Many fishing boats were damaged; however no serious damage to buildings was reported. The islands of Zanzibar and Pemba were less affected than mainland ports such as Dar es Salaam and Kilwa. Two weeks after the disaster, Tanzanian fishermen remain reluctant to go to sea. This has resulted in loss of income to fishermen and fish vendors, and has led to an increase in fish prices, two to three times more than the usual price. Fish is a major protein rich element of the coastal Tanzanian diet.
(b) Preliminary results of the recent re-verification exercise in refugee camps in western Tanzania have been released. Based on the findings, refugee numbers are lower than previously recorded for most camps. Overall the refugee numbers have been reduced by 3.7 percent. WFP beneficiary information has been adjusted accordingly.
(c) Relief to Development Society (REDESO) started to implement a recently approved sunflower oil and groundnut sharecropping project in Ngara District with the support of WFP. Beneficiaries were trained in preparation for crop production, which is set to begin in the first quarter of 2005.
(D) West Africa: (1) Chad (2) Liberia (3) Mauritania
(1) Chad
(a) One incident was reported during the last week of December, whereby an unknown group of men reportedly attacked a group of refugee women in search of firewood near Iriba (Iwato). No injuries were registered.
(b) The estimated caseload reported by UNHCR as of 24 December totals some 203,235 refugees registered in camps. Approx. 3,000 spontaneous arrivals, mostly women and children, were reported in Touloum refugee camp. UNHCR and CNAR are currently verifying the composition of the group. Preliminary results suggest that the majority among them are Chadian nationals.
(c) The nutritional situation continues to be stable in the camps according to reports by the nutritional NGOs during the Food Sector Group meeting held on 27 December. Action Contre la Faim has completed its nutritional survey in Treguine and Oure Cassoni and their neighbouring local communities. Final results are expected by the end of January 2005. The survey will now continue in Mille, Djabal and Goz Amir throughout the month of January. A WFP Nutritionist is taking part in the surveys. MSF Holland started its nutritional survey in Farchana and Bredjing camps and will release its results in the last week of January.
(d) The WHO office in Abeche presented to the general coordination meeting a disease surveillance plan for Eastern Chad. The main diseases registered so far include suspected cases of cholera, measles and hepatitis among others. There are reports of an increase in hepatitis cases in Iridimi and Bredjing camps.
(e) WFP expects to resume normal monthly distributions from January 2005. Some 1,035 tons of mixed food commodities ex. the Benghazi corridor are expected to arrive in Abeche by the end of the month.
(f) WFP has completed the second 15-day distribution cycle for December in most camps, providing some 1,305 tons of food to approx. 160,000 beneficiaries. Distributions are being completed in Mille, Kounoungou and Treguine camps. Complete distribution figures will be released shortly.
(g) For the Blanket Supplementary Feeding programme (BSF), World Vision International (WVI) distributed some 85 tons of food to 20,935 beneficiaries. WFP was unable to cover all camps due to late arrivals of oil through the Libyan corridor. In light of the phasing out of WVI, WFP and UNHCR agreed that the respective cooperating partners in the camps in charge of general food distributions will be in charge of BSF distributions effective 1st February. This will be done with the assistance of specialised nutritional NGOs. Action contre la Faim-USA and Première Urgence will take over Food Basket Monitoring and Post-Distribution Monitoring activities in the camps.
(h) Between 27 December 2004 and 4 January 2005, WFP’s Humanitarian Air Services (HAS) conducted six rotations between N’Djamena and Abeche, transporting a total of 84 passengers. During the past two weeks, WFP HAS delivered 2 tons of humanitarian cargo from N’Djamena to Abeche.
(i) Confirmed contributions received to date against the EMOP amount to USD 47,220,230, equivalent to nearly 77 percent of the total requirements. SO 10390.0 (Logistics Augmentation in Support of the EMOP) received a new contribution, and is currently resourced at about 32 percent and requires urgent funding.
(2) Liberia
(a) The general security situation in Monrovia and the entire country was calm during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, but remained unpredictable and volatile due to protests and demonstrations by various dissatisfied groups. Activities of criminals who target humanitarian agencies staff posed the highest threat to staff over the period. UNMIL troops conducted intensive night patrols to prevent any major security problem throughout the period. WFP operations were successfully conducted over the past weeks.
