Precipitation was abundant over the north in October, and over the whole country (except in the extreme south-east) in November. Harvesting of the main maize crop is complete in northern areas and underway in central areas. Rice is being planted in the south.
However, the security conditions in the region of Lubutu and Kisangani of eastern Zaire, continue to deteriorate. Advances by the insurgents leading Rwandan refugees who have settled in the region and local Zairians to flee, and there are reports of growing tension between these refugees and the local population. The number of refugees is estimated by UNHCR at 330 000 persons, while internally displaced are estimated at 170 000 to 250 000. Food aid distributions are underway. On 4 December, representatives from WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, DHA, MSF, ICRC and IFRC, travelled by road to Uvira to evaluate humanitarian needs in the region. Life appeared to be returning to normal, with markets and shops functioning. There are also an estimated 50 000 assisted and 119 000 unassisted Angolan refugees in southern Zaire. Most of the unassisted population is expected to spontaneously return to Angola, following the improvement of the situation. Around 94 000 Sudanese and 12 000 Ugandan refugees also remain in Zaire. In the Kasa� region, approximately 600 000 displaced people, who arrived in 1992, fleeing ethnic violence in the Shaba region are present. Many of them are self sufficient, except in Mwene-Ditu, where their nutritional situation is reported to be critical.