This report includes:
(A) East and Central Africa Region- (1) Ethiopia, (2) Democratic Republic of Congo, (3) Rwanda
(B) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Liberia (3) Guinea (4) Mauritania
(C) Southern Africa Region- (1) Regional Overview, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Tanzania, (9) Angola, (10) Namibia
(D) Asia Region- (1) Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(E) West and Central Asia Region- (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran
(F) Eastern Europe Region- (1) Georgia
(G) Latin America and Caribbean Region- (1) Cuba, (2) Colombia, (3) El Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Honduras
From Francesco Strippoli, Director of the Office of Humanitarian Affairs; available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page (www.wfp.org), or by e-mail from Zlatan.Milisic@wfp.org.
For information on resources, donors are requested to contact Valerie.Sequeira@wfp.org at WFP Rome, telephone 39 06 6513 2009. Media queries should be directed to Trevor.Rowe@wfp.org, telephone 39 06 6513 2602. The address of WFP is Via Cesare Giulio Viola 68, Parco dei Medici, 00148 Rome, Italy.
A) East and Central Africa Region- (1) Ethiopia, (2) Democratic Republic of Congo, (3) Rwanda
1) Ethiopia
(a) The Government of Ethiopia's latest appeal for relief food assistance was released on 7 October during the visit to Ethiopia of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Kenzo Oshima. Under this Appeal, which covers immediate food needs and scenarios for 2003, prepared by the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission, food aid needs for October to December 2002 are 245,000 tons of cereals and 28,000 tons of supplementary food (for 6.3 million people in October, 5.6 million in November and 4.5 million in December). The current shortfall of cereals until the end of 2002 is 69,000 tons. Pledges are urgently sought to cover needs of early months of 2003, when needs will continue and increase steadily until July. For January to March, total cereal needs will be between 350,000 and 500,000 tons (mid to worst case scenarios), of which WFP expects to cover 150,000 to 200,000 tons.
(b) WFP monitors are joining other UN agencies, federal and regional Government official in special missions to the field to assess the situation in areas where conditions are reported to be deteriorating. Critical areas recently visited by WFP monitors include Bale zone of Oromiya Region, where uneven and poor rain is affecting the mid and highlands. Failure of long-cycle crops is widespread, while replanted crops are wilting due to a long dry spell. In the Bale lowlands, rain which usually starts at the beginning of September is a month late, and there is a critical shortage of water, causing migration of people from some areas in search of more secure water supplies. Because of the prolonged dry season and absence of rain for more than seven years, there is a serious shortage of pasture and grazing area for livestock. An additional problem in Bale zone is the migration of people from West and East Hararghe and Arsi zones to the Bale National Park area, where there is fear that their presence will intensify destruction of forest in the park. Numbers have risen to nearly 20,000, with more reported arriving daily.
(c) Conditions in the pastoralist Afar region and northern Somali Region continue to be of concern, as rainfall has not been sufficient. A special assessment is being done in Shinille zone. Elsewhere in Somali Region, the October deyr rains have set in and are confirmed to be widespread. Immediate water supply problems have eased, but regeneration of pasture and prospects for rain-fed sorghum in agro-pastoral areas will depend on continued good rain.
(d) In Tigray, there has been no change in the bleak situation facing farming families in 2003.
2) Democratic Republic of Congo
(a) Renewed violence has followed the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from South Kivu and Northern Katanga provinces. Massive displacements of populations and violence on civilians have been reported recently in Bukavu area. In addition, the overall security situation in the Ituri province has seriously deteriorated, causing a large influx of displaced persons into Bunia.
(b) With the insecurity situation prevailing in the South Kivu province, WFP has been focusing on meeting emergency needs, particularly those of malnourished people and children in difficult circumstances. WFP has been assisting between 14,000 to 17,000 malnourished children on a monthly basis, depending on the security situation. Recently, WFP's partners reported that the number of street children and HIV/AIDS orphans requiring WFP food aid was on the rise. Currently, the caseload assisted stands at 2,500 children in accessible areas.
