Eastern Congo - Goma Update By World Food Programme

On Friday, WFP moved vitally-needed BP5 high-energy biscuits for
malnourished children to an important medical centre for the
displaced north of Goma.



Following an assessment at the main site of displacement north of
Goma, WFP hopes to commence general distributions over the
weekend.



WFP has sufficient stocks in Goma for its immediate response to
the newly displaced, although the longer-term food supply picture
is a major concern.






Although movement within and outside Goma is still limited due
to the fragile security situation, humanitarian agencies successfully
delivered some relief supplies on Friday. WFP (in a joint mission
with UNICEF and UNHCR) moved BP5 high-energy biscuits to a medical
centre in Kibati, 15 kilometres north of Goma. These are vital
supplies for young children immediately threatened by malnutrition.



There has been further displacement of people around Kibati in
recent days and many thousands are now living there without shelter
(it has been raining heavily), clean water and other basic
necessities. A rapid assessment is being completed on Friday so that
food supplies can be delivered as quickly as possible.



With the assessment complete and given the right security
conditions, WFP hopes to begin general distributions to the displaced
in Kibati over the weekend.



WFP has sufficient food supplies in Goma for its initial
response to the new displacement. A contingency stock is also
available in Bukavu, although all traffic across Lake Kivu has been
stopped temporarily.



In its capacity as Logistics Cluster lead, WFP has loaned five
Rubhalls (temporary warehousing) to UNHCR to be used as temporary
shelter in Kibati.



In an effort to prepare for any outflow of refugees from North
Kivu to Uganda - as has happened in the past - WFP Uganda is
pre-positioning 500 metric tons of food in the likely area of influx
- enough to feed 30,000 people for a month, or 60,000 for two weeks.
WFP's office in the area is also being reinforced with an additional
staff member and sufficient warehouse space is being secured.



WFP Rwanda has pre-positioned enough food for 2,000 people at
the Nkamira transit centre in Gisenyi, just across the border from
Goma. Included in the food are BP5 high-energy biscuits for 1,000
people. UNICEF, UNHCR and UNFPA have also pre-positioned non-food
items.



On Thursday, WFP staff and their dependents, as well as staff
and dependents from other UN agencies and international NGOs, spent a
second successive night in a secure compound in Goma.



In both Masisi and Rutshuru, WFP was able to deliver 14-day
food rations to newly displaced people through most of October,
before the clashes intensified to the point where access became
impossible. Many of the displaced have been able to carry some of
these rations with them as they fled.



WFP has recently been delivering 14-day rations because they
are easier for people to carry, in the event that they are
subsequently forced to move again - a family ration for 14 days
weighs 41.5 kg as opposed to 83 kg. As high food prices bite across
eastern DRC, these smaller rations also mean the recipients are less
of a target for theft and violence.



WFP is facing new demands on its food supplies at a time when
there is a major break in supply - only 4,000 metric tons of the
estimated 10,000 tons required for this month in the Kivus is
available for distribution.



The total projected shortfall for WFP's operations in DRC from
November 2008 through April 2009 is more than 27,000 metric tons,
valued at US$44 million. Shortfalls do not reflect any additional
caseloads since fighting resumed in late August 2008.



WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency and the UN's frontline
agency for hunger solutions. This year, WFP plans to feed 90 million people
in 80 countries.



WFP