TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. HIGHLIGHTS...............................................................................................................3 2. LOGISTICS...................................................................................................................3 2.1 Air Operations………………..……………………………...………………………..3 2.2 Road Operations……...…………………………………………………..…………..3 2.3 Field Bases………….…………………………….……………………………………4 3. PROGRAMME .............................................................................................................4 3.1 Overview……………..……………………………………..……………………………4 3.2 Pipeline ……………...…………………….…………………….………………………5 3.3 Upper Nile and Jonglei………………..………….……………………………………5 3.4 Lakes…………………………………..………………………………………………...7 3.5 Equatoria………………………………………………………………………………..7 3.6 Northern Bahr el Ghazal……………..……………………………………………….8 4. MICRO-PROJECTS .....................................................................................................9 5. OTHER ........................................................................................................................10 6. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS..................................................................11 2 WFP Southern Sector OLS Monthly Report – May 2001 1. HIGHLIGHTS Following four months of limited distributions due to a weak pipeline, WFP distributed 8,550 MT of food aid in May, all the more critical as the “Hunger Gap” period began in South Sudan. The OLS Emergency Response team advised agencies to maintain strategic stocks in the field following the escalation of fighting around Wau and Raja GOS towns. 2. LOGISTICS 2.1 Air Operations During May, WFP delivered 5,474 MT of food aid via aircraft flying out of Lokichoggio. A fleet of five C-130s flew an average of three rotations per day, enabling WFP to dispatch between 190 and 250 MT daily. Unfortunately, the planes were plagued with numerous technical problems, and at times, two of the five planes were grounded simultaneously to undergo repairs. Overall, 30 rotations were lost in the month. Some planned activities had to be postponed, while other beneficiaries were forced to wait for long hours or even days for their food to be delivered. WFP also delivered 1,035 MT of CSB to Southern Sector areas via aircraft flying out of El Obeid. Unfortunately, CSB was the only commodity available from El Obeid. However, the pipeline is expected to improve in June as some cereals have started arriving in Port Sudan. On 29 May, the Government of Sudan gave flight clearance for all locations requested for June with the exception of Ganyiel, Leer, Nhialdiu, Duar, Mankien, Toy, Gumriak, Akop, Yei, Lokutok, Thiet, Mapel, Tonj, Baw and Beneshowa, and south of the line Kapoeta, Torit, Juba and Yei. There were no changes from the clearances given for May. 2.2 Road Operations Five convoys departed for South Sudan with 2,041 MT of food. Some 58% of this tonnage was carried by three convoys from Koboko through the western corridor. Although the use of road transport is less expensive than by air, efforts to maximise use of convoys were hampered by worsening road conditions caused by heavy rains in Western Equatoria and Gogrial County. 3 WFP DELIVERIES BY MODE OF TRANPSORT (MT) MAY 2001 2041 290 6218 Airdrop Airlift Road One of the largest trucking companies operating from Lokichoggio has pulled out of that location and relocated to Koboko. The company had a capacity of 96MT, and handled about 40% of WFP road deliveries in the eastern corridor. No other companies have moved in to fill the void thus created, so the remaining companies must be used in two rotations, thereby doubling the time it takes to complete road deliveries of food in the area. 2.3 Field Bases An anti-personnel mine was found by de-miners who are inspecting the Rumbek base compound and its surrounding areas. The de-mining work was still in progress at the time of this report. Nevertheless, construction of the base is continuing smoothly. 3. PROGRAMME 3.1 Overview A total of 8,550 MT of food was delivered for just over 1.3 million beneficiaries throughout the S. Sector as a whole in the month of May. This amounts to 80% of needs as estimated by the ANA. After having limited deliveries from January through April to only 50% because of weak commodity pipelines, WFP was able to distribute this large quantity in May thanks to the rapid dispatch from Mombasa to Lokichoggio and Koboko of the 23,000 MT of cereals that arrived in late April, coupled with the timely prepositioning of additional C-130 aircraft in Lokichoggio. The slight under-delivery is attributed to the technical problems with the C-130 aircraft mentioned above, 4 deteriorating road conditions in the Western corridor due to heavy rains, and reduced trucking capacity in both corridors. 