(c) Over 400 tons of food were distributed from 9 to 30 September to over 52,600 beneficiaries through various programmes in South Kivu province. WFP was forced to reduce by half its number of beneficiaries under nutritional programmes due to food shortfalls. With the commencement of the agricultural season and the resumption of rains, WFP will be looking forward to expand seeds protection activities for IDPs and farmers to avoid a deterioration of the food security situation. As of 13 September, 254,500 IDPs and 190,500 returnees were reported throughout the province.
(d) An increasing number of IDPs are converging to Bunia (Ituri province) as reported by World Vision and German Agro Action (GAA), the only two international NGOs still operating in the area. An estimated 400,000 IDPs have fled into Bunia as a result of inter ethnic fighting around the town where there is also a residual caseload of persons affected by the Nyiragongo eruption in January 2002. WFP was committed to providing GAA with 130 tons of food for IDPs in Bunia at the end of August, however the delivery of the food was hampered by insecurity.
3) Rwanda
(a) WFP distributed over 1,640 tons of food during the month of September, benefiting almost 43,800 vulnerable people. Beneficiaries were mainly Congolese refugees and people involved in food-for-work projects including road rehabilitation, forage production and swamp rehabilitation projects. Other activities included assistance to returnees repatriated from Tanzania, nutritional and institutional feeding projects, HIV/AIDS-related activities and school feeding projects.
(b) 8,500 refugees who were settled in Kiziba camp (Kibuye prefecture) and in Gihembe camp (Byumba prefecture) have reportedly returned to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since 31 August. WFP is closely monitoring the situation and has observed that the repatriation has slowed down since 13 September, from an estimated at 400 to 100 people per day.
(c) In light of this recent repatriation movement, WFP plans to review the number of beneficiaries in each camp. In the meantime, WFP based food distributions for the Gihembe camp on estimates from the Ministry of Local Government and Social Affairs, and on UNHCR estimates for Kiziba camp. Distribution took place for 26,666 refugees in all three camps in Kibuye, Byumba province and Gikongoro provinces.
(d) During September, over 2,550 returnees were registered by UNHCR in various transit centres in Cyangugu, Nkamira and Kibungo. The returnees received a three-month ration of food and NFIs before departing to their districts of origin. An additional 25,000 Rwandans are expected to return at any point from camps in the Ngara region of Tanzania.
B) West Africa Region: (1) Côte d'Ivoire (2) Liberia (3) Guinea (4) Mauritania
1) Côte d'Ivoire
(a) The security situation in Côte d'Ivoire is becoming increasingly volatile. All the ingredients are present for a large-scale humanitarian crisis, which threatens to destabilise the entire sub-region through a massive displacement of people in the country and possible outflow of immigrant workers into neighbouring countries.
(b) Because of the fighting, all WFP development activities in Côte d'Ivoire have been temporarily suspended and distributions for the school year 2002-2003 have been postponed. Over 300,000 people, mostly children, are beneficiaries of WFP school feeding and development projects in Côte d'Ivoire.
(c) WFP is working within the OCHA framework to closely co-ordinate contingency plan scenarios and agency responses to immediately assist victims of conflict.
(d) A UN team (WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, OCHA, WHO) is currently assessing the situation in areas affected by the fighting in and around Bouake while WFP, in collaboration with ICRC, is assessing the food aid needs of nearly 10,000 displaced immigrant workers in the Man region. In addition, 2,000 IDPs, who have fled the fighting in Bouake to transit sites in Yamoussoukrou, Didievi and Sakassou, will be receiving emergency food aid rations. WFP plans to establish a logistics base in Yamoussoukrou in order to respond more quickly to the unfolding crisis in the northern areas of the country.
2) Liberia
(a) WFP is currently assisting 182,622 people in Liberia. The number of IDPs in camps in the suburbs of Monrovia, Totota and CARI, continued to increase between 24 September and 7 October. The present number of registered IDPs in camps around Monrovia is 110,333 persons, a 49 percent increase since September.
(b) No movements have been reported from the western parts of the country especially since troops loyal to the Government made advances against the dissidents. People are coming in from the Lofa County areas into camps in Bong County because of the on-going skirmishes between the dissidents and government troops.
(c) In wake of recent developments in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire and reports that some Liberians and other nationals are crossing into Liberia, an inter-agency assessment mission toured various border crossing points. Preliminary findings indicate that they are not many persons crossing over.