(b) The situation at the border towns with the Ivory Coast and other neighboring countries continues to be closely monitored by UNMIL due to large stretches of uncontrolled border, which remains susceptible to illegal activities including arms and drugs snuggling, localized unrest triggered by economic and political factors and struggle by ex-combatants to maintain power and influence after disarmament. (c) The reintegration and rehabilitation phase of the Disarmament Demobilization Reintegration and Resettlement (DDRR) process remains on course, but lack of funds continues to be reported as the major problem by the concerned Agencies. The UN Secretary-General recently appealed that US$60 million is still needed to address the remaining funding shortfall for the rehabilitation and reintegration programs in Liberia. If the required resources are not received, the ex-combatants might resort to demonstrations, disturbance and some acts of violence to call for redress. WFP plans to support the reintegration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants through Food For Work projects.
(d) From 20 December to 2 January, 324 tons of WFP provided food were distributed to 48,745 persons under school feeding activities; activities providing nutritional support; feeding to orphanages and HIV/Aids centres; returnees and IDP’s During this period, WFP distributed a total of 18 tons of various food commodities as resettlement package to some 541 returning Liberian refugees. The returnees included 375 refugees from Ghana, 160 refugees from Guinea and 6 from Libya. The returnees from Ghana arrived by ship and were received in Monrovia while the convoy from Guinea arrived in Gbarnga. Resettlement of IDPs from various IDP camps continued during the period. Some 278 households comprising of 2,019 IDPs were resettled in Grand Capemount County from the IDP camps of Blamasee, Perry, Siegbeh and Wilson. WFP distributed a total of some 65 tons of food to the resettled IDPs.
(e) WFP and other partners continue to register and issue resettlement cards to IDPs who are interested in the facilitated resettlement process. So far, a total of some 9,630 families, constituting 51,905 IDPs have been registered in seven IDP camps, for consideration in the facilitated return process. As at 31 December 2004, an accumulated total of some 8,550 IDPs and 4,900 refugees had been repatriated and resettled since the beginning of the exercise in October 2004. WFP distributed a total of 450 tons of food between October and December as 2 months resettlement package to those whose return was facilitated by UNHCR and other Agencies.
(f) WFP completed distribution of general rations for the month of December to all IDPs. A total of slightly more than 3 tons of various food commodities was distributed to some 312 IDPs in Morris Farm Camp. During the monitoring visits WFP made to some five IDP camps in Montserrado County, most beneficiaries complained about the reduced rations (65 percent of the recommended daily intake of 2100 kcal/person/day, WFP is forced to provide due to resource constraints. WFP plans to distribute the same rations in January 2005.
(g) New contributions estimated at USD 16 million continue to be needed in order for WFP to provide full rations for all programme activities in Liberia in the coming months.
(3) Mauritania
(a) Aerial and ground control operations against immature swarms of locusts continue in southern Mauritania. Small swarms are present in the northwest where they are maturing.
(b) Distributions are underway for Food for Work and school feeding activities. Between 25 December 2004 and 4 January 2005, a total of some 665 tons of commodities were distributed under WFP’s Emergency Operation in the country.
(c) WFP and the Government have finalized the list of vulnerable communes to be covered by the PRRO in 2005. The operation will cover a total of 400,000 beneficiaries in 73 communes within the regions of Assaba, Gorgol, Brakna, Hodh Ghabi and Tagant. PRRO guidelines are being finalized with implementing partners. Furthermore, consultations are underway with NGOs to manage project activities and commodity distributions. A household food security survey will start next week. Its purpose is to update the vulnerable analysis undertaken in October and to fine tune WFP’s targeting.
(d) Some 37 percent of the PRRO resourcing requirements have been covered. A pipeline break is forecasted in April 2005, if no new donations are confirmed.
(E) Southern Africa: (1) Regional (2) Angola (3) Malawi (4) Zimbabwe
(1) Regional
(a) The regional Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation PRRO 10310, Assistance to Populations in Southern Africa Vulnerable to Food Insecurity and the Impact of AIDS, commenced on 1 January and has to date received contributions of USD 36.5 million (9.2 percent) against revised needs of USD 395.1 million for operations from January 2005 to December 2007.
