This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 002935
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
USAID FOR AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP LANDIS
STATE FOR PRM/BROTHERS-JACKSON, IO/EDA KOTOK
LUANDA FOR AMBASSADOR DELL
KINSHASHA FOR AMBASSADOR HOOKS
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS
GENEVA FOR USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR LERNER
NSC FOR JMELINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREF AO AF CD CG SU WFP UNHCR
SUBJECT: UNHCR/WFP JOINT DONOR BRIEFING
REF: 02 Rome 3566
1. Summary. UNHCR and WFP held a joint donor briefing in
Rome on July 22, 2004. UN staff discussed troubling
funding problems that limit WFP's ability to deliver food
aid to refugees in Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh,
Chad, Eritrea, Georgia, Kenya, Nepal, and elsewhere;
provided an update on the WFP/UNHCR pilot MOU regarding
WFP direct delivery of food to the end user; and voiced
concerns about the security situation in Darfur and
Eastern Chad.
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Funding Issues in Selected Countries
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2. Kamal Morjane, the Assistant High Commissioner for
Refugees, began his remarks by highlighting the good
cooperation enjoyed by UNHCR and WFP, identifying the
progress being made in process issues like registration,
and above all, stressing the importance of food to
refugees. "The best thing you can do is to support WFP,
and by supporting WFP, you are supporting refugees. Food
is essential for refugees."
3. Critical funding shortages are being experienced by
WFP in the following countries:
-- In Algeria, WFP provides assistance to about 155,430
refugees living in desert camps near Tindouf. The US
contribution to the PRRO ending in August 2004 is about
15 percent of a planned operation of $32.3 million, which
is experiencing an overall funding shortfall of 35
percent. The new PRRO beginning in September 2004 and
planned through August 2006 has received only 6 percent
of the planned $39.5 million and nothing yet from the
USG.
-- Angola, of the 90,000 refugees planned for
repatriation from Zambia in 2004, only 9,000 have
actually been repatriated. The food situation for
returning refugees remains difficult. WFP's Angola
Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) requires
an additional $58 million to cover needs for all major
commodities. The implementation of the return and
resettlement operation is seriously jeopardized by the
lack of contributions. The assurance of food aid is
considered by UNHCR a crucial factor in encouraging
further repatriation.
-- The new Armenia PRRO covering the period from July
2004 through June 2006, is planned at $11.5 million, but
has a funding shortfall of 96 percent.
-- WFP has been providing assistance in Bangladesh to
Myanmar refugees since 1992. Its new PRRO beginning in
January 2004, planned at $2 million, is experiencing a
funding shortfall of about 50 percent.
-- WFP's "Food Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in
Northeast Chad" EMOP is funded at about 61 percent of the
planned $30 million.
-- WFP's Democratic Republic of the Congo PRRO is funded
at 20 percent of a planned $160 million. Serious
pipeline breaks are affecting the lives of over 1.4
million people, including IDPs and refugees. Food
distribution in June was 63 percent of requirements
because of pipeline breaks and widespread insecurity.
-- The Djibouti PRRO targets about 43,400 beneficiaries,
including refugees. About 57 percent of the planned $6
million for the operation has been received.
-- The Eritrea PRRO has received only 60 percent of the
project estimate of $50 million.
-- The Ethiopia PRRO for refugees is estimated at $41.2
million. Ending the last day in 2004, the PRRO has
received about 60 percent of required funding.
-- For its Georgia PRRO, WFP has received 50 percent of
the required $24.7 million.
-- The Great Lakes Cluster PRRO for Burundi, Rwanda, and
Tanzania is operating at 50 percent of the required $289
million.
-- The Iran PRRO is operating at 50 percent of the
required $14.8 million.
-- The Kenya PRRO for Somali and Sudanese refugees
requires $58.8 million, but has a 65 percent funding
shortfall.
-- The Malawi PRRO for a planned $1.7 million is
resourced at 65 percent.
-- The Nepal PRRO, renewed in July 2004, provides for
assistance to Bhutanese refugees. About 37 percent of
the planned $7.5 million has been received, and resources
are needed to prevent a pipeline break.
-- The Sudan PRRO for assistance to Eritrean and
Ethiopian refugees beginning in April 2004 has received
confirmed contributions of about $550,000 of the required
$15.5 million.
-- The Uganda PRRO is resourced at 82 percent of the
required $204 million.
-- The West Africa Bureau EMOP, which provides assistance
to people affected by the Cote d'Ivoire crisis, is
resourced at 72 percent of the $38.8 million required.
-- The West Africa Cluster, which assists IDPs and
refugees in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, is
resourced at 48 percent of the $81.6 million required.
-- In Yemen, WFP's Food Assistance to Refugees PRRO faces
pipeline breaks of rice, sugar, and wheat soya blend,
mostly because of shipment delays. About 40 percent of
the planned 11,000 refugees have moved to other regions
in Yemen or left the country. Important changes in
distribution modalities ensure that only the most food
insecure people receive food rations.
-- The Zambia PRRO provides food assistance for refugees
from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It
is resourced at 35 percent of the $22.7 million required.
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Progress Report on Pilots for Direct WFP Delivery of Food
to the End Users
--------------------------------------------- ------------
4. Per reftel, WFP's Pakistan Emergency Operation (EMOP),
Assistance to Afghan Refugees, is one of the five pilot
test projects described in a July 2002 MOU between WFP
and UNHCR in which WFP assumes full responsibility for
the final distribution of the basic food ration to
refugees. A joint evaluation team is presently in
Pakistan looking at the effectiveness of this pilot
operation.
5. Resourced at 67 percent of the estimated $35 million,
the Pakistan EMOP runs through December 2004. Both
agencies agree in general that the pilot test has gone
well; however, neither indicated when the evaluation of
the pilot activities as contemplated in the MOU might be
provided. US Mission Rome Humanitarian Assistance
Attache intervened to urge that WFP and UNHCR continue to
move swiftly with its final report.
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Darfur/Eastern Chad Security Concerns
-------------------------------------
6. Security remains a major concern in Eastern Chad and
Darfur refugee camps. Conditions in overcrowded camps
have resulted in recent violence at the Chadian Farchana
and Breidjing refugee camps, and some humanitarian
assistance has had to be halted. WFP's Senior Deputy
Executive Director speculated that, as the jengaweed
militia is reined in across the border, they are likely
to foray into eastern Chad and exacerbate the security
situation. Accordingly, WFP and UNHCR are negotiating
with the Government of Chad to field more security
personnel in and around refugee camps in Chad.
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Comment
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7. There is good synergy between UNHCR and WFP. In USUN
Rome's view, they have recognized that they truly need
one another. UNHCR commented that the continuing funding
difficulties are leading to a slow but steady erosion of
minimum standards, including protection, all over Africa.
This stark realization makes better and deeper
partnerships imperative.
8. Kabul and Khartoum minimize considered. Hall
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2004ROME02935 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED