US embassy cable - 04ROME849

UNCLAS  ROME 000849 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
JAKARTA FOR AMBASSADOR BOYCE AND USAID DIRECTOR FREJ 
STATE FOR AS/PRM DEWEY, PRM/P, EAP/IET AND IO/EDA BEHREND 
AND KOTOK 
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, ANE/ESA 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR 
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID 
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ 
BRUSSELS FOR USAID/LERNER 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, KUNR, WFP, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: WFP BOARD APPROVES INDONESIA PROTRACTED RELIEF AND 
RECOVERY OPERATION (PRRO) VALUED AT U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 
115.37 MILLION - 269,568 METRIC TONS 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. The WFP Executive Board, at its first regular session 
(February 23-26), approved a Protracted Relief and Recovery 
Operation for Indonesia. The project 10069.1, entitled 
Assistance to Recovery and Nutritional Rehabilitation, is 
for three years (July 2004-June 2007), and covers 2.1 
million beneficiaries. Total cost to WFP is U.S. dollars 
(USD) 115.37 million. Over the life-of-project, WFP will 
supply (subject to the availability of funds) a total of 
269,568 metric tons of food aid. End summary. 
 
---------- 
Background 
---------- 
 
2. WFP will target (year 1): a) an average of 290,000 
Internally Displaced persons (IDPs)/Returnees (ex. Madura, 
Malukku, West Timor, West Kalimantan, other areas) with free 
food rations; b) 1.0 million persons (ultra-poor) living in 
Jakarta and surrounding areas through subsidized sale of 
rice - to be phased-out in 18 months; c) 240,000 
malnourished children under 5 will receive fortified 
biscuits and 140,000 pregnant and lactating women will be 
assisted with five kilos of fortified noodles per month, in 
addition to in-depth nutrition education; d) 390,000 
schoolchildren will receive fortified biscuits; and e) 
42,500 TB patients are targeted to receive rice and 
fortified foods aimed at enhancing their nutritional status. 
At the end of this three-year operation, WFP aims to have 
established a nutrition rehabilitation network of health 
centers and primary schools, which will be supported by 
provincial and district governments after phase-out. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
U.S. intervention in support of approval of the Indonesia 
PRRO 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
3. Herewith the essence of the supportive U.S. intervention: 
 
-WFP and its UN partners have a vital role to play in 
supporting improved public service delivery by sub-national 
governments in what is now considered to be one of the most 
decentralized countries in the world. 
 
-While USDEL appreciates WFP's focus on the urban ultra-poor 
through its Social Welfare Market Operation (OPSM), we 
endorse WFP's strategy to phase-out of this intervention. 
 
-USDEL supports continued targeting of IDPs and others 
affected by domestic unrest. We note that up to 40 percent 
of 6-15 year-olds do not attend school in IDP areas and the 
general paucity of adequate social services. 
 
-NGOs have a vast Indonesia-wide outreach, which WFP should 
increasingly strive to support. 
 
-WFP's work with the GOI's Ministry of Agriculture in the 
creation of a Food Insecurity Atlas of Indonesia is 
laudatory. USDEL is most supportive of UN efforts to enhance 
understanding of the nutritional status of children, 
particularly at the micro-level. 
 
-Finally, USAID Indonesia confirms that WFP has proven to be 
an efficient conduit of food assistance and its ongoing 
presence is warranted as Indonesia continues to face 
 
political and social challenges. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
U.S. support to WFP's Indonesia operations since 1998 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4. WFP closed down its program in Indonesia in 1996. It 
returned in 1998 to provide emergency and protracted relief 
and recovery assistance. Since 1998, the United States has 
provided 332,114 metric tons through WFP, valued at USD 
117.5 million (52 percent of overall contributions). Note. 
Australia, the second largest donor to WFP Indonesia, has 
contributed since 1998 a total of 135,868 metric tons valued 
at USD 41.6 million. End note. 
 
-------------------- 
Other donor comments 
-------------------- 
 
5. Other donor interventions were supportive of WFP's 
efforts.  Board members agreed that an exit strategy was 
important and that WFP should increasingly focus on 
nutritional rehabilitation and capacity building. Australia 
asked that the UN review its Phase V security rating for 
West Timor. The UK stressed the need for greater focus on 
local procurement. While it was noted that local food 
procurement was "often complicated and not always reliable," 
in UK's view, "WFP should be striving to make it happen." 
 
------------------------ 
Executive Board approval 
------------------------ 
 
6. The WFP Board approved the Protracted Relief and Recovery 
Operation for Indonesia. The project 10069.1, entitled 
Assistance to Recovery and Nutritional Rehabilitation, is 
for three years (July 2004-June 2007), and covers 2.1 
million beneficiaries. Total cost to WFP is USD 115.37 
million. Over the life-of-project, WFP will supply (subject 
to the availability of funds) a total of 269,568 metric tons 
of food aid.  Hall 
 
 
NNNN 
2004ROME00849 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED