VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHDS #0412/01 0500545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190545Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9603
INFO RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 2131
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 8920
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3386
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3101
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4182
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3031
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6388
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7256
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/CCJ5/CCJS//
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000412
SIPDIS
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS AF JSWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES,
A/S PRM SAUERBREY, AND PRM/AFR
AFR/AA KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON
DCHA/AA MHESS, GGOTTLIEB
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK
NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA
ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS
BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA
USUN FOR FSHANKS
NSC FOR PMARCHAN
AIDAC
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
REF: A) ADDIS 3644 B) ADDIS 3642 C) ADDIS 0053 D) ADDIS 0064 E)
ADDIS 0120 F) ADDIS 0134 G) ADDIS 0152 H) ADDIS 0213 I) ADDIS
0233 J) ADDIS 0315
SUBJECT: USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM: PHASE I FINDINGS AND NEXT
STEPS
-------
SUMMARY
-------
1. During the December 20 to January 31 Phase I of the U.S.
Government (USG) Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) in Ethiopia
presence, USG HAT staff conducted multiple humanitarian assessment
trips to the conflict-affected areas of Somali Region, including
Degehabur, Fik, Gode, and Korahe zones. USG HAT staff did not
observe indicators of an immediate crisis within areas visited.
However, based on regional assessments, USG HAT staff note that
humanitarian and food security conditions could significantly
deteriorate in the coming weeks as a result of the cumulative impact
of poor food aid delivery mechanisms, current disruptions on
commercial trade and livestock movement, reduced access to and
delivery of essential health services, restricted humanitarian
access and movement, and the poor performance of the 2007 rains.
2. To mitigate deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Somali
Region in the coming weeks, USG HAT staff recommend improved food
aid distribution; independent standardized nutritional surveys in
conflict-affected areas; support for the regional measles campaign;
increased commercial trade; and improved humanitarian access and
movement.
3. As of February 1, the USG HAT presence in Ethiopia has
transitioned from Phase I, focused on gaining access and assessing
current humanitarian conditions in the region, to Phase II with a
focus on advocacy, monitoring, and program management. End
summary.
-------
PHASE I
-------
4. Between December 20 and January 31, the USG HAT, composed of
technical experts from USAID and the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in
coordination with USAID/Ethiopia and the U.S. Embassy in Addis has
conducted multiple field assessments in Somali Region to examine
health, nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and water and
sanitation conditions in the region as part of Phase I of the USG
HAT presence in Ethiopia. During Phase I, the USG HAT staff were
successful in gaining access to conflict-affected areas in Somali
Region; monitoring USG interventions; energizing and strengthening
UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) confidence; and
identifying gaps in humanitarian assistance and obstacles to
response efforts.
---------------------------
USG HAT ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
---------------------------
5. USG HAT staff did not observe indicators of an immediate crisis
within areas visited. However, based on regional assessments, USG
HAT staff report that humanitarian and food security conditions
could significantly deteriorate in the coming weeks as a result of
the cumulative impact of poor food aid delivery mechanisms, current
restrictions on commercial trade and livestock movement, reduced
access to and delivery of essential health services, restricted
humanitarian access and movement, and the poor performance of the
2007 rains. In the absence of the resumption of commercial trade,
the delay in the delivery, mismanagement, and diversion of food
assistance represent a significant threat to humanitarian
conditions, including 745,000 people in need of immediate food
assistance within the conflict-affected areas and an additional
840,000 people at risk identified by the (GFDRE) Disaster Prevention
and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) Deyr/Karan Assessment. Current
obstacles to food aid delivery in Somali Region include required
military escorts; minimal capacity within UN World Food Program
(WFP) and DPPA to effectively target, monitor, and deliver
assistance; mismanagement and diversion of food aid; and the
confinement of a large percentage of food aid to district capitals.
-----------------------------------
USG HAT RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS
-----------------------------------
6. To mitigate deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Somali
Region in the coming weeks, USG HAT staff recommend specific
interventions and improvements in access and movement in the region.