2001 - ACTUAL DELIVERIES VS PLANNED AS PER ANA 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 MT 4,000 2,000 0 Jan Mar May July Sep Nov MT ACTUAL MONTH MT PLANNED SPLA attacks on strategic outposts around Wau town and along the road towards Raga town are expected to result in massive displacement of people, especially if any big towns are hit. Recent attacks took place in the outposts of Ngongba, Yobula and Deim Zubeir. Over 12,000 persons have already been displaced from Wau Town and Aluk into the Bararud, Acumcum and Mapel areas. The OLS Emergency Response team has concluded that agencies should keep strategic stocks in the field, especially near airstrips where people might flee, as experience has shown that, in order to seek assistance, IDPs will head for airstrips used by humanitarian agencies. WFP is already building up food stocks near two airstrips, and WFP Koboko is reorganizing resources in preparation for possible convoys from there. 3.2. Pipeline In May, Lokichoggio continued to deliver food to southern sector locations normally serviced from the north, and this will continue into July, when the Northern Sector pipeline is expected to improve. Fortunately, the cereals and pulses pipelines for South Sudan are strong for the remainder of the year. However, the vegetable oil pipeline is expected to rupture in June, with no new shipments anticipated until August at the earliest. Current supplies of CSB, including over 300 MT which will be delivered from the northern sector, plus a shipment of some 580 MT expected in in the month, will only cover expected needs through June. June is the month of the year with the highest estimated food aid needs, as that month is the peak of the Hunger Gap period. Additional CSB is expected no earlier than August. 5 WFP Southern Sector stocks and expected deliveries as at 30th May 2001 TOTAL AVAILABLE OR EXPECTED Cereals Pulses Oil Salt CSB Biscuits TOTAL STOCKS at 31 May 2001 17,920 2,000 497 44 738 12 21,211 EXPECTED SHIPMENTS/PURCHASES 15,000 0 0 0 907 0 15,907 EXPECTED - VESSEL TBI 0 457 1,474 0 0 0 1,931 TOTAL 32,920 2,457 1,971 44 1,645 12 39,050 3.3 Upper Nile and Jonglei Security Continuous air bombardments and ground attacks in Padit (Ruweng County) caused major unrest among the local population and were a security threat for humanitarian agencies. As a result, WFP and MedAir teams were relocated to Lokichoggio. Nevertheless, WFP managed to deliver in Padit part of the Ruweng County May food allocation for beneficiaries of Gumriak,Tagiel, and Biem. Seven aid workers, including two from WFP, had to be relocated to Lokichoggio due to fighting in in Udier, Latjor State. Fortunately, the WFP team had already completed the distribution a few hours before the fighting borke out.. The WFP team waiting for food deliveries in Lankien, Bieh State, had to suspend operations and relocate following reports of military movements due to tribal cattle raiding in the area. OLS security has reviewed the situation and cleared the location for operations. WFP will return in early June. Six humanitarian workers, including one from WFP, were relocated from Ganyiel (Pulmok) in Leech State to Lokichoggio following reports of fighting near Nyal town. All intended interventions for both Nyal and Pulmok have been affected and the security situation in the area remains tense. Kiechkuon (Latjor), Yuai (Bieh) and Paboung (Leech) remain insecure, thereby preventing WFP from carrying out planned interventions in those areas. Food Distribution In the Upper Nile and Jonglei regions, WFP distributed 3,263 MT of food aid, or 82% of the planned distributions, to just under 269,000 targeted beneficiaries in May. All planned interventions were completed in Bor County and Phou State, as WFP was able to access most locations there. Inaccessibility due to insecurity prevented distributions at a few locations in Leech, Latjor and Bieh States. In addition, the C-130 aircraft conducted fewer rotations per day due to technical problems, which forced staff to remain on the ground for more days than planned The WFP team in Kuernyang, Phou State, reported that about 700 displaced persons and 300 returnees were in the area. The IDPs reportedly came from Leech State and Ruweng County due to fighting in the oil field areas. 6 The populations that had migrated from their homes in Bieh State, whether to follow a traditional prophet or as part of the annual seasonal migration in search of water and grazing for cattle, are returning back to their home areas. Estimates are that as much as 80% of the population have returned. A WFP assessment team confirmed that the population was attacked by the Murles while en route. Clan fighting was also reported south of the Sobat River. As a result, an estimated 6,000 IDPs moved from the area through Lankien. To support returnees, WFP intervention teams were in most parts of Bieh State distributing food aid and monitoring population movements in Pieri, Motot, Pading, Pultruk, Tangyang, Pajut and Akob. Relief committee selection, training and follow-ups continued with all WFP teams in most parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei region. Assessments WFP conducted an assessment of the food security situation in Phou State during a food aid distribution that took place there from 09 – 24 May. Two sites, Toch and Old Fangak, were visited, but key informant interviews enabled the collection of information about the general situation in the whole state.