This report includes:
(A) East and Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Ethiopia, (9) Uganda, (10) Burundi, (11) Tanzania
(B) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia, (3) Democratic Republic of Congo, (4) Republic of Congo
(C) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
(D) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan
(E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Cuba, (2) Colombia, (3) Guatemala
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 Southern Africa Region: (1) Regional overview, (2) Lesotho, (3) Malawi, (4) Mozambique, (5) Swaziland, (6) Zambia, (7) Zimbabwe, (8) Ethiopia, (9) Uganda, (10) Burundi, (11) Tanzania
1) Regional overview for Southern Africa
(a) The SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) released results of the second round of assessments on 16 September. The assessments confirm the severity of the regional food crisis and provide compelling evidence that urgent action, beyond current levels, is required from national governments, regional bodies and the international community to avert a humanitarian disaster in the next seven months. The estimates of people at risk in the region have been revised upwards from 12.8 million to 14.4 million, representing a 12.5 percent increase.
(b) Upon completion of a two-week tour of the region, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, James T. Morris, and an interagency team held a press conference in Johannesburg on 16 September, which had an extensive coverage in national and international press. The mission called attention to the fact that southern Africa is being devastated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and that HIV/AIDS is a fundamental, underlying cause of vulnerability. It was also noted that urgent response is necessary to avoid a massive deterioration in the regional situation, and that in particular provision of seeds, fertilizers, and tools to farmers is required before the planting season begins in October.
(c) A stakeholders consultation was held on 17 September in Johannesburg area, at which a joint presentation of the key findings of the SADC/VAC Emergency Food Security Assessment mission was presented, as well as a report on the findings of the United Nations interagency regional mission. The consultation was attended by 66 persons, including representatives of ten donor countries, nine NGOs, SADC, and five UN agencies.
(d) A meeting of SADC Ministers of Transport will be held on 23 September in Harare to discuss customs clearance procedures, road transport facilitation aspects, and health and bio-safety procedures. WFP is assisting SADC in the organization of the meeting. A follow-on meeting will be held on 24 September to specifically discuss logistics issues related to Zimbabwe.
(e) USD 4.4 million in new donor contributions were confirmed during the week, including an in-kind contribution of 300 tons of dried skimmed milk. The Emergency Operation is now 36.5 percent funded, with a current shortfall of USD 322 million. Current WFP food aid shortfalls for October, November and December are 71,611 tons. As a consequence of the cash contributions received over the last few weeks, the pipeline has greatly improved on the non-cereal side.
2) Lesotho
(a) Despite heavy snowfall, which slowed down movement of vehicles, WFP food was distributed to 33,350 beneficiaries in three districts over the past week. Food distributions in Mafeteng will begin next week.
3) Malawi
(a) So far this month 7,100 tons of food, including pulses and Likuna Phala, have been dispatched by WFP. Due to the severity of the food situation and its negative effects on school attendance, WFP will add 100,000 children to its school feeding programme, bringing total coverage to 150,000 children in eight districts. 1,000 tons of food will be required each month.
(b) Following UN/NGO assessments of 83 Nutrition Rehabilitation Units (funded by the EC and conceived by ECHO experts together with the EC Food Security Unit in Malawi), WFP will provide food for therapeutic feeding for 2,130 children and their caretakers and food for supplementary feeding of 28,100 malnourished children and the same number of malnourished pregnant and lactating women. UNICEF conducted a three-day workshop for new supplementary feeding guidelines. This week, Action Against Hunger began training-of-trainer workshops on therapeutic feeding for staff of the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and WFP field monitors.
4) Mozambique
(a) The estimate of the total number of people in need of food has risen by 13 percent, from 515,000 (CFSAM April/May) to 587,000 people in 48 districts. This is mainly due to the inclusion of pockets of food insecurity in two provinces previously not part of the operation, Zambézia and Nampula. There have been no major changes in cereal production figures, except for millet in Sofala Province, which has gone down compared to the CFSAM report. Overall cereal production in 2002 is still approximately 5 percent higher than in 2001. However, cereal production was 34 percent lower compared to last year in some areas, particularly in the south. Cereal food needs in Mozambique are estimated at 49,275 tons from September through March next year. Emergency provision of seeds and tools are urgently required in the affected areas.
