WFP Emergency Report No. 17 - Africa

Rome (World Food Programme, April 28, 1998) - PART I HIGHLIGHTS (Details below in Part II)

A. SUDAN

1. Update - incorporates information as of 28 April a) Critical food security situation continues in the Bahr el-Ghazal region; an estimated 350,000 people in Bahr el-Ghazal are urgently in need of food assistance. b) Clearance granted by the Government of Sudan for an additional Hercules C130 to operate from the Lokichoggio air base in Kenya, doubling WFP airdropping capacity. c) WFP currently seeking clearance from the Government of Sudan for an additional two C130 aircraft to operate from Lokichoggio, an additional Buffalo aircraft (ex-Lokichoggio) and one C130 aircraft to operate from El Obeid. d) Fleet of all-wheel drive trucks to be set up by WFP, operating out of Lokichoggio and Koboko, Uganda, to intensify road deliveries to Bahr el- Ghazal and Eastern and Western Equatoria. Advancing rainy season will make road transport difficult. e) WFP food stocks for southern Sudan available in Lokichoggio and Mombasa. f) Serious food shortages also reported in Upper Nile and Equatoria; no WFP/OLS assessment yet possible in affected areas of Upper Nile due to fighting.

PART II - DETAILS

A. SUDAN

1. UPDATE - incorporates information as of 28 April

1.1 Food insecurity in the Bahr el-Ghazal region has reached critical levels. An estimated 350,000 people in Bahr el-Ghazal are in need of immediate food assistance if a major humanitarian disaster is to be averted. The number of malnourished children registered by medical non- governmental organizations is rising on a daily basis.

1.2 In October 1997, WFP with FAO confirmed serious food shortages in southern Sudan. Since then, WFP/Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) have continued to appeal for both better access and further donor support. Escalation of conflict in the area has led to greater numbers of displaced persons, cut off from already limited sources of food.

1.3 Access to the drought and war-affected areas has been the major operational constraint, with restricted clearance by the Government of Sudan limiting air operations from Lokichoggio in Kenya to southern Sudan to one Hercules C130 (air drop capacity of 1,100 tons per month) and one Buffalo aircraft (airlift capacity 400 tons per month). Clearance was recently granted by the Government of Sudan, announced by WFP/OLS on 25 April, for an additional Hercules C130 to operate from the Lokichoggio air base, increasing WFP airdropping capacity. Flights began on 28 April.

1.4 More planes are essential to further expand the delivery capacity of WFP into southern Sudan. WFP is currently seeking clearance from the Government of Sudan for an additional two C130 aircraft to operate from Lokichoggio, and an additional Buffalo aircraft, also for Lokichoggio operations, along with one C130 aircraft to operate from El Obeid.

1.5 To intensify road deliveries to Eastern and Western Equatoria as well as to Bahr el-Ghazal (at targeted monthly rate of 450 mt by road ex-Lokichoggio plus 450 mt by road ex-Koboko in Uganda), WFP intents to set up a fleet of all-wheel drive trucks to operate from Lokichoggio and Koboko. Road access will become progressively more difficult as the rainy season of April to July advances.

1.6 WFP has food stocks for the operation in Lokichoggio and Mombasa in Kenya, 500 tons of cereals in Lokichoggio and 3,500 tons en route from Mombasa which are due to arrive in Lokichoggio by mid-May.

1.7 In addition to the situation in Bahr el-Ghazal, critical food shortages are reported in Upper Nile and Equatoria, where conflict has impeded access of the population to food. WFP/OLS has still not been able to assess the situation in the affected areas of Upper Nile, due to fighting.

1.8 During the month of April, to 20 April, WFP delivered and distributed a total of 1,335 tons of food aid to 333,000 beneficiaries in the Southern Sector of Operation Lifeline Sudan (808 tons distributed to 240,000 beneficiaries in Bahr el-Ghazal). This represents 22 percent of the projected monthly requirement for the region.

1.9 An expanded WFP emergency operation, to start in May, is under final clearance. A revised appeal for funds will be issued shortly.

Note: all tonnage figures above refer to metric tons

(End WFP Emergency Report No. 17 of 1998 - April 24, 1998)