(2) Angola
(a) The Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation, PRRO 10054.2, Support to Return and Resettlement, urgently requires about USD 50 million, equivalent to 88,000 tons of food for distribution to returnees through 2005.
(3) Malawi
(a) Several houses and school buildings are reported to have been destroyed by a hailstorm in Karonga district in northern Malawi. The Ministry of Water Development warned households living along the flood prone areas in southern Malawi to move to higher ground. WFP is monitoring the flooding of the Upper Shire due to heavy rains in the last two-weeks.
(b) An outbreak of Armyworms in Rumphi, Chitipa and Karonga districts in the north destroyed about 3,000 hectares of maize and rice fields. There is concern that the armyworm infestations could affect the harvest if not immediately controlled.
(4) Zimbabwe
(a) As the lean season begins, increasing levels of food insecurity are apparent. Food security is declining in most of the districts, particularly in those in the traditionally dry Masvingo and Matebeleland provinces south of the country. A massive price increase of up to 250 percent in the Masvingo urban market has occurred since the post-harvest low point. Household food purchases are constrained by the increasing food prices and lack of income, with a wage well below what is needed to purchase a day’s cereal requirement for a family of five.
(b) In December, WFP planned to provide about 25,000 tons of food to 1.6 million vulnerable people in 33 of Zimbabwe's 57 districts through what is described as a “one-off” distribution.
(c) WFP plans to provide about 18,500 tons of commodities under the Zimbabwe component of the PRRO 10310 Assistance to Populations Vulnerable to Food Insecurity in high HIV/AIDS Prevalence Areas of Southern Africa.The food will be distributed under vulnerable group feeding, including supplementary feeding for malnourished children and home based care support programmes for HIV and AIDS affected households. New donations to meet these needs are urgently required.
(F) Asia: (1) Regional; Asia Tsunami (2) Bangladesh (3) India (4) Indonesia (5) Korea (DPR) (6) Maldives (7) Myanmar (8) Sri Lanka (9) Thailand
(1) Regional; Asia Tsunami
(a) As of 7 January, reports indicated that the death toll from the 26 December Asian tsunami stands at 153,254 people. On Thursday, in Jakarta, a high level conference addressed the global response needed to assist the tsunami affected people. WFP Director James Morris participated in the conference and launched a WFP appeal for USD 256 million to provide assistance for six months to help 2 million people from Asia to Africa that were affected by the tsunami. WFP’s needs are part of a USD 977-million package proposed by UN agencies, which was announced by UN Secretary Kofi Annan on the same conference.
(2) Bangladesh
(a) The cold season has set in with night time temperatures dropping to under 10 degrees centigrade in some parts of the country. However, no severe cold snap has yet been felt in the country. Harvesting of Aman rice crop continues and basic food prices remain high throughout the country.
(b) The Government of Bangladesh has taken the decision to link up the country with the global disaster forecasting system under its Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP).
(c) Some WFP food stocks, including 12,500 tons of rice intended for Rural Livelihoods and Infrastructure Rehabilitation-Food for Work (FFW) activities in the flood recovery phase, have been diverted to Tsunami relief operations in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The diversions have been made on a loan basis and will be repaid as soon as possible. Early repayment is essential, as FFW activities, that now have to be postponed, should be performed before the monsoons.
(d) Vulnerable Group Rehabilitation activities under Emergency Operation (EMOP) 10380, Assistance to Flood Affected People in Bangladesh, have been terminated as scheduled. The first round (15 days ration) of blended food distribution under the EMOP’s Supplementary Feeding Programme has been completed. Until now, a total of 1,090 tons has been distributed among 418,000 women and children. Due to unexpected delay in the customs clearance process in the port, the delivery of the second tranche of blended food is facing potential delays. The duration of the project may therefore also be delayed, which would potentially increase the project cost (NGO support cost, project overhead cost). Additionally, due to poor roads and communications in some places, some implementing partners are facing transportation problems between extended delivery points and final distribution points.
(e) Since September 2004, WFP has been distributing High Energy Biscuits (HEB) to over 600,000 primary school students in flood-affected areas. Until December 2004, a total of over 2,980 tons of HEB has been distributed.