3) Guinea
(a) Incidents in the border area with Liberia continue to destabilise activities in Koyama sub prefecture. Due to border instability, local authorities assisted UNHCR in the transfer of 442 new arrivals from Koyama and Fassakoni to Lainé camp in the N'Zérékoré region. All activities are suspended in Tremolo. The presence of Liberian refugees in border areas is cause for great concern for WFP due to high insecurity in those areas.
(b) The Guinea-Côte d'Ivoire border is closed. 444 Guineans entered from Côte d'Ivoire by way of Nzoo and Tounkarta in the N'Zérékoré region. The WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, Government of Guinea's mission along the Guinea-Côte d'Ivoire border is ongoing. A monitoring system has been put into place to monitor the possible influx of persons from Côte d'Ivoire along the Salabadou corridor in Mandania prefecture.
(c) Between 23 September and 6 October, WFP distributed a total of 818 tons of food to 50,988 beneficiaries. The repatriation of Sierra Leonean refugees is slower than expected. Total current caseload in camps is 93,000 refugees of which 47,000 are Sierra Leoneans and 46,000 are Liberians. In addition WFP continues to provide assistance to some 3,000 Liberian refugees in the border areas.
4) Mauritania
(a) Although significant rains fell during the last 10 days of September, the overall food security situation is deteriorating since rains arrived late and the cumulative rainfall remains very low compared with 2001 which, in itself, was a drought year.
(b) A protocole d'accord between WFP and UNICEF is being signed to ensure the coverage of an increased number of NGO-supported Community Feeding Centers (CFC) which cater to the needs of malnourished children and pregnant women/nursing mothers. The number of CFCs is being increased from 185 currently being assisted (140 WFP+ 45 UNICEF) to 242 over the next 2 months. WFP will be covering the nutritional needs of affected women and UNICEF will provide nutritional support for the malnourished children. After this two-month period WFP will resume full coverage of its 140 CFCs plus an additional 36 as part of expanded activities under the new Country Programme scheduled to start from 1 January.
(c) There are currently three missions in Mauritania to assess the current emergency situation: a FAO/CILSS crop assessment mission, a WFP nutrition/vulnerability assessment supported by staff of other organizations and a visit of the USDA regional Food For Peace officer and several US embassy officials in drought affected areas
(d) WFP's emergency operation remains seriously under resourced, which has affected the timeliness and coverage of WFP's emergency response. So far, only 30 percent of the 7.5 million dollars required have been received. Donor support is essential for WFP to carry out its planned activities.
C) Southern Africa Region- (1) Regional Overview, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Tanzania, (9) Angola, (10) Namibia
1) Regional Overview
(a) The US Ambassador to the UN agencies for Food and Agriculture, Tony Hall, received a briefing on the crisis from the Regional Coordinator in Johannesburg on 7 October, after which he travelled to the Port of Durban followed by visits to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi.
(b) WFP is pursuing fortification of maize meal with multiple vitamins and minerals to meet increased nutritional requirements of HIV/AIDS-infected populations, and for targeting most vulnerable areas and beneficiaries.
(c) The Emergency Operation is nearly 37 percent funded, with a shortfall of USD 320 million. Current WFP food aid shortfall against requirements for October, November, and December are 71,611 tons. Persistent shortages of key agricultural inputs in the region could seriously impact an already critical food security situation. Without urgent response by donors and humanitarian agencies, a further poor agricultural season could continue to threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of vulnerable families in the region.
2) Lesotho
(a) WFP distributed 803 tons of maize meal, pulses, and vegetable oil to 61,318 beneficiaries during the week. 16,500 tons of food stocks are in Durban destined for Lesotho. The pipeline is healthy until early 2003, and no interruptions in distributions are foreseen.
3) Malawi
(a) A Logistics Management Committee has been formed by the Minister of Agriculture. Composed of Ministry of Transport, National Food Reserve Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, WFP Logistics, and ADMARC, the committee meets weekly to discuss logistical matters pertaining to imports into Malawi during the emergency, including all related commodities such as food, fertilizer, and fuel.
(b) The Government, UNAIDS, WFP and UNDP jointly organized a workshop from 8-10 October to discuss ways to support HIV/AIDS affected and infected beneficiaries.