5) Swaziland
(a) Deliveries to eleven extended delivery points for September is 70 percent complete, with 1,181 tons of maize and 50 tons of oil delivered so far this month. Pulses are expected to arrive in time for the October distribution. Implementing NGOs continue to review and refine distribution lists.
6) Zambia
(a) An allocation plan for distribution of 7,000 tons of white maize has been agreed by WFP and implementing NGOs, and dispatching has begun (1,475 tons dispatched this week) targeting the southern and south western provinces and Food for Work projects. Vegetable oil, pulses, and salt have been dispatched to pilot districts (Katete, Chipata, Lundazi, and Chadiza) for the Food for Assets programme.
(b) An OXFAM nutrition survey in Choma, Monze, and Mazabuka indicated a slight increase in malnutrition levels and crude mortality rate and under-five mortality rates were found to be high. Reports from WFP monitors indicate a worsening hunger situation in Chipata in the less accessible areas. The WFP Chipata sub-office is now fully operational and warehousing available.
7) Zimbabwe
(a) The Government has approved Lutheran World Federation as a WFP implementing partner, bringing WFP's partners for the emergency to seven. At a WFP-hosted meeting for donor representatives in Harare this week, the urgent need for more implementing partners was stressed. WFP and partners have distributed 37,827 tons of food to 751,952 beneficiaries since 20 February this year.
(b) UNICEF is procuring 1,200 tons of UNIMIX for supplementary feeding programmes, targeting 95,000 children under five and pregnant and lactating women in five districts. 360 tons of this UNIMIX arrived in country last week.
(c) Among the findings of the VAC assessment are the following: 68 percent of households are employing multiple distress coping strategies, 18 percent of households have removed children from school during the past two months, and 94 percent of farmers lack seeds for the upcoming planting season.
8) Ethiopia
(a) A joint Government of Ethiopia/United Nations Flash Appeal for food aid needs between September and December is under preparation and will be released to donors before the end of the month. Needs have increased substantially over recent months and the revised shortfall to the end of 2002 is expected to be over 200,000 tons.
(b) An inter-agency nutritional team has made a rapid assessment visit to West Hararghe zone in Oromiya Region to try to establish how widespread malnutrition is in the zone. In the areas visited (considered those less severely affected), the team reported that while there is a serious food insecurity problem, with recent poor rainfall compounded by the cumulative effects of three to five years of partial crop failures, the result is not the degree of severe malnutrition reported in other areas of the zone.
(c) The team confirmed that the findings of the planned nutritional assessment will be very important to establish the extent and magnitude of malnutrition in this zone. The nutritional survey began on 19 September and will last until 29 September. Eight teams are being coordinated by CARE and led by the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commissioner (DPPC). WFP is participating and providing logistical support. Data entry, processing and analysis will be done in the field and preliminary results are expected by early October.
(d) A Government-led donor mission visited East and West Hararghe, as well as the Shinile zone of Somali region, from 17-19 September to review the situation in these areas. The team, led by the DPPC, included WFP, UNICEF, donor representatives and representatives from the regional government.
(e) There has been no rainfall of any significance for the past two weeks in central, eastern and southern Tigray. Zone 2 of Afar region has received practically no rain for the whole of the karan rainy season; the rainfall situation in other parts of Afar region has been generally mixed and has been insufficient in some zones. Rain is continuing in the highland and midland areas of East and West Hararghe and other parts of Oromiya Region and has also been reported to be continuing in parts of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) and Amhara Region. The overall picture of current meher rain in the eastern part of the country appears to be erratic and uneven. The rain must continue well into October for late planted crops to reach maturity. Normal rainfall is reported in the surplus producing areas of western Ethiopia. Rain has also been reported in central, southern and south-western parts of Somali Region; in northern Somali Region, karan rains have insufficient throughout Shinille zone.
9) Uganda
(a) On 16 September, WFP condemned the ambush of a convoy of commercial trucks transporting food aid to Kitgum, Northern Uganda, where more than 120,000 people are in desperate need of food assistance. In the incident one person was killed. The convoy, carrying 300 tons of food aid and clearly marked with WFP flags, came under attack on 14 September while travelling with an army escort on the Lira - Kitgum road. The convoy was eventually able to proceed to Kitgum town and no food was stolen. However, the food has not been sent to the locations within Kirgum district where beneficiaries fear of further attacks.
(b) As a result, WFP has decided to suspend its activities within Kitgum and Pader districts until further notice. Since July, WFP has delivered over 8,000 tons of food to the half a million displaced people in the northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader. The current suspension will leave about 120,000 people cut off from food aid. WFP once again appeals to all parties to guarantee safe humanitarian access within northern Uganda, to allow the agency to continue with its live-saving assistance to displaced populations.
(c) This is not the first time that WFP has been forced to suspend activities in the area. In June, increased insecurity led to a one- month suspension that resulted in a dramatic increase in malnutrition rates among displaced children. WFP is very concerned about the impact of another interruption in the delivery of food assistance on the nutritional status of the displaced populations.
(d) In the northern areas of Uganda WFP is assisting over 500,000 victims of the conflict between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army rebels. WFP also provides assistance to over 100,000 Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda, over 30,000 of whom have been displaced by LRA attacks in recent weeks.
10) Burundi
(a) WFP, in collaboration with CARE and World Vision, has started to distribute 5,800 tons of food aid to assist 535,000 vulnerable people in the most highly insecure provinces, mainly Bujumbura Rural, Ruyigi, Gitega, Muramvya, Makamba, Rutana, Kayanza, Karuzi and Mwaro. The food aid will be given as a Seeds Protection Ration (SPR) together with seeds and farm tools, provided by FAO. The SPR is designed to prevent the most vulnerable populations from consuming seeds and is expected to contribute towards increased agricultural production, which will improve their food security. The project is planned for two planting seasons, in September/October and February/March, and is normally carried out every year in Burundi due to its success.
(b) Continual fighting in Burundi has resulted in significant population displacements, erosion of assets, significant livestock theft, as well as destruction of homesteads. Nearly 1.4 million people in Burundi, mainly IDPs, do not have adequate access to food and thus depend on WFP food assistance.
(c) A sensitisation campaign has been conducted to explain the targeting criteria to governors and provincial administrators, distribution committees, as well as partners in the humanitarian sector. Targeted food aid distributions will then follow after October starting with the provinces, which did not receive SPR distributions. In June, WFP conducted a Food and Crop Assessment jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, UNICEF and FAO, which determined the number of beneficiaries and the provinces to be targeted with food aid. With the security situation and the large displacements in July and August, the provinces targeted have been reviewed and the caseload of beneficiaries has been increased.
11) Tanzania
(a) Facilitation of voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees continued at a very low pace in Ngara camps. From 28 March to 8 September, almost 24,100 Burundian refugees were repatriated from Tanzania to Burundi. In addition, over 500 Rwandese refugees were repatriated during the last two weeks, bringing the total number of refuges repatriated since 1 January to 3,300. At the same time, about 1,600 refugees arrived in Tanzania from DR Congo, Burundi and Rwanda.
(b) From 28 August to 9 September, WFP distributed almost 80 tons through various Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFPs), benefiting over 19,000 malnourished refugees. No general food distribution was conducted in the refugee camps as a three-week or four-week distribution targeting around 505,000 refugees took place in August. 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. A Meningitis outbreak was reported in Kibondo camps, with Nduta being the most affected.
B) Central Africa Region: (1) Angola, (2) Namibia, (3) Democratic Republic of Congo, (4) Republic of Congo
1) Angola
(a) An estimated 12,000 people have reportedly arrived in Mavinga town (Kuando Kubango province) over the last few weeks looking for humanitarian assistance and medical care. Their status is extremely critical. The total number of people to be assisted in Mavinga could rise from the current 75,000 receiving WFP assistance to 94,000 during the month of September. Registration of new arrivals and distribution of food aid are ongoing. 6,400 persons in Capembe Family Reception Area (FRA) as well as 4,000 beneficiaries received assistance in Mavinga town, during the week.
(b) WFP is reinforcing its capacity in Mavinga through staff, communications and vehicle deployment in order to expand WFP's programmes in the area. Measures are being taken to also address the serious logistical obstacles to the provision of assistance. An additional Hercules aircraft to augment WFP's delivery capacity to critical areas such as Mavinga has been put into operation. Through Swede Relief, WFP has completed repairs to a critical water-crossing between Mavinga and the Capembe and Matungo FRAs to ensure that trucks can move food faster. WFP is discussing with various humanitarian agencies how to carry out emergency repairs to the Mavinga airstrip before heavy rains begin. WFP has engaged four more trucks to distribute food in Mavinga, bringing the number of commercial trucks available to eleven.
