Introduction

Facts, figures and the lastest updates from WFP's high profile emergencies.

Afghanistan

•WFP emergency food distribution is ongoing to battle affected families in Arghandab district of Kandahar province. Thus far 4,200 battle affected families received nearly 500 mt food since June. The said families were displaced due to military operation conducted against AGEs in the district in June 2008.

Chad

The designated officer has appointed WFP HOSO in Iriba as the Area Security Coordinator in Iriba. The ASC will be responsible for the compilation and dissemination of all security related information at field level.

•The planning meeting for the August General Food Distribution (GFD) for Sudanese refugees will be held today 28 July in Abeche. The meeting will review the July GFD and, at the same time, will plan the August GFD.

•Between March and July 2008, WFP received over 19,865 mt of food commodities trough the Lybia corridor. Currently, 3,200 mt of foods are being dispatched from Faya to northern camps to cover needs up to December.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

•Following assessments carried out on the Rutshuru-Nyamilima axis in North Kivu, there are high rates of IDPs returning to their areas of origin. In support of ICRC’s request, WFP will provide food to returnees for seeds protection in order to enhance community recovery.

•The South Kivu province revealed, after an assessment mission carried out in the Cirunga and Kagabi localities in Kabare territory, that at least 80 percent of IDPs fled their homes to seek refuge in neighbouring localities and Bukavu following insecurity created by the national army soldiers based in the Cirunga Centre. WFP will assist the IDPs once they are registered by ICRC and INGO IRC/RRM.

•A near-total pipeline break in August will force further cuts in rations and prioritising of beneficiaries. The situation is expected to improve marginally in September.

•WFP, with the participation of a handful of partners, including UNICEF, FAO, UNHCR, Caritas, NRC, IRC, Première Urgence, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières, launched on 21 July a 7-day survey on the North Kivu IDP’s livelihood. The study aims at understanding their survival mechanisms, the level of their integration, the impact of the conflict on the socio-economic situation, the relevance of the current humanitarian actions.

Ethiopia

•The preliminary results of the multi-stakeholder Belg/Gu assessment missions were shared on 24th July. They confirm a significant increase in drought-related needs that may almost double the relief caseload. Somali, Amhara, Tigray and Afar regions report significant increases in the number of people in need of emergency food assistance for the period July - December 2008; results from Southern Nations and Nationalities People’s Region (SNNPR) and Oromiya regions are still to be presented. Preliminary results from the Somali region indicate a critical situation requiring immediate response to prevent further deterioration of an already serious food security crisis.

•A technical committee (Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency, Food Security Coordination Bureau, WFP and donors), is working on a plan to prioritize food allocations for August given the continued low availability of food in the country. In addition to the current priorities of 4.6 million relief and 2.8 Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) beneficiaries, WFP has requested that newly identified needs, particularly in the Somali Region, be included for August.

•Challenges remain in piloting supplementary plumpy to bolster blended food supplies in-country. Delays occurred to the clearance process by the Ministry of Health (MoH) because the French manufacturer sent a sample too small to be tested. Also the procurement lead-time is eight weeks. An IRA proposal is underway to initiate procurement pending clearance by MoH and confirmation of expected cash contributions.

Iraq

• WFP has now reached over 500,000 vulnerable IDPs inside Iraq. Second-round distribution (covering June and July) has started. The first-round distribution covered the period March to May.

Syria

•An agreement with SARC has been reached on the distribution sites for Damascus: distribution started on 24 June in Sayda Zenab and at the new site in Duma, for a total of 145,242 beneficiaries. Distribution in Sayda Zenab lasted two weeks; at the Duma site it is ongoing and will last a total of four weeks.

Kenya

•About 74 mt of maize are being tested after being seized by the Public Health Officer in Nakuru, south Rift Valley, due to altered colour. The maize was part of a 5,000 mt in-kind donation from the Government of Kenya, released by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores in Kitale. NCPB replaced the seized maize from other stores.

•Food aid needs in the drought-prone arid and semi-arid (ASAL) areas may increase, after findings in the ongoing food security assessments, whereby the operational requirements of the emergency operation may go beyond the planned budget

Myanmar

•Thirteen weeks after Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar WFP has dispatched 24,761 mt and distributed 22,487 mt of food to approximately 684,000 beneficiaries in the Delta. 49,490 beneficiaries in the Yangon Division received cash transfers, prior to this programme’s suspension.

•The revised EMOP budget is under final review.

•Mandatory importation of rice continues to place significant pressure on WFP’s operational budget and pipeline. A pipeline break is expected in August.

•As Cluster Lead for Logistics and Emergency Telecommunications, WFP continues to coordinate the provision of common services for the UN, bilateral aid agencies and NGOs. A total of 193 air cargo shipments into Yangon have now been organised. While the air-bridge from Bangkok will continue until 10 August, it has reached full capacity and alternative sea transport is being arranged for pending cargo. 96 containers have now been loaded and the first shipment is expected to arrive on 5 August. Five helicopters continue to carry food and relief items to the most hard to reach areas.

•WFP has employed an additional 178 National staff since the cyclone. 121 WFP staff are now working in the Delta.

oPt

•WFP is urgently appealing for funds to cover the 338,000 beneficiaries in the West Bank and Gaza that are currently being assisted under the US pipeline. US funds will run dry at the end of December.

Somalia

•The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of US$2.71 million and Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) of US$500,000 were approved this week for the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) supporting of life-saving humanitarian operations in Somalia. With the recent funds, UNHAS operational costs through November 2008 is fully covered. About US$4.6 million is still required to fund the operation through till July 2009.

Sri Lanka

•Due to intensified military operations and air strikes, approximately 30,000 people have been displaced in LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu over the past two months. WFP has been providing rations to these people in addition to the current caseload. NGOs have provided complementary foods and other UN agencies such as UNICEF and UNHCR have distributed NFIs.

•A donor briefing on CHAP Mid-Year Review was held on 21 July, including the presentation on the impact of food price hike and revised WFP food requirement (increased by 43 percent) as well as new displacement in LTTE-controlled northern provinces.

•A heightened security situation prevails in Colombo due to the forthcoming SAARC summit from 27 July – 3 August.

Sudan

•Despite the current security phase 4 (relocation) in Darfur, food distributions are ongoing with minimal incident, with food dispatches and distributions completed for most locations. In addition to GFD and Supplementary Feeding programmes, food distributions are also ongoing for Food for Education, Food for Seeds Protection and Food for Work programmes. Currently, 950 WFP staff are on the ground in Darfur ensuring the continuation of these programmes.