US embassy cable - 04ROME897

UNCLAS  ROME 000897 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
KINSHASA FOR AMBASSADOR HICKS AND USAID DIRECTOR GAMBINO 
STATE FOR AS/PRM DEWEY, PRM/P, AF/C AND IO/EDA BEHREND AND 
KOTOK 
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, REDSO/ESA 
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR 
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID 
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ 
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, AORC, PREF, KUNR, WFP, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: WFP BOARD APPROVES REPUBLIC OF CONGO PROTRACTED 
RELIEF AND RECOVERY OPERATION (PRRO) VALUED AT U.S. DOLLARS 
(USD) 13.16 MILLION - 18,141 METRIC TONS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. The WFP Executive Board, at its first regular session 
(February 23-26), approved a Protracted Relief and Recovery 
Operation for the Republic of the Congo (ROC). The project 
10312.0, entitled Assistance to Populations Affected by 
Conflicts, is for two years (July 2004 - June 2006) with a 
total cost to WFP of USD 13.16 million. Beneficiaries are 
estimated at 177,850. Over the life-of-project, WFP will 
supply (subject to the availability of funds) a total of 
18,141 metric tons of food aid. 
 
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Background 
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2. The ROC (also known as Congo-Brazzaville, population 3 
million) experienced the internal displacement of some 
100,000 people in 2002 in the country's Poole region (n the 
country's southeast). The armed conflicts (that have plagued 
the ROC since 1993) have caused both extensive loss of life 
and destruction to property. Although progress towards peace 
has occurred, substantive efforts are needed to ensure 
durable solutions for the country's internally displaced 
populations (IDPs). The PRRO's components are: 
a) protracted relief through food-for-work activities in 
support of income generation and training of grass-roots 
communities, and school-feeding programs in conflict- 
affected regions (72 percent of program); b) free food 
distribution to destitute populations returning to their 
places of origin; and c) emergency seed-protection rations 
to farmers in areas that have recently become accessible. 
 
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U.S. intervention in support of approval of the Republic of 
Congo PRRO 
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3. Herewith the essence of the supportive U.S. intervention: 
 
-The United States is committed to supporting governmental 
and civil society mechanisms that lead to conflict 
resolution and reconciliation. 
 
-Despite the peace agreement signed on March 17, 2003 
between the rebels (dubbed "Ninjas") and the ROC, the Poole 
area in particular remains unstable. USDEL is informed that 
two of the few international relief organizations present in 
the region, Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) and the 
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), recently 
reduced their relief activities pending a re-evaluation of 
the security situation. Accordingly, WFP needs to remain 
sanguine as to the dangers associated with implementing 
projects in this clearly volatile area. Approximately 37,000 
former fighters in the area are still awaiting a return to 
civilian life. 
 
-USAID's Food for Peace Nairobi office has recently visited 
the Republic of the Congo and reports that access to the 
project region is a major concern as it is presently under a 
UN Phase 4 security stance, meaning no effective access to 
International Organizations (IOs).  Compounding this problem 
are the extremely poor road conditions for food deliveries 
to distribution sites, and the weak capacity of local 
implementing partners.  Despite these obstacles and poor 
data regarding the situation on the ground, indications are 
that activities under the PRRO could have significant impact 
and contribute greatly to improving the nutritional 
 
condition and general livelihoods of the war-affected.  WFP 
needs to acknowledge its constraints and more intently focus 
on the logistics of distribution in the most affected areas 
of the Poole region. 
 
-Monitoring is a key component of this PRRO. Although 
mention is made of program linkages to NGOs, the modalities 
of these relationships (including financial implications) 
need to be spelled out clearly. 
 
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U.S. support to WFP's ROC PRRO 
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4. Against the on going PRRO (6265.0 which covers the period 
January 2001-end June 2004), with a total requirement of USD 
17.60 million (19,412 metric tons), U.S. contributions are 
USD 1.4 million (1,550 metric tons). Japan is the largest 
donor with a contribution of USD 4.6 million (5,768 metric 
tons). The present operation is about 50 percent funded. 
 
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Other donors 
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5. Other donor interventions were supportive. The WFP 
Country Director Benedict Fultang pointed out that the ROC 
government counterpart had purchased and donated two all- 
terrain vehicles to WFP for use in PRRO field visits. 
 
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Executive Board approval 
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6. The WFP Board approved the Protracted Relief and Recovery 
Operation for the Republic of the Congo (ROC). The project 
10312.0, entitled Assistance to Populations Affected by 
Conflicts, is for two years (July 2004 - June 2006) with a 
total cost to WFP of USD 13.16 million. Beneficiaries are 
estimated at 177,850. Over the life-of-project, WFP will 
supply (subject to the availability of funds) a total of 
18,141 metric tons of food aid. Hall 
 
 
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	2004ROME00897 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED