WFP DRC Bi-Weekly Situation Report 1-15 April 1. HIGHLIGHTS UNHCR High Commissioner, Mr. Antonio Gutterrez visits DRC: UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees was in Kinshasa and Equateur to discuss the situation of CAR refugees in DRC. He was accompanied by WFP CD in his capacity as acting Humanitarian coordinator. During a UNCT session chaired by the WFP CD, the High Commissioner alerted all on the need to recognize the political sensitivity and implications of the refugee populations in DRC and on the continuing volatile situation in the country. His visit included a field WFP DRC CD accompanies UNHCR High Commissioner to visit refugees from the Central African Republic. Copy right: Junior Kannah trip, where he was accompanied by the Minister of Interior and Social Affairs, to the refugee camps near Zongo, and a meeting with DRC Prime Minister. WFP Assistant Executive Director, Manoj Juneja visits Goma: During his 12 April visit, the AED met with WFP staff, partners and IDPs. Key operational issues such as security constraints, beneficiary registration, cash and vouchers implementation, and resilience were on the agenda for discussion as well. USAID Chief for Economic Growth Visits South Kivu: The Chief visited WFP activities in South Kivu and interacted with IDPs during a food distribution. At the same time, USAID Deputy Administrator for Africa also visited South Kivu and addressed humanitarian actors, noting that there will be no cut in the project budgets from the previous year. A year after the start of the Purchase for Progress (P4P) pilot in DRC s Equateur province, thousands of participating farmers say they have experienced real change in the way they work and also in their daily lives on Facebook: PAM RDC Page 1
2. WFP OPERATIONS IN DRC EMOP 200480 (Sep 2012 Jun 2013): This operation provides newly displaced people with immediate rations of High Energy Biscuits (HEBs), followed by monthly unconditional cash voucher and food transfers until regular assessments show that their food security situation has stabilized. EMOP 200480 is planning to reach a total of 1.2 million beneficiaries by June 2013. Immediate Response Emergency Operation(IR-EMOP) 200547 (March 2013 -May 2013) Since December 2012, the Equateur Province in DRC has witnessed an influx of refugees from the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR). In response, WFP has launched an IR-EMOP, in which it is targeting 25,000 beneficiaries. Due to the reported high percentage of women and children, and of malnutrition among the 25,000 refugees, in addition to GFD, WFP plans to provide targeted supplementary feeding (TSF) to address the special needs of an estimated 3,500 malnourished children under 5 and of 1,000 malnourished pregnant and lactating women. This operation urgently requires a total of US$ 1,408,389. PRRO 200167 (Jan 2011 extended until 30th June 2013): This operation covers the same geographic areas as the EMOP, as well as other regions of the country with critical food and nutrition security indicators. The PRRO is targeting over 3.6 million people through to June 2013. Target Populations/Beneficiaries Currently, WFP activities target old and new caseloads of IDPs, returnees, malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women, primary school children in food insecure areas, demobilized child soldiers, survivors of SGBV and people living with HIV and TB under treatment. CAR refuges are receiving WFP food assistance under the IR-EMOP 200547 which has been approved and through PRRO 200167. 3. OPERATIONAL ISSUES/CONSTRAINTS In Katanga, an increase in the price of corn flour in the local market is registered between 100% and 200%, leading many suppliers to default on their contracts and commitments to WFP. Due to a landslide, WFP food deliveries to IDPs, schools, FFT, HIV and nutrition centres in the Uvira and Fizi territories of South Kivu have been temporarily been put on hold. The logistics cluster in Bukavu is currently discussing with transporters alternative routes through Rwanda and Burundi. In North Kivu, food distributions to IDPs in Masisi town and along the road Masisi-Walikale have temporarily been put on hold due to poor road conditions. Heavy rains have made the unpaved roads impassable to WFP trucks. Nominal retail price of cassava flour in Goma (FC/Kg) 4. PROGRAMMING ISSUES 4.1 Assessments In North Kivu, WFP in partnership with the provincial ministry of Agriculture is currently conducting an emergency food security assessment (EFSA). on Facebook: PAM RDC Page 2
Data collection has been completed. A VAM mission is currently ongoing in Kindu (The Maniema province) to undertake a response analysis workshop with stakeholders following an EFSA (Emergency Food Security Assessment). The meeting will be chaired by the Governor and many stakeholders will be involved in the workshop. The joint FAO/WFP/MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE monthly price bulletin showed that in March 2013 there is a significant price increase for staple foods such as cassava and maize flour. In March 2013, the nominal price of cassava flour rose by 110% in Kisangani, 74% in Mbuji Mai and 66% in Goma and Bunia compared to the averages last year. Insecurity, low agriculture production and poor infrastructure have also contributed to price increases. Between 3 and 6 April, WFP participated jointly with its NGO partner World Vision in a registration exercise in Kabamba and Nyabibwe areas, South Kivu territory. More than 6,000 IDP households have been identified and registered in the area. 4.2 Food Distributions: March 2013 Province Status March Actual Beneficiaries As per FRN North Kivu EMOP (IDP s) March MT food dispatched As per FRN 252520 1284.887 North Kivu PRRO (Returnees 114753 796.163 & IDP s) North Kivu PRRO 670 4.833 (Nutrition, HIV, VULN, SFP) South Kivu EMOP 131109 1372 South Kivu PRRO 142675 363 Maniema EMOP 0 0 Maniema PRRO 6987 98 Equateur IR EMOP 10693 71.051 Equateur PRRO 209091 772.792 Katanga PRRO 155124 566.434 Katanga EMOP 120998 960.108 Province Orientale EMOP 83612 594.907 5. PIPELINE AND FOOD SUPPLY WFP DRC seeks a total of US$ 28.9 million for both the PRRO 200167 (US$ 26.8 million, including US$ 17.1 million for C&V) and EMOP 200480 (US$ 2.1 million) to secure the food pipeline over the next six months (January June 13). 6. LOGISTICS In North Kivu, WFP is currently loading food for general food distributions, supplementary feeding and school feeding programmes. on Facebook: PAM RDC Page 3
Logistics Cluster: A Road Coordination Meeting in Bukavu took place on 08 April with the MONUSCO s stabilization unit. Some operational information will be shared between MONUSCO rehabilitation projects and partners of the logistics cluster. In Lubumbashi, a meeting with logistics cluster was held on 4 April 2013 to analyze the logistical constraints faced on the Mitwaba, Pweto, Dubie, Manono and Kilwa axes. Accessibility mapping has been conducted and a meeting is planned with the provincial office for road use during emergency operations. The logistics cluster in Bukavu is currently discussing with transporters alternative solutions to deliver food to Uvira via Rwanda and Burundi. The direct road from Bukavu to Uvira has been blocked by landslides: 7. COORDINATION/EXTERNAL RELATIONS In South Kivu, 3 German journalists attended a WFP food distribution to IDPs. They interviewed WFP and interacted with IDP beneficiaries. Further, WFP participated in an interagency contingency planning workshop organized by OCHA in partnership with OXFAM NOVIB and the provincial government. Copyright: WFP/ Fidele Nzabandora Inter-Agency Coordination in delivering humanitarian assistance in DRC! on Facebook: PAM RDC Page 4
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