(f) Resourcing levels remain inadequate, covering only 38.5 percent of the original estimated need. Repayment of the rice, loaned to the Tsunami relief operation, should be returned as soon as possible, preferably well before the start of the monsoon season.
(3) India
(a) WFP in India is following up on requests to the Government of India for contributions through WFP to other countries, and on requests to the private sector for trucks for Sri Lanka. Several WFP provided airlifts with biscuits for Indonesia and Maldives left India over the past few days.
(4) Indonesia
(a) Registration figures of tsunami affected IDPs by NGOs in the north-eastern districts indicate a total IDP population of approximately 140,000 people. WFP provided food distributions to these people will begin over the weekend. This is in addition to the approximately 120,000 beneficiaries currently targeted with WFP food assistance in Bandar Aceh and Aceh Besar. It is anticipated that the beneficiary figures will increase, as IDPs living with host families and other food insecure people affected by the disaster are yet to be identified and included.
(b) WFP has now dispatched 1,585 tons of food commodities to Banda Aceh and Singkil. The first WFP food commodities have been distributed by an IMC medical team on the island of Similue, just off the west coast of Aceh.
(c) An Australian C130 carrying fortified biscuits was scheduled to land in Banda Aceh on Friday from Subang in Malaysia, opening a new corridor for transportation of humanitarian cargo into the affected area. Starting Saturday, WFP will have access to its own helicopters, with the arrival of two M18s and three helicopters chartered by its partner TNT. This will significantly increase the capacity for assessment and distribution on the western coast.
(d) WFP's Executive Director visited Aceh on Friday with the UN Secretary-General as part of a high-level delegation. The delegation visited Meolabo on the west coast of Aceh which was devastated by the tsunami and then flew back to Banda Aceh and held a press conference at the airport.
(5) Korea (DPR)
(a) A new emergency operation (EMOP 10141.3, Emergency Food Assistance to Vulnerable Groups in DPR Korea) has been approved. It is a continuation of the 2004 EMOP and intends to feed 6.5 million targeted beneficiaries with a total of 504,000 tons of food in the year 2005.
(b) Because of access limitations, current operations in Chagang Province and in one distric in Pyongyang have been suspended. This affects 7 counties and one district where WFP previously had access.
(c) Production of locally processed blended foods during the last week of December was only 200 tons, due to holidays. The total output of locally processed blended foods in 2004 amounts to almost 58,000 tons, or 80 percent of the planned requirement. New donations of milk powder are urgently needed to ensure continued production of biscuits and blended foods. The current stock of dry skimmed milk will be finished during March 2005. Shipment of rice has been delayed until mid-January, thus creating a gap in cereals distribution to all west coast beneficiaries for about 15 days.
(d) This month WFP is again able to feed all 6.5 million targeted beneficiaries with planned rations. Substantive new pledges will allow WFP to continue this support through May 2005, with the exception of oil, that will run out this month for some beneficiary groups.
(6) Maldives
(a) WFP received 37 tons of High Energy Biscuits (HEB) at Male International Airport on 6 January. The cargo is the first tranche of the 100 tons of biscuits that are expected to arrive over the next three days from India . The biscuits will be distributed by the Maldives Government (GoM) via the National Security Services (NSS). The fortified biscuits are to be provided as supplementary rations for immediate food distribution.
(b) At the 6 January Government Task Force meeting, the GOM indicated the need to place a hold on future food and medical supplies, until further information is gathered on basic needs in the country. WFP-Maldives is to meet with Government representatives to discuss food requirements.
(c) The current planning figure in the Maldives for food assistance is estimated at 50,000 beneficiaries, of which 12,000 are displaced. A WFP Vulnerability Assessment Mapping emergency assessment team is in-country to further verify the beneficiary number and target groups. The assessment will take a livelihoods based approach to study the immediate and medium-term impact of the tsunami on peoples’ livelihoods and the likely impact on household food security. The draft report is expected to be finalized by 25 January and will be used to guide programme response strategies and duration.
(d) WFP logistics in the Maldives is acting as air operations focal point for all UN agencies.WFP has suggested daily logistics sector meetings to the task force and all humanitarian actors. Other daily coordination meetings include the Heads of Agencies and Government Task Force meeting. WFP has requested the Government to start regular sector meetings specific to food.