(c) During the week WFP dispatched commodities to 232 distribution points. 1,800 tons of pulses were purchased locally to prevent a break in the pipeline for the Assistance to Malnourished Groups programme and general distribution. WFP is currently purchasing additional pulses to ensure a full food basket can be maintained. Orientation workshops for teachers in schools targeted under the WFP Emergency Operation have been completed in three districts (Salima, Lilongwe, and Kasungu). A total of 143 primary schools are targeted in five districts. Discussions are underway on how to allocated subsidized maize being imported by the Government. The Government has imported 150,000 tons of the total 351,500 tons planned.
4) Mozambique
(a) WFP has signed agreements with two new implementing partners, Kulima and Helvetas, in Maputo and Gaza Provinces. The WFP pipeline for Mozambique is healthy to the end of December, with maize, pulses, CSB, and vegetable oil meeting 100 percent of current requirements. However, additional contributions are needed to maintain the pipeline after December.
5) Swaziland
(a) In November, WFP will provide a full basket for beneficiaries and the pipeline is complete until mid-February.
6) Zambia
(a) The future of the WFP cereal pipeline depends on the outcome of decisions on genetically modified food issues. Purchases of limited supplies of South African maize have starting arriving in Livingstone, and are expected to cover immediate needs.
(b) UNICEF estimates that 3,000 children per month in the 17 most-affected districts will need therapeutic feeding for severe malnutrition, and another 7,000 children per month will require supplementary feeding.
(c) The National Health Authorities, supported by WHO and UNFPA, conducted a rapid health assessment in the most severely affected districts of the Southern Province from 24-30 September. The very high prevalence of pellagra found is cause for concern. This indicates a general food shortage as well as micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of the B complex vitamins. The mission also reported clinical malnutrition among children, especially kwashiorkor. Communities are found to be on average 5 kilometres farther away from a water source than they were in January 2002. The survey noted the need for relief food rations to include other commodities in addition to maize to address these health concerns.
(d) WFP field reports indicate in the Ndola area that generally the hunger situation is not critical at this time. However, there is a concern over the lack of seeds and fertilizers and although agricultural projects in the area are underway, it was too early to predict the potential outcome of the coming crop season.
7) Zimbabwe
(a) In Zimbabwe, the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe announced a special allocation of USD 7.6 million to increase support for community home-based and orphan-care interventions in 84 districts.
(b) WFP's four sub-offices are focusing efforts on beneficiary registration and verification in anticipation of increased distribution this month of over 30,000 tons of food for two million people in 28 districts. This will be twice the tonnage distributed in September. Distribution capacity is expected to dramatically improve with two more NGO implementing partners registered, and other implementing partners gearing up operations. Since February this year, WFP has distributed a total of 50,149 tons of food to over one million beneficiaries.
8) Tanzania
(a) From 23 September to 6 October, WFP distributed over 3,450 tons of food to approximately 505,500 refugees in Ngara, Kibondo, Kasulu and Lugufu camps. WFP supplied 100 percent of the standard food ration to all beneficiaries, except for pulses, which were distributed at 80 percent of the full ration. In addition, almost 80 tons through various Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFPs), benefiting 19,500 malnourished refugees.
(b) Over 3,550 Burundian refugees were registered in Kibondo, Kasulu and Ngara camps from 23 September to 6 October, representing a significant increase as compared to the last reporting period. At the same time, the facilitation of voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees continued at a very low pace in Ngara camps and remained suspended in the other camps. The increased insecurity situation in Burundi has discouraged the families in Kasulu and Kibondo already registered for repatriation. From 28 March to 6 October, almost 26,000 Burundian refugees were repatriated from Tanzania to Burundi.
(c) In addition, over 300 Rwandese refugees were repatriated during the last two weeks, bringing the total number of refuges repatriated since 1 January to over 4,100. About 2,200 refugees arrived in Tanzania from DR Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, representing a significant increase as compared to the last reporting period.
9) Angola
(a) A joint WFP and Government mission assessed the food security and nutritional situation in Lucapa, Chitato and Cambulo municipalities. The findings of the mission indicated that most of the population, either IDP or resident, faces serious food insecurity. This food insecurity is a result of looting of crops, restricted access to land caused by the nearby ENDIAMA diamond operation, a lack of seeds and tools and exorbitant prices in local markets (in some cases three times higher than those found in Luanda).