(c) Humanitarian operations in Mavinga face serious constraints due to mine infestation, severely deteriorated roads and bridges, and a lack of basic social and physical infrastructure. Many persons among the new arrivals to Mavinga are suffering from malnutrition, Shigella infections due to a shortage of clean water supplies and there has been a confirmed case of meningitis. OCHA is to co-ordinate non-food item assistance and de-mining operations in the area. Extra seed and tools packages are urgently needed to ensure that families are able to cultivate in the upcoming rainy season. For the moment, only 2,700 seed and tool packages are available through NRC.
(d) The return of IDPs from Benguela to their areas of origin is continuing. MINARS has reported that approximately 12,700 displaced people currently in Dombe Grande, Damba Maria and Luongo will soon be transported to other municipalities of Huila and Benguela provinces. WFP is providing food assistance for 15 days to these returnees from their departure point. Once confirmed at their place of origin WFP will provide food assistance until the next harvest.
(e) Last week, about 5,300 demobilised soldiers were registered in Ndele and Gamba FRAs in Bie province. Landmines remain an issue of concern in Bie province, causing the death of two persons in Kuito town during the week. Security and road assessments were conducted in newly accessible areas of Catobola and Kamacupa municipalities. These assessments will permit humanitarian assistance to reach people in need and encourage the return of IDPs in those areas. From September, WFP will be providing assistance in all the municipalities of Bié province.
(f) According to the Governor of Huambo Province, Huambo FRAs will be closed from 15 October affecting some 90,000 beneficiaries. Food pre-positioning for the rainy season will be reduced from three to one month. This large movement of people towards their area of origin without pre-planning shelter, food and agricultural programmes, is a major cause of concern to WFP.
(g) Pre-positioning of food is underway to areas where access would be impossible when the rains begin, but insufficient truck availability is posing difficulties. Broken bridges, derelict roads and landmines also threaten food deliveries. However, some progress on de-mining has been reported in Huila province. Delivery of food to the FRAs in Galangue, Dongo and Km 50 (Huila province) is underway, including pre-positioning of 3 months food rations. Rub-halls will be erected in Galangue and Chipindo to create extra storage capacity.
2) Namibia
(a) UNHCR has reported that about 160 refugees, mostly Angolans have arrived in Namibia during the month of August. These refugees were provided with one-month ration at Kassava transit centre on arrival and later were moved to Osire camp. From 11 to 18 September, 18,300 Angolan refugees in Osire camp and 400 refugees in Kassava transit centre received WFP food assistance.
(b) Discussions were held between WFP and the Government's Emergency Management Unit on the government's plan for the drought in Namibia. The Government is preparing a programme for an estimated 342,000 drought-affected people including both food and non-food requirements. The Government is allocating its own funds for this programme and may approach international communities for any shortfall for the relief assistance to the drought-affected. However, the government is unlikely to declare the drought as a national disaster or emergency.
3) Democratic Republic of Congo
(a) Insecurity remained high throughout the South Kivu province, especially in the Bukavu area and along the Bunyakiri-Hombo axis, where human casualties, new waves of population displacements and lootings were reported. Frequent attacks on civil populations were also reported in the western areas of the North Kivu province, particularly in Masisi and Walikale. The security situation remained precarious in Lubumbashi (Katanga province) in the past weeks.
(b) The resumption of the rainy season will increase the difficulties to access certain regions and add to the factors constraining the implementation of programmes. In some provinces such as South Kivu, roads rehabilitation under FFW activities has been given top priority to mitigate the impact of the rainy season. To overcome these access difficulties, WFP has initiated an airlift operation in Northern Katanga. Under the third phase of this operation, WFP intends to support a seeds protection project involving 30,000 families in Kongolo, Manono, Kabalo, Mpiana, Kiambi and Mulongo, all areas only accessible by air. Together with their 15 days food rations, the beneficiaries will receive seeds and tools provided by FHI. Over 1,150 tons of food still need to be airlifted.
(c) The massive return of Congolese Banyamulenge refugees in North and South Kivu areas has caused concern among the humanitarian community. In South Kivu, over 100 families who had sought refuge in Burundi have gathered in the Ruzizi Plain, waiting for assistance. 5,000 returnees from Rwanda were reported in North Kivu. It is estimated that around 32,000 people may be forced for repatriation from Burundi to Eastern DRC.