(e) A joint UNICEF/WFP assessment was conducted on 6 January in Laamu Atoll, to assess water and sanitation needs, health and the possibility of school feeding. Focus groups discussions concluded that the available staple food supplies cover a one month period. Overall, livelihoods have been destroyed as household livestock, gardens and fruit trees have been completely destroyed. The most pressing issue is the availability of clean drinking water.
(f) CARE has planned an interagency field assessment mission, between 8 and 10 January, to which WFP, OXFAM-UK and UNDP have been invited to participate. The team will visit two of the three most affected islands and will assess livelihoods, food security, health and risk to disease.
(g) The UN Secretary General is scheduled to visit the Maldives on 9 January.
(7) Myanmar
(a) Apart from those people who were directly affected by the tsunami, some 200 villages spread over the southern coast of Myanmar will also have suffered from the economic impact of the disaster.
(b) A WFP assessment concluded that immediate response was essential in many areas and recommended that Laputta and Nagputaw townships in Ayeyawaddy Division should be covered for six months with simple food rations. Another assessment reported minimal damage in Kaw Thoung, a district on the south coast of Myanmar. The mission visited 13 villages in the south coast, in collaboration with ICRC, MSF Switzerland, UNICEF and World Vision to verify government data on the impact.
(c) A briefing for major donors and diplomatic missions took place in Myanmar on Thursday. IFRC, Refugee Council (RC), WFP, ICRC and UNICEF presented the findings of their assessments during the meeting. A small liaison group has been established by the RC to consolidate the different ongoing assessments.
(8) Sri Lanka
(a) The Sri Lankan Government has begun to register the numbers of tsunami affected people eligible for assistance. Two lists are being maintained, one for those resident in camps, the other for those who have left the camps but return to collect food rations. Despite the fact that the numbers of people in camps is declining, WFP Sri Lanka estimates that the original estimate of 750,000 beneficiaries will remain correct for at least another month. Food is thought to remain scarce and even when available many people have no means to purchase it either because their livelihoods are destroyed or cannot access cash that is held in banks and cooperatives.
(b) While WFP is providing the largest quantity of food in Sri Lanka, private donations are significant in Sri Lanka, and local authorities have generally been distributing private donations first, as many of those foodstuffs are perishable.
(c) A WFP emergency needs assesssment mission is now in Sri Lanka to begin field work. This will be done in cooperation with ILO and UNICEF, who are also undertaking assessments. A market analysis, carried out by WFP, will also be incorporated within the findings of this mission. The province of Ampara is being prioritized for assessments. The Government believes that the situation is not of immediate concern. However, NGOs have indicated that this may not be the case.
(d) On 6 January, WFP had dispatched more than 400 truckloads of food (3,605 tons) since the start of the emergency operation on 28 December. The food covers a 15-day period and will feed more than 490,000 people. WFP is dispatching rice, lentils and flour to 12 district warehouses; WFP partners distribute from the warehouses to the camps for displaced persons. Sri Lanka’s government has requested WFP (and other stakeholders) to include fish in the food basket to diversify protein intake. WFP is reviewing the matter.
(e) WFP, with UNICEF, will start distributing fortified biscuits in the hardest hit districts, starting with Amparai, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, to 72,000 vulnerable children under 10 years old over a nine-day period. Infants less than one year old will be given the bar dissolved into porridge.
(f) Local trucking capacity in Sri Lanka is limited and WFP will bring in an additional 48 trucks over the coming weeks.
(9) Thailand
(a) An UNDAC assessment found that food supplies in the Thailand's tsunami affected Phi Phi island and Khao Lak zone were adequate. It is unclear, however, if many of those affected were receiving the government compensation (cash) as had been announced by the Thai Government. Lack of cash will make it difficult for people to supplement their rice and instant noodles with fresh food, which is not being donated. FAO is carrying out an assessment with a fisheries expert.
(b) WFP is monitoring the situation in Thailand, especially amongst the vulnerable population who has lost its livelihood mechanisms (such as fisherman, migrant workers, workers in the tourism sector, Muslims living in non-tourist areas) and is focusing its Emergency Operation (EMOP) in Thailand on an inter-agency coordinated approach.