(b) A WFP vulnerability assessment to Luau (Moxico), which is a major transit point for refugees returning from DRC, found that new returnees were staying in very poor conditions at two transit centers with no assistance from MINARS or humanitarian agencies. According to UNHCR, around 4,000 refugees returned through Luau from DRC in the last 3 months. The mission recommendations include the establishment of a reception/transit center for returning refugees with basic sanitation conditions, food and medical assistance, introduction of a reliable registration system, nutritional screening of returning refugees and introduction of a mobile SFC to address malnutrition. The mission also urgently recommended targeted distribution of seeds and tools to be accompanied with seed protection rations.
(c) A rapid assessment mission conducted by WFP in newly accessible areas of Luxinda-Sachicapo, Mwambumba, Samaiena and Samuxita along the road to Cacolo, about 60 to 80 km east Cacolo, indicated a high degree of vulnerability to food security among the 700 people who returned to those locations in May 2002. Problems include lack of agricultural inputs and sources of income and child health and nutritional deficiencies. WFP registered these people and will provide food assistance as of October 2002. In parallel, LWF will provide seeds and tools for the agricultural season. WFP will participate in a joint rapid assessment mission of critical needs in Pango Aluquem and Ucua next week.
(d) SRSA Bridge reconnaissance team continues their mission to assess key broken bridges and problematic water crossings to improve access. The team has completed assessments in Huambo, Bié and Kuando Kubango provinces, and are continuing to Moxico and Kuanza Sul provinces. Repairs to the Chanhora bridge were completed by the Ministry of Public Works enabling WFP to deliver food to assist returnees in Cambandua and Ndele family reception areas.
(e) A UN security assessment reached Likwa and Rivungo finding that access to this area should be possible, even during rainy season, with the removal of a few obstacles on the road. The humanitarian situation in the two locations was reported as critical, with an estimated 23,000 people needing immediate humanitarian assistance. An anti tank mine exploded on the main access road from Chinguar to Chignama in Huambo province. At least another 2 anti-tank mines are also suspected on the road that is now closed to humanitarian agencies pending mine clearance. A landmine exploded on the road between the Cuango River and Xa-Muteba (Lunda Norte), killing twelve of the twenty passengers traveling from Muxinda to Xa-Muteba.
10) Namibia
(a) Preliminary findings of WFP's drought assessment for Namibia indicate that the drought has mainly affected the crop producing regions in the northern part of Namibia. There is a shortfall of maize and millet. The shortfall of maize has led to an increase in prices, having inflationary effect on the overall economy. The most vulnerable areas are the northern regions where the cereal deficit is high. The assessments indicate that, in these areas, 85 percent of rural households will have a cereal deficit from September through April 2003 while 8?10 percent of the population, mostly children and the elderly, will be extremely vulnerable.
(b) The Government estimates show that a total of USD 14 million will be required for relief assistance of both food and non-food items for 340,000 beneficiaries who will be affected by the drought. The Government can provide up to USD 9.5 million, leaving a shortfall of USD 4.5 million.
D) Asia Region- (1) Democratic People's Republic of Korea
1) Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(a) Cereal contributions (72,500 tons) are urgently required to cover needs for WFP beneficiaries on the west coast during the last two months of the year. In addition, immediate pledges are required to ensure that the pipeline does not run dry during the initial months of 2003. Pledges for wheat flour contributions are requested for the LFP operations.
(b) The data collection phase of the 2002 Nutrition Survey will be completed by the end of this month. WFP anticipates that the survey results will be finalized in March 2003. This follow-up survey will intensify the humanitarian community's knowledge of malnutrition among women and children and may give rise to recommendations aimed at enhancing WFP's programme and further sharpening the targeting of food assistance.
(c) With no new contributions towards the cereals shortfall of 72,500 tons, WFP's phased stoppage of food distributions to certain beneficiary groups in the west coast provinces of the country continues. This month about 2 million beneficiaries, primary and secondary school children and pregnant and nursing women, will not receive their allocated cereal rations. In November and December, approximately 3 million will not be receiving an essential input into their daily diets, especially needed during the harsh winter months.