USG HAT, USAID/OFDA, and USAID/Ethiopia staff have initiated
efforts to advocate and implement the following recommendations.
-- Improve food aid distribution. USAID/Ethiopia has contacted
WFP/Rome to communicate concerns regarding current obstacles to food
aid delivery and distribution and advocate for improved targeting
and monitoring mechanism. In addition, USG HAT and USAID/Ethiopia
ALT staff are regularly meeting with WFP and the DPPA in Addis Ababa
to address operational concerns. WFP has also agreed to incorporate
USAID staff in WFP field monitoring teams in the region. USAID/FFP
has contributed 78.9 metric tons (MT) of emergency food aid valued
at approximately $44.2 million to Somali Region, since June 2007.
-- Allow the current supplementary feeding program to be expanded in
the five conflict-affected zones. USAID/FFP has provided necessary
food assistance to implement supplemental feeding programs and are
discussing next steps with WFP.
-- Establish a USAID field presence in Kebridehar town, Korahe Zone.
USG HAT staff have negotiated a tentative approval for the
establishment of office space in Kebridehar to be co-located with
the UN, pending U.S. Embassy Resident Security Officer (RSO),
USAID/Ethiopia, U.S. Embassy, and UN approval.
-- Support the early February Somali Region measles campaign. USG
HAT and USAID/Ethiopia effectively advocated for a February 2008
regional measles campaign in response to concerns for a potential
outbreak in the region resulting from poor vaccination coverage
rates and expected declines in nutrition levels. USAID/OFDA is
currently reviewing a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) emergency measles
campaign proposal for $1.5 million to immunize 784,000 children 6 to
59 months of age in Somali Region.
-- Continue and improve the use of mobile health teams within
conflict-affected areas. USAID/OFDA has provided $1.8 million to
UNICEF in support of mobile health teams operating in Somali Region.
Since January 2008, 14 teams are active in Somali Region.
-- Advocate with the GFDRE and DPPA to allow qualified UN or NGO
partners to conduct standardized nutritional surveys in
conflict-affected areas to identify vulnerable populations and
inform appropriate interventions.
-- Enhance the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and WFP
security staffing and capacity in Somali Region to more effectively
support humanitarian operations. USAID/Washington is in contact
with UNDSS/New York
-- Support additional appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene
interventions, such as the rehabilitation of boreholes and
traditional water reservoirs. To date, USAID/OFDA has provided $6.6
million for emergency programs in Somali Region, including water,
sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
-- Improve humanitarian access and movement. USG HAT staff have
communicated concerns regarding recent NGO staff detentions and
restricted UN and NGO movement in Warder and Korahe zones to the
GFDRE and the U.S. Embassy.
-- Align future USAID/OFDA funding with USAID/Ethiopia long-term
planning in Somali Region, including Regional Enhanced Livelihoods
in Pastoral Areas (RELPA),1207, possible famine funds, or
supplemental resources. USAID/OFDA staff are working closely with
USAID/Ethiopia to integrate successful relief to development
programming and disaster risk reduction planning.
------------------
USG HAT TRANSITION
------------------
7. As of February 1, the USG HAT presence in Ethiopia has
transitioned from Phase I with a focus on gaining access and
assessing current humanitarian conditions in the region to Phase II
with a focus on advocacy, monitoring, and program management.
During Phase II, USG HAT will assist USAID/Ethiopia, implementing
partners, and host-country government ministries to implement
response programs. USG HAT staff will also develop and disseminate
sector specific strategies to assist USAID/Ethiopia with long-term
planning in the region to integrate humanitarian assistance needs
and development assistance goals and objectives. In addition, USAID
is planning to establish a USAID field presence in Kebridehar town,
Korahe Zone to facilitate additional targeted field visits and
enhance coordination and information sharing with UN agencies and
NGOs operating in the region.
YAMAMOTO