(G) Latin America and Caribbean: (1) Bolivia (2) Colombia (3) Guatemala (4) Haiti (5) Nicaragua (6) Peru
(1) Bolivia
(a) On 4 January, transport workers in 8 of the 9 Bolivian departments protested against the increase of fuel prices. The protest ended with the Government and the transport sector reaching a consensus on new transport fares.
(b) Labor unions in Santa Cruz marched this week to demand the prompt passing of the Hydrocarbons Law and to express their discontent with the increase of fuel prices. On 10 January, the Bolivian Workers Union, the farmers unions, the neighborhood council of El Alto City, the landless peasants and other social movements will organize a general strike and demonstrations demanding the nationalization of hydrocarbons without compensation to multinational enterprises, the resignation of the President and new elections.
(c) The sowing season has started with the first rains in El Chaco Region. Local leaders, however, have expressed their concern about the lack of seeds. Many families have already eaten their seeds. The full recovery of El Chaco depends greatly on the rain until the next harvest (May 2005) and the availability of seeds.
(d) The rainy season has filled most of the water reservoirs, thus drinking water is being supplied by the community systems. However, access and availability of food is still a major problem until the next harvest. EMOP distributions started at the end of December 2004. WFP distributed some 120 tons of food to the drought affected families.
(e) Due to the high local price of lentils, local authorities proposed substituting them with beans; therefore, WFP is assessing the price of beans at local and regional bean markets. Until the lentil substitute is procured, WFP distributes family rations consisting of maize and vegetable oil.
(2) Colombia
(a) The security environment in Colombia remains uncertain and volatile.
(b) The highest-ranking rebel leader ever captured in Colombia was extradited to the United States on 31 December after the illegal group he belongs to failed to comply with an ultimatum to free 63 hostages.
(c) On 24 December, at least 10 persons were kidnapped by members of an illegal armed group near the municipality of San Rafael, in the province of Antioquia. The Colombian Government launched a rescue mission. WFP Colombia develops 2 implementation activities in nearby areas of this municipality as part of PRRO 10158.
(d) On 27 December, the major illegal armed group in Colombia issued an open letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, requesting a hearing before the United Nations General Assembly. The rebels requested the United Nations, the Vatican, eight countries, the International Red Cross, and the Catholic Church in Colombia to help negotiate and oversee a hostage-for-prisoner exchange.
(e) On 3 December, a Colombian rebel group stated that they will remove land mines in the northern part of Colombia as a goodwill gesture. According to the rebel group, the exercise will start on 5 January in the southern part of the Province of Bolivar. About 560 people in Colombia have been killed or injured with land mines. The group and the Colombian Government have been seeking common grounds for peace talks since June with little progress made. WFP implements some 250 activities in the Province of Bolivar as part of PRRO 10158.
(f) Illegal armed rebels killed a Catholic priest who disappeared in December 2004 during a pastoral mission in a rebel-controlled jungle region in the province of Choco. WFP Colombia develops some 165 implementation activities in the Province of Choco as part of PRRO 10158.
(3) Guatemala
(a) Temperatures went down significantly as a result of a cold front that affected the country during last week. Vegetable crops, especially in the northwest region, were damaged by the frost. Local capacity is sufficient to respond to these small-scale losses. The Volunteer Fire-Fighters in the province of Alta Verapaz activated a yellow alert. Temporary shelter centres have been set up to assist homeless people and prevent hypothermia cases.
(b) The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology continues to report volcanic activity at Santiaguito, Fuego and Pacaya volcanoes. The Institute maintains a yellow alert over Santiaguito and Fuego volcanoes.
(c) On the occasion of the celebration of the 8th Anniversary of the Peace Accords, members of the National Commission for the Peace Accords presented Vice-President Eduardo Stein a proposal to legalize the agreements reached in the Accords.
(d) Security remains one of the biggest challenges of the current administration. Eleven tourists were assaulted in the province of Petén on their way to the Tikal ruins. A vice-minister of El Salvador was also assaulted in the municipality of Barberena. These frequent events call for serious caution when performing WFP monitoring missions in the field.
(4) Haiti
(a) The entire country continues in UN security phase III. The security environment remains uncertain and volatile. Common crime and/or political violence continue to be reported in several areas of Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien.