(d) In Kinshasa area, 10,000 people affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic or living with the virus have been targeted by WFP. Following sensitisation campaigns, the number of people registering to HIV/AIDS centres has been increasing. As a result, WFP's major NGO partner in this sector reported an increase of food requirements of almost 20 percent.
(e) In South Kivu region, WFP distributed, from 26 August to 8 September, 114 tons of food to about 15,750 vulnerable people, mainly IDPs through general distributions, food for training activities and other projects. Beneficiaries also included 4,000 malnourished people admitted in nutrition programmes and their families as well as 500 women involved in a Food for Asset activities.
(f) From 26 August to 1 September, almost 200 tons of food was distributed to 39,000 beneficiaries in North Kivu province. Some 8,000 IDPs who fled the confrontations in Bunia also received WFP food assistance, in collaboration with World Vision.
4) Republic of Congo
(a) Two rebel attacks were reported on a train west of Brazzaville, causing some casualties among the passengers. Humanitarian access to the Pool region is still limited to Kinkala by road and Kindamba by air. Humanitarian agencies are discussing with the authorities to access the areas most affected by the recent conflict in the Pool region.
(b) As of 31 August, WFP had assisted almost 38,400 displaced people from the Pool region. Assistance was supplied in Brazzaville and in the regions of Pool, Boueanza, Lekoumou and Plateaux. During the month of August, WFP's food assistance has been mostly targeted towards displaced groups who settled in Bouenza region, as the area became easily accessible by road. Following a needs-assessment carried out in the Bouenza region, a second delivery of relief food has been made in favour of 2,275 households. The nutritional situation of these IDPs has been stabilised through the regular delivery of food aid.
(c) In addition, WFP is providing food to 5,350 displaced households currently in Brazzaville. Over 300 tons of food were supplied following a re-evaluation of their needs. In Lekoumou region, a food distribution for 400 households has been made in Zanaga after a UN assessment mission was carried out on 29 August. This was the first distribution to the Pool IDPs in this locality.
(d) The first two rounds of the National immunisation campaigns were held from 25 July to 3 September. Health officials were able to reach the conflict affected Pool region on this occasion, except for the towns of Kimba, Vinza and Mayama.
C) Middle East Region: (1) Palestinian Territories
1) Palestinian Territories
(a) Nablus has been under curfew for more than 84 days, resulting in a sharp increase of prices of basic food commodities and a deterioration of the humanitarian situation. The Ministry of Health reported that all its programs including the childhood and women care programs were frozen due to the lack of access. Several diseases, such as dysentery, are being discovered and are rapidly spreading. Bethlehem city remains under closure and access for inhabitants from rural areas to the city is restricted by road blockades. The Israeli Forces are not imposing curfew on Ramallah city between 7-8 am and 1-3 pm in order to enable students to reach their schools and homes. However, commercial shops and offices are not allowed to work during the release hours.
(b) WFP, in collaboration with PARC, CRS and MSA, has distributed over 1,500 tons of food to almost 21,800 vulnerable families during the first half of September. Targeted areas include both southern and northern Governorates in the West Bank as well as the Gaza strip. In addition, PARC has completed food distribution for almost 1,300 families in Gaza city and north, 2,000 families in the south and 1,100 families in the middle area of Gaza. CRS has also started its distribution in Gaza city on 5 September. WFP staff in Gaza visited Mawasi Khan Younis. WFP is the second humanitarian agency, with ICRC, that has successfully crossed the Al-Toufah checkpoint into Mawasi.
(c) Monthly food allocation plans have been prepared up to December. WFP intends to target between 350,000 and 540,000 vulnerable people on a monthly basis. However, shortfalls in pulses, sugar, WSB and HEB are expected.
D) West and Central Asia Region: (1) Afghanistan
1) Afghanistan
(a) As of 5 September, Afghanistan EMOP 10155.0, with a total requirement of 543 837 tons of commodities, had a shortfall of 23 percent or USD 64.1 million. WFP will be facing breaks in the cereal pipeline from October onwards and will thus not be able to meet its pre-positioning plan as well as its other requirements for the last quarter of 2002. Cereals will be unavailable after December 2002. Donors are encouraged to make cash contributions that will be used to purchase food in the region to cover the cereal needs of 84 500 tons and ensure delivery of food into Afghanistan before winter sets in.
