text: tative during phase two is Michael Priestley, who is also UNDP Resident Coordinator and Resident Represen- tative in Sudan. OLS established a precedent by opening "corridors of tranquillity' so that relief convoys could pass through contested territory. It demonstrated that impartial humanitarian pro- grammes can be a catalyst for peace, and it is to be hoped that this lesson can be replicated in other nations similarly affected by war. Elsewhere, there was a strong focus on emergency preparedness and pre- vention. Greater attention was di- rected to means of strengthening na- tional early warning systems, of build- ing local capacities to co-ordinate emergency responses, and of develop- ing self-sufficiency at household and community levels. During the year, UNICEF supported preparedness initiatives in Angola, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Sudan and Zimbabwe and strength- ened its collaboration with other United Nations agencies. It is a mem- ber of the Steering Committee of the UN International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. UNICEF collab- oration with FAO, UNDRO, UNHCR, WFT and WHO is particularly close and includes joint programming in nutri- tional monitoring and surveillance, joint needs assessments in Lebanon, Mauritania, Senegal and Sudan, active participation in inter-agency task forces, and consultation meetings on policy and programme formulation for displaced persons. Despite peace initiatives and en- couraging cereal harvest prospects, the African continent faces acute 36Fragile peace — a remarkable change Modest UNICEF inputs can sometimes bring dramatic changes to areas torn by poverty or conflict, and the He district of Zambesia Province, Mozambique, was one of those places where UNICEF made a differ- ence in 1989. UNICEF field officer lain Levine filed the following report after a visit to the district capital In September: "As our aircraft approached the town the pilot made a stomach- churning drop into his landing approach. 'I don't want to risk being
analysis: The text appears to be discussing humanitarian efforts and aid provided by UNICEF in various countries, with a focus on emergency preparedness, response, and relief. It also touches on the theme of peace initiatives and the role of humanitarian programs in promoting peace.