(b) The insecurity continues to hamper humanitarian activities. A WFP vehicle was hijacked by armed gangsters on 23 December near the UN offices. This is the third WFP vehicle hijacked in the month of December 2004. WFP has appealed to the Government and the MINUSTAH requesting special support to address these incidents. On 31 December, food distribution to the victims of floods in Fougerolles, Cap Haitien, was disrupted after an uncontrolled mob looted a food truck. During the incident, nearly 4 tons of food were lost. The distribution was cancelled and WFP staff managed to return 5 tons of food to the WFP warehouse. WFP and MINUSTAH continue to assess ways to improve security at the distribution sites.
(c) Haiti’s Prime Minister visited Hinche and Gonaives, accompanied by the Special Representative for the Secretary General and the MINUSTAH Force Commander. Other Ministers and members of the Transition Government held meetings with former soldiers in Cap Haitien and Les Cayes.
(d) Food deliveries to the various WFP projects (EMOP, CP and PRRO) increased significantly during the last two weeks following improved availability of food stocks in the country after several months of shortfall. The shortfalls were mainly a consequence of late contributions, emergency response to the floods in June and September, and late commodity arrival and clearance at the port due to strikes in the ports of Bahamas and Port-au-Prince in July, September and December. WFP continued to move the food containers that arrived recently at the seaport of Port-au-Prince. From 10 December, some 108 containers have been moved and about 275 containers are still at the port.
(e) On 31 December 2004, WFP provided emergency food assistance to 483 families affected by the floods in some areas of Cap Haitien. These families were relocated to temporary shelters. In addition, a total of some 425 tons of WFP food commodities were distributed by implementing partner CARE to about 7,530 beneficiaries in the commune of Gonaïves, which was heavily affected in the aftermath of hurricane Jeanne. Distributions were held at a rate of 1-4 distribution sites per day.
(f) During last week, a total of 1,495 tons of food were delivered to health centres in the West, North and North-East departments, and to the various implementing partners of PRRO activities in the North-West.
(g) WFP signed an agreement with the Union “Evangelique Baptiste d’Haiti” to assist vulnerable groups in Port de Paix for a period of three months, January to March 2005. The assistance will benefit 300 malnourished children under 5 years of age and their families as well as 27,405 vulnerable people who will be assisted though a Food-for-Work project. The project will support the road rehabilitation (87 KM) in Passe Catabois in the North West. Another agreement was signed with CARE to extend until 31 March the ongoing EMOP that benefits 85,000 people affected by the floods in Gonaïves. WFP also signed an agreement with Action Contre la Faim to assist 9,000 malnourished children under five through a community canteen programme in Gonaïves.
(5) Nicaragua
(a) According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the coffee harvest terminated early this season, increasing unemployment and worsening the precarious situation of the coffee workers. WFP is monitoring the situation.
(b) Food distributions in the context of PRRO 10212.0 have ended for 2004 and will resume at the end of January 2005. A total of 10,655 pregnant and lactating women; 11,490 children under 2 years old; and 78,960 school children were assisted in 2004. Furthermore, a total of 2,000 poor rural families were assisted with Food for Work in the northern and central regions of the country.
(c) WFP in Nicaragua faces a shortfall for its PRRO 10212.0 through May 2005, of rice (470 tons), beans (some 240 tons), vegetable oil (over 110 tons) and maize (some 110 tons). If no commodities are donated in the coming months or those that are announced arrive late, this PRRO faces serious pipeline breaks during the second quarter of 2005.
(6) Peru
(a) With the start of the rainy season, heavy rains in the Andean highlands resulted in landslides in Huancavelica where WFP had started a new development project.
(b) WFP expects to start implemention of its EMOP (PER 10393) in Puno and Apurimac by mid-January, subject to the signature of the letter of understanding between the Government and WFP, which is still pending. Preparation activitites are already being developed. On 1 January , a police station in the city of Andahuaylas (department of Apurimac) was attacked, and 19 hostages were taken by the so-called “etnocaceristas” rebels. The leader of the rebels, Antauro Humala, a retired Major from the Peruvian Army, demands the resignation of President Alejandro Toledo. On 2 January, confrontations between the Peruvian Army and the rebels took place. Four police officers were killed in the streets of Andahuaylas. On 3 January, the rebel leader Humala was arrested. His followers, about 150, surrendered and were arrested by police officers.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons
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