E) West and Central Asia Region- (1) Afghanistan, (2) Iran
1) Afghanistan
(a) The preliminary findings of the VAM countrywide assessment estimate that approximately four million people in the rural areas will face a food deficit during the next twelve months. This figure does not include the urban vulnerable, returnees and IDPs. Three years of drought have had a severe impact on the rural population, resulting in the depletion of livestock and assets, accumulation of debt, and a general undermining of the productive capacity of entire communities. Therefore, although there is greater food availability this year, a considerable portion of the population will be unable to access a sufficient amount of food to meet their basic requirements.
(b) From 2 to 8 October, WFP assisted over 674,100 beneficiaries with at least 3,400 tons of food through various WFP activities. This number includes, among others, the following projects. 112,500 beneficiaries have received 180 tons of wheat since April through a tree replantation project in Qargha dam hillsides. WFP is assisting almost 95,100 children through the Food for Education programme in Mazari Sharif. In Hirat, over 4,800 persons have benefited from a non-formal education project for Women's Participation in Community Forums Development Programme. Civil servants in Jalalabad, Hirat and Mazari Sharif received 1360 tons of food.
(c) At a meeting on 7 October in Kandahar, UN agencies and NGOs agreed to conduct a survey on IDPs in the southern area in order to: confirm IDP numbers, identify causes of displacement, assess the needs of IDPs and check the willingness and ability of IDPs to return to their places of origin. It was requested that WFP conduct the survey in Kandahar province for 15 days starting from 15 October.
(d) On 5 October, the first meeting of the Winterisation Operational Task Force was held in Kabul. The purpose of the Task Force is to ensure that a National Action Plan for winterisation is prepared with UN agencies and the government, addressing the five key sectors of access, food security, kuchis, population movements and urban preparedness.
2) Iran
(a) On 2 October, WFP met with representatives from the Government, UN agencies, NGO partners and major donors to review and discuss the final report of the Evaluation Mission of the current PRRO 6126. The draft document of the new PRRO 10213, which will be presented to the next WFP Executive Board meeting on 22 October was also discussed.
(b) Food distributions to 25,000 earthquake victims in Qazvin province which started on 2 October are continuing through EMOP 10227. The distribution is being carried out in collaboration with the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
(c) In September, more than 37,600 refugees have repatriated to Afghanistan through the UNHCR-assisted programme, corresponding to an average of about 1,800 returns per crossing day. UNHCR return convoys through the southern border crossing at Milak have resumed following a security incident at Zero Point on 1 September. As of 8 October, over 221,600 Afghan refugees had repatriated since the UNHCR assisted Voluntary Repatriation Programme started in April. A further 69,500 have returned on their own.
(d) WFP expects to face shortfalls of 800 tons of rice and over 100 tons of oil to cover its needs until 31 December. Pipeline shortfalls will affect all commodities by March 2003, unless new contributions are made.
F) Eastern Europe Region- (1) Georgia
1) Georgia
(a) Due to recent heightened tensions along the border with Chechnya, a joint UN Contingency Planning exercise is under way in Tbilisi covering a possible evacuation of the Pankisi Valley where 4,000 Chechen refugees are living.
(b) In September, WFP, in collaboration with UNHCR, distributed 133 tons of food to 4,000 Chechen refugees living in the Pankisi valley of East Georgia. The number of refugees had decreased after a re-registration exercise by the Government of Georgia and UNHCR earlier this year. In addition, 300 tons of food was distributed for the period September-October to 12,100 vulnerable persons through soup kitchens run by local municipalities, NGOs and institutions under the Ministry of Education and Health, Labour and Social Welfare. These relief activities are conducted mostly in urban areas.
(c) Recovery and rehabilitation activities are carried out in five targeted regions of Georgia: Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Guria, Kakheti and more recently, Sametskhe Javakheti. Ongoing food-for-work activities started in February; 36 percent of total planned works have already been achieved, with an average of 20,100 daily workers per month in 31 districts. It is projected that by the end of the operation on 31 March 2003, around 93 percent of food originally planned in the project document for the recovery component of PRRO will be distributed.
(d) The early warning monitoring undertaken by WFP indicates a worrying trend for crop prospect in both the eastern and western parts of the country. The wheat harvest in Kakheti, East Georgia, the main producer of grain in the country, is about 50 percent of that of normal years. The main reason for the low harvest is inclement weather conditions.
