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Facts, figures and the lastest updates from WFP's high profile emergencies.

• WFP completed March general food distributions for the Sudanese refugees in all 12 refugee camps. Over the past week, a total of 1,272 new refugees from Sudan have been transferred to the Kounoungou refugee camp in the Guereda area. Upon their arrival at the camp, WFP provided the refugees with a 30-day food ration of 1,644 kcal/person/day.

• UNHCR is planning to transfer some 20,000 refugees from the Chad/Sudan border areas to the Guereda refugee camps between March and April. WFP is also making arrangements to provide food assistance to the refugees upon their arrival at the camp.

• WFP still requires some US$48 million to ensure food assistance to the Sudanese refugees and Chadian IDPs until December 2008.

• On 18 March, Kenyan lawmakers unanimously approved a power-sharing deal aimed at ending the post-election violence. Under the deal, Hon. Raila Odinga, the leader of ODM, is to take the position of prime minister. Cabinet ministers’ posts will be shared equally between the two sides.

• An outbreak of whooping cough has been reported in Dadaab camps. The German federal agency for technical relief, GTZ, is responding with existing doses of prophylaxis but more doses may be needed.

• UNHCR has reported that about 20,000 civilians are fleeing Mogadishu every month due to the continued violence. About 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in very difficult conditions in a small corridor between Mogadishu and Afgoye. WFP is targeting over 500,000 IDPs with food aid this year.

• Findings from a recent International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assessment in central Somalia indicated life threatening shortages of food and water. Concerned areas are mostly under the coverage of CARE International. Large numbers of displaced families are surviving on less than one meal a day, according to assessment results.

• FEWSNET reported that below-normal (April to June) GU rains (long rains) this year would exacerbate water and pasture shortages, which may lead to a second consecutive below-normal cereal harvest in August. As a result, more pastoral and agro-pastoral households are likely to face high levels of food insecurity in central and southern parts of Somalia, where households are already in precarious food situations due to recent multiple shocks including conflict, internal displacement, hyper-inflation and drought.

• The cost of fuel has risen sharply in Somalia particularly in the central and southern parts. According to WFP partner SAACID, the price of a barrel of fuel rose to US$260 in Mogadishu, resulting in significant increases in transport, food prices and water supply costs. Escalating fuel costs have exacerbated the effect of the dysfunctional Bakara market in Mogadishu.

• Somali pirates have released a Russian registered/Danish owned ship that was captured off the Horn of Africa on 5 February, reportedly after a ransom payment of US$700,000.

• During the week the CD visited Galle, Moneragala and Ampara, monitoring the projects and meeting with the government counterparts and UN/NGO area representatives

• WFP is conducting rapid food security assessments in spot locations across the Darfurs, following local authorities’ claims of poor harvest and increased food insecurity in the rural areas. In West Darfur, assessments have been completed and preliminary results being analyzed while in the north, assessments have been put on hold mainly around Kutum due to insecurity and last week's hijacking of a WFP land-cruiser.

• The early arrival of some commodities in Port Sudan has alleviated projected ration cuts that were enforced in Darfur since January due to pipeline breaks. Pulses and Sugar will remain at half rations in April but likely to be fully restored in May.

• WFP received a generous contribution of EURO 3 million from ECHO at a critical time when the demand for helicopter use in Darfur has been increasing with heightened tension and restricted road access.