(b) The security situation in the eastern area (Jalalabad) deteriorated during the previous week. On 15 September, an explosion occurred on the road between Jalalabad and Assadabad, involving six vehicles of the Coalition Forces. On 17 September, two mortar bombs hit UNICEF Regional Office in Jalalabad, injuring one duty guard and damaging the building. Movements in Jalalabad have since been restricted.
(c) From 11 to 17 September, over 517,000 beneficiaries received at least 7,000 tons of food through various WFP activities. This includes the dispatch of around 3,400 tons of food for the Food for Asset Creation (FOODAC) in Hirat. In Kandahar, WFP supported 20,000 persons involved in FOODAC projects with 1,000 tons of food. In Mazar, WFP suspended four projects due to food shortages, reducing the total number of on-going FOODAC projects to 13.
(d) Last week, approximately 60,000 IDPs received WFP food assistance at Maslakh and Shaidayee camps in Hirat. WFP supported some 19,000 returnees (former IDPs and refugees) in Kandahar with 1,900 tons of food. Some 6,900 IDPs in Panjwai camp also received 460 tons of food, while 6,700 IDP families in Mazar received 670 tons of food.
(e) In Mazar, 120,000 beneficiaries received bread through the Urban Vulnerable Bakery Project. Also 230 tons of wheat flour were distributed to vulnerable people in Mazar. The Afghan Ministry of Women Affairs Committee trained women bakers on financial management of the bakeries in Mazar.
(f) WFP in Kabul made its fourth release of food for the Civil Servant Salary Supplement programme to cover the period of May to August for some provinces, and July to August for Kabul. According to UNDP figures, dated June 2002, over 251,400 people have benefited from WFP assistance through this programme. In addition, WFP supplied over 800 tons of food for Ghor province. The number of beneficiaries in Jalalabad increased by 40 percent, reaching now almost 18,000 persons. Approximately 5,000 civil servants in Kandahar received 170 tons of food.
(g) 20,300 labourers in Kandahar received 1,020 tons of wheat, while participating in Food for Work projects for rehabilitation and cleaning of karezes, canals and ponds, road gravelling and well digging. 840 beneficiaries in Mazar received 100 tons of wheat, for some sanitation and road rehabilitation projects.
(h) Under the Food for Education programme, WFP supported 75,700 students in Mazar, providing them a daily ration of fortified bread. Over 24,600 girl students received an additional take-home ration of oil. Some 37,200 beneficiaries in Kandahar received about 240 tons of food, while in Jalalabad, 27,000 students were targeted. Through a recently completed WFP Non-Formal Education project in Jalalabad, over 4,300 beneficiaries have received health education and training from a local NGO. In Faizabad, some 3,800 students received 125 tons of food.
E) Latin America and Caribbean Region: (1) Cuba, (2) Colombia, (3) Guatemala
1) Cuba
(a) Hurricane Isidore is expected to hit Cuba on 20-21 September. WFP is in contact with the UN Resident Representative and Coordinator of the Disaster Management Team. Preventive measures are been taken for the passing of the hurricane through Cuba. Although it is still uncertain, the city of Havana could be affected.
2) Colombia
(a) Under the state of unrest declared by the Government in early August, "Rehabilitation Zones" have been established in 14 out of the country's 32 provinces. The government has granted broad authority and controls to the military forces, including travelling restrictions within the country. Governors and mayors within the Rehabilitation Zones can restrict travel, impose curfews and issue special identification cards to local residents. They can also restrict travel of foreigners within the zones and request the use of vehicles and other assets. The Rehabilitation Zones include Choco, Antioquia, and the Catatumbo regions, where WFP has sub-offices and ongoing projects under its PRRO 6139.0.
3) Guatemala
(a) On 12 September, a landslide in the San Lucas Toliman district killed 30 persons. While 7 persons are still missing, searches continue. WFP carried out a rapid assessment of the food security situation in the affected area. 460 people are living in temporary shelters near the disaster zone. WFP is providing assistance to malnourished children, using food stored in the municipal Nutritional and Recovery Centres. WFP in cooperation with other UN Agencies, particularly UNICEF, will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation. Further actions will be determined as needs arise.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report refer to metric tons.
(End WFP Emergency Report No 38).