(e) The grape crop, which is the main source of income for the local population, was most severely affected in Kakheti. High humidity caused development of a fungus; the low quality of chemicals applied to vineyards resulted in the low productivity of grapes and finally the hail in many districts caused additional localised damages to the vineyards. It is expected that the harvest may not reach much over 20 percent of the initial forecast.
G) Latin America and Caribbean Region- (1) Cuba, (2) Colombia, (3) El Salvador, (4) Guatemala, (5) Honduras
1) Cuba
(a) Within ten days, two category-2 hurricanes hit Cuba: Hurricane Isidore made landfall on 20 September while Hurricane Lili did so on 1 October. The most affected areas were the province of Pinar del Rio and the Isla de la Juventud. Estimates are that approximately USD 10.3 million will be needed in Pinar del Rio and USD 2.2 million for the Isla de la Juventud for recovery in the areas of agriculture, livestock, and productive infrastructure (not including the cost of housing).
(b) Two UN missions (formed by UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, UNESCO and PAHO) were fielded (26 September after Isidore and 3 October after Lili) to assess damages. Government officials and Civil Defense representatives accompanied the missions. Food crops, citrus and tobacco plantations in both affected regions were largely destroyed, therefore causing a serious blow to Cuba's economy.
(c) WFP has approved an IRA/EMOP to assist approximately 49,000 vulnerable persons (children under 5 years old and expectant mothers), for 45 days. The Government is providing assistance to affected families with its limited resources and prioritising expectant mothers. These efforts will be limited due to the reduced amounts of food available. WFP assistance will be complementary to that of Government's assistance.
2) Colombia
(a) UN agencies in Colombia have finalized the Humanitarian Plan of Action (HPA). This plan gives special attention to the areas of food security, reconstruction, prevention of displacement and protection of IDPs. The main objective of the HPA is to contribute to the re-establishment and effective exercise of human rights of IDPs and other population affected by the conflict.
(b) During the first week of October, WFP delivered 85 tons of food to 14 PRRO projects in three provinces. PRRO beneficiaries continue to be affected by blockades imposed by armed groups in a number of municipalities and provinces. Food commodities could not be delivered to the municipality of Granada in the province of Antioquia.
(c) WFP will include food for up to one month through the provision of 1,432 kits, comprised of agricultural tools, seeds and fertilizers. Kits will be delivered to beneficiaries of 30 projects in 27 provinces.
3) El Salvador
(a) WFP is carrying out regular monitoring visits to the coffee producing areas in the western region. Initial results will be consolidated to obtain figures on the number of affected families and children, and the precise quantities needed for a food aid response. Preliminary results justify an urgent response. Monitoring will now shift to other coffee producing areas not yet covered. As the coffee crisis will continue affecting families in the long run, options are being considered to examine programmes that may provide alternative incomes to families. Discussions with NGOs will be held in the coming weeks on this subject.
(b) WFP is actively engaged in the preparation of a multi-faceted response with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, National Secretary of the Family, UNICEF and PAHO. A proposal has been presented that will provide additional food rations through Government Child Care Centres, Community Homes providing child care and community storage centres. WFP will respond with available stocks. UNICEF has confirmed a distribution of 19 tons of Incaparina (a Central American food blend) to assist children suffering from severe malnutrition. The Ministry of Health has sufficient stocks of micronutrients to last until December 2002.
(c) The drought response reaching affected families in the northeast continues to generate new food requests from NGOs. Heavy rains continue to fall in most of the country allaying fears of a continuing drought in the eastern regions of the country.
4) Guatemala
(a) Hurricane Isidore affected the southern and western coasts of the country causing landslides and flooding. Assessments indicate that despite material and human losses, there have not been major losses in agriculture. According to preliminary data from the southern coastal region, losses have been registered in the agricultural and fishery sector for at least 350 households.
(b) Since May, EMOP 10174.0 (Emergency assistance to families affected by drought with accurate malnourished children) has distributed a total of 2,828 tons of food aid.
5) Honduras
(a) Distribution to the drought-affected households took place during August and September to 24 communities of 8 municipalities in the province of El Paraiso. A second delivery is planned to take place in October and November to 66 communities in 18 municipalities of the provinces of Choluteca, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, and La Paz.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons.
(End WFP Emergency Report No 41).