SECOND ANNUAL MEKONG FLOOD FORUM 2003 Inter-Continental Hotel, Phnom Penh 28-29 October 2003

1. The WFP response to emergencies in the lower Mekong basin in 2002 SECOND ANNUAL MEKONG FLOOD FORUM 2003 Inter-Continental Hotel, Phnom Penh 28-29 October 2003

2. Outline of the presentation • WFP interventions • WFPs in the lower Mekong Basin • The views of disaster victims • WFP-MRC data exchange • Criteria for interventions • WFP contingency planning • Priority areas of intervention • Estimated food needs • Assessment findings • Poverty and vulnerability mapping • WFP new target areas: 2004-2006 • Conclusion

3. WFP food–aid interventions • Food aid interventions provide a means to • respond to both the short and long-term needs of relief victims. • In the short-term: • meeting immediate and chronic food shortages and preventing loss of life and/or deterioration in nutritional status; • preventing the loss of basic assets; • providing an opportunity for victims to devote time and energy to rebuilding lost assets - both human and physical; In the longer-term, under WFP’sEnabling Developmentpolicy:  building human capacity through education and training; •  addressing nutritional needs of young children, expectant and nursing mothers; • enabling poor families to gain and preserve assets; • supporting disaster mitigation in areas prone to natural disasters.

4. WFP in the lower Mekong basin Rivers & water bodies in the Mekong Basin WFP Cambodia: in 2002, provided 40,000 tons of food (=US$21.4 million) to assist 1.6 million Cambodians. WFP Lao PDR: through 2 consecutive Emergency Operations, provided 8,536 tons of glutinous rice to 250,000 of the most flood-affected farming households (2000~2003). WFP Regional Bureau for Asia (Bangkok): provides every possible assistance to WFP field operations. Source: Mekong River Commission

5. WFP observations on the LMB • KEY STRENGTHS •  A lot is known about where particular kinds of disasters are likely to occur. •  The typical effects of disasters are fairly predictable. • The primary coordination responsibility for Disaster Management lies with the National Committee: the NCDM in Cambodia; the NDMC in Lao PDR. KEY WEAKNESSESS Water-related disasters tend to hit the same communities for consecutive disaster years, laying a poverty trap for those the most vulnerable.  Rural household livelihood systems are predominantly subsistence-based in nature and dependent upon rain-fed paddy rice production. Domestic markets as well as trade between surplus and deficit areas are significantly underdeveloped, leaving the deficit areas with limited food supplies.

6. Experience in the 2002 disasters... A farmer, Battambang district, Battambang province, Cambodia “I gave up cultivating rice near the Tonle Sap for three years because I would grow rice and still owe money to my neighbors.” (The Cambodian Daily, 2nd October 2002) Mrs. San Phirum, Taing Roniem village, Phnom Penh, Cambodia “Last year (in 2001), I lost more than half the rice yield to the flood. So we did not have enough to eat. And after the floods, we suffer from a new enemy: The drought.” (The Cambodian Daily, 30th July 2002)

7. WFP’s Actions-the 2002 disasters

8. MRC DATA WORK-WFP Cambodia WFP Contingency Planning Disaster Vulnerability Map MRC Inundation Map WFP Needs Assessment Priority Area Map Poverty & Vulnerability Map WFP Target Areas for 2004~2006

9. Food assistance was effective in 2002 Bachieng District, Champassak Province, Lao PDR “This ethnic village of 41 households has traditionally been rice deficit. 32 households were assisted to expand their paddy land through WFP Emergency Operation. The Operation agreed to provide rice rations equivalent to the creation of 0.25ha/household. In fact more paddy was cleared than planned and most households’ food security improved significantly. It is reported that short-term labour migration has reduced.” (Evaluation Report EMOP 6311) A student, Koas Krolor district, Battambang Province, Cambodia “Before, we followed the ox-cart tracks to school filled with rainwater and without any raincoat. Our uniform were soaked and dirtied. Now we are excited to have a new road that connects with our school. We arrive on time with clean clothes, even though it rains.” (Handicap International Report on WFP Supported FFW Disaster Mitigation Project)

10. Food assistance was effective in 2002 Mr. Soun Ser, Battambang Province, Cambodia “My family and I are very happy because we participated in our community work and received a good amount of food to assure my family’s food security for 4-6 months. I have lent 2 sacks of rice to my neighbours because they are facing a problem of food shortage.” (Oxfam Report on WFP Supported FFW Disaster Mitigation)

11. Conclusions • The impact of disasters on people • The role of food aid as an effective response to disaster needs • Importance of timely and appropriate response • The need for data exchange and analysis • The benefits of collaboration with MRC • The role of Government as a coordinating body

12. THANK YOU For any clarifications/further information, please feel free to contact: Yukinori Hibi, Programme Officer, WFP Cambodia E-mail: yukinori.hibi@wfp.org Tel: (855)23 212 137/138