FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report 02/97

ZAIRE

CURRENT SITUATION

Precipitation was abundant over the entire country in January, except in the extreme north. The second maize crop is being planted in the centre and the south. The recently planted rice is growing satisfactorily 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 200 000 to 250 000. Following the fighting, 11 000 refugees have arrived in Punia, southwest of Lubutu, and a further 11 000 are heading from Punia towards Yumbi. In early February, 40 000 refugees from Shabunda have left the camp and were heading in the direction of Kalima and Kindu, while 40 000 people from the Amisi camp were heading towards the Tingi Tingi area. 130 000 refugees are already in the Tingi Tingi camp, where severe malnutrition rates are reported. Food aid distributions are underway but, as a result of poor infrastructures, food aid is difficult to bring to the area and only limited quantities can be supplied.

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 